DIY Concrete Monster Eggs
The element of surprise makes for some quite unique crafts. This method of casting DIY concrete monster eggs with balloons has some unpredictability to it and therefore creates different outcomes each time. You just never know! I’m sharing some of my tricks and tips so you too can ‘lay’ some unique eggs…
You will need:
- 12″ Balloons
- Balloon pump
- RapidSet Cementall
- Container to mix cement in, water & stir stick
- Funnel or old plastic bottle with bottom cut off
- acrylic paint (any kind) white, black, Gold,
- various paint brushes
- sharp tool to poke balloon
The First Pour:
Get the balloon ready by putting it onto the end of the funnel or bottle. This concrete mix is very quick setting so you want to be ready. ( Be safe when mixing cement and wear a good dust mask and gloves)
You will not need a huge amount of mix, just about enough to fill a balloon when it is not blown up. I would mix for one at a time. This mix incorporates the water fairly quickly so add slowly. Or add mix to water til you have a slurry that flows but isn’t too runny.
Notice how it is already changing as I pour it into my make-shift funnel. WORK FAST! Tap the funnel to make the mix flow into the balloon. The balloon should be full to the top. Take it off of the end of funnel and hold over the end of pump. Blow up the balloon to about 8-9″ length. The one end of the balloon seems to stay pointier. Tie it off.
(Sorry, I was working too quickly to take pictures and juggle the tools and balloon.)
Now comes the part that is somewhat mysterious. You want to keep moving and tapping the balloon to get the mix to flow around inside ALL OVER. Tap and turn, and turn slowly but consistently for a while, 5 minutes or so. You can’t see through, but can feel the weight when it is in one section. The more coverage the better.
Once you feel it isn’t flowing any more, place it somewhere where it will not roll away.
Unmolding:
After 1 hour it is ready to unmold. The heat has made the balloon change where there was no mix. Poke the empty part CAREFULLY. It will start to pull away on it’s own.
Here comes the surprise element; each one has a different shape of where the mix flowed. Some areas are so thin they may crumble. Don’t fret too much. It is such a little amount of mix and balloons are cheap, you can make more. Sometimes I leave some of the balloon on when I add some more mix.
Look at where you’d like the openings to be and carefully break away some pieces. If there are small holes you can put some packing tape to close them for the next pour. Cracks are great too! Sometimes the tied end will need sanding but leave that until it has been strengthened!
Subsequent Pours:
Once you are happy with the shape, mix some more concrete that flows quite well. It should be a bit thinner since the dried shape will suck some of the moisture out of it right away.
Swirl the mix around coating the thin walls. Let it flow right to the edges and even drip out. It gives a rustic look as if it had hatched.
The concrete mix will stay put quite quickly inside the egg and you can add more. You will get the hang of it. If you’d like it really thick you can repeat these steps. You will also notice how it wants to roll. If you like, you can pour some more in to weigh down the part you’d like it to sit on (it’s little bottom)
Finishing Your Concrete Eggs:
Once it is set (one hour) it is ready to paint. I didn’t let it leach since I painted it. If you would like it plain, you could then soak it.
I like the metallic look so opted for the gold interior. Paint it on to cover the inside of the egg.
Paint the gold (or other metallic) To the edges. With a tiny brush paint the drips as well. To add more dimension I add a bit of white at the edges on the outside. It is really rough and ‘scrubby’ to look like a mottled egg. This concrete is very shiny when molded on smooth surfaces. The egg is shiny when cast.
Scrub it around, add a bit of black if you like. You could even dry-brush a tiny bit of metallics.
There were a few cracks that I enhanced with a fine black brush line. Squiggle away…
That was quite easy wasn’t it? The inside isn’t flat since I poured a few times.
Fill as you like:
Each one ends up different with some having more openings than others.
These became gifts with the small plants that I added. Make sure you set the plant deep enough to weigh down the bottom since they are still roly-poly and should not tip.
They were a hit!
I wonder what hatched… I can only imagine…
Plain and simple… and super easy! Wrap a story around them!
Mine always break wenn i try to get them out of the balloon. Maybe not enough concrete?
I also was to quick or not quick enough with turning so the concrete got one lump on one side.
One time i wasn’t quick enough with blowing up but that one was made in a nice teacandle holder.
It’s a bit tricky getting the right consistency. This Rapidset Cementall mix thickens shortly after mixing, depending on temperature as well. You could try another method like these orbs as they are made inside a mold as well. You could make thinner walls of the mix.
Thank you for sharing this method. I have made several and after the first ones cracking to pieces I followed your idea of leaving some of the balloon on. This works great and I don’t take it off until I am done with all the reinforcement . . And thank you so much for your hint on making sanding stones, they work better then anything I have tried.
‘So happy to hear that it helped you too. If you observe well there is usually much to learn as you craft. Sometimes we learn more as we are open to new ideas…
I hope I will be able to see your pictures now that I have registered. I love all types of arts and crafts. I became a widow 5 years ago last spring and ended up moving 6 months later. I have been in a lot of back and hip that has prevented me from doing much. So my arts and craft materials are still boxed. I can’t lift the boxes so I am waiting on somebody to help. Enough about me. I am looking forward to looking at some of your projects. So far I haven’t been able to see any pictures!
It may be that you are viewing through another site. I do not limit pictures at all. You should be able to see all. Hope you get into the crafting soon! Wish you the best. Crafting/art can be great therapy!
Under the picture that states finishing your egg you comment that I should soak it. What should it be soaked in?
Concrete will get stronger and leach out the alkalinity if soaked in water. The Rapidset Cementall is a strong mix already. Have fun!
Hi Barb, each and every one of your post is so detailed and helpful. Thank you for sharing with us. I cannot tell you how much time it has saved me narrowing down the type of concrete for my planters.
Oh Thanks, So much concrete… so little time.
I’m in awe of you Barb! Your creations are nothing short of majestic!
Oh my! That’s so sweet. I’ve been a maker since those first those first straw & construction paper necklaces in kindergarten. I still remember how fascinated I was that I made something. I honestly think it started then… happy making!
Absolutely brilliant, can’t wait to try.
I’m pretty sure only the Rapidset Cementall will work, not all mixes perform the same. Good luck.