If you go to any home and garden center you will undoubtedly see the latest rage in patio and garden decor, cement accents. Gone are the old days of little Italia sculptures and finials, replaced by streamlined cement furniture, planter boxes, patio and path stones, plaques, and every type of knick knack a collector can think of. Cement accents blend easily into the nature of your outdoor space, and easily add creative personal expressions about you and your family living there.

Buying these cement accents is not cheap. Keep in mind that when working with cement, a mold must be made for each piece which takes skill and precision. In fact these tradespeople study for many years, then must apprentice for many more before they receive their certificate for molding or casting. It is a very specialized profession, so let’s not take their skill away from them. However, the smaller, more personal cement accents, most anyone can make. Creating a simple mold for small cement detail pieces is not difficult. Don’t get overwhelmed by the weight of cement. It is a simple material which when mixed and poured correctly, creates a piece of permanent art created by you and impressing others. Just follow these instructions for a fun, creative craft for you and your family.

To Start

You will need a 3D object to create a mold from. Lack some inspiration? Toys are always fun. Or how about simple hand and paw prints of your family laid into path stones, each for every family member. Or shells that you brought back from your last family vacation made into a mold, making several concrete replicas to be placed around the vegetable garden’s edge.

You will need

– A wooden box large enough to hold your chosen object

– Mixed cement- a mixture of dried rock silica and water, easy to follow directions on the package.

– Sand, water and a trowel.

Making a casting for a cement molding requires a large space to work in. Remember the attributes of wet and dry cement. When wet it is heavy, messy and sticky, once dried it is hard, solid and permanent.

Steps

#1 – Fill the box half full with sand.

#2 – Moisten the sand with water until the sand starts sticking together, but not soaking. There should be no excess water pooling in the box.

#3 – Pack down the sand, level it and trowel the sand to smooth it to an even level.

#4 – Take your chosen item to mold, for example a shell, and press it firmly into the sand. Make sure you apply even pressure to all sides of the object to create an impression in the sand.

#5 – Remove the object from the sand evenly, straight up is best. Ensure that you do not disturb the surrounding sand. A hollowed imprint of your object should be left behind in the sand.

#6 – Pour your prepared cement into the hollowed imprint.

#7 – Once again, smooth out the top of the concrete to be sure it is level.

#8 – Let the cement completely dry, it should be hardened and dried throughout. Drying time depends on the size of your object and the temperature.

#9 – Turn over your wooden box to dislodge the sand and cement from the form. Use your hands to sweep away sand particles from your concrete form, then rinse the concrete with water to remove any residual sand.

#10 – Clean up. Soap and water will clean up any cement which has not yet dried. Once dried, you may have to chisel it away, so it’s best to remember to clean up as you go to avoid any headaches.

Once you have your new cement accent piece, you can choose to paint it or just keep the original cement look. Choosing where to place your newly crafted cement accents is truly your own, sometimes just as much fun if you make a game of it.

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Author Bio: Visit http://www.crackking.ca/ for crack repair, joint repair and spalling.

Category: Arts and Crafts
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