Things You'll Need:
- Misting Spray Bottles
- Concrete
- Concrete
- Garden Hoses
- Sand
- Shovels
- Carts Or Wheelbarrows
- Scrap Wood
- Shovels
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Step 1
Make a simple wooden form or box that is large enough to accommodate the ornament that you'd like to make.
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Step 2
Fill the box with mason's sand.
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Step 3
Wet the mason's sand.
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Step 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.
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Step 5
Press the model into the sand.
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Step 6
Remove the model gently from the sand, leaving an impression in the sand.
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Step 7
Touch up any rough spots with your fingers.
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Step 8
Keep the sand mold moist with a spray bottle so it doesn't crumble.
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Step 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.
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Step 10
Fill the sand mold with concrete. Smooth the surface, creating the shape that you want for the bottom and sides of your ornament.
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Step 11
Allow the concrete to set.
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Step 12
Remove your ornament from the sand mold, brushing away any excess sand.
Comments
mosaicmom said
on 6/20/2008 Some great ideas. Sand is so plentiful and cheap to work with too.
jant-d said
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)
Anonymous said
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.