How To Make Concrete Crafts Series & FAQ

The best mix for your concrete project is going to depend on what the project is- size, durability needed, and the mold you plan to use. 

My preference for the majority of my projects is Cement-All or Portland cement with a 2:1 ratio of cement to sand. 

These mixes are not the best choice for all concrete crafts. 

Read more about the concrete mixes for crafts in this article.

Cement is what binds concrete together. It’s basically the glue. 

Cement itself cannot be used alone, it needs sand or other aggregates. 

Concrete contains cement, but also contains larger aggregates like gravel. You can’t have concrete without cement.

You can read all about the differences between the concrete and cement mixes here.

You can add nylon or fiberglass fibers to make cement stronger. There are multiple other methods as well.

You’ll find details on techniques for making cement and concrete stronger in this article.

Concrete is not waterproof. It is a porous material that can be made easily water resistant. 

Find out what you need to do to make concrete waterproof here.

Pigments formulated for concrete are the most common way of adding color to concrete for crafts.

There are many other materials you can use for coloring concrete.

You can read in-depth about How To Color Concrete Crafts here.

Concrete and cement contain compounds that are high in alkalinity. 

Many plants need soil that is neutral- acidic (opposite of alkaline). 

Some plants do great in alkaline soil. Concrete planters can easily be neutralized for plants.

There’s more here on why concrete can cause problems, and how to easily make your concrete planters safe for plants.

The strongest concrete mix will depend on what your project is in terms of size and thickness.

There are some mixes that are the strongest mix you can find if you are making a very large planter, but this mix will not be your best choice for something like stepping stones.

To learn exactly how to choose the best concrete mix for your specific project, take look at this post.

The most common cause for cracking of cement is too much moisture in the mix, which causes excessive shrinking.

Here are 5 reasons why concrete cracks. Though this article refers to pots, it applies to all concrete crafts.

Concrete mixes contain chemicals that are caustic, which can cause burns to your skin, eyes or lungs. 

They also contain silica which can cause lung cancer with long-term exposure.

Here is an article with information on how to handle concrete safely when working with concrete crafts mixes.

You can use just about anything for a concrete mold.

The best molds will be smooth ones that also have straight sides for ease of removal. Even household plastic containers make great molds. 

Take a look here for the rundown of the different types of concrete molds and which is best for your project.

Yes, concrete mixes will expire.

The active chemicals will lose their ability to react after a while and will lose their power to bind the mix together.

Six months to a year is typical for an unopened bag of concrete mix before it expires. 

Here are some more details on how long before a concrete mix expires and how it can cause cracks and crumbling of concrete.

Some of the most common supplies you’ll need for making cement crafts is a mixing bowl, cement mix, cup of water, gloves, sandpaper and pliers.

For details on what’s important to have for making concrete crafts, then take a look at this article.

To make a concrete planter, you’ll first need to choose a mold. Based on the mold you use, you can then choose a concrete mix.

This article tells you everything you need to know about how to make concrete planters.

To make a silicone mold for concrete casting, you will need to combine a two part silicone material and pour it into a container.

The container holds the object you are replicating.

Here is a tutorial with video on how to make a silicone mold for a concrete planter.

You may need to use a lubricating oil in your mold for concrete crafts. It can help make demolding easier.

Sometimes a lubricant can cause discoloration, so you may want to avoid using it unless absolutely necessary.

Here is more on lubricant and molds in this article about techniques for making cement crafts.

Concrete crafts can be painted with water-based paints like latex or acrylic.

To find out more about the types of paint or other colorants that can be applied to concrete after curing, take a look here.