Gather fine sand, powdered tempera paint or food coloring, water, a bowl, and a tray or baking sheet
Pour sand into the bowl
Add a small amount of colorant to the sand
Add a few drops of water if needed
Mix thoroughly until the color is evenly distributed
Add more colorant for a deeper shade
Spread the colored sand on a tray
Let it dry completely
Break up any clumps after drying
Store the colored sand in a sealed container