Concrete projects don’t always have to be major renovations, especially in your home. They also don’t have to be outdoor only projects.
In fact, there are some really fun things you can do involving concrete that are great for both the interior and exterior of your home. Plus, they are kid friendly.
So, the next time you are feeling crafty, get in on some of these fun activities. They won’t break the bank, will look amazing, and are just plain fun to do.
However, before you jump into any one of these cement projects, make sure you calculate the concrete required to get the job done so you don’t come up short with a half-finished project.
1. Make a Stool
All you’ll need for this project is a few wooden dowels, some well-mixed concrete, and a bucket (or a square cake pan) to form the seat.
To make the stool strong enough to hold an adult, consider drilling holes into the legs and connecting them with tough wire before inserting them into the wet concrete. Find detailed instructions about this project here.
2. Magnets
To make silly shaped magnets, first find a fun shaped ice cube tray, fill it up about halfway with your cement mix, and make adjustments with a spoon so they are even.
Gently shake the ice cube tray so all of the concrete settles into every corner (which is easy to do since concrete loves to mold to its spaces), and let the concrete dry – almost all of the way.
Once the concrete is nearly dry, but is still slightly pliable, push the magnets into the shapes, leaving the tops to hang out. Then let them dry completely. Once set, pop those suckers out and sand the edges if they are a little rough.
3. Monogrammed Concrete Letters
Perfect for your child’s bedroom, these monogrammed cement letters are not hard to make at all, and they don’t require expensive materials either.
- Create a letter shaped mold out of cardboard or some other sturdy material
- Wrap the creases with heavy duty tape so none of the concrete poured in leaks out during the drying process
- Let it dry overnight
- Carefully remove the mold so as to not break the letter
Now you can do fun things like paint it, color it with chalk, or leave it in its raw concrete form.
4. Planters
Teach your kids about concrete mixing and gardening, all at the same time, with these neat concrete planters.
To start, choose two different sized containers as molds for your planters. Coat the inside of the larger container with olive oil. Then, fill it with concrete leaving approximately one inch at the top free. Lightly shake to eliminate any air pockets, though take care not to overwork the concrete.
Next, push the smaller container about two thirds of the way in to the center of the larger container. This will be the area you plant your flowers. Place something heavy inside the small container to hold it in place and let the concrete set completely.
Lastly, gently remove the molds and sand any rough edges. Now the really fun part happens! Buy some potting soil, some seeds, or even full-grown plants and flowers, and help you child plant them and watch them grow.
As you can see, there are so many cool things you can do with concrete that don’t involve driveways, decks, buildings, or countertops. And what’s great is you can get your kids involved too making for a fun weekend afternoon.
So, grab yourself some high quality concrete mix and start playing – you and your kids are sure to have loads of fun!