Ah....concrete, that probably isn't a fond word for a lot of folks, but let's face it, as a crafting media- it is forgiveable!
My husband had a dream as a child ot ahve his backyard look like It's a Small World at Disneyland...and if you've seen that it means concrete. So working with concrete was something I ad to learn around, being as I'm the labor and he's the breadwinner. So we figured out how to make faux rock...then I went a little crazy from there and had to learn to cast from a sand mold and whatever was my fancy for the day. Like I have with most crafts, I dove in head first.....now don't really ahve the time to make the fun stuff. but one of these days when that darn backyard is mostly done, I will, and it's going to be awesome!
I can't wait to see how creative others are getting with their concrete!
That is one cool table. I have been doing some research on making faux rocks and casting stuff like gnomes but have kind of given up - it is just too confusing! Too much conflicting info out there. Could you please lead me in the right direction?
There is a lot of conflicting info, I'll give you that. I think it helps if you recognize that every project has to be regarded individually as far as materials go. Making that table was a completely different story than casting something from a mold, something I have done a few of but do not consider myself an expert. Oddly enough though, once I think about it, you can use the excat same recipe for both.
For all our faux projects we use a 'mortar' recipe, which is 3 parts sand to 1 part portland cement, you can use that exact same mix for casting, just mixed to a different consistency- for the faux stuff I like my mix pretty thick because I'm applying it by hand and generally not on a flat surface.
For casting you want to consider the size of the features, if you have something that has a lot of smaller features and details, I prefer to use a stepping stone mix from the craft store, it's made with a much smaller aggregate than the regular sand I use in my mortar mix. Also if you want to add strength to a casting that will be thin in any spots you can use an acrylic fortifier in place of some or all of the water.
Feel free to start a new thread if you have some specific questions!
On the faux rock? It's there in this thread http://cubits.org/craftycubit/thread/view/3403/
I should have posted here, duh You're a concrete pro though Charleen, you don't need no stnkin' recipes!
Name: Charleen Barnesville, Ga. Zone 7b-8 Walk in Peace / I'm Charley's Mom.
I'm getting ready to do it. Just want to check a little experiment I got going on , Will look at it tomarrow and let you know how it came out.
I am not a pro, but Thank you for thinking so. I will do it tomarrow or Mon. When DH goes back to work..☺
Name: Charleen Barnesville, Ga. Zone 7b-8 Walk in Peace / I'm Charley's Mom.
Yes, indeed!!! I "try" to do as he wishes when He is home but I do want I wantwhen he goes back to work, He wants to retire in 5 years, so I better hurry up and do it all now.......
My DH used to work Saturdays and it was a glorious day for me to play! Now he has Fridays and Saturdays off and I have a hard time getting anything done!
Name: Charleen Barnesville, Ga. Zone 7b-8 Walk in Peace / I'm Charley's Mom.
They mess up our plans with their own plans and if you want to stay home, they puff up like one of those Pufferfish. Just about as bad too.. Andmine wants to retire, My Gosh I'll go crazy!!!!
Oh Ladies just wait untill they retire, We retired in 2004....
you have no time to your self ..
Last year for my birthday All I wanted was a Day to my self in my glass shop ...
You're a concrete pro though Charleen, you don't need no stnkin' recipes!
