Garden ornaments such as decorative wall plaques or small statues that are carved from genuine sandstone can be expensive to buy. A less costly alternative is to make your own sandstone castings using ordinary builder's sand, or even play sand. When the sand is mixed with epoxy resin, which is readily available from craft stores or DIY stores, the resulting material looks very realistic. When using a heavy material such as sand in a mold, make sure the mold is sturdy since a thin latex or silicone mold will not be strong enough to support the weight of the sand and will distort.
Things You'll Need:
Things You Will Need
Fill the mold with sand to gauge how much sand you need, then transfer the sand to the mixing container.
Mix the epoxy resin with the sand, using a ratio of 1 fl. oz. of epoxy to each cup of sand. Mix gradually, adding the epoxy a little at a time and mixing thoroughly before adding more.
Spoon the sand and epoxy mixture into the mold, adding no more than 1 inch at a time. After adding each inch of sand, tamp the mixture down firmly and then add another layer.
Let the sand and epoxy rest until it is fully cured, then gently take it out of the mold.