If you have a personal plot, then you probably want to arrange it beautifully and originally. But still, most decorative garden elements are expensive. And besides this, they cannot be called durable. Those people who have a well-developed internal fantasy are quite capable of making interesting crafts for your garden from ordinary cement. This material differs from others in its great resistance to different types natural influences (hail, frost, bright sun, water), but also its accessibility.
The nuances of working with cement mortar
After reading this publication, you will learn how to create crafts from cement for the garden with your own hands. Below we will offer you only the most best ideas. In order to decorate your garden plot in an original way, you can use flowerpots, flower pots, all kinds of figurines of fairy-tale characters, and you can also make various plant objects from cement with your own hands. This material is not classified as capricious, but many people have either little or a lot of experience working with it. Despite this circumstance, there are a number of main rules that should be followed when working with cement in order for the crafts to be durable and of high quality.
As for the technology for making the mixture itself, it consists of the following:
First, you need to prepare the main elements to complete the work: construction sand, cement, tile adhesive and water (for the best ductility and the least risk of microcracks). For one part of cement you need to take two parts sand and one part glue. Lastly, you need to add two hundred pieces of solution to the water in small portions until it reaches the consistency of thick sour cream. It will be much more convenient to work with this mixture: it will not drain, but will remain very plastic.
All products made from cement will require a long drying time. This process may last about seven days. To prevent the surface from spreading, the finished product must be covered with PVC film. And to give the product the correct and beautiful shape, you need to place the base on a small hill of sand, or slightly deeper into it. After the product has completely hardened, its surface should be coated with a primer. And only after completing this procedure can you begin to apply paint and varnish.
If your craft has any unevenness or roughness, then before priming it, you should finalize the product with a file and sandpaper.
In addition to cement mortar, concrete is used. This material is distinguished by the presence of large fractions (crushed stone or pebbles), and also by high strength. Crafts made from concrete for a garden plot can be in the form of large monolithic boulders. In addition, concrete is very convenient to use for making a base for all kinds of compositions (a pedestal for a sculpture or a platform for a fountain).
There is another material that is very similar in its use. This is plaster. Yes, it is worth noting that it does not have the same strength as cement, but it is decorative and more plastic. With it, you can make hollow figures. For garden creativity, molding, architectural and acrylic types are used. When working with gypsum, be sure to take into account its very rapid hardening. Often, this material is recommended to be added to cement mortar for making sculptures.
The most interesting crafts made from cement will be presented in the photo. And you will really see this. If you don't have the proper experience using cement for decorative purposes, you can start making something simple. The very first products in your garden can be colorful balls, interestingly shaped flower pots or cute mushrooms.
In order to make a mushroom, you will need to find an old rubber ball. The size of the future mushroom cap will depend on its diameter. In addition to the ball, you will also need a plastic bottle. It will act as the basis for the mushroom stem. Its size must be proportional to the size of the hat. In addition to the bottle and the ball, you will also need a metal rod to attach the cap to the stem of the mushroom. The ball must be cut into two halves. One of them needs to be placed on a bucket of sand and pressed evenly. Then you need to pour cement mortar into the resulting form and level it. You need to cut off the neck and bottom of a plastic bottle and insert it into the filled form in the center, approximately immersing it by one or two cm. Next, using a long metal rod, you need to connect the cap of the future fungus with the stem and fill the cavity inside the bottle with the solution. The finished product must harden for two or three days. Then you need to remove the piece of the ball and the plastic cylinder.
Mushrooms will look very nice on the garden plot different sizes in the form of a small clearing. In addition, it should be noted that your own imagination may suggest the use of other containers (jars, bowls). You simply need to make an openwork ball that will seem airy and light. You can use a balloon as a base. All sizes of your future figures will depend on how much you inflate the ball. Then you need to place any rope in the prepared solution and wrap the ball. In this case, there is no need to wrap the base very tightly. It is necessary to leave small holes for subsequent removal of pieces of the burst ball. Once your product is completely dry, you can start decorating. If you cover Balloons cement solution with the addition of gypsum, in small quantities, then you can get very interesting and original garden lanterns or flower pots.
Using this technology, you can also make beautiful vases for dried flowers. In this case, not only the external, but also the inner side. If you pour the solution into a small hole in rubber balls, then as a result you will be able to get monolithic balls of various sizes. Scattered in a chaotic manner and painted in a variety of colors, they will look stylish and laconic. If you use plastic containers, you can get a pot for Crassula, cacti or Crassula Ovata as a result.
The container should be wrapped in PVC film, and place a bag filled with sand or clay inside so that the container can keep its shape. Then you need to cover it cement mortar. After it is completely dry, you need to remove everything auxiliary materials. And in the bottom, using a drill, you need to make special drainage holes. Then the product should be coated with primer and paint. It's quite easy to make a flowerpot using a vase or bucket. One container should be inserted into another, and the solution should be poured into the space formed between them. As a result, you will get a beautiful product. You can decorate it however you like. You just need to show a little imagination.
Those cement crafts that are in this article are described step by step. Our instructions will help you do beautiful products For decoration summer cottage. Flowers planted in flowerpots in the form of crossed palms will look very original.
In order to make this masterpiece, you will need rubber gloves. They should be filled evenly with the solution. And for rigidity, a metal rod must be inserted into each finger. In order for the product to be of high quality, you need to try to prevent the formation of air bubbles. After the gloves are completely filled with the solution, they need to be given the desired shape and fixed. After a couple of days, the rubber should be cut and removed. If you need to join two palms together, you should use the same solution for this. Finally, the surface must be polished with sandpaper, primed and painted.
Complex figures with a frame
Our garden crafts made of cement can attract everyone's attention. If you do everything correctly, your garden will be filled with new colors. It is more interesting to decorate your summer cottage with sculptures of mythical characters and animals. These masterpieces will involve the preliminary construction of a very strong frame and the application of cement in layers.
Very original flowerpots can be made using buckets from construction mixture. At the initial stage, the container of the required size should be wrapped plaster mesh and cover with a thick layer of cement mortar. At the second stage of this work, before the solution has completely hardened, it is necessary to carry out decorative adjustments, thus making an imitation of an old stump with natural wrinkles on the bark.
Near artificial reservoirs it would be quite appropriate to place a monolithic figure of a hippopotamus. But as for the location for the sculpture, it needs to be determined immediately and well aligned, since in the future the figure will be stationary. 2 elongated basins can be used as a frame, which should be fastened together with wire. You can come up with another option: a very thick cement mortar must be covered on top of a large pile of broken bricks or crushed stone. As for the figure itself, it will not contain very complex elements. It's pretty easy to make. After the cement has completely hardened, the figure must be treated with a special fixing impregnation or dry pigment for concrete, carefully rubbing the powder with a sponge.
The most complex sculptural sculptures are made in several stages:
- First you need to make a frame from foam, wire or containers.
- Then the workpiece is covered with a plaster mesh.
- Then the mixture is applied in several layers.
- Next, small details are formed (folds of clothing, facial features, clear texture, etc.).
- At the last stage, the finished work is primed and painted.
Flower pots in the shape of swans will be a very beautiful and elegant decoration for your garden. An old plastic basin will serve as the body frame of the future swan, and the neck will be made of intertwined wire. You will need to make the wings, head and imitation plumage from cement mortar.
Powerful monolithic figures will have a lot of weight. For this reason, there is a way to make lightweight, large-sized sculptures. You can also decorate and enliven your garden with boulders of various sizes. In order to make them, you need to take a wire and tie light and unnecessary material into a very tight lump ( plastic bottles, trimmings polyurethane foam, Styrofoam). The base you receive should be wrapped in a plaster mesh and covered with a thick layer of cement. The more protrusions and irregularities you get, the more natural the stone will look. You can make small garden figurines from a mixture of cement with the addition of gypsum or Portland cement. In this case, you can apply the manufacturing methods described above, and also any base: items of clothing, old unnecessary toys, household utensils).
Step-by-step manufacturing instructions: 3 master classes
Below we will present country crafts made of cement, which you will be happy to make with your own hands. Just prepare everything you need and be patient. In this case, everything should work out for you. In order to analyze in more detail all the existing nuances of this creativity, we will try to consider in this section the best master class c step by step explanation ongoing work.
Spectacular flowerpots made of fabric and cement.
In order to make flowerpots for your garden from fabric and cement, you can use either Portland cement or pure cement mortar without any additives. In this case, the mixture with the addition of water should turn out to be very liquid. In addition, you will need a bucket or other container for the frame, a piece of fabric and a piece of polyethylene.
The material must be very dense and absorb liquids well. In this case, synthetics are simply not suitable for these works. It is best to use cotton fabric.
First you need to cut a piece of fabric to the size you need. If you need smooth edges, you should round them.
Then you need to soak the fabric well in the cement mortar.
PVC film should be attached to the prepared container.
On top it is necessary to lay out and smooth the material soaked in cement mortar.
After a couple of days, the cement will completely set, and you can remove the bucket without any difficulty.
The finished product must be slightly moistened with water and left to dry completely for 5-6 days.
You can plant even large plants in a ready-made flowerpot.
Funny cat for the garden.
First you need to prepare a frame from wooden slats and a cut plastic bottle. Next we will fasten them with wire. The solution should be made from sand and cement in a ratio of 1 to 1. You can add gypsum during the process. By gradually applying the solution, it is necessary to create all the details of the sculpture. The finished figure should be polished with a damp hand and left to dry for 3-4 days. The final touch is painting water-based paint or enamel.
Large leaf drinker for birds and pets.
A very interesting and versatile decoration for your personal plot there will be a sheet of cement. On a small mound of sand you need to lay a PVC film, then a large sheet. (the mound will help us get a figure with a slight depression, but not flat). If you find small holes in the sheet, they need to be covered with small leaves so that the cement solution does not leak. Then the sheet should be covered with a thick layer of solution. And insert a small piece of plastic pipe into the center and then fill it with cement. This will serve as the stem for our leaf. For 2-3 days, the workpiece must be covered with film until completely dry. Then you need to remove the sheet, prime and paint the finished product.
Let's sum it up
We hope that now you will be able to create beautiful crafts from cement for the garden. Decorate your areas with something beautiful and attract attention to them.
Decorating a garden, backyard, or summer cottage is an endless process. Something is changing, removed, added all the time. One way to decorate is to make garden figures. If you arrange them correctly, they transform the appearance of the site.
Cement figurines: why they are good and how to make them
You can make garden figures from cement - this is one of the most used and available materials. It is inexpensive, allows you to create a wide variety of figures - from simple and small ones to sculptures in full height. There are several ways to make garden figures from cement mortar: with a frame, without it, from semi-dry mortar. More about everything later.
Very often mushrooms are made from concrete, but they are not always the same...
What to add to the solution
There are many additives to cement that improve/change its properties. There are a lot of them, but they are sold in quite substantial volumes, which may only be needed for making garden sculptures in industrial scale. But there are ordinary substances that also change the properties of concrete mortar.
These are the main additives that are needed when making concrete garden figurines. It's easier to work with them. But don't add too much. Maximum - one teaspoon per bucket, otherwise you will only make things worse.
How to paint and some technological nuances
After the concrete figure has dried, it must be sanded until smooth, the dust must be removed and it can be painted. In order for the paint to apply more evenly and consume less, you must first coat the product with a layer of primer. The primer is selected depending on the type of paint. The painting process itself is no different - you usually need brushes of different sizes. But it is worth knowing some features.
Various technological nuances there are many more, but these are the main ones. The rest you will master or come up with as you work.
How to make garden figures: cutting from semi-dry mortar
It will not be possible to make garden figures from fresh cement-sand mortar - it is too liquid. Even if you mix it with a minimum of water, you won’t be able to form anything intelligible. But you can wait until the solution begins to harden, but remains quite soft - it will crumble under pressure. In this state, in it you can metal object make grooves, cut off excess.
From the thick mixture you can form the approximate shape of the intended character - put it in a piece of film, tie it, give it the desired shape. If you have a liquid solution, find a more or less suitable container or use the same film. The solution is left in the mold for 8-12 hours. The time depends on how liquid the cement was initially and the temperature at which you keep the product. Optimal temperature about +20°C, at lower temperatures the hardening time increases, and at higher temperatures there is a possibility that the cement will dry out and not “set”.
Periodically check the condition of the workpiece: there should be a solid mass under your fingers, and when you apply more force, the cement is slightly pressed down. In this state, you can already begin to form the sculpture. You have 7-8 hours to work. For small figures this is more than enough, for large ones right next to each other you will have to hurry. To delay the drying of parts that are not yet being treated, you can wrap them in a wet cloth.
It doesn’t have to be painted... You can cover it with colored glass or crockery shards
Take a knife, wire, spatulas, and begin to cut off the excess little by little. There is no need to be afraid, if you remove something unnecessary, you can later add a little solution and correct it when it dries. In general, the technology is not too complicated, but if you don’t have artistic abilities, it’s difficult to come up with something intelligible yourself. For such cases, there is one trick: find the figure small size From any material, looking at it, you sculpt your own.
Making cement figures with a base or frame
Manufacturing technology garden figurines made of concrete on a base, consists of applying layer-by-layer mortar to the frame. But this technique is required when making large figures - about 150 cm or more. Then the bearing capacity of the concrete itself may not be enough. In this case, a rigid foundation is necessary. In other cases, a frame or base is needed only to minimize concrete consumption and reduce total weight products.
The frame for complex products is made (weaved or welded) from wire; for simpler ones, scrap materials are used. A 1-2 cm layer of mortar (thick) is applied to the finished frame, laid with a glass cloth mesh, the mortar is applied again, the mesh is again applied. The process alternates until your product takes the desired shape.
Where and how to find the foundation
The main task is to find a vessel, bottle, box that is shaped to fit the intended product. If the shape is complex, it can be expanded or created entirely from pieces of foam. It is light and cuts well. But such figures - with a foam base - cannot withstand the load. If you expect that someone might sit on your products or have some other mechanical impact on your products, it is better to use polystyrene foam instead. wooden blocks or foam concrete blocks. Foam concrete can be cut perfectly with a wood saw; it can be planed with a plane, a large knife, or made grooves with a sharp object. The principles of working with wood are known to everyone.
The found form is covered with mortar, wrapped with rags, tow, ropes, and then also coated with cement. If the mortar layer is more than 2 cm, it is reinforced with a fiberglass mesh (serpyanka mesh is used for plastering walls). If plastic is used as a base, it is very difficult to apply the solution to it - it runs off. Such products are wrapped in rags soaked in a solution. After drying, the next layer is applied very well.
Grooves are made in the dried solution to indicate feathers and wool. In general, there are many techniques. Let's give a few examples to make it clearer how to make garden figures from concrete. Another option is to coat it with a solution into which the pebbles are pressed. It creates an uneven terrain.
Swans
For example, we want to make figures of swans. The basis for the body is a small round basin. The neck is a wire curved in the shape of the letter S. We attach the “neck” to the body in any available way.
We apply a thick solution to the basin, forming the desired bend, add polystyrene foam, pieces of rags, etc. Leave to dry. We wrap rags soaked in the solution around the wire (it’s better to find a thicker one, you can use reinforcement). We fix and leave everything for a day. During this time, the concrete will set, and on the “body” you can use scraping to form wings, make grooves, draw feathers, etc.
We work closely on the neck and head. Apply the solution onto the resulting base with your hands (don’t forget to wear rubber gloves), forming a neck of the desired shape and thickness. You won’t be able to “build up” a lot at once - only in thin layers. When the neck becomes more like a real one, you can begin to form the feathers, outline the beak, eyes, etc. We leave the finished birds to dry for a week or more. Next - sanding, priming and painting.
Frog Princess
Using this example, we will demonstrate how you can make garden figurines from cement mortar and stones. A foam block was taken as a base, trimmed and hewn where necessary. The top is coated with a thick solution in several layers.
In the upper, still soft, layer, pebbles are reinforced - small flat pebbles; glass fragments are used on the crown. After drying, the figure is painted with acrylic paints and varnished twice.
Frameless technology: leaf drinker made of concrete
If the product is small or thin, and a large load is not planned on it, you can make it without a frame. Various types of bowls, slabs, and small sculptures are made this way. For example, a birdbath in the shape of a leaf. It can also be used as a stand for flowerpots and flowerpots, and other figures that are undesirable to come into contact with the ground.
We find a large leaf - burdock, rhubarb, etc. We place the sheet in water, form a flat slide from sand on a flat surface (table), and cover it with film.
We lay out the sheet on a hill, pressing it into the sand. Mix the thick solution - it should not flow. The composition of the solution for sculptures is 1 part cement, 3 parts fine sand, you can add a plasticizer. Spread the solution on top of the sheet, pressing it tightly. In the middle the layer thickness is about 2 cm, towards the edges it becomes thinner - up to 1 cm. Form the edges carefully. It will be possible to straighten them, but this will not be so easy.
In the middle we insert a piece of plastic pipe with a diameter of about 10 cm and a length of 10-15 cm. Coat the joint with a solution and fill the pipe. Cover with plastic wrap. It protects against overheating, rain, and dirt. We press the edges with stones or something heavy, but there is no need to achieve tightness - excess moisture should evaporate.
Leave the garden sculpture without turning it over for at least 2 days. Then remove the outer film, carefully turn it over, and remove the sheet. If it does not come off, moisten it and wait a couple of minutes. Use a brush to remove residues and debris. Wait a few more days before painting - preferably two weeks.
This is what we got... an original birdbath
Before painting, sand with sandpaper and remove dust. If desired, you can coat it with a primer. Its type is selected according to the type of paint. A primer is needed so that the paint goes on more evenly and so that it is used less. When the paint dries, the product is coated with two layers of varnish. Choose varnish for exterior use. Better - matte or semi-matte.
Decorative figures made of polyurethane foam
You can make garden figurines from polyurethane foam very quickly and easily. Just keep in mind that they turn out to be very light, so some kind of weighting agents are needed. Plastic bottles are suitable as a base, metal containers, cardboard boxes, etc. For thin parts - arms, legs, necks - any materials of the desired shape and size are suitable: branches, wire, wire frame, plastic pipes, metal corner, etc. and so on.
This is an Alpine goby made of polyurethane foam. Here there is no need to make special wool: the foam itself forms the desired relief
The basis for thin or strongly protruding parts of figures can be stuck in later - after the “body” is ready. You can simply stick a wire, a corner, a stick into the dried foam. If soft materials are used, they can be nailed down or screwed with self-tapping screws, secured with staples from a stapler, and glued. In general, use any available method.
It’s better not to skimp on the quality of foam - choose an expensive one. She doesn't flow like a rising yeast dough, but increases in size, maintaining the shape specified during application. But even with expensive polyurethane foam there is no need to rush. The main secret is this: apply a thin layer at a time. Then wait until it stops increasing in volume, hardens (25-40 minutes) and apply the next thin layer. This consistent increase in volume is the key to success.
If you go step by step, then you need to make garden figures from foam like this:
In general, the technology is simple and now you know how to make garden figures from polyurethane foam. But there are nuances. First. If you bought cheap foam and it starts to spread, you need to wait until it starts to harden, wet your hands with water and shape it into what you need. Here it is important to catch the moment when the foam is no longer very sticky, but has not yet completely hardened.
Second. If part of the figure falls off during the process, it can be secured by dropping foam on the joint, inserting a piece of wire - for greater strength - to connect the parts. Cover the seam with mastic or putty.
Third. When the putty dries, cracks form on the surface of the figurine. Covering them with putty again brings almost no results. The cracks appear again. To avoid them, take a bandage, wrap the figure coated with putty, apply another layer on top, and level it.
Fourth. If using a spatula it was not possible to obtain a perfectly flat surface, but you need it, then when the putty dries, you can smooth it out with your hands. If necessary, moisten your hands with water.
Photos of homemade garden figures and sculptures
The most interesting thing about these garden figurines made of concrete is that the clothes are real, they are simply soaked in concrete mortar, and after drying they are painted
Garden figurines made of wood are not necessarily carvings. There may also be some - from logs. Wonderful horse!
The cat is tall - more than 160 cm at the base of the pin. The head was made separately, then connected to the “body”
Turtles and mushrooms made of concrete - these are what novice sculptors most often make
Such sculptures require a form...
From the remains of concrete...
Wooden sculpture for the garden and personal plot is a talent...
Concrete mushrooms - a plastic glass for the stem and a bowl for the cap. In the future hat, before the solution has hardened, dig a cylindrical hole so that the stem fits there. So the fungus will be very similar to the real one
To realize this truly amazing design idea You will need very little: desire, effort and, of course, imagination. And if the master has the talent of a sculptor, then real works of art can come out of his hands.
Preparation of solution for sculptures
For using gypsum or concrete. Concrete is made like this: mix cement and sand in a ratio of 1 to 3. Then water is added in small portions, making up about half the volume of cement. The kneading process is similar to making dough.
In order for the plasticity of concrete to be higher, to regular composition add PVA. Moisture resistance finished product increase by adding liquid nails to the mixture.
The readiness of the solution is checked as follows: squeeze a little mixture in your fist, open your palm and make an indentation with something. If water appears in the hole, it means there is excess water in the concrete. In this case, add cement to the mixture.
Sometimes the piece immediately begins to crumble. This means what needs to be added to the water solution.
Molding method for making figurines
Even the most inexperienced people in modeling can make a mushroom clearing or a cheerful forester in a mushroom hat, a ladybug or a turtle walking along from concrete or plaster. Using the molding method, it is easy to make a concrete hemisphere. After a short extra work over the blank, adding details and coloring, the master will receive a cute figurine to decorate his area.
You can use half a rubber ball as a mold to create a hemisphere. To do this, cut it in half and put it in a bowl of sand. Only then can you begin to fill the form with concrete or plaster. If you place the rubber hemisphere on the floor or ground, you will get a recess on the bottom of the dried part.
A basin can be used to form turtle shells and some types of mushrooms. But to make it easier to remove the part, it is best to put polyethylene on the bottom of the mold.
Making mushroom
After filling the hemispherical mold for the mushroom, you need to place and slightly drown a plastic bottle with the neck cut off into the concrete.
The eggplant is also filled with the mixture. But first, a metal rod should be installed in it so that it protrudes slightly above the cut. Then it will be convenient to install the figure vertically, sticking it into the ground.
After some time, when the concrete in a semicircular shape sets, the bottle must be removed - there should be a recess. The ball is removed from the concrete cap part. If cracks or voids appear on the surface of the future cap, they can be covered with mortar or putty. The part is dried a little more until it is absolutely hard.
You also need to remove the bottle from the leg. It can be cut sharp knife. Cracks and voids should also be filled with putty.
Since mushrooms usually grow in families, you can make several fillings of different sizes at once. You will need balls of slightly smaller diameter. Or you will need to pour concrete into the other half just below the previous level. You can use disposable half-liter glasses as a mold for the stem.
When the parts have acquired the necessary hardness, they are coated with a primer and joined into a common shape. Then, after about an hour, you can start coloring. To give the figurine shine, the craftsman can coat it with varnish.
Making a turtle
After removing it from the mold, you need to draw a design on the turtle shell with a stick. As long as the part is not completely dry, this can be done. If the drawing turns out to be of poor quality, you can apply a thin layer of mortar or putty and apply hexagons to the shell freshly, or lay it out with pebbles, and make a mosaic from pieces of glass.
If you wish, you can add more paws, a tail, and a head to it. But then, already during pouring, metal pins are inserted into the solution. Later, limbs and a neck with a head will be stuck on them.
Frame sculpture
Casting large figures is quite difficult. It is even more difficult to find the right form. Therefore, frames are used to create such sculptures.
Materials needed to create a frame sculpture
If you decide to make concrete figures with your own hands, the master needs to stock up
- concrete;
- aluminum wire or mesh for the frame;
- plastic film;
- foam plastic, old buckets, bathtubs, metal barrels to lighten the weight of the figure and reduce the volume of concrete used;
- spatula;
- spray with water;
- paint used for exterior use;
- thin rubber gloves;
- a mask that protects the respiratory tract from cement dust and paint fumes;
- saw with diamond wheels for processing the finished figurine.
Man-made boulder stone
Almost anyone can make such a decoration for a site. And the boulder on the site looks quite exotic. The stone looks especially beautiful near a body of water, a swimming pool, in, along paths.
Seats for benches can also be attached to boulders. Can it serve as the foot of a table with a table top that seems to intersect it? top part.
Wire frame manufacturing process
The frame of the stone is made from wire.
The inside of the frame is filled with bags and foam. You can also use construction garbage, empty glass bottles, empty buckets, basins, barrels. This will reduce the consumption of cement mortar and delay the process of its “falling through” into the frame.
Prepare a cement solution.
Concrete is placed on the frame using small cakes.
After some time, the first layer of cement will set. Then you need to make the solution thinner and coat the stone again, smoothing out the unevenness with a spatula.
Then the top of the stone is wrapped in polyethylene and left to dry a little.
When the top of the stone has set, the workpiece is turned over and the base of the boulder is coated with the solution.
Making a boulder using burlap
Burlap is dipped into the liquid concrete solution and squeezed out. Then it is placed on the frame.
The workpiece is coated with thick concrete. The algorithm for applying the solution is repeated - the figure is stuck on top with small cakes, just like on a wire frame.
The edges of the burlap are folded inward.
After drying, the stone is painted and varnished.
Video tutorial on making a frame vase from concrete
More complex sculptures are made using the same technology. Just to work, the master will need the talent of sculpture.
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Garden figures made of concrete or gypsum are becoming increasingly popular today. Every owner of a summer cottage or a country mansion can become a sculptor and designer, just awaken this talent in yourself.
Today most parks and gardens are decorated with plaster or concrete sculptures. Concrete crafts are installed both in the center of the site and in secluded quiet corners. There are many companies that can make any sculpture for you to order or sell finished sample. However, it is always much more interesting to make garden sculptures from concrete with your own hands, putting creativity and a piece of your soul into them.
These works will not require large financial investments, they can be made from cement or gypsum. Distinctive feature their is durability. You can give the products a wide variety of shapes and colors.
Before you start making garden figurines, you need to accurately determine its purpose. This point is very important, since it determines what materials will be required to complete the sculpture.
So, to execute concrete products do it yourself, you will need:
- Aluminum wire for making the frame of the future product.
- Concrete mortar or mixture of water, sand and cement based on three parts cement and one part sand.
- To increase the plasticity of the solution, you can add PVA glue to it.
- You can increase the moisture resistance of the solution using liquid nails.
- Putty knife.
- Polyethylene film.
- A small spray bottle filled with clean water.
- Plastic basin.
It is better to prepare all materials in advance.
How to prepare the solution
To prepare concrete mortar, take 3 parts of cement and mix with 1 part of sand. All this is thoroughly mixed and water is gradually poured into the resulting mixture in small portions. The amount of water should be 2 times less than the amount of cement. You can mix the solution the same way you knead dough. As mentioned above, you can add liquid nails and PVA glue to the mixture to improve the quality and longevity of the product.
To check the quality and readiness of the resulting solution, you can take a small lump and squeeze it in your palm. Then a depression is made in the resulting mass. If water appears in the center of the hole, you should add a little cement. If the lump begins to crumble, add more water to the mixture.
Gallery: garden figures made of concrete (25 photos)
Production by molding method
This method is one of the simplest and most accessible for making crafts from cement. Even a novice sculptor will be quite capable of creating a fungus or a ladybug, a turtle or a ball. All that remains to be added to the resulting workpiece is to add only a few details, and then paint it- and you will get a charming decoration for your yard or garden.
Mushroom
Concrete fungus- This is the simplest and most accessible craft for beginners. You can make a white fungus or a fly agaric - it all depends on the color and shape. The consistency of the concrete should resemble that of oil lying at room temperature- not liquid, but plastic enough to make something round. It is best to do this kind of creativity in the summer.
The manufacturing sequence should be as follows:
- To make a hat, a depression is made in the sand using a deep bowl.
- To the bottom of the resulting recess you can put a burdock leaf, then the surface of the cap will begin to resemble the real one.
- To strengthen the cap, insert into its center fittings or piece of wire.
- The leg can be made using roofing felt or linoleum. It needs to be rolled into a tube, which is filled with concrete mortar.
- Both parts need to dry and then be connected using mortar and a piece of reinforcement.
The finished product must dry for 3-4 days, after which it can be painted.
Hemispheres
Hemispherical gypsum or concrete figures are some of the easiest decorations to make for your yard or garden. This could be all kinds of turtles, hedgehogs, ladybugs etc.
To make them you can use any container of suitable shape- a bowl, basin, half of a rubber ball. In the absence of anything, just a hole in the sand, the bottom of which is covered with newspapers, will do. The resulting form is filled with cement and waited for it to dry. The resulting hemisphere can be used to make any figure you like.
Very original decoration can be made in the following way: medical rubber gloves are filled with a solution and positioned in such a way that they hold something. This could be a potty that they later support. Let the concrete harden and carefully remove the remaining rubber gloves. Hands received filled with earth or supporting a flower pot.
Artificial boulders
If you don’t have large boulders on hand, but still have a desire to design the site in this way, don’t despair and overpay a significant amount for importation. area of natural boulders. It is much easier to make an imitation of large stones from concrete. These decorations will be hollow and relatively light.
The boulder frame can be form from polyurethane foam. You can use a large amount of paper, crumpling it well. The resulting conglomerate is wrapped with a plaster mesh and the solution is applied on top using a spatula. You should not make the stone completely smooth - this way you can lose its resemblance to a natural boulder. The resulting product is covered film and leave to dry.
Frame concrete sculptures
If you already have a certain skill in working with concrete figures, you can try to create a more complex decoration. Frame sculptures require certain artistic and sculpting skills and good spatial imagination. With the help of frames made of reinforcement, you can create the most unusual and complex decorations - even fairy-tale castles.
Before starting production, it is necessary to make an outline of the future product from flexible wire. The accuracy of the frame directly affects on the final appearance of the product.
If the product is planned to be made monolithic, the solution is applied directly to the frame. When making hollow samples, the frame is wrapped construction mesh and apply the prepared solution on top.
First, the first layer of cement is applied, the field of which begins to form general form compositions. By applying the second and third layers, smaller ones are formed decorative elements. At the end, the product is allowed to dry, after which it is coated with paint of the required colors.
Materials and tools for wireframe sculpture
To make a frame concrete sculpture at home, you may need:
- Concrete solution.
- Chain-link mesh or aluminum wire for making a frame.
- Polyethylene film.
- Foam to lighten the weight of the product.
- Old unnecessary containers - buckets, basins, plastic bottles, etc. This will allow you to create lighter shapes.
- Putty knife.
- Spray bottle with water.
- Coating paint – it is best to use paints for exterior façade work.
- Rubber medical gloves.
- Protective face mask against dust and fumes.
- To process the finished product you will need a saw with diamond wheels.
Questions of general style
If you approach the issue ineptly, you can ruin the entire appearance of your garden plot. To avoid this, we recommend taking the advice of experts. Starting to choose garden sculpture made of concrete, you should first draw a plan of your site and place the proposed decoration figures on it. For each figure, it is very important to select or create an appropriate background that will highlight its beauty.
- Small items are best placed in open areas. Near garden paths, ponds or flower beds. You can place them close to the fence.
- If you are planning to make a large sculpture, it will look great near fountains or tall bushes.
- The concrete image should fit harmoniously into the overall style of your garden or summer cottage. If the area is decorated romantically and planted with flowers, monochromatic figures of people or plant compositions will be very appropriate.
- Garden in rustic style can be decorated with decorative figurines of animals or folklore elements.
In order for their concrete figures to be of excellent quality and very durable, it is necessary to select the right brand of cement. When manufacturing, be sure to remember safety precautions. It is recommended to use rubber gloves and a mask to cover your nose and mouth from dust and chemical fumes.
Concrete is an artificial stone material that is made from binder, aggregate and water. Cement is most often used as the base of concrete; sand or small crushed stone is used as filler. Cement concrete– This is a strong and durable material, characterized by frost resistance and fire resistance. In this article we will tell you about a master class on garden figures made of concrete, and give instructions and advice to gardeners.
The grade of concrete directly depends on cement, the grade of which is 2 - 2.5 times higher than concrete. For example, for medium-plastic concrete grade M - 200, Portland cement grade M - 400 is required.Selection of concrete brand, depending on the cement brand, composition of the sculptural mixture, calculation of components
To prepare concrete, measure 1 weight part of cement, 3 parts of sand. Add enough water so that the mixture resembles thick sour cream. You can use any drinking or industrial water. Water from a reservoir with various impurities or wastewater with oily or acidic compounds are not suitable for solution.
As a measure of the components of the mixture, it is convenient to use a 10 liter bucket, which contains:
- Cement – 13 – 15 kg,
- Sand – 14 kg,
- Crushed stone – 15 – 18 kg.
Tip #1. Note! Typically, crushed stone is used for large or monolithic forms.
Step-by-step instructions for making figures of varying complexity
Modern gardeners place purchased and homemade figurines on their plots. Depending on your financial freedom, you can purchase various shapes, but, like any product, they are repeated, and they cost a lot. It is not only possible to create a unique specimen, but it is also quite affordable both in terms of materials and money. General principle The construction of figures is similar to one another, some features differ. In general, the sequence is:
| Stage | Description |
| Step 1. | Mixing the sculpture solution. |
| Step 2. | Preparing the form. |
| Step 3. | Filling the mold with solution. |
| Step 4. | The hardening of the mold depends on the components included in the mixture. |
| Step 5. | Removing a shape from a shape |
| Step 6. | Painting the product. |
Creating garden figures has some nuances. Most often, relatively simple methods are used: pouring the solution into a flexible or rigid form, stencil impressions, figures on frames. We will tell you in more detail about the features of each method.
How to make a garden vase in the shape of a hand
In self-sculpting garden figures, the principle of lithium or sculptural modeling. The prepared solution is poured into a mold, in this case elastic. For this you will need the following materials:
- A mixture of cement and sand 3:1, with the addition of water until it becomes thick sour cream.
- For final sanding, concrete putty,
- Impregnation for strengthening concrete,
- Fine-grit sandpaper for sanding the surface of the product (or hand sander)
- A rubber glove and a container into which the mold fits freely.
When everything is ready for work, you can start:
- Mix the cement mortar; if desired, you can add a coloring pigment.
- It is important to remember that you need to mix it dry, and only then add water.
The mixture is poured into a mold that serves as a glove. To make it easier to remove after hardening, it is advisable to lubricate the inside with grease - machine oil or drying oil. - The completed form is given the desired position. For rigidity, a wire can be inserted into each “finger”. It is better to bend it in half and move it inside the mold with the loop forward so as not to tear the glove.
- The solution hardens in 2–3 days. After this time, the glove can be removed by first cutting it.
- The finished form is sanded with sandpaper and the surface is painted, if pigment was not added initially.
The figure can be used as an independent installation or a flower stand. Artificial stones for rock gardens and garden decor
Gardeners do not always have the opportunity to buy natural stones for setting up a rock garden or just for decoration. There is a way out, you can take a cast artificial stones. The mixture will require cement, sand, crushed stone or gravel, and water. A solution is prepared from these components in the ratio of parts:
- Cement – 1,
- Sand – 3,
- Crushed stone – 5.
This method can be used to cast not only stones, but also any other shapes. Features of creating a flower vase in the form of a leaf
Technology is widely used in interior design decorative concrete. (It is also called liquid or polished.) The principle of implementation is to apply a stencil to give a certain texture. This method began to be used to create garden figures.
- To get a curved stone sheet, you need to give it the desired shape.
- It can be made by pouring a pile of wet sand onto plastic wrap.
Cover the top with film and place a stencil on it, for example, a large burdock leaf. - The resulting form is covered with cement mortar, a layer of 5 - 10 cm. The top side is the future wrong side.
- The sculpture is kept for 2 - 3 days until completely dry.
- Turn over, remove the sheet, paint and varnish.
Method of making figures on frames
For more complex shapes a rigid base is required, as for professional sculpture.
You can make the frames yourself or buy ready-made ones; they are sold in garden stores for large flower beds. Most often these are animal figures. A homemade frame is made from the following materials:
- 8mm thick wire that is easy to bend but still holds its shape.
- Cord for fastening wire.
- Steel or polypropylene mesh with small cells.
- Cement or gypsum mixture.
Tip #2.Note! The frame remains in the middle, so it is made of frost-resistant materials.
You can make a sculpture yourself if you follow these rules:
| Stages | Description |
| Step 1 | Make a frame. |
| Step 2. | Install it in a permanent place. |
| Step 3. | Prepare a cement or gypsum mixture. |
| Step 4. | Apply the first layer of mortar to the entire surface of the frame. You need to work in latex or rubber gloves. The next layer is applied only after the previous one has dried. And so on several times until you get a form that completely satisfies the design. |
| Step 5. | The surface is polished. |
| Step 6. | Paint the figure using construction paints for external works. Finally, it can be coated with a protective varnish. |
How to paint a finished concrete product
- For concrete surfaces, use a special acrylic paint based on organic solvents, such as Aquapol. Thanks to the composition, it has increased adhesion to the surface, which increases wear resistance. The paint can withstand temperature changes and is intended for painting concrete floors.
- Recently, polymer impregnations are increasingly used, for example, “Protexil” or special paint “Texil”. The products penetrate deeply into concrete surface, which increases strength and prevents cracking. The main condition for optimal application is cleaning the concrete from dust and dirt. It is also necessary to degrease the surface; no preliminary priming is required.
- "Lakotex" - a product for protecting concrete products from the negative effects of factors external environment. The advantage is to protect the surface from dust, dirt and temperature changes. The disadvantage is that the product contains chlorinated resin.
- “Betoxyl” is a polymer-acrylic paint that is resistant to temperature changes from minus 400 to +500, which allows concrete garden products to remain in the garden in winter. To achieve more durable strength, it is better to prime with Betoxyl primer before application.
Review of the range and cost of purchased garden sculptures
We offer a wide selection of a wide variety of garden figures and sculptures for sale. Their cost depends on the size and material from which they are made. Features of materials, their approximate cost:
| № | Material name | Peculiarities | Approximate cost |
| 1. | Gypsum | It is considered the most common for sculpture. This is the most fragile and short-lived material. Products made from it do not last long and are more often used in the interior than in the garden. Advantage in low cost. Such a sculpture does not last long, perhaps only one season. | The cost of a product measuring 15 cm starts from 125 rubles. |
| 2. | Concrete | Durable material with a service life of at least 10 years, if concrete grade of at least M 400 is used. | Figurine height from 25 cm – from 1500 rub. |
| 3. | Polystone (or other polymer materials) | This synthetic stone from acrylic resins, with the addition of natural stone chips and other components. Properties are not inferior to natural stone.
|
Shape 30 x 40 cm From 1000 rub. |
Category: “Questions and answers”
Question No. 1. What to add to concrete for strength?
Modern additives to concrete are fiber fillers. They bind the material, reduce fragility, that is, the concrete does not crumble or crack. The following fiber additives are used most often in construction:
- Polypropylene,
- Basalt,
- Fiberglass.
- Fiber fiber.
Their volume is 2–5% of the total composition.
Question No. 2. Where is it better to place concrete garden figures on the site?
The choice of location depends on the design intent. It is important that the sculpture decorates the garden and does not look like an inappropriate object. The figure must correspond to the stylistic image and meet the rules of composition.
- Dimensions are determined by the size of the space in which it is located. A correctly selected form does not get lost, like a pea on a huge dish, and does not look like a huge pile in a small area. Optimal distance from the object to the viewer is equal to 2 – 3 heights.
- The appearance is consistent with the surrounding landscape and does not contradict the overall composition.
- If the form serves as a garden vase or a stand for mobile flower beds, then the plants should form one whole with the MAF.
Question No. 3. What flowers should I use to decorate the figure?
The most commonly planted annuals are petunia, ageratum, marigolds, antirinum, lobularia, and verbena. Read also the article: → "". The recommendation is this: if the shape is monochromatic, then plants can be selected in different colors, and on the contrary, when the shape is painted in several shades, it is better to plant monochromatic flowers. In any case, the composition looks like a harmonious whole. Plants should not suppress the decorativeness of the figure, just as MAF should not prevail over flowers.
Serious mistakes gardeners make when creating concrete figures
Mistake #1. Preparation concrete mixture from low grade cement.
The lower the number in the cement marking, the lower the quality and strength of the concrete. For garden forms It is better to use cement starting from M 400 and above.
Mistake #2. Some craftsmen forget to lubricate the mold with a greasy product before pouring the solution.
Once concrete has hardened, it is almost impossible to remove it from the mold without damage unless it is coated with a greasy substance before pouring. Machine oil or drying oil is suitable for this.
Mistake #3. Homemade concrete large sizes without frame.
If the concrete has no support, then under the influence of temperature and direct sun rays it cracks and crumbles. The thicker the concrete layer, the more fastening base is needed. Even artificial stones are not cast in large sizes.