CONCRETE PLANTER POPSICLES

TREAT YOURSELF AND YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE WITH A FAST, EASY AND DELICIOUSLY CUTE DECORATION. Silicone popsicle molds are inexpensive and readily available. When I saw a pineapple shaped mold at our local grocery store I was so excited. I could not wait to decorate all my planters with tropical and festive concrete pineapple popsicles. They make creative gifts to brighten up your friends and loved ones patio, planters, flower pots and more. Decorate your next party with your themed, handmade concrete popsicles!

YOU’LL NEED:

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PREP & POUR

Sunny and hot weather is ideal for this project!
Prep your outdoor work surface by covering it with paper or a plastic tarp.

Clean your mold and make sure it is free of any debris.
You can fill the mold with water and then pour the liquid into a measuring cup so you know how much concrete mix to make. Or you can just eyeball it like I do!
Spray lightly with cooking spray or mold release spray.

Mix equal parts portland cement and sand into a cup. I use plastic 40 oz. cups from fast food restaurants.
Optional: You can add a handful of perlite as an inexpensive fill that will make the end product less heavy.
Slowly add a minimal amount of water. Mix and let the water absorb completely making sure to scrap the bottom and sides of the cup. Add more water as needed. The goal is for the mix of be a thick but pourable consistency.

Pour the mix into the mold making sure to fill all the edges. Tap and gently shake the mold to release any air bubbles. Insert a popsicle stick into the mold.

Cover with a plastic bag and allow to cure for 1-2 days.

UNMOLD & SOAK

Once the form is completely dry, it is ready to be removed from the mold. You can tell that is it dry if the color is now a medium to light gray. If you are not sure, move the mold to a sunny spot and allow to dry out further.
Gently remove the form from the mold.

Soak the form in a bucket filled with water and about 1/2 cup of vinegar. This will help remove any potentially toxic alkalinity from the concrete. Leave for 2-3 days. You can change out the water if you wish, but I seldom do.

Remove the concrete form from the water and leave out in the sun to dry.

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COLOR

Once your form is completely dry, you are ready for the best part – paint!!!!! Follow the paint manufacture’s instructions for paint application. I usually spray about 10-12 inches away from the form in a quick, sweeping motion. The first coat does not need to be super thick. Concrete is pourous so a second coat is recommended. Allow the first coat of paint to dry (about 45 minutes) then apply a second coat.

Get creative! Gently spray with a second color while the base color is still wet to give an ombre effect. Spray your paper with an accent paint color, dip an old paint brush into the pigment and gently apply a dry brush effect to your concrete form. Or feel free to get detailed when painting your form. As long as the paint is meant for outdoor applications, there are no limits to what you can create.

Optional: Once the paint is dry, apply a coat of polyurethane waterproofing sealer for lasting protection. This will ensure that your form can hold up against the elements for years to come.

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PLEASE NOTE!!!

Make sure you shake the mold long enough for all the air bubbles to release otherwise you might have air pocket that blemish the surface of your form.

If the form is not completely dry before being removed from the mold, you run the risk of the detailed bits falling apart and having a flawed end product.

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I hope that this post inspires you to get creative with concrete and find joy in accessorizing your outdoor space 🙂