Crafts for giving out of cement with your own hands: how to make garden figurines correctly

What is cement and how to work with it

Cement does not require professional skills, as well as additional complex tools. It is one of the main materials used in construction work.

When cement interacts with water, the result is a plastic mass, which after a certain time hardens and becomes a stone-like body. Strong and durable.

To work with such raw materials, you need to find a special place (preferably more). Then lay plastic wrap everywhere and fix it well with something. This is to ensure that the cement does not spoil other surfaces. After all, everyone knows: after this material thickens, it will be difficult to dispose of it.

What tools and additional materials will be required:

In order to dilute the cement, a container is needed, the volume of which must be at least 10 liters. You will need a metal container or other durable materials.
To make the slurry homogeneous, you need a mixer. A drill is also suitable, but only its nozzle must be screw.
Water. This is one of the main components, since all instruments will need to be constantly rinsed under high pressure of water.
For your comfort and safety, you need to purchase small items such as rags, rubber gloves and an apron.
Forms for figures, which can be found in hardware stores, as well as in special shops that sell various goods for creativity.
Spatulas (preferably of different sizes), they will be very useful in your further work.
Primer. It will be needed to cover the crafts after drying. It acts as the main material for the coloring composition.
Sand. It should be small and free of unnecessary debris.
Cement. In this case, we offer brands M-200 or M-300.

Preparing a mortar from cement

An example of what the mixture should look like

The most important thing is that the mixture should be a homogeneous mass in consistency reminiscent of thick sour cream. It is this density that will be ideal in order to pour cement into molds or use for the necessary crafts.

Procedure:

Pour sand into a pre-prepared container, and then cement. Mix these components thoroughly.
Add water.

Proportions per 1 kg of cement:

Cement grade	Fine sand	Water
M-200 1 kg	2.9 kg	900 ml
M-300 1 kg	2 Kg	750 ml

If you want to make your craft colored, then at this stage add a water-dispersive color scheme. Thanks to this component, the product does not necessarily need to be painted.
Mix thoroughly and bring to a homogeneous mass.

Photo of crafts for the garden of cement

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Flowerpot

It is difficult to work with cement, but this craft is just for those who have never encountered such a material as concrete. To make a flowerpot, you need a consistency: cement + sand + water, two buckets and unnecessary towels.

Take a towel and dip it into the solution so that it absorbs the mixture well. All fabric should be covered with concrete.

Attention! Use rubber gloves to keep your hands safe.

Prepare the second bucket in advance, select the length of the towel and turn it over. Throw the towel itself over it.

An example of how to cover a bucket with a cloth

If suddenly the rag is larger than a bucket, then it can be cut, but this should be done at the initial stage, while the concrete is wet. Remember, how you position the fabric on the bucket will greatly affect the end result. Therefore, turn on your imagination and arrange the fabric the way you like.

Let the future product dry, it will take a little more than a day.

After that, take out the bucket, pour the earth inside the concrete pot and plant a flower. The ideas of such cement pots can be seen in the photo below.

Flowerpots can be made of arbitrary sizes and not only from fabric. To do this, prepare any two suitable containers, one larger, the other smaller. Insert one into the other, and fill the space left between them with cement mortar. After drying, you will get a suitable, attractive product for planting flowers.

If you have a desire, then paint the craft or varnish it - this will make the pots look more beautiful. We suggest looking at the photo of the original ideas of such products.

Ring stand

An unusual jewelry stand can be made of concrete. The process is so simple that even those who have never worked with such material can master it.

Master Class:

We print out the cone templates and cut out the blanks from the contact paper along it, carefully fix the edges with packaging tape.
We take a paper plate or strong cardboard, cut out circles with a diameter of 2.5 cm in it and insert the cones.
Mix the mortar from concrete and water and pour the cones, first put some concrete, shake it to flatten it, then add more. The more often you shake the solution, the less air bubbles will remain in it.
Leave it for 12 hours, then cut off the tape and unwind the cones.

Stands for rings can be painted in any color, you can add gold, paint over splashes or polka dots, stripes. Don't be afraid to get creative.

How to make swan shapes

Beautiful white swans will be a real decoration of the site. An unnecessary plastic basin installed upside down is suitable as a frame base. The neck is made of intertwined metal wires curved in the shape of the letter S. The wire is attached to the basin by drilling a hole in it.

The basin is coated with cement, rags and pieces of foam are used to form the necessary bends. Form wings, tail. The wire for the neck is wrapped with rags soaked in cement, on top of it gradually, in thin layers, cement is applied, forming a neck of the desired thickness and a head

On the wings and tail, decorative adjustments are made, imitating plumage by scraping. Eyes and beak are outlined on the head. Leave the swan to dry for at least a week. After that, the product is sanded, primed and painted.

Crafts in the form of palms

The sculptures in the form of crossed palms look original. To create a composition:

take rubber gloves;
place the glove in a container;
pull the edges of the glove over the edges of the container (this will facilitate the process of filling it with a cement-sand mortar);
the prepared solution is poured inside;
to give stiffness to the fingers, they are inserted into them along a metal wire;
after filling, remove the glove from the container, tie it, put it in a bowl and give the desired shape;
carry out similar actions with the 2nd glove;
to connect the palms, make small cuts on the gloves at the junction, secure with a small amount of cement;
with another bowl, the palms are pressed on top to form a depression in the center of the composition;
wait several days, after which the gloves are cut with a knife and removed;
polish gloves with sandpaper;
apply a layer of primer.

Whether or not to paint the resulting sculpture is a matter of taste. In the center of the palms, you can pour soil extract and plant succulents, pour water, turning it into a drinker for birds.

Cement coasters

Cement pads are very stable. They can be of different sizes and purposes. The following options stand out:

Stand for stationery. It is made from several parts. The base is a rectangular plate 2-3 cm thick. The container for pens and pencils is a round or square cup.The base is poured into a box (plastic or metal) with the desired wall height. For the manufacture of containers, plastic cups of 2 sizes are used: one glass is inserted into another, and the space between them is filled with a solution. You can use a piece of plastic pipe with a diameter of at least 6-7 cm, into which a cylinder of a smaller diameter is inserted. After the solution has hardened, the temporary forms are removed, and the parts are connected to each other.
Tablet stand. A popcorn cup is recommended as a form. The stand is made by pouring mortar into this mold. In the lower part, at the desired height, a shelf (wooden or plastic plate) is fixed for installing the tablet.

One of the simplest crafts is a stand for an unstable container. It can be used to place flowers in a tall glass or beaker. The craft has the form of a round, rectangular or original plate with a hole in the center of the size of the container. It is made by pouring the solution into a box with low sides. Before pouring, the container for flowers is placed vertically.

Animal figurines

A whole zoo can be made from cement in a garden. A few ideas:

Hippo . The base can be made from large boulders or large basins, or simply pour a heap of gravel and cover with a mounting net. The solution is applied in several layers. This craft looks good near a pond.
Hedgehog . The figurine is constructed from a boulder or a large piece of styrofoam. In the second case, rounded shapes are formed, and then the mounting mesh is laid. The solution is applied in several layers, the latter imitating a needle coating. The neck of a plastic bottle is taken to shape the nose.

The fish craft can be considered a typical example of a skeleton figure. First, the wire frame is assembled. The contour of the fish is outlined with a thick steel wire, and then rounded sides are formed. A filler is stuffed inside the frame, a mounting mesh is laid on top. The solution is applied with a spatula in 3-4 layers.

Cement allows you to create a variety of crafts for a summer residence and at home. A novice master will be able to do simple shapes. Complex designs require specific sculpting skills. A creative person is capable of realizing any idea. In the process of work, you need to take into account certain nuances and listen to the advice of specialists, and then the summer cottage will become a cozy and favorite corner for family and guests.

Tips and tricks from experienced craftsmen

What do the masters and designers advise so that self-made figures decorate, and not spoil the territory:

When decorating the site, use one style - the characters of folk tales are not combined with sculptures in the classical style or angels.
Measure the size of the figures with the size of the plot - in small summer cottages, large products look ridiculous.
Don't chase quantity

An excess of figures distracts attention from the main thing - greenery, flowers, for the sake of which they go to the country.
Choose figures in the general style of the house, garden, territory. They will enhance the overall experience.
With a lack of experience and imagination, start with the simplest figures, master one technique

Install the product and make sure it makes the area better, not worse.

Maintain common sense and moderation. When making figures from cheap materials (bottles, old tires), carefully process, paint the products with good paint, otherwise they will look cheap and will only spoil the overall impression of the site.

Cement mushroom craft

Prepare the following materials: an old rubber ball (for the hat), a plastic bottle (it will make a leg), a steel bar (it will be used to make fasteners).

Cut the ball in half. Place one half in a bucket of sand and pour cement into it. Cut off the bottom and neck of the bottle. Insert the blank into the center of the cement-filled half of the ball. The immersion should be 1-2 cm.

Connect both parts of the mushroom with a steel rod and pour the cement-sand mixture inside the bottle. Leave the product until it hardens completely. Then remove the bottle and ball. After a couple of days, the mushroom can be painted and decorated.

Another interesting idea is a light fishnet ball. To create it, you need a regular balloon, rope and cement. The balloon must be inflated to the desired size and wrapped with a rope soaked in a cement mixture. After the craft has dried, the ball must be removed by bursting it. Next is the decoration.

The same technology can be used to make elegant lanterns for the garden or containers for flowers. The rope is not needed in this case. You just need to add a little gypsum to the cement.

One of the most popular varieties of cement crafts for dacha and garden decor are garden gnomes. It is not difficult to make such objects of landscape architecture. You will need cement mortar, steel bar, old stockings and rope.

It is necessary to pour the cement mixture into the stocking by inserting a metal rod into it. Use a rope to form a nose, beard and legs. Hang by the cap and leave to dry.

The most original DIY craft is a leaf fountain. To make a sheet of cement, you need a fairly large sheet from a plant. With its help, we will form a cement copy of it. We leave it to dry. Then we work it out in more detail and paint it. We construct a beautiful fountain from sheets of different sizes, which will become a decoration of your local area.

If you have any difficulties in making cement products on your own, then you can purchase ready-made handmade cement crafts in a specialized store or order them from a workshop.

More ideas

If you have mastered the manufacture of such figures, then you can also expand the range of materials and skills used to create:

Frame sculptures. With the help of reinforcement (frame), you can make an angel, a dog or any object. In this case, the cement is applied directly to the frame of the composition, and a construction mesh is used to keep the finished decorative element hollow.
"Drowning" sculptures. Unusual and sometimes frightening figures, as if crawling out of the ground, are made of gypsum, which is diluted with water until a solution of the consistency of sour cream is obtained. The finished composition is poured into a clay mold and left to dry for a day at a temperature of about +15 degrees.

On the garden plot, you can create very believable and creative figures from plaster.

Mosaic figures. Ready-made cement turtle or mushroom can be decorated with colored mosaics, which are placed directly on the raw mix.

In the same way, you can make creative urns for a summer cottage, decorate the sidewalk, and much more.

How to create original crafts for the garden with your own hands

To begin with, they are determined with the type of structures, their size and location, as well as the color scheme. Decorative crafts-sculptures for a garden or a summer residence can be of several types: functional (for planting vegetation), aesthetic (figurines for a garden). The first includes all kinds of concrete flower pots, in which both tall and tiny plants can be placed.

Two main varieties of concrete garden decor

They can be geometric or abstract, with ragged edges or rounded contours. Do not doubt your own abilities when considering an option with animalistic motives.

Essential inventory for creativity

To get started, you need a simple set of materials. In addition to the cement and water itself, concrete decor is created in the presence of:

sand (preferably 1-2 bags) in a ratio of 1 to 1 or 1 to 2 with cement for an appropriate mortar consistency;
remnants of tile adhesive for better material adhesion;
old container for creating concrete mix;
finishing primers;
sandpaper for polishing;
plaster mesh for fixing;
a piece of polyethylene corresponding to the size of the product for drying shelter;
metal rods, balloons, ropes, plastic containers and other form aids (depending on the type of future masterpiece and the author's imagination).

For the manufacture of simple structures, this list is reduced significantly. Concrete can be used with medium-grained pebbles or gravel to create the base of a summer cottage figure and monolithic volumetric silhouettes. You will also need a cement dye or special varnish to give an aesthetically pleasing appearance, although a natural look may suit a certain style of the site.

Concrete planter with succulents

Unforgettable, garden products made with your own hands from concrete need several days to dry. A step-by-step creation of cement decor is also possible. Therefore, the owner of the garden needs to allocate about a week for his masterpieces. For many summer residents, this issue is important, since they do not permanently live on their plots.

What tools and materials will be required

To work with cement, you will need the following tools and materials:

Metal container. Its volume should not be less than 10 liters. The solution will be diluted in it. You can use a basin, a large bucket, a tank.

A drill with a screw mixer attachment, a construction mixer for preparing a solution with a volume of more than 5 liters. A trowel, a trowel for preparing a cement mixture of a smaller volume.
Construction plastering trowels of various sizes, paint scraper, sandpaper. With their help, it will be possible to level the surface of the made crafts, remove excess cement.
Apron, rubber gloves, wet wipes, clean dry cloth. These items will make your work more comfortable and protect your clothes and hands from dirt.
Waterproof paint (regular or spray) for outdoor use, primer (as a base for paint), brush. If desired, you can paint the resulting products with paint (it is not a prerequisite, it is done only to get brighter things).
Forms and frameworks for making figures. They can be very different - wood, plastic, metal, silicone, rubber. Flower pots, planters, old boots, pieces of cloth, tires, bottles, and more will do.

To make it easier to work, you can pre-make a drawing or a sample of the planned craft.

Garden decorations

Cement crafts are very popular in the garden landscape. You can make a fountain from concrete leaves. It is manufactured in the following order:

A plastic pipe is mounted to raise water to a height of 70-100 cm.
A stencil of a large sheet is made or a natural sheet of a large-sized plant is selected.
A hole 4-5 cm deep is cut out in the sand or soil according to a stencil. The bottom is formed in the form of a concave surface and compacted. A stencil is laid on it.
A reinforcing frame is made of wire, which at the same time imitates the veins of the sheet.
The solution is poured with the formation of a concave surface on top and veins along the wire of the frame.
At the installation site of the structure, wooden posts of different heights are vertically mounted so that they form a cascade for the water flow.
The concrete leaves are fixed on wooden posts.

To give a complete look, plants and flowers are planted around the fountain, and a stone border is laid.

How and with what to paint a sculpture

Choice of paint, brushes, etc.

To decorate garden figurines, it is better to choose paints intended for outdoor use. To paint the figurine, you can use brushes or a spray gun; it is imperative to apply paint in two layers. If the drawing is complex, be sure to draw all the details with a simple pencil.

The varnish will make the figurine bright and protect it from harmful influences. Better to use a silicone or polyurethane-based coating. Apply the second layer only after the first layer has completely dried.

How to apply paint correctly

In order for the paint to evenly fall on the surface, it must first be primed. The color is chosen depending on the image and purpose of the figurine. You can make it solid white, bronze, gold, or paint it in bright colors. Coloring occurs with brushes of different sizes, alternately of all elements. The size of the brushes decreases during the painting process.

How to care for your garden sculpture

So that the sculptures for the garden, created with their own hands, with such labor and dedication, have served for more than one season and do not become unusable, they need to be looked after. After decorating a garden, they are exposed to the full spectrum of weather influences, such as heat and frost, rain and wind. Sudden changes in temperature, exposure to dust can completely destroy them.

Of course, figurines made of synthetic materialsare less exposed. But careful attitude and timely care is required for all, without exception, garden decorations: polymer, ceramic, plaster, concrete, wood. First of all, this is the removal of dust and any kind of contamination.

Resin figurines it is enough to rinse once a month with water from a hose and allow to dry well. A voluminous garden decor that does not have recesses does not need special protection. Park figures with recesses, in order to avoid the accumulation of fluid, must be covered for the winter.

Concrete sculptures, despite their massiveness and apparent strength, they need care:

regular cleaning;
lubrication with a protective compound containing natural wax;
covering for the winter with non-woven material.

Wooden sculptures be afraid of moisture, so caring for them consists in gentle wiping with slightly moistened napkins. The main thing is to monitor the preservation of the integrity of the coating: water can get inside through a small scratch, which can destroy the figure.

Plaster specimens you can clean it with special preparations for cleaning pores, or you can prepare a mask yourself from starch and water. It is imperative to protect from water with formulations with wax solutions to create a moisture-resistant film. It is recommended to store ceramic decor indoors in winter due to its fragility.

Important Tips:

Cover with varnish or any glossy finish to protect against external influences should be done with caution, as this may compromise their realism.
Do not use synthetic detergents for washing.
You can make garden statues heavier only with sand, all other materials, such as plaster, concrete, cement, will tear the figure apart.
Treat at the beginning of the season with anti-fungus agents.

Cement ladybug

You can make a ladybug from cement with your own hands. The process is simple and suitable for beginners. Such a figure for the garden will delight both adults and children.

Master Class:

In a container, mix 3 parts of sand and 1 part of cement. Add water in parts and mix the solution.

On the work surface covered with a film, we spread the blanks from the solution, which will resemble round loaves.

On the blanks, squeeze out the outline of the head and wings with a stick.

We make antennae from a thick fishing line and immediately insert it into the solution, and also slightly deepen the contour of the head.

We cover the blanks with foil and leave for 2-3 days.

As soon as the products are completely dry, we proceed to painting.

We cover the finished figures with varnish.

If, after complete solidification, the figures have roughness, then they need to be cleaned with sandpaper. Also, before painting, it is advisable to cover the product with a primer for better adhesion of the paint to the base.

Step-by-step process

To begin with, it must be said that this process itself is quite simple, but at its preparatory stage it is necessary to put a lot of effort and certain skills. Given this description of how do-it-yourself figurines for the garden are created from concrete, it is necessary to start from the stage of making a sketch ().

The form

First of all, you need to create a sketch of the future structure. It is necessary to fully display all the details of the product and their colors.

It is worth noting that professional craftsmen recommend not to use thin elements or areas that are very distant from the main trunk of the structure when designing figures.
... The fact is that when creating garden figures with your own hands from concrete, it will be very difficult to ensure their uniform and even complete filling with a solution, even when using a vibrating table or other improvised means.

It is worth saying in advance that there are many ways to create a mold for subsequent casting.
... It can be made from earth, clay, wood, metal, and even silicone. At the same time, professionals try to work with those materials that can be used several times so that their price is paid off by performance.

It is important to say that the form can be collapsible or consist of two halves. At the same time, to create it, it is best to have artistic skills related to the selected material or have a ready-made model for printing.

Given these difficulties, many craftsmen prefer to purchase ready-made forms for concrete figures, which have recently been very often sold in the building materials markets.

Fill

Typically, the manufacture of concrete figures begins with the placement in the form of the required amount of reinforcement ().

It should be said that some types of such products do not contain metal parts, but this applies only to small structures.

In order not to make diamond drilling of holes in concrete later, it is worth considering in advance the subsequent fastening of the figure to the surface and installing it before casting.
Next, make a solution of cement with sand. At the same time, professional craftsmen recommend creating it in proportions of 3 to 1 with the addition of a plasticizer. You can also use special formulations that are designed specifically for these purposes.

The further filling process depends only on the design of the mold. In this case, the tamping of the solution can be done both with your own hands using a stick, and on a vibrating table. If the form consists of two halves, which are poured separately, then it is then combined, and the joints are rubbed.

Treatment

After the product hardens, it must be removed from the mold and cut off any residues or spills. At the same time, on complex shapes, it may be necessary to cut reinforced concrete with diamond circles.

Further, the structure is treated with a large amount of primer, applying it in layers. This is done in order to reduce the absorbency of the material and increase its adhesion.
At the final stage, the figures are painted and put in their place, which is also desirable to prepare in advance.

What to focus on

In stores, prices for plaster figurines sometimes reach several tens of thousands of rubles. However, the cost of material for a whole army of funny gnomes or mushrooms will barely reach several thousand.

To save money on additional inventory or travel, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with new garden craft ideas.

Today, figures can be divided into several components:

Stands - there can be funny turtles on which small pots of flowers are comfortably located.
For the decoration of the reservoir, it can be clay frogs or other inhabitants.
For garden decoration - for example, gnomes, which do a good job of scaring away birds and animals.
For lighting - in tandem with lighting, you can create a fabulous atmosphere.

You can use all options, but experts recommend not to overdo it. To make everything look harmonious, it is desirable to follow the general style.

Complex shapes with wireframe

It's more fun to decorate your country house with sculptures of animals and mythical characters. Such creations involve the pre-fabrication of a strong framework and layering of cement mortar.

Interesting flowerpots can be made using buckets from building mixtures. At the first stage, a container of a suitable size is wrapped with a plaster net and covered with a thick layer of cement. At the second stage, until complete solidification, a decorative adjustment is carried out, making an imitation of an old stump with natural wrinkles on the bark.

A monolithic figure of a hippopotamus will look appropriate near artificial reservoirs. The place for it must be determined immediately and carefully aligned, since in the future the figure will be stationary.

As a frame, two elongated plastic bowls are suitable, which must be fastened with wire. another option is also possible: a thick cement mortar is covered over a pile of broken bricks or gravel.

The figure itself does not contain complex elements and is easy to perform. After hardening, the product is treated with a fixing impregnation and dry pigment for concrete, rubbing the powder with a hard sponge.

More complex sculptures are performed in several stages: 1) making a frame from wire and foam or containers; 2) covering the workpiece with a plaster mesh; 3) applying the mixture in several layers; 4) the formation of small details (facial features, special texture, folds of clothing, etc.); 5) priming and painting of the finished work.

Flower pots in the shape of swans will become an elegant decoration of the garden. The torso frame is an old plastic basin, the neck is twisted wire. The head, wings and imitation of plumage will have to be made from a cement mixture, showing the skills of a sculptor.

Monolithic figures are heavy, so there is an alternative way to create lightweight large objects. You can decorate your garden with boulders of different sizes.

For their manufacture, any unnecessary and light material (trimming foam, plastic bottles, polystyrene) is tied with a wire into a tight lump.

The resulting base is wrapped in a plaster mesh and covered with a thick cement mortar. The more irregularities and protrusions there are, the more natural the "stone" will look.

Small garden figurines are made from a mixture of cement with the addition of gypsum or Portland cement.

Here you can use the manufacturing methods described above, as well as any basics: old toys, garments, household utensils.