Create a Sandbox from scratch

Sandbox is a freeform, virtual whiteboard where you can doodle, create lessons, story books, games and more! Getting started with a Sandbox that is completely empty can be intimidating - we get it! Allow me to walk you through how to create a Sandbox from scratch.

Prefer a video? See a quick walkthrough of a special use case with a Venn diagram below:

Open a blank Sandbox

1. From your dashboard, click on the pink + Make button in the upper-left corner of the screen.
2. Click on Blank sandbox. An empty Sandbox will be automatically generated.

Adjust your settings

Draw mode vs. Play mode

Use Draw mode when creating or editing cards within your Sandbox. Draw mode displays all of the Sandbox tools needed to make your masterpiece.

Play mode gets rid of all the extra distractions and is great for teaching lessons, viewing storybooks and giving presentations. The focus in this mode is on consumption, rather than creation.

Content specific settings

Select which tools to allow within the Sandbox. Also choose the appropriate level of moderation and copy protection.

Allowed tools

Click the Settings cog icon (⚙️) to open the Settings panel. Under Content, select Allowed tools to customize the tools your collaborators have access to. Owners (and users with Admin permissions) will have access to all of the tools, regardless if they are turned off for others.

You can learn more about Allowed tools here!

Card background

Your Sandbox is made up of multiple cards and can contain a pre-set background. To automatically assign a specific background to each new card, in the Settings panel under Appearance, click Default card background. Make your selection and click Save.

Add to your Sandbox

Begin creating within your Sandbox by adding text, shapes, notes and media using the tool menu. If you don't see the option you want, it has either been disabled by an admin or you need to click on the 'more attachments' button (+17) to reveal more attachment options.

To go into more detail about all the different tools within a Sandbox, check out this article.

Below we will go over the lesser known tools -- the hidden gems 💎, if you will.

Linking

While in Draw mode, click on an object on your card and choose either the link icon (🔗) or the vertical three-dot ellipsis button (...) and then choose Add link.

Select Link to card or Link to webpage. This will enable a clickable link that will direct you to that card or webpage when viewing your Sandbox in Play mode.

Grouping

Group objects together so that you can choose to move them around simultaneously rather than one at a time!

Select multiple objects in your Sandbox (using the Command key on a Mac or the Ctrl key on a PC) and then right-click to reveal the user menu. Select Group.

To ungroup objects, right-click and choose Ungroup.

Special effects

Keep your Sandbox fresh and exciting by adding a little flair with special effects! Choose between adding sound effects or visual effects to objects in your Sandbox. If you're feeling extra creative, add both!

Read more about adding special effects to your Sandbox here!