SANDCASTLES!!!!!!

Ahhhhhhhh, the childhood memories of making very.....imaginative sandcastles on the beach. Relive the memories with these funky sandcastles....

And here's some sandcastle building tips so you're expectation can become reality........(I'm in a random mood today.)

Sandcastle building becomes even more fun and satisfying when you have an arsenal of professional sandcastle tips and sandcastle tricks. Expert builders use an array of techniques to achieve detailed results; read on to learn how you can do the same on your beach. With these sandcastle building techniques, you'll be able to build truly jaw-dropping sandcastles. Nothing says "summer" quite like a day at the beach building eye-popping sandcastles, and these professional techniques make great sandcastles a snap!

Sand Consistency

Sand can take on many different textures and qualities depending on the amount of moisture. We've all seen the amazingly springy texture of wet sand where the water meets the shore, and the crumbly or even dusty consistency of very dry sand higher up on the beach. Experienced builders agree that sandcastle building success comes largely from building with moist sand. When you're building sandcastles, it's a good idea to mix your own wet sand. Adding sand to water, instead of the other way around, gives you maximum control of your sandcastle building mixture. Get a large bucket of water, and add sand by the handful or by the shovel scoop until you've got a soppy mess of sand that just barely holds together when you grab a handful out of the bucket and squeeze it. The sand should be solid enough to keep some shape, but wet enough to be easily manipulated.

Compaction

Start your sandcastle by making a mound of wet sand, mixed as directed in the paragraph above. Don't worry about detail or shape yet; just get together a big pile of sand that's a bit larger than you want your finished sandcastle to be. Now, pack and pat the pile of sand until it is firm, solid, and the general size and shape of your desired finished sandcastle. If necessary, mix up another bucket of sand and water and add more sand to the castle as you go. Sandcastle building experts and pro sandcastle builders call this technique the "softpack," because you start with a soft pile and then pack it with your hands until it is hard and firm. This achieves what experts call "compaction," the creation of a solid mass of sand through packing it tightly together. The goal is to achieve a pile that will be easy to carve into a detailed sandcastle.

The Right Tools

Pack your beach-bag with a few tools that can help you control both the overall shape and fine details on your sandcastle. Get creative and try a whole assortment of goodies while you're building sandcastles. Many pros use pastry knives for maximum detail and control while building sandcastles, but anything from a paint scraper to a fork to a paintbrush can create a great effect on your sandcastle. Experiment with lots of tools until you achieve the look you want. To get started, try using popsicle sticks and toothpicks. Popsicle sticks can smoothly shape large areas so that you can carve clean turrets, towers, and rooftops. Toothpicks are great for marking detailed trims and decorations, like windowsills or tiles. You can use anything from shells to plastic figurines for a finishing touch to decorate your sandcastle.

Carving

Now, it's time to create the shapes and the decorative details that will give your sandcastle its unique look and feel. Starting at the top of your sand pile, and working on just a bit at a time, use your tools to shape and decorate your sandcastle. Starting from the top of your pile and working downwards instead of starting from the bottom and going up allows you to make fine lines without worrying that they'll get filled in later by falling sand. Begin by carving things like roofs or turrets if you want them, and let those elements dictate the overall shape of your castle. Imagine that you are a sculptor staring at a block of marble, and let the castle emerge from the sand. Work slowly, carving off small chunks at a time, and step back often to view your sandcastle from a different perspective and see how it is coming along. If you carve off too much, there's no way to add sand back, so it's best to be cautious and enjoy the slow, peaceful pace of careful sandcastle building. Instead of hurrying through, just relax, bask in the sun, and have a great summer afternoon creating a professional-caliber sandcastle. Better yet, share the fun and relax with someone you love. Building sandcastles together is a great group activity among family or friends, so once you've read this guide to sandcastle building, why not head for the beach and create a truly special sandcastle with a group of your favorite people?

Peace,love and don't you just LURVE sandcastles.