A great way to add a personal touch to your garden is with some homemade projects! Antonio Bellusci brings us adorable cement ornaments to liven up your outdoor space.
There are two types of ready-made cement products:
1) Sand & rocks which creates a rougher finish;
2) Sand only which creates a smoother finish.
Tea light pillars
Materials & tools:
- Cardboard bottle gift box
- Box cutters / scissors
- Extra cardboard & duct tape
- Vegetable oil and brush
- Plastic cup
- Gold paint and painting tools
- Ready-made cement (mixes with water)
- Mixing tools & container
- Rocks (weights)
Method:
Cut gift box into three sections – small, medium and tall sections.
Tape extra cardboard to one end of medium box piece to create a bottom for section.
Mix cement and water to oatmeal consistency.
Brush oil on insides of cardboard sections.
Brush oil on outsides of plastic cups.
Pour cement into cardboard sections and once cement reaches 3/4 full, position plastic cup in centre of section / pillar on cement and fill around cup with cement.
Gently shift sections back and forth on work table to level cement and smooth out top.
Place rocks (weights) inside plastic cup to hold down cup.
Allow cement to dry / cure for 24 hours.
Remove plastic cup or cut away with box cutter.
Remove cardboard surrounding cement pillar.
Paint top and inside where plastic cup was positioned with gold paint.
Approximate Cost $10 – $15
Lawn mushrooms
Materials & tools:
- Plastic bowl
- Plastic cup
- Box cutters
- Vegetable oil and brush
- Paint and painting tools
- Ready-made cement (mixes with water)
- Mixing tools & container
- Weight
Method:
Cut and remove bottom of plastic cup.
Brush oil on inside of bowl.
Mix cement and water to oatmeal consistency.
Pour cement into bowl – approximately ½ full.
Position plastic cup inside cement with bottom cut out submersed in cement.
Pour cement into plastic cup creating the mushroom’s base and fill to top of cup.
Gently shift bowl and cup back and forth on work table to level cement and smooth out top.
Place weight overtop of plastic cup to keep in position.
Allow cement to dry / cure for 24 hours.
Remove plastic cup or cut away with box cutter.
Gently remove bowl from cement (oiling bowl should allow for an easy separation or a gentle tap may be required).
Paint mushroom.
Approximate Cost $10
Lawn globes
Materials & tools:
- Plastic bowl
- Glass light cover / globe
- Ready made cement (mixes with water)
- Mixing tools & container
- Hammer & safety glasses
Method:
Place glass globe in bowl to assist with positioning while filling.
Mix cement and water to oatmeal consistency.
Pour cement into glass globe.
Gently shift bowl and glass globe back and forth on work table to level cement and smooth out top.
Allow cement to dry / cure for 24 hours.
Hammer glass and chip away glass.
Approximate Cost $15
Vase
Materials & tools:
- Plastic jug
- Plastic cup
- Vegetable oil and brush
- Ready made cement (mixes with water)
- Mixing tools & container
- Rocks (weights)
Method:
Brush oil on inside of plastic jug.
Mix cement and water to oatmeal consistency.
Pour cement into jug a few inches from bottom and then position plastic cup in centre of jug and fill around cup with cement.
Fill around cup to top of cup’s rim.
Gently shift jug back and forth on work table to level cement and smooth out top.
Place rocks (weights) inside plastic cup to hold down cup.
Allow cement to dry / cure for 24 hours.
Remove / cut away jug.
Approximate Cost $10
Courtesy Antonio Bellusci