Materials and tools to create figures
Garden mushroom made of plaster
For a very long time garden figures popular in the design of the suburban area. Small architectural forms you can install anywhere: on the porch of the cottage, in the garden or even in the garden. Today popular garden figures of their ceramics, stone (Polyresin), improvised and gypsum. In this article, we would like to reveal to you the technology to create garden figurines made of plaster with their hands. Gypsum is an inexpensive, easy to use and also durable material. In order, that would make a small plaster figurine of yourself, you will need the following materials and tools:
- Sculptural plaster (the alternative to the plaster can serve as a more durable- cement mixture). The amount of gypsum depends on the size of the figures. On the figure the small size will be enough to buy half a kilo of plaster.
- Construction PVA glue
- Acrylic paint
- Lacquer
- Water resistant adhesive for fixing of decorative elements of garden figures
- Decorative elements. Everything to your taste, for example, beads.
- A small brush
- A simple pencil
- The compass
- Gypsy needle or the cutters on wood
- Stationery knife
- Food film
- Ordinary soap
- Oil (sunflower)
- Clean water
- Molds under plaster (plastic bottles, different cups, etc.)
Materials and tools to create figures
Once all materials and tools will be collected, move on to creating their self-made figurines out of plaster.
Step-by-step guide to creating a garden figures made of plaster
In our example we will how to create a plaster mushroom, which will fit harmoniously into any garden style.
Step 1 -The creation of the Stipe
Mushroom will consist of legs, the cap and the base. To create the Stipe is recommended to use the clipped neck of the bottle.
The mold under the stem of the mushroom
First we need to take care of, what would a frozen plaster well away from the molds. What would it provide in a separate amoxil grate the soap and stir it with sunflower oil and water (the ratio 2/1/7).
Grated soap
A mixture of vegetable oil, soap and water
Next, using brush lubricates the mold and move on to pouring the plaster. The packaging of the dry gypsum provided the ratio of plaster and water to create mortar. Please note that, what do not just “breed” the whole cast, because. he quickly seizes. Use only necessary for the Stipe part of plaster, stir and pour into the mold. In order to save some amount of gypsum, it is recommended to do the leg mushroom hollow (in the mold in advance to install a small plastic bottle, as shown in the picture).
Small bottle to create hollow legs
The creation of the hollow of the Stipe
What would the bottle floated out of plaster, apply it with a heavy object (for example, stone)
The use of stone
Once the plaster to grab (after about half an hour), with a utility knife, cut the bottle and carefully remove the finished stem of the mushroom.
Removing the legs from the form
Ready Stipe
Step 2 – Creation of the mushroom cap
The mold for the mushroom cap can be a bowl or deep dish. First, capacity must be wrapped in plastic wrap (or lubricate with a mixture of water/soap and sunflower oil), then pour plaster into it. After the plaster a little to grab (approximately 10 minutes), insert the center leg of the cap and leave the product until fully cured.
Bowl for the mushroom cap
The process of creating the mushroom cap
Gypsum mushroom
Step 3 – Create the base of the mushroom
Once the fungus from plaster hardens, build a Foundation under the garden figurine. Suggest you to create a removable base under the mushroom, what would the clearance of the fungus there are no obstacles. The mold base may be broader capacity (as shown in the photo).
The mold under the base of the mushroom
As in the case of hat, protected capacity plastic food wrap and pour the plaster solution. When the base is a little clutch, wrap the stem of the mushroom in foil and insert in the center of the base.
After complete curing of the molds, pulling a plaster mushroom and go to the appearance of the finished garden figures.
Step 4 Decoration mushroom
As additional decoration elements fungus can be a little plaster leaves, flowers or bugs.
The base of the mushroom and the accessories
Mold under plaster accessories
When all items are ready, you must carefully dry all plaster details. To do this, put them in a Sunny place (in good weather in a day, you may start to finishing touches). At that time, how homemade plaster fungus cures, think about it, how you decorate (on paper sketch).
Sketch garden figures – plaster mushroom
When the figurine is completely dry,begin to apply all of the details on the mushroom with the help of a simple pencil (as shown in the photo).
Drawing on a mushroom
Next pencil line make embossed using the cutter on wood (or Gypsy needle).
A figure cut through the floor to the pencil lines
After that you have to handle the figure ground, this will reduce the flow of acrylic paint. As a primer it is recommended to use the ratio 1 of construction glue with two parts water. Lie hardening of the soil is 1,5 – 2 hours.
Primer garden figures
Here we come to the finish line coloring of the fungus. Nothing complicated, according to the sketch of coloring a plaster mushroom and, again, wait until dry.
Coloring mushroom garden
In the end, painted garden figure reveal a colourless varnish (in several layers).
Please note that, when opening the figures with varnish, should not be unpainted areas, otherwise, after the season, your figure will lose its appeal (paint will be diluted precipitation).
It remains only to glue the mushroom to the finished base (using a water-resistant glue) and ready to install a garden figurine on the right place!
Finished gypsum mushroom for garden
Garden figurine – plaster mushroom
As you can see, the technology of creating a plaster mushroom is quite simple and does not take much time! We recommend to involve in this process children, this will bring you closer together and allow the child to develop their creative thinking! Read with decoration of the garden figurines of plastic bottles!