summer

s u m m e r t i m e f u n

Sand-embellished mirror

Ocean Beach offers more than a mile of sand to complete this project.

You'll need:
Wood-framed mirror, such as the IKEA Malma mirror
Small bottle of Elmer's glue
Small foam brush
White acrylic paint

Using the foam brush, apply an even layer of paint to wooden portion of the mirror. Generously sprinkle sand over the painted surface and briefly allow to dry. Remove excess sand.

Use Elmer's glue to create various designs directly onto the sand-covered surface. Generously sprinkle sand onto designs and allow to dry. Remove excess sand once more.

Shell tea light holders

You'll need:
Small shells and sand dollars
Sand
Small bottle of Elmer's glue
Gallery Glass brand simulated liquid leading - Black
Clear glass tea-light holder

You'll need approximately 20 small shells to cover a 2-inch tall tea-light holder. Lay the holder on its side, using the sand to keep holder in place while you glue. Working in sections, apply a thin layer of glue and place two to four shells onto the glass and allow to dry about 15 minutes. Repeat process until holder is completely covered and dry.

Again working in sections, fill area between shells with Gallery Glass simulated liquid leading - the leading holds the shells in place. Allow to dry slightly and sprinkle with dry sand.

Allow holder to dry for 72 hours before using lit candles.

Free-form sand castings

Baker Beach is the perfect place for creating an organic-looking and functional sand-cast bowl.

You'll need:
Plaster of paris
Stirring stick
Water
Mixing container, such as a large Gladware container

To easily transport the Plaster of Paris, package it in a gallon-sized resealable bag. Choose an area of sand that is debris-free and away from foot traffic. Prepare area and saturate with water, so that the surface of the area is wet.

To create a free-form bowl, your area should be 9-10 inches in diameter.

In the center of the area, create a hump around 2-3 inches high. Dig a shallow trough around the sides of the hump. The deeper the trough, the more depth you'll have to your bowl.

In the mixing container, prepare Plaster of Paris using 1 cup of water to every 1 pound of plaster. Plaster should be slightly runny. Pour mix into mold area, completely covering hump and surrounding area with plaster. Sprinkle area with dry sand and allow to set, around 15-20 minutes.

Carefully remove casting from mold and allow to dry in the sun. Sand granules become embedded in casting, adding character to the piece.

Warmer weather and sunny days won't last forever either, so why not consider spending a little creative time at the beach to extend the season? The following projects are easy ways to keep the spirit of summer alive year round.

Photo by Chris Stewart for the
San Francisco Chronicle