Unbelievable Decorative Bookends Crafted in Fake Concrete
In the quest for unique and stylish home decor, the DIY community has once again come up trumps with a creative project: faux concrete bookends. This article outlines the steps to create your very own faux concrete bookends using FloraCraft Styrofoam cubes, FloraCraft Smooth Finish, FolkArt Light Concrete Painted Finish, and cardboard letters.
Step 1: Shaping the Base
Start by shaping the FloraCraft Styrofoam cubes into your desired bookend form if needed, trimming to size or shaping edges. A putty knife can be used to smooth out any rough edges.
Step 2: Applying the Smooth Finish
Apply a coating of FloraCraft Smooth Finish over the Styrofoam cubes to create a smooth, hard surface that resembles concrete texture. Two coats may be necessary for optimal results. Allow it to dry fully.
Step 3: Painting with FolkArt Painted Finish
Once the Smooth Finish is completely dry, paint the coated cubes with FolkArt Light Concrete Painted Finish. This will give them a realistic light concrete appearance. You may need a couple of paint layers for desired coverage and texture.
Step 4: Adding Decorative Details
For added decorative detail, attach cardboard letters to the front or sides of the bookends. You can paint these letters in complementary colours or leave them plain for contrast.
Step 5: Letting it Dry
Let all finishes dry thoroughly before using the bookends to support books.
This method uses lightweight Styrofoam as the base, the Smooth Finish to provide a hard, paintable surface mimicking concrete, and the FolkArt paint for the concrete look, with cardboard letters for personalisation or design accents. This approach avoids heavy real concrete while achieving a similar aesthetic suitable for home decor.
Other Concrete Project Ideas
In addition to the faux concrete bookends, other concrete projects to consider include DIY Concrete Candle Holders From Plastic Bottles, Pineapple DIY bookends, DIY Faux Concrete Vase, and How to Make Cement Coasters. These projects demonstrate the versatility of concrete in the realm of DIY home decor.
[1] The author expressed excitement about using the FolkArt Painted Finishes, specifically the concrete finish. [5] The bookends made are faux cement bookends, and the user can choose any letters of the alphabet for them. [6] The concrete finish has a grit to it, which helps in making the bookends look like real cement. [7] Cork can be added to the bottom of the bookends for non-slip purposes. [8] A pop of colour was added to the bottom of the cube by taping, painting, and letting it dry. [9] The concrete finish was used to fill in the seams between the letter and the cube. [10] The letter was glued to the cube using a hot glue gun.
- To enhance the home-and-garden aesthetic, consider incorporating the stylish and unique DIY faux concrete bookends into your lifestyle, as part of a creative home decor project.
- For those interested in expanding their home-and-garden DIY skills, exploring alternative projects such as DIY Concrete Candle Holders From Plastic Bottles, Pineapple DIY bookends, DIY Faux Concrete Vase, and How to Make Cement Coasters could provide exciting new additions to one's lifestyle and home decor.
