Cement cloth decor: How, why and where.
Updated: Feb 18
DIY hack to turn old napkins into stylish pots or vases using microcement powder
What is cement cloth decor?
Regular readers will know that I'm a bit obsessed with microcement. Not only have I revamped my whole kitchen with microcement, but I've also made a coffee table and fridge surround. After finishing my most recent project, I had a bit left over, so I started experimenting to see if I could make some pots with the rest of the kit and some old cloth napkins. The results were quite exciting, especially for a first attempt, so I decided to share them here as I know many of you enjoy a good DIY or craft project. I'm calling it Cement Cloth Decor!
You will need
I used the last bit of my off-white, polished concrete microcement kit from Concrete Lab. They do a sample kit if you want to buy it specifically to make smaller decor items.
Alternatively, you'll need some form of concrete powder & water
- Fabric cloth (cut into squares for the size of vase or pot you want to make)
- Gloves
- Stirrer (can be an old spoon or stick)
- Paintbrush
- A piece of string or ribbon
- Paint to finish (optional)
- A pot or vase to use as a mould
- Some cling film or a plastic bag
- Something to raise the mould off the table eg another pot of similar width.
Step 1: Prep time
Microcementing can be quite messy, so you'll need to cover the surface of the area you plan to work on. You also need a plastic sheet (or bag cut into a sheet) to cover the item you use as a mould. Before you start, make sure you have everything you need to hand
Mix up your concrete mix according to the instructions. The kit I used simply required the resin liquid to be mixed with the powder. As this project required a more diluted form of microcement I added extra water.
Step 2: Prep your fabric and mould
Place the fabric into the liquid concrete mixture and make sure it absorbs it well and that all of the material is covered. Move the fabric around in the mix to check there are no dry areas.
Unless you are using a tall vase for the mould, you need to raise the item you are covering off the table so the top of your pot can stretch out. Therefore, I placed it on top of a candle holder to achieve the extra height.
Cover the item you are using as a mould with plastic to protect it from the concrete mix.
Step 3: Microcement application
Wearing gloves, lift the fabric out of the microcement mixture and place over the mould. Arrange the folds of the fabric in the style you want, pinching and pleating neatly and evenly for the perfect final results.
Using a paintbrush, layer up more of the microcement mixture on to the neatly arranged fabric (napkin in my case).
Leave to dry and harden. You might choose to tie around the neck of the vase with a piece of string or ribbon if you want a tall, narrow shape at the end.
Once dry, coat with a layer of primer and allow to dry before laying up more microcement mixture.
Once the second application of microcement has dried, lift the vase off the mould and turn up the right way. Layer microcement on the inside using the paint brush and allow to dry.
Step 4: Finishing touches
Once dry, you could opt to paint your vase/pot/sculpture.
As you can see this is a really simple, messy, fun little project that will save you money on buying lots of new accessories and homeware.
Textured paint effects for rustic vases
Another similar project you might like is creating a textured paint effect on a vase by adding baking soda to paint or by layering up paper and wallpaper paste onto a vase and painting over it to create an artisanal look. Read the tutorial for these paint effects here.
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This part of my site is concerned with all things aesthetic and building a connection with your home through your decor and styling decisions. If you are looking for bedroom decor inspiration then you need to read Styling tips for a beautiful bedroom. or Budget bedroom makeover to beat the lockdown blues where I show you how I completed the ultimate budget bedroom upgrade using tester pots to paint an ombre mountain mural. If money-saving decor tips is what you are after then you need to read Upcycled pantry shelves of joy and Money-saving home decor hacks.
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Claire
