Make Pet Portraits In Concrete

I came up with this method to embed pet portraits into concrete. It is a way to make a permanent piece of art to display wherever you would choose to place it.  I have had acrylic lettering and paintings survive for several years outdoors and with a little care, they should last 10 years or more.

Step 1 Gather Materials Needed

Few materials are needed for this project:

1. Hotwire machine
2. Concrete mix
3. Container for mixing concrete.
4.  Art supplies
5. Styrofoam sheet
6. Water
7. Molds of choice. (I used a cake pan for this project.)

Comments

[evanbee]

So my understanding is the styrofoam kind of embosses the cement. After the cement is done curing you could remove the styrofoam and paper. Insert the shaped cut out picture of your pet in the recessed silhouette and fill the void with a polyester resin. Creating a long lasting durable stepping stone.

Really love this instructable and can't wait to try it out myself.

[mcshawnboy]

From the example with "Elmer" if you pour concrete on top of that aren't the letters reversed? The color insert is what? A picture laminated in clear acrylic glued to the concrete? Have you seen stained glass stepping stones? Thanks!

[mwagner7]

In the finished work that has full color for the dogs and color on the name, I'm curious if this is painted or is the photograph...if it is painted, what type of paint works on concrete?

Thanks for the instructional! Very nice work.

[Nasubi77]

So, the portrait survives being glued to the paper? I guess the poly makes it easy to get the glue off? This is the only step that concerns me. Could you use a photograph finished off in poly instead of artwork?

[Creativeman]

Portraits come out fine, glue dissolves in the concrete, or rinses right off. I'm not sure the photograph would stick well enough. I have seen where people have embedded or laminated a photo then put that in the concrete, but have not tried that method. Experiment, it's the only way to find out.

[fonzuzu]

Ok thanks I will. Great istructable.

[fonzuzu]

Cool do you think i could make one with plaster or paris and make it a ornament or with air dry clay for like a plaque or something less cementy lol. Love it though.

[Creativeman]

I've not worked with plaster, but don't see why it couldn't work...give it a try! Thanks for the comment.

[ChrysN]

Nice. What a sweet way to remember your pet.

[Creativeman]

Thanks ChrysN