How to Make Sand-Cast Garden Ornaments

Creating sand molds for cast concrete garden ornaments is a lot of fun and yields ornaments with a rustic surface that seems weathered. Bird baths, stepping stones, wall copings, bench seats, wall ornaments and shallow planters are all good candidates for sand casting.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Misting Spray Bottles
• Concrete
• Concrete
• Garden Hoses
• Sand
• Shovels
• Carts Or Wheelbarrows
• Scrap Wood
• Shovels

1. Make a simple wooden form or box that is large enough to accommodate the ornament that you'd like to make.

2. Fill the box with mason's sand.

3. Wet the mason's sand.

4. Model the ornament that you'd like to make or find an existing element that you'd like to use as a model to create your mold. Choose a model with a bold, simple design since this method won't pick up a lot of intricate detail.

5. Press the model into the sand.

6. Remove the model gently from the sand, leaving an impression in the sand.

7. Touch up any rough spots with your fingers.

8. Keep the sand mold moist with a spray bottle so it doesn't crumble.

9. Mix a batch of concrete. Experiment with the consistency. Strive for a balance of runniness - to allow the mixture to flow into the mold - and stiffness - to allow you to form the bottom.

10. Fill the sand mold with concrete. Smooth the surface, creating the shape that you want for the bottom and sides of your ornament.

11. Allow the concrete to set.

12. Remove your ornament from the sand mold, brushing away any excess sand.

[esatchel]

on 8/16/2009 This is something I would like to try. Thank you for posting this article.

[mosaicmom]

on 6/20/2008 Some great ideas. Sand is so plentiful and cheap to work with too.

[jant-d]

on 6/20/2007 Thanks, found just what I wanted on the first try!
(How to make Sand-Cast Garden Ornaments)
This site is awesome!
Jan t-d (68 year old artist)

on 11/22/2005 Use a plate for the base, and after pushing it firmly into the wet sand, use some pebbles collected from the beach to create a 'pebble' effect. Pour concrete and allow it to dry. Repeat as often as necessary for the flagstones.