Here, I’m going to talk about how to easily mix and pour Buddy’s Artisan Concrete Mix to make a geometric planters. These mixing instructions will guide you through the simple DIY process of mixing concrete so you are able to easily and quickly cast your own DIY concrete projects at home using one of our molds!

What you’ll need:

For the concrete, we are using Buddy’s Artisan Concrete Mix. In this example we will use 4 cups(standard kitchen measuring cups) for easy referencing!
Silicone Planter Mold or any homemade mold: here I’m using a silicone Geodesic Sphere Planter Mold found on buddysartisanmix.com!
Mixing Stick or Paint Paddle on a drill.
Black-oxide pigment from buddysartisanmix.com.
Any mixing bucket (here we are using a 2 quart cup found in the paint section at a local hardware store)
1 cup of water ( mix ratio is 1 part water to 4 parts Artisan Concrete Mix)

Step 1: Step 1: Add All Ingredients to the Bucket

Step 1: Begin by adding all our cup of pre-measured water to the bucket and add about half of your concrete mix. Begin stirring the mixture adding a little concrete each time until all of the concrete is thoroughly mixed in the bucket. Adding the mix to the water a little at a time(mixing in between) helps make mixing any concrete easier. That way the water has a chance to wet the concrete evenly and not get all sucked up at the bottom of the bucket. The artisan mix also has a product called "Water Reducer" pre-blended into it. This allows you to mix to the right consistancy without adding too much water and thus weakening the concrete.

Step 2: Step 2: Mix Until It Looks Like Pancake Batter

Stir the mix until it resembles pancake batter. This is the perfect consistency for the mix to reduce the number of air holes that will get trapped in the mix. If the mix is too thin, add more concrete. If it's too thick, add a little water.

Step 3: Step 3: Pour Mix Into the Mold

Begin by filling the mold about 1/3 of the way up and top. Tap on the sides of the mold to release any air that was trapped during pouring. The vibration will cause any air to rise to the surface. If no air bubbles rise, or they have stopped rising, continue pouring another 1/3 of the way up and repeat. Repeat once more until the mold is full and scrape off any excess concrete with a flat tool. I usually just use the mixing stick.

Step 4: Step 4: Cover the Mold With Plastic and Let It Cure!

Place it on a sturdy flat surface and cover it with some plastic(trash bags work just fine). Your concrete needs at least 12 hours to cure but will be strongest if you can let it sit overnight. Sometimes you can pull it out a little sooner but you risk breaking it. If you are interested in pulling your piece out in just a couple hours try using our FAST SETTING version of the artisan mix available here.

Step 5: Step 5: Remove the Concrete From the Mold and Enjoy!

Once it has cured, pop it out of the mold and enjoy your handmade, one of a kind concrete object! Remove the concrete above a soft surface like a folded towel. This way if it slips out of your hands it doesn't drop or damage the mold. The silicone molds from Buddy's Artisan Mix are extremely stretchy so do not be worried when removing the concrete. Begin by peeling back the silicone and folding it over itself until it is inside out. Then just pull the it out and its done!

Step 6: Step 6: (optional)

Add some extra shine and color to your concrete! Buddy's Artisan Mix offers really cool water based Concrete Glazes that create a beautiful added look to your unique concrete piece that can be found. Glazing Instructions can be found under our Glazing Instructable.

Casting concrete is a fun and easy DIY process to create beautiful functional objects for you, your home, or for friends and family. Buddy’s Artisan Mix is not only easy to mix and available with a variety of silicone mold options, but allows the first time maker, DIY or crafts-person to create anything imaginable in any shape and any color.