Sunday, July 17, 2005

When my parents came for a visit over the Fourth of July they helped us get started on the patio. One evening they showed us how to make mushrooms out of leftover concrete. (project page)

We have made some lopsided mini versions since... and I want to paint them red with white dots. A friend recommended concrete dye, which I have no expeience with. Anyone ever tried it?

15 comments:

  1. Concrete dye goes in when you mix the concrete. There is concrete paint that is used for things like garage floors.I've never used the paint. You could use the dye in the concrete and pour it over colored marbles (or anything of your choice)to make the dots.

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  2. Ooooor you could mosaic it!

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  3. A couple years ago a friend of mine had a temp job as the receptionist at a place that sold the color for concrete, and I remembered their name. Here's their website - http://www.daviscolors.com/ - maybe if you get stuck finding what you need it could help!

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  4. I haven't tried it myself since our cement mushrooms were purchased already colored. I have heard that you can use cement pigments.

    Cement pigments can be purchased at home improvement centers, building materials suppliers and mason's supply stores.

    I've seen them being used in custom stepping stones.

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  5. this is very cool! i have been planning to make casts of large (and small) leaves to make bird baths.
    you could also do the inverse of digging a pit, by mounding sand/dirt, covering with plastic and putting your concrete over that. but the setm might be more troublesom in terms of getting a good fit...
    cement dye is avail. in hardware stores and places that sell mosaic supplies.
    one thing about curing - cement can typically take a few weeks to cure (depending on size), so i'd be careful with my mushroom for a few weeks.
    also, if you make really big shrooms ;-), be sure to make an armature to put in the concrete to help hole the strux together. chicken wire would work well for a larger cap - you could cut a circle smalller in diameter than than the cap and crimp it to shape. pour some concrete and then lay it in and then pour the rest.

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  6. What a cute idea! can't wait to see finished results!

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  7. Shelley says: Cement pigments go in to the wet concrete before you pour. There are paints that adhere to dry, cast concrete. Check your local, large craft shop. Or online. These mushrooms ae absolutely adorable. Thanks for showing us!

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  8. Very cute, but a suggestion: next time, cut ridges on the "underside" of the wet cement cap so that when you flip it right side up, it will have mushroom "gills" - a touch more realistic and fun.

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  9. I am TOTALLY doing this for my yard. So cute!!

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  10. I have nothing constructive to add but I just wanted to say that I love those. Are they tall enough to sit on?

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  11. Hey we may still have some red concrete pigment - are you done working with wet concrete? If not, I can send it to you if I find it when we move :o)

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  12. Very sweet! Will definitely have to incorporate them into our new garden!

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  13. Well, I really dont like and seeing mushroom as a disgusting gross that grows in our patio, I am really obsessed to eliminate them, just painting what it's needed to paint in order to avoid them.

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  14. Only an open-minded person could write this kind of content. I agree with your points and I really enjoyed this article a lot. Great article!

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  15. such an amazing post.
    Building materials play a significant role in construction of habitats and structures and the building materials suppliers in Indore
    are the bulk sellers of branded and genuine substances. The materials may include white cement and putty, RMC, steel, bricks and much more.

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