Paws
Home Depot has play sand in many colors, blue, yellow, green, red, etc.
But if it's the same stuff don't expect the colors to last very long.

HD and walmart doesn't have it here. I've never seen it anywhere but have heard others talk about it. Some say it looks good if you use white portland. So...how long do you think the colors will last?
Jo

There are a number of grades of this stuff and some are likely much longer lasting than others.
But the 50 pound bags sold by HD here in Canada may not last even a few months.
The lady I talked to said she was doing pictures, sprinkling the sand in water proof glue and the color was gone after only a month in direct sun.

Time will tell. I thought I had a great source for different colors.
Paws

If you're ever traveling through the Coral Pink Sand Dunes in the AZ/UT area, stop and load up. It's been the same color for a few million years -- it ought to last a few more.

There are probably other sources of naturally-colored sand.

Sue

Has anyone tryed using that antibacterial stuff that turns everything a deep blue/purple color, as a stain? My friend's dog had trench mouth and had to use it. She spilled a little on her concrete sidewalk and now it will not come off! Very vivid blue.
Jo

The name of the medicine is "Gentian Violet" The drug store has it.You don't need a prescription.I will get some on my way home tonight.It is a lovely deep purple(my favorite color).I remember it staining everything.How exciting!!!!

LOL!
I typed Gentian Violet into a Google search.
I'm going to try some too, but now I'm sure everytime I do it will put a smile on my face.
I'm just glad I didn't have the stuff in my exploding tufa bucket.:)

Sarahsaid, thanks for the name of that product. Now I don't have to make a fool of myself asking for it at the drugstore. I scored 2 elephant ear blue hosta leaves last night. Wouldn't they look beautiful cast in that color?
Jo

I see what you mean tufaenough.
Paws

LOL! Now I'm not sure I want to ask the pharmacist for it.

Dixiesmom, just tell the pharmacist you need it to make a purple nipple tufa pot.
I'm sure he will understand.:)

I just received an email informing me that Little and Lewis are planning to have a purple nipple tufa pot ready for their next open house.;-)
Even I'm planning to bring my camera for that show!

Well...no wonder they looked at me funny when I asked for it at the pharmacy yesterday. After digging around a bit in the backroom and finally finding the last bottle, the pharmacist said, "You may not want to use this. It's really messy." I had to explain that I want it messy cause I am staining concrete. I guess they just figured me for some nut case. : )

Does anyone have a pic of what this Gentian Violet looks like on concrete or 'tufa?
sounds.... interesting.

I went to four different drug stores yesterday evening looking for Gentian Violet before I found one that had it. I bought their last 2 bottles. They said they would order more.I mixed up some portland and sand and dumped the little bottle in.It stained my gloves ,but I couldn't tell if the color will show up or not. I made a copy of Dena's "Happiness" to bring to my daughter Sarah in Austin this weekend.I guess I will use the other bottle to stain the surface.If it turns out that it does stain well,I want to make a couple of grackles(my favorite bird) to stain violet blue. I hope it works.
Debra

Maybe you can get this stuff at a farm supply or feed store. I remember some thing like this that we used to use on your horses when they had a wound that you wanted to keep the flies out of.

I think it may stain better as an external stain? Or maybe if you used white portland. I have found that wet grey tufa is hard to color. Small batches? I can't wait to try it.
Jo

Does anyone have a pic of something competed using the "gentian violet"?

No pix yet,but...DO NOT do grey cement.GV disappears in the mud,I've tried various strengths.As for white,only tried one strength,came out(as said before)like the leftover liquid after you've had blueberries and milk.I would imagine a LOT more GV might give you a stronger colour.
Be careful.This stuff stains all that it even looks at!

It can't be any worse than blue concrete pigment. It stains everything. Even the aluminum on my table saw.
It actually looks kinda cool.

Hi Paws
How did you make out with your blue sand?
I was wondering how it held it's color in cement.

Baby blue in color Tufaenough. Hoping for a darker blue but oh well. have several pieces outside to see how they hold up in the sun. White portland and blue sand, stepping stone butterfly's.
Found some black sand(copper slag?) at Menard's today.
Paws