Because candleholders typically are small, they are good practice projects for working with concrete. Try using empty yogurt containers or margarine tubs as molds. Before the concrete for a candleholder sets, oil a candle and insert it in the concrete to get the right fit. (Clean the oil off the candle before lighting.)
Use Concrete to Accent Garden Style
Concrete DIY planters are extremely adaptable in terms of style: Use fluted forms to fit with cottage-inspired garden furniture, or choose straight lines and geometric shapes for a more modernistic look. Plant with a few bulbs for early blooms in springtime; transition to colorful annuals in summer and autumn. Be sure to push your interior mold down far enough so the inside gives plants room to root. If you don't want to see the soil in the planter, use small rocks as a mulch to complement the concrete material.
Create a Concrete Birdbath
To create a birdbath rather than a planter, use a wide, shallow interior container. For a more organic form, simply press a shallow impression into the concrete. For regular patterning, select a few similarly shaped rocks; oil them and press them into the wet concrete. Look for castoff bits to use as decoration, such as small mirrors that can be embedded in the bottom of the bowl to add reflection to the water.
Craft Large-Scale Pieces with Concrete
Once you've mastered smaller projects, consider moving on to larger pieces, such as a concrete bench. For a simple design such as this, use plywood and framing pieces to make a mold. The finished bench will be heavy so it likely will need a permanent site. Toss on a few cushions to use it for seating, or make it a spot to display potted plants.
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