Sand dollars are sea urchins that can be painted to create awesome trinkets.If you are getting sand dollars from the beach, you need to clean them and prepare them for painting.Once they are clean, you can use watercolor or acrylic paint.If you follow the right steps and use your imagination, you can make art on a sand dollar.
Step 1: Clean the sand dollars with fresh water.
The sand dollars should be placed in a container filled with water.The water should get brown as the sand dollar sits.If the water becomes murky brown, replace it with fresh water and submerge the sand dollars again.Put the dollars in fresh water until it stops turning brown.It could take anywhere from 1-2 hours to fully clean the sand dollars.Sand dollars can be found under seaweed or in shallow water.
Step 2: Sand dollars should be soaked in a bleach and water solution.
You can put 1 part bleach and 3 part cold water into a bucket or container.The process will whiten the dollars.Carefully place the sand dollars into the bleach solution and wear a pair of rubber gloves.Don't soak the sand dollars in the bleach solution for too long.
Step 3: Take the sand dollars out and dry them.
Run the sand dollars under the water to get rid of the bleach and water solution.The sand dollars should be left in a sunny place for 1-2 hours to dry.Before moving onto the next step, let the sand dollars dry.
Step 4: A mixture of water and glue was created.
Add an equal amount of water and white glue to a container.The solution should be mixed with a wooden stick or a brush.The solution will make it easier to paint on the sand dollar.There is a popular type of glue.
Step 5: The sand dollars should be coated with the glue and water solution.
The paintbrush needs to be dipped into the glue and water solution.The solution should be applied liberally over the top surface and underside of the sand dollars.
Step 6: Place the sand dollars on the chopsticks and let them dry.
Attach the chopsticks or toothpicks to the table.Put the sand dollar over the sticks so that the chopsticks or toothpicks can prop it up.The solution will not come off the bottom of the sand dollar.
Step 7: Decide if you will use watercolor or acrylic paint.
You can use watercolors or acrylic paint to give your design a cloudy image.You can use acrylic paint if you want a more precise design.You can use watercolors if you like abstract and blended designs.The way in which these paints act on canvas or paper is similar to how they will react on a sand dollar.If you've painted with these before, use your past experience to determine what kind of paint to use.
Step 8: Put a cup of water in it and sit it next to your desk.
Water is needed to clean off your brush.Water will be used to mix and apply watercolor paint.You can refill the cup in your sink if the water becomes murky brown or gray.
Step 9: If you are using tubed paint, squeeze it onto a palette.
You need a wooden, paper, or plastic palette to mix your paints if you use a tube.Remove the cap from the paint and squeeze the bottom of the tube.For every color you want to use, squeeze 1-2 drops of paint.You can start off with 1-2 drops of paint.
Step 10: Use a pencil to create a design on the dollar.
Softly drawing an outline will give you an idea of what you want.You can fill in your drawing with different colors after you've created the outline.
Step 11: Put the brush in the water.
The end of your brush needs to be saturated.To keep watercolor paint from drying out, you need a decent amount of water.
Step 12: Put the brush in the paint.
You can transfer the paint onto your brush by swirling it around.Once your brush is loaded with paint, you can apply it to the sand dollar.
Step 13: Paint the sand dollar.
The paint reacts to the sand dollar with small strokes.Follow along with the outline that you drew.You will have less control over how the paint will react if you use watercolor.If you don't clean your brush in the cup of water, your design could look murky and brown.If you want to paint the top and bottom of the sand dollar, make sure you let it dry before flipping it over.Let the paint dry before applying a second coat to make sure the colors don't blend together.
Step 14: Let the dollar dry.
Take the sand dollar out for 3-4 hours and let it dry.Touch the surface of the sand dollar to make sure that the paint is dry before handling it.
Step 15: When using watercolors blend the colors together.
For an abstract look, watercolors are supposed to blend together.The colors blend together and bleed into the sand dollar to create a design.Take notice of the sand dollar's natural shape and strokes along it.
Step 16: If you want bold colors, apply a second coat of paint.
You can use your brush to go over the sand dollar with the same color that you put down for your first coat.This will make the colors pop.You can do this with both paints.
Step 17: The painted sand dollar can be decorated with a marker.
Once the sand dollar has dried, use a fine point felt-tip marker to create new designs on the surface.You have the option to write your name, quote, or embellish your current design.
Step 18: You can use glitter to make your dollar pop.
You can make your sand dollars sparkle with glitter paint.If you want to add a glitter effect to your sand dollars, purchase this special paint online or at an arts & crafts store, then use it as you would regular acrylic paint.
Step 19: To make it shiny, coat it with a varnish.
Adding an acrylic varnish on top of the dried paint will give the sand dollar a shiny finish.Purchase a varnish online or at an arts and crafts store and read the directions before using it.Apply a coat to the top and underside of the sand dollar.Before handling it, let it dry.Before they can be used, they need to be mixed with water.The varnish can be sprayed onto the sand dollar or applied with a paint brush.