If you want to add a colorful, "natural look" item to Custom Pencil Metal Containers Factory a shelf or table top, these blend in really well with any decor.  They can also be as small or as large as you want because you determine the size of the glass containers.  Choose colors to match each holiday or season (orange/yellow/black for Halloween; red/white/blue for patriotic holidays; etc.) for interchangeable decorating.

MATERIALS

1 Jar (an empty, clean baby food jar makes a nice small Sand Jar, espEecially, to practice with) bags of colored sand (at least three different colors of your choice) Candle(s) (a colorful candle to be melted to add even more color to the jar...how much wax is needed depends on the size of the container's top...or block candle wax, if the container opening is too large for dripping melting  Toothpick (or thin skewer, if the container is large) Kitchen plastic wrap (optional) Candle wick (optional) Seasonal/Holiday items for attaching，DIRECTIONS STEP ONE

Each layer of sand you pour into the jar should fill approximately 1/3 of it.

Pour (A) color sand into the jar. (enough to fill 1/3 of the jar)

Pour (B) color sand into the jar. (enough to fill the second 1/3 of the jar)

Pour (C) color sand into the jar. (enough to fill the last 1/3 of the jar)

STEP TWO

Take a toothpick and gently "dig" once into the sand near the side of the jar and scrape the toothpick back up and out of the jar, touching the inside glass as you go -- (one "dig" and bring the toothpick back out of the jar).  Make  more single digs at intervals all around the jar to create a mixed color pattern.

STEP THREE

(NOTE: Children may need supervision or help with this next step. Caution is advised because of the flame of the candle and the fact that the wax will be hot!)

Light a candle and drip the wax down onto the top of the sand until the wax creates a layer that 'seals' the sand inside the jar and (as much as possible) preserves the design that you've created.  If the container opening is so large that it will be too time-consuming to use this drip method, simply melt some wax in a pan (one that you use for non-cooking purposes) on the stove.  Pour the melted wax into the container opening.  Be careful with this!  Let cool.

STEP FOUR

If this is to be used as a gift, place a piece of plastic wrap across the top of the jar and tie a very thin ribbon or several colorful ribbons around the top 'neck' of the jar to hold the plastic wrap in place. Tie or glue on any seasonal or holiday decoration to the bow of the ribbon(s).  If it is not for a gift, omit the plastic wrap and tie the ribbon(s) around the neck.  Then, tie or glue the decoration directly to the ribbon.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE CANDLE WICK SAND JAR

Follow the directions above, however, put a piece of candle wick (about 1" longer than the jar is high) into the jar and hold in the center as you pour each layer of sand into the jar. Follow the step above for sealing the sand and wick into the jar and finishing the project.  Make sure though, that the wick sticks out beyond the wax seal.

OPTION

You can use more than three colors of sand to give the jar even more complexity.  Of course, you can also choose to use only two colors of sand.   The design will not be as vibrant though.

Also, how you layer the sand will add to the design effect.  For instance, if you use three colors of sand and decide to use more of one color than the other two, your design will not be evenly layered into thirds, but there will be a dominant color in the scheme in the layering.Whatever color combinations you decide upon, experiment and enjoy the crafting!