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How to: Make Easy and Elegant DIY Concrete Planters

by on Jul 31, 2013


To the uninitiated, concrete might seem a bit intimidating. But, it’s got all kinds of fun, design-y uses in home decor projects. These planter project is inexpensive, easy to create and a great way to learn your way around working with a bag of the heavy stuff.  Just be sure to get someone to help you carry it.   Ingredients-Cement PlanterRebekah Greiman

Here’s all that you’ll need:

  • bucket and access to water
  • rubber gloves
  • sand/topping concrete mix
  • hand shovel or garden trowel
  • cooking oil and paintbrush
  • Exterior mold container: paper bowl, milk carton, oatmeal container, etc
  • Relief containerL plastic or styrofoam cup, plastic bottle, etc

Cement BucketRebekah Greiman
1. Prep your molds by painting a thin layer of cooking oil on the inside of the exterior mold and outside of the relief container. Then, pour several cups of dry concrete mix into a bucket and add a little water at a time.

Cement MixingRebekah Greiman
Mix the cement and water until the consistency is thick and stiff, like a very thick (and heavy) cookie dough. Pour the cement into the exterior mold and insert the relief in the center of the mold. Let dry overnight.
 

Dried Cement PlanterRebekah Greiman
Remove the relief and the exterior mold once the cement is dry. That’s it.

Cement PlantersRebekah GreimanThat’s it? Yep, that’s it. You can use these as indoor/outdoor planters, candle/votive holders, or as a vase. 

Succulent PlanterRebekah Greiman

Experiment with different molds and shapes, and let us know how it goes!

Rebekah Greiman is the creator of Potholes and Pantyhose, a web blog dedicated to original DIY projects. Rebekah’s detailed tutorials are written to educate and entertain, while highlighting crafts, home decor, recipes, remodeling and more. See them all at Potholes and Pantyhose.

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