Last week I shared all the details on how to make your own concrete bowls. I am following up on that blog post with the methods I used to get three completely different looks. Each method uses the same basic supplies and follows the same process for making the bowls.
METHOD #1: Regular gray concrete
I used a Quikrete High Strength Concrete Mix for the gray concrete bowl method. The entire “how to” process can be found in last week’s blog post. This method was as simple as can be, concrete and water.
METHOD #2: Aged stone/found look
I followed the same process for making regular gray concrete bowls. After they had fully cured, I spray painted them with a flat black spray paint. I rubbed some wet dirt on the bowls and let the dirt dry. Once the dirt is dry, you can use a dry rag or cloth to wipe off any excess dirt. I just repeated this process until I got the look I wanted to achieve.
METHOD #3: White concrete
For this last method, I followed the same process as the gray concrete bowls except I used a leftover bag of this White Countertop Mix in place of the gray concrete mix. You could also use this Quikwall White Surface Bonding Cement as an alternative option. I finished the bowls by sealing them with a water-based penetrating sealer.
So simple right? Same process— 3 completely different looks. Which method is your favorite?
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8 Responses
how do you get the top of the bowl so smooth?
I think it depends on the consistency of the concrete mix. If it’s on the dryer side, the tops get rough. If the mix is a little more watered down, the tops get smoother. Also the better quality concrete mix you use, the less stones are in it, which also helps.
To get all color into your concrete,crush pastels up or use concrete dry colorent (Amazon)
Mix well or use acrylic paint
Such a great idea! I’ve used the cement pigments before and loved how they turned out!
For the white concrete, did you sand it before the water-based penetrating sealer?
I did not sand it, but you could if you wanted to. The white concrete was high quality and naturally had a very smooth surface.
These are all so beautiful! Would you mind explaining how you get the rustic look on the rim instead of a smooth look?
Thank you! It’s all about the concrete consistency. I mixed it a little thicker (less water) to get the rustic rim. And then the opposite for a smooth rim.