Panduro Concrete Challenge 1 + 2

 

So, Wille has named this week Concrete Week. The reason being that I was invited to participate in a craft challenge hosted by Panduro Hobby (Panduro is the local equivalent to Michael's craft store) and all this week I thought I'd show you what I made with the craft supplies I was sent.

The main material all us thirty or so Swedish bloggers got was concrete! I've done concrete crafts before so I was game!

What you see above is Submission #1, outdoor tablecloth weights. I love how they turned out, they look like little acorns!

I used these little plastic pods that came with Wille's Kinder eggs when he was younger. The clips came from some curtain rings I had in my sewing kit, I think they came from IKEA originally. I made a cut at the top of the pod with a craft knife and inserted the hook end of the clip in the slit.


Then I donned my craft/paint apron and plastic gloves. You have to be careful with concrete as it really dries your hands out and can sting.


There's a recipe on how to mix the concrete on the package but I like to make it a little wetter than that. A gruel consitensy works well for these projects I find.


I filled the pods and let them sit for 24 hours and then pryed off the plastic shells by cutting them open with the craft knife. After taking them out I  sprayed water on them (helps cure the concrete and makes it stronger) a few times over the next 24 hours. After that they were ready to dry out and be used.


Submisson #2 is kind of Concrete Craft 101, using two containers, one inside the other and filling the void in between with concrete.
 
I've made plant pots like this in the past but this time I made it the size that will fit an outdoor candle.

Ok, so I have plenty more to show you this week. Yes, I have been busy over the weekend. Crafting is so much fun, especially at someone else's expense, haha! Thank you, Panduro!

Comments

[lisa h.]

awesome! I could tell right away that they were make from Kinder Egg capsules - I know that shape anywhere!

I really like the simplicity of your candle holder. Both of your projects are so clever.

(should've guessed you'd have a fancy personalized utility apron. Eat your heart out, Martha...)

[Christina Diaz]

Wow, these are so cool! I would love to try and make either one of those. They both came out beautifully, I looove the look of concrete.

[jaimieinspain]

Oooohhhh so cool! I love these projects with concrete! I think I might try to attempt them myself. When you made the candle holder, did you put the concrete on the bottom of the pail too? How did you get it out of the container once it dried?

[Caroline]

Wonderfully simple and beautiful!
I sent the link to a friend that works at the company who sells Kinderegg in Sweden, who sent it to the product manager - recycling is good :).

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

What I did was pour in some concrete in the bigger container and then just pressed the smaller one into the concrete until it was where I wanted it.

I also forgot to mention that coating the containers with vegetable oil will enable you to remove the cured pieces easier!

[Steph]

fab makes! loving the candle holder, but then the 'acorns' are so sweet, especially the one with the spots. who'd have thought concrete could look so good. your blog is so inspiring :)

[Mary Ann]

How cool are these! How did you get the top of the candle holder so smooth and even?

Love the craft apron!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

That's from making the mix wetter and tapping out the air bubbles.

[Sara]

You are amazing, Miracle Girl!

[lisbeth]

Love the look of concrete! You should start making these commercially - but I guess the cost of postage will put off some etsy-customers :D

[Sam Neville]

Hi there!
I'm not one for being overly gushy about things...but..

I do love your blog!!

Sam Bath, uk

x

[Pine Tree Home]

Those weights are a genius and stylish solution to blowing cloths. Thanks for sharing.

[Elle Sees]

At first I thought those concrete shapes were huge, until I saw the Kinderegg containers. Kindereggs are one of my fave things. We can't get them here in the States, so I grab several whenever I travel.

[Vicki K]

This is such an inspiring post. I've always wanted to try concrete but it seems a bit scary - how much time do you have to work with it once it dries? Your candle holder and tablecloth weights are so perfect for summer!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I forgot to check the box before tossing it but it's not like you have to finish everything in 5 minutes, you have more time. Go for it :)

[Dana@Bungalow'56]

I absolutely love the concrete candle holder. It is perfect for outside. Looks like fun too. Adult playdough.

[Erika]

I'd pay good money for those lovely acorns! Great job..

[Jennifer S.]

The tablecloth weights are such a good idea. I've never seen those before.

[Lena]

I don't know if you already know but the "sweethome" blog of the swiss newspaper "baz" used a small picture of your craft corner i think (or office?) to illustrate the idea (they probably got from looking at your blog?) to use pretty paper bags to store things, similar to boxes. There is no direct link to the little article but if you scroll down you should find the little box: http://blog.bazonline.ch/sweethome/

[Jules @ Lovely Las Vegas]

Your creativity and ideas are brilliant, Benita. Love the functionality, but the design is also great, too.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Ummm, yes shipping these babies will be way too expensive...

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Awww, thank you! Gush away :)

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Thanks for letting me know! I couldn't find a contact link so I left a comment in the post above asking them to give me credit and to link to where they found the photo. It's ok to use my photos on blogs as long as credit is given.

[Lena]

Hmmmm I couldn't find your comment, are you sure it worked? If you have problems I would be glad to help you. Sure, its only a small picture but I think it is especially unfair if professionals use the work of a hobby blogger without asking or credit!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I'm pretty sure it worked but they monitor their comments and it's probably one they don't want the world to see so they chose not to publish it :). I haven't heard back from them though. It annoys me too when they do that!

[Samarra]

So, so clever. And now I know something else I can do with my leftover Kinder eggshells, other than putting bells inside them and giving them to the cats to play with!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Ooh, that's a great use for them! Will put a bell in one as soon as I get home today!

[Messy]

Genius.

[kate]

Love these! I want to make some pots for my garden too - have any advice for these?

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Just do them like I did the candle holder but cut a wine cork to the thickness you want the bottom of your pot to be and place it centered under the inner container and then fill the concrete around it, When the concrete has cured and you take everything apart you will be left with a drainage hole where the cork was.