how to get the look of sand

Nov '08 KNR727

Hi everyone, I'm in the process of thinking about my christmas cards and I am staying away from the traditional and going with a beachy theme. I would really like to have the look of sand (with some sparkles in it) on my card but am clueless as how to do it. Do I emboss, flock, etc... help!
Any thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Kim
Nov '08 Beth In Indiana

Hi Kim - what about a soft tan sparkle chalk? Maybe even an inked area followed by the sparkle chalk to add the sparkle but keep the depth of color from the ink? I'm thinking of those distressed inks in a parchment - type color and imagining sand dunes, lots of hills...Depends on the perspective and how big the picture I guess.
Textured paper maybe ruffed up with sand paper? I'm guessing now - haven't really tried it. Come bback and tell us how it goes?
Nov '08 Seaexplore

what about using glitter glue? check out the stickles colors! I'm sure there's one that sandy colored. I'd ink behind it and then highlight areas with the stickles, maybe push it around with your fingers to spread it out a bit. Be sure to post here when you finish! I'd love to see your cards!
Nov '08 Croppin4Christ

Stickles.
Nov '08 Scrappin Kitty

Lightweight sand paper works pretty well
Nov '08 Momany

One of these would work. The texture is very sandy and they have slight sparkles just like sand.
Nov '08 Twinstars

I was also going to suggest the Distress embossing powder - one good thing about embossing powder is a little goes a long way!
Nov '08 Scrapam

GOOD LUCK!!! We can't wait to see your results!!!
Nov '08 Smilemy18

OK This is a technihue for oil painting, but it should work for stickles. If you have an old toothbrush laying around the house, load the top of it wwith your base color. Take a knife and drag it across the top, and spatter the paper. Load with darker colors and repeat and this will give you enough variation to look like sand. It is a really cool effect, but paper around where you don't want the overspray to go.
Nov '08 Smilemy18
Scrappin Kitty Said:
Lightweight sand paper works pretty well

love that avatar!
Nov '08 Beth In Indiana

Distressed embossing powders? Awesome! Great, more stuff I want to buy !
Any layouts with this around to view?
Nov '08 Netfutures

Why not use real sand? there are art craft stores and bookstores that sell colored sand, you can either buy by the tub or just a small sachet, I have seen nice colors. just add glue to the drawing sprinkle some sand let it dry and dust off excess. My daughter loves sand art as we call it, I just download and print pictures from the net. Then sometimes we just use glitter glue for the outer lines..makes it extra sparkly...
Nov '08 Carrievision

I actually found sand texture embossing powder at Archivers! I haven't tried it yet, though :-p
Nov '08 Melilou

I have used real sand and a glue pad before, and I loved the look, as it had the natural variation in color that sand has. Here's the LO to see the look.

Play Destination By Melilou

If you don't have access to that I agree that the distress powders would be the way to go. For the sand in my favorite beaches (Oregon), I think you'd have to mix at least 2 colors together to get the look.
Nov '08 Scraperfect

Real sand (but if you care about archival safety--either soaked very well or bought at a craft store). Adhere with a dimensional adhesive/glaze which is amazing for anything glittery, too.
Nov '08 Carrievision

I checked, and Stampendous makes the sand embossing powder. You can find it if you google "stampendous sand"