Easy DIY Decor: Hand-Formed Cement (Over Glass) Vases
Update: I want to mention that I started a Concrete and Cement Furniture/Decor/Garden Community Board on Pinterest. I'd love it if you joined in the fun! Update: Check out the Project Gallery on DIY Furniture Studio to see more cement/concrete furniture and decor with tutorials. Update: I want to thank you all for your lovely comments and questions, especially about how to color the cement vases. These comments/questions prompted me to explore this topic. I have done many projects using latex paint and colored sand as cement/concrete colorants. These cement-covered glass vases are both easy and fun to make!
First, get yourself an inexpensive glass vase, or get a glass bottle from your recycle bin. You will need a few other things like a dust mask, gloves, anchoring cement, measuring cups, water, and a mixing bowl. I'll describe here one way of making the cement vases. Check out the link below for two more variations for different styles of vases.
I put one cup of dry anchoring cement in a bowl and added 1/4 cup of water. Once you add the water, you have about 5 minutes to work the cement before it sets up (hardens).
I mixed the cement to a plastic, putty-like consistency that I could pick up in one big blob.
Then the fun begins! Break off a portion of the cement blob and start spreading it on your vase. Some of the cement oozes off and won't stay in place. That's okay. Just keep putting it back on and spreading it out.
After a few minutes, you might start to think that this is not going to end well.
But it will! The cement gradually hardens enough to stay on the vase. Then your efforts can be focused on smoothing out the cement.
Then just that quick the cement is completely hardened, and you have a cement vase. You can do touch-up smoothing with sandpaper or mix a small batch of cement for repair.
The variations described in the blog post follow the same general procedure, but the amount of water added to the mix is different, and the cement is worked in slightly different ways.
This DIY decor project is perfect for "making it your own" by the choice of the glass vase or bottle and the cement mix consistency . I hope this post gave you some information as well as inspiration to create cement vases to enhance the uniqueness of your decor. Stop by my DIY Furniture Studio blog at the link below for the detailed tutorial.
DIY home decor using recycled glass bottles
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I have found that if I do a quick painting of the glass jar first with a homemade chalk paint mixture, that it helps the cement to adhere better. I just mix some baking soda into a gray acrylic paint.
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That's a great idea!
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I wonder if I made these like to cover a plastic pumpkin. Take a piece of wood cut it the size of the opening . Drill a small hole in the center to run a piece of strong wire through the hole. Wire will work for {2} Two things. One to hold the wood while your spreading your cement. Second the
Small brach you drill through end to end to make it Look Like the Stem,,, maybe to hang it off the side of your steps.
Ok My QUESTION IS !!
What Happens If ‘This’ or The Vases Sits
outdoors in the RAIN ?? They won’t
START TO SCREAM LIKE THE WICKET WITCH “ I”am MELTING” !!!!! And all our Hard Work the Cement Runs Down & Off.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Did you reinforce this at all? If not have you found that they crack over time or stay comepletely intact? I considered reinforcing with fiber glass fibers but it is rather expensive
Can you add colour to the cement?
Does anyone know if Quickcrete could be used the same way?