DIY cement and concrete crafts: the most interesting for the garden, master class

A satisfying and enjoyable way to add personality to your outdoor area is to make your own cement and concrete crafts for the garden. A few simple supplies and a little imagination will let you create gorgeous, long-lasting decorations that look great for years to come.

The options are endless, ranging from stepping stones and planters to garden furniture and sculptures. These projects give you a hands-on, fulfilling, and therapeutic experience in addition to improving the visual appeal of your garden.

Regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects or your desire to try something new, this master class will walk you through the steps. We will go over key methods, give detailed directions, and offer advice to help you make the most captivating and exquisite cement and concrete crafts for your garden.

Prepare to roll up your sleeves and explore the world of concrete crafting and do-it-yourself projects. You’ll be astounded at what you can accomplish with a little creativity and work.

With the help of our comprehensive master class, learn how to use DIY cement and concrete crafts to transform your garden. We’ll walk you through crafting one-of-a-kind, long-lasting pieces that give your outdoor area a personalized touch, from chic planters to ornamental stones. Simple directions and useful advice guarantee that even novices can confidently create lovely, long-lasting objects. Explore the realm of concrete creativity and add handmade charm to your garden.

Garden decorations made of cement: simple and profitable

Concrete flower beds and ready-made sculptures are highly costly. However, creating them yourself will be far less expensive. The technology used in the creation of cement crafts is fairly straightforward; it doesn’t call for specialized training, sophisticated equipment, or specialized knowledge and abilities. Any craftsman usually has everything he needs at home, and purchasing supplies like cement is not difficult.

• Concrete must be at least grade M400 (and higher).
• Gypsum can be mixed with special moisture-resistant additives.
• For preparing the solution, you need to take only clean, boiled or drinking water. This way, the structure will be more durable, and the solution will be plastic, allowing you to create any decorative items for the home.
• For complex structures, it is necessary to create a frame, heavy garden crafts for the dacha require the installation of a foundation or base (like a cake base).
• All products must be covered with varnish or paint – for decorativeness and protection from external negative factors.
• If a gypsum solution is mixed, cement or glue can be added to it for strength.

Necessary materials and tools

Prior to using your hands to create cement figures, you must take care of all the equipment and supplies and get everything ready.

It is best to do all work in a roomy space to prevent concrete from spilling onto the ground, the lawn, or other surfaces. It is preferable to cover the area with plastic film and fasten it with bricks or another heavy object.

• A metal container with a capacity of at least 10 liters for mixing concrete: this can be a barrel, basin, etc..
• A construction mixer or a drill with a screw attachment – for thoroughly mixing the components.
• Protective equipment – an apron, rubber gloves, rags and napkins.
• Molds for figures made of plaster, plastic, silicone, metal, polystyrene, wood, etc.., frames. You can make them yourself or buy them at a hardware store.
• Brushes, spatulas of different sizes for working with paint, cement.

• Everything for preparing the solution: cement grade at least M300 (1 kilogram or more), sand (2 kilograms or more in proportion).
• Clean water for the solution and any for rinsing the containers.
• Regular or aerosol waterproof paint, which can be used to paint the figures.
• Twine, thick stocking, balloons, pieces of rags, remnants of thick tights – all this will come in handy for creating a variety of figures, be it a gnome or a kitten, a ball or a flower bed.
• Sandpaper with an average density indicator, which will help to polish the finished figures.
• Primer – will act as a base for the painted composition.

Preparation of cement solution for garden crafts

A relatively thin composition is created for a cement product; it should have a consistency similar to thick sour cream. Thus, using any other technology or simply pouring cement into a mold, you can easily make any craft.

1. Sand is poured into the container in which you plan to mix the solution, then cement is added in a ratio of 2:1. Dry components are thoroughly mixed.
2. Add water in a ratio of 4:1 to the sand-cement mixture. If you plan to add pigment to the mixture, pour it in now (water-dispersed colorant) or add it to the sand and cement at the stage of mixing the dry components.
3. The composition is thoroughly mixed: for a volume of less than 5 liters, you can use a trowel or a float, in other cases it is better to use a drill and a special mixer attachment.

Making garden crafts

It’s important to think about the procedure in more detail if you want to know how to make figures out of cement with your hands. The idea is very straightforward: concrete mortar is used to create products by pouring it into a mold and letting it dry.

And to make a sculpture, start with a metal frame and some basic shapes. Next, form pieces out of thick cement mortar, allow them to dry, paint them, and let them dry again.

1. If the product is inside the mold, then after pouring and initial setting, the product is carefully removed and allowed to dry. To facilitate the process of removal, the form is pre-lubricated with a mixture of liquid soap, water, vegetable oil in proportions of 2:5:1.
2. If the frame is inside the product, then it is not removed, because it is completely covered with cement and the structure remains inside, strengthening and maintaining the shape.

We can use the process of making hollow concrete balls as an example. These items can be used as candlesticks inside homes or as flower pots to adorn the neighborhood.

• Inflate a balloon, tie it securely, coat it with concrete up to the knot, leaving a small space without concrete. If you need to make a solid ball, then use rubber or plastic balls, coating them with the composition in gloves. But most often they make balls with holes, decorative chips.

• Allow the figure to dry for 2 days, then pierce and remove the balloon.
• Decorate the product.

Balls are frequently formed of ropes dipped in concrete mortar. In this instance, the steps involved are as follows: blow up the balloon, tie it with twine, brush on concrete mortar, and allow it to fully dry. Openwork balls have a very unique and lovely appearance.

Painting and decorating garden figures from cement

When making cement crafts at home, you must decide how best to decorate them. The figures can be painted with special pigments during the mixing of the solution, processed after drying (the most popular option), or white (in this case, it is preferable to use white Portland cement in the production, which looks very beautiful).

The figurine needs to have its surface smoothed with sandpaper before painting. The product receives a light sanding, and a brush is used to remove dust. Next, either leave it unadorned or embellish it.

1. Painting with aerosol, alkyd or other paint intended for outdoor use and capable of withstanding temperature and humidity changes. Before painting, the surface of the figure is sanded, primed with PVA glue, and waited for to dry. Small details can be painted with a brush.
2. Process with transparent varnish – for protection and decorativeness, but preserving the gray (white) shade of the product.
3. Painting with glass or ceramic mosaics, colored acrylic stones, and other details. Water-resistant glue is used in the work, then the entire product is covered with varnish intended for outdoor use.

Options for cement garden figures

There is an enormous selection of concrete products that can be used to decorate the site, such as flower beds and sculptures, vases, hanging planters, crafts in every color of the rainbow or simple gray or white, and unique mosaic decorations. Flowerbed stands are frequently fashioned like hands, leaves, etc. Each master makes his own decision regarding which option to select based on features of the landscape design, personal preferences, etc.

• Various sculptures in the form of animals and fairy-tale characters – these can be a lizard or a fox, a kitten or a dragon made of cement, dogs and hippos. Anything your heart desires, the main thing is to determine the basic shapes and details, connect them, and then paint them. The simplest option is a ladybug: just pour a hemisphere into the mold, and then paint the product.

• Concrete balls – act as a decoration for any area, are made by applying concrete to a round base (simply coat the surface).
• Variegated or realistically painted mushrooms are a very popular homemade product due to their ease of execution and versatility: on any site, mushrooms will look appropriate and natural, like a stump or bush.
• Palms, hands, fists-most often act as art objects or stands for flowerpots and flower beds with flowers. Typically, such elements are made gray, black, white, covered with golden paint. Very convenient as containers for growing a flower garden.

• Concrete leaves – usually act as flower beds, stands for flowerpots and bird drinkers. Stained green, made by pressing large leaves to concrete.
• Concrete containers with torn edges, painted surface, etc.D. – The easiest, but if there is an original idea, an equally interesting option. After all, flower beds for flowers and flowerpots can be of different shapes, sizes, colors, with or without decor.

Master class: making a cat figures, flower beds for the garden

The unconventional and creative way to decorate the garden is with a cat club. You can grow low flowers in it; this type of flowerpot is quite easily made. The following supplies are needed for the project: materials for mixing the cement mixture, wire, wooden boards measuring 2 by 3 centimeters in cross-section (the length matching the craft’s height).

• The "legs" are attached to the plastic container with screws – at the corners, the same size.
• On the sides: a stick is attached from the head to the container ("neck"), on the other side another longer one ("tail").

• Holes are made in the container, wire is threaded through them and wound in any order – it is needed to fix the concrete mixture.
• Cement is applied with gloved hands in a layer of at least 1 centimeter, the inside surface of the pot is also treated with the mixture.
• The workpiece is allowed to dry for 2 days, then processed with sandpaper, dust is removed, painted.

There are countless ways to personalize your garden with crafts made of cement and concrete. These projects, which range from planters to stepping stones, are enjoyable and useful. Making your own garden decorations is a great way to add personality to your area and experience the joy of creating something by hand.

Starting with cement and concrete crafts doesn’t need a lot of money or specialized knowledge. Basic tools and a little imagination will allow you to create stunning and useful garden features out of simple mixtures. Never forget to protect yourself during the procedure by using safety measures like masks and gloves.

Every project you take on will help you become more proficient and confident when handling these adaptable materials, in addition to improving your garden. Your creativity is the only restriction on what you can create, whether it’s a whimsical garden statue, a sturdy bench, or a decorative birdbath.

Including loved ones in your do-it-yourself endeavors can enhance the fun factor. It’s a wonderful way to spend time together, make beautiful garden pieces, and create memories that last a lifetime. Furthermore, making handmade crafts for loved ones can be a unique way to express your creativity and concern.

So gather your supplies, adhere to the master class instructions, and get to work creating. Soon, your garden will be brimming with one-of-a-kind concrete and cement creations that highlight your individuality and inventiveness. Happy creating!

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