In this tutorial I show how I made my own photo props using cement and silicone molds.
Materials
- Cement all
- Silicone molds
- mixing bowl
- measuring cup
- whisk or stirring utensil
- newspaper or other cardboard to protect your area
I sourced the silicone moulds off of a site cold shein. You might be familiar with it as a clothing site, but they also offer tons of affordable home decor and craft items.
I bought several different moulds, and most of them are actually for candle making or soap. They worked fine for cement though, and I had no issues with the material sticking or not coming out of the form. They’re very durable and I will be able to use them over and over again. Here is a link to some on amazon I also found.
Step 1: Prep your area
The first step is to lay down some newspaper or cardboard in your area. Cement projects can be pretty messy so making sure that whatever space you’re using is protected is always a good idea.
I used an old cardboard box and laid it down on my dining room table to do this project because I wanted to have a good light for filming at my shop does not have a good light. It wasn’t too messy it and it ended up being just fine.
Step 2: Mix the cement
After lots of research, I found that the best cement for this project was one without any aggregate or heavy sand. I decided to go with Cement All. The nice thing about Cement All is it cures white. This is really nice for painting later or you could even keep it the color that it is and it looks great too.
Another thing that I loved about Cement all is that it cures quickly. From start to finish it was completely rock hard cured within 40 minutes. It started to cure within 15 minutes of me actually pouring it. It has a quick work time, meaning that you can get lots of things done in a day and reuse the same moulds even if you wanted to. I only found it available at home depot, lowes did not carry it.
If you only have a Lowe’s in your area or if you want to order off of Amazon, white Portland, cement or some kind of mortar mix would probably also work. The thing you’re looking for is it it is really fine sand and there are no rocks or pebbles of any kind in it.
I mixed it according to the instructions on the back of the box. It was equal parts, material and water, and I just used an old measuring cup from my kitchen that I dedicated to cement work.
* Make sure that if you do use measuring cups from your kitchen that you don’t put them in the cement and then reuse them with your food. This material is toxic to eat so you should not be using the same materials for both food purposes, and cement purposes.
I used a plastic work pail to mix the material, making sure that I got out any clumps and that it was mixed thoroughly.
The boxes says to mix it for a couple of minutes to make sure that all of the bubbles get out. Once I got done mixing, I let it sit for just a second and was able to watch some of the bubbles rise and pop at the surface.
Step 3: Fill The moulds
I slowly began using a paint stirring stick to ease some of the material out of the pail and into the silicone molds, which I had laid on top of a tray on the cardboard box on my table.
I went a little bit at a time, tapping the moulds, as I went to try to release any bubbles and help the material settle into the creases and folds of the mould. I did this as I filled them up and then manipulated and tapped them for at least a minute each mould.
I wanted to make sure that I could get as many of the air bubbles out as possible as these air bubbles, then create voids in the mould and leave imperfections. I still ended up with a few and it just happens but the more that you are able to get air bubbles out, the better the results will be.
After all of the moulds were full, I wiped off any excess spill on the outer edges of the moulds and cleaned up my workspace.
I washed my pail, stir stick, and whisk, outside in the yard with the hose.
Make sure when you are washing all of your items off that you do so before the cement dries, as this will be easier for cleanup. Make sure that you also do not wash it in the house. This is NOT supposed to go down the drains in your house and will ruin them.
Do it outside with hose water in the grass. The sediment will sink to the bottom of the grass and won’t affect anything.
Step 4: Wait for them to cure, and remove
This was one of the hardest steps. I got impatient while waiting for these to cure, and accidentally broke one of them trying to take them out of the mould too early.
I thought from feeling the backside of it, that it was done.
IT WAS NOT.
The box said that it starts to cure within 15 minutes, and I took that literally.
At 15 minutes I began trying to work one of the coasters out of the mould. It crumbled and broke.
Wait at least 45 minutes or until the cement changes from a darker grey color to a white color. Once I did this, they popped right out of the mould no problem.
I used them for a photoshoot I was working on, and loved the result. I am eager to try again, and find other ways to try and remove even more of the air bubbles from them. I noticed that the ones with the most small ridges and details were the ones that had the most air bubbles.
I bought about 20 moulds, so I will share another update on them when I make more. I think these could make great gifts too. They can be painted, or left like they are.
It would be a cute jar for plants, a candle or other things too. Let me know if you try this!
-Amanda