How cool is this DIY concrete planter?! I love how rustic it looks. But the best part is, my family made it for me. How great is that? I know I am biased, because two-thirds of them came out of me, but I just love the heck out of them. We make a great team and I love those little quirks that make us unique.
This post is written in conjunction with Netflix #StreamTeam. As you know, each month I share with you what my family is watching on the service and share some thoughts about what is going on with us. For this one, we are focusing on modern families and their stories. I like to think that my family is pretty modern. But when you look at how families are structured now a days (as evidenced in the new show Grace and Frankie), we are actually very traditional.
There are a few things I wouldn't change about my family. This kid here is pretty awesome. He wants to keep his hair long. He says it's his "trademark" and he is often remembered for his hair. He's taken some heat for it from ill-mannered classmates. He's been mistaken for a girl more times than I can count. But he's confident in his choice and I love that he chooses to set himself apart from what all the other kids are doing. I hope this never changes about him.
This little guy loves stuffed animals and art. He is content to sit and draw while his brother would rather be on the computer. He loves to read and often reads to me in accents. It is the BEST! He's creative, witty and seems much older than he is in some ways and then is a total kid in others. But the best part about my family, is that we would do anything to help each other out.
My husband has been working 60 hour work weeks. He's commuting to Los Angeles. He's doing everything he can to get his start-up going full speed. And yet, when Mother's Day rolled around, he and the boys decided to create content for my blog so that I could get a break. They came up with that idea all on their own. He knew that I have been juggling the kids, the blog, PTA commitments and sickness and decided to lend a hand. They also came up with the idea for a DIY concrete planter. I was so grateful. He could have gone the easy route and just gotten me flowers (he did that too, btw). But instead, he and the boys made me a gift, made work a little bit easier for me and really just showed how much they love me. So without further ado, here is their DIY Concrete Planter. (P.S. I'm doing all the wording because I think it's best to let my husband get back to his own work now.)
The supplies you need to make this planter are two different sized large plastic water bottles, ready-to-use concrete mix, scissors, a straw, a trowel and a stir stick of some kind. You will also need water and a large tub or bucket to mix the concrete in. The smaller bottle will nest inside the larger one to create the mold. Follow the steps to below, it is not as hard as it looks!
Start by cutting off the top of the plastic water bottle. Choose a plastic bottle with ridges to create a design on the outside of the planter when the concrete sets. My husband was able to use a pocket knife, but if you want the kids to help they should be able to get through it easily with scissors.
Next, poke a hole in the bottom of the large water bottle. Be warned, this part of the plastic is thicker than the top and should probably be done by an adult. My husband used a pocket knife and then twisted the scissors to work the hole open. The hole needs to be large enough to fit a straw through. The straw creates a drainage hole for the planter.
If you decide to make one of these with your kids, know that they will quickly lose interest and find the leftover pieces much more fun than doing any kind of manual labor.
Next it is time to cut the top off the smaller of the water bottles. And again, poke a hole in the bottom for the straw to fit through.
Give it a little test to see if it fits together nicely. The space between the two bottles is now your mold.
Mix the concrete per the package instructions but it is basically the concrete and water. Add the water a little at a time. You can always add more, but you don't want it to be too runny.
Remove the smaller bottle for the time being. Start adding the concrete to the bottom to create the base of the planter. Shovel in the concrete and give it a tap to get it to settle. You want there to be at least 1 inch of concrete for the base.
Add the smaller bottle back on top of the concrete.
Then fill in the concrete mix between the to plastic water bottles. Use the stick to help fill in the spaces. Try to smooth out the top as best as you can since that will be very visible on the finished planter. Holding the smaller bottle in place, tap the whole project on the ground, a few times, to remove air bubbles or empty pockets you might have missed.
The concrete takes about 24 hours to dry. When it is fully dry, use scissors to cut out the bottles. It can be a bit messy so make sure you cover your workspace or do this part outside. It took a little strength but it was not too difficult to remove the mold. Cut down the straw in the center well as short as you can.
I LOVE how it came out! There are a bunch of different ways you can use the planter. Here I perched an air plant in the center. Easy as pie.
You can also easily make it in to a vase by inserting a small glass to hold the water. Remember you have a drainage hole and if you add the water right in to the planter, it will run right out. All over the place...Duh.
But of course, you can alway use it as a planter. I planted this little cactus in it which took only a little dirt and only a few pokes to my fingers. This now sits in our family room and when I look at it, it makes me smile. It looks cool but my family made it for me and that makes it priceless to me.
The Spruce Crafts has 15 more DIY Concrete Planters to give you even more ideas!
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