Craft advice please!!!!

[Nicos]

I'm planning on making a few doorstops out of some old calico curtain material.
I want to put sand inside to stuff them

Thing is- what sand do I use which won't stain the cream cloth?

I do have some muslin I can put inside to hold the sand- but I'm worried about staining.
...advice please on the best sand -as cheaply as poss please!

[Two_Sheds]

Sand?
I used cat litter (clay pellets). Worked a treat, but raises a bit of dust if you drop them

[rustylady]

Don't suppose you live near a beach Nicos

[Nicos]

Indeed I can collect some- but I wondered about different types of sand staining???...and if there is any specific type I can buy - maybe from a builders yard- which would be OK??

I know you can buy sand for children's sand pits in the UK- but never seen any here- but that would probably be expensive( what do they do do it???)

[Glutton4...]

Soft washed sand, and kiln dried sand are both expensive, because of the washing and drying processes. Collecting your own would be the cheapest, but only if you live near a beach. Could you make a plastic bag liner first?

[Headfry]

What about looking in tropical fish keeping type shops???? may not be the cheapest way though!
Silver sand should be ok.
does it have to be sand.....? how about rice etc?

[Nicos]

Hmmm...silver sand ( what's that in French)
..plastic bag??...good thinking batman- although I wouldn't want it to 'crinkle' when moved

...good ideas...keep em coming please!! ( I want to make quite a few...hence the price is an important factor)

[bearded bloke]

Ideally you want the sand used in childrens playpits (different names in different places ),beach sand will be fine from a non staining point BUT (7 there always is one ) unless you can wash ALL the residual sea salt from the surface you will be getting efflorescence emerging for years,which will have the potential to discolour/rot the carpet should there be any airbourne dampness . Sorry (goes off to find a gloom monger emoticon)

[Flummery]

Could you use gravel? My Ma has one with fine grained gravel in. It dumps down nicely and stays in place well.

[bearded bloke]

Is there a French equivelent of Homebase ?? .......Playpit Sand - Maxipack - 25kg from Homebase.co.uk

Thats cheapest after a quick look builders merchants typical £7.99 but the clear winner is Amazon at £16.99

[Glutton4...]

What about Beans? Like in a Beanbag?

[Nicos]

I'll need to ask around about children's sand- would that be better than silver sand bearing in mind about carpets?

(I'm in the UK in November- but wanted to make some as Xmas gifts to take over then.
Is Homebase sand still available now that summer is over??? ( I sort of imagine that Plastic Xmas trees will be replacing BBQ's/sandpits/garden chairs!!)

I could make them here and then fill them once we're in the UK!)

[Bren In Pots]

I could make them here and then fill them once we're in the UK!)

Think that's what i'd do.

[bearded bloke]

(I'm in the UK in November- but wanted to make some as Xmas gifts to take over then.
Is Homebase sand still available now that summer is over???

I could make them here and then fill them once we're in the UK!)

Just did a store check near me between the three nearest total of 338 bags,so deffo not seasonal,there is a store locater button on the link page I posted,maybe get the person you are visiting to collect some from their nearest branch

[Nicos]

hmm...might well do that- but have to say I like the idea of beans too...they might be cheaper out here

(would gravel leach in the same way as sand i wonder???)