Slush Pour your Concrete Mold
Move over ‘Chia Pets’! Everyone is allowed to be silly sometimes, so it’s my turn. Yes, a ‘head planter’ is a bit odd but it’s purpose was to test a new casting system. Make your concrete pouring simpler and see how to slush pour your concrete mold. I love this method! Besides, I could not resist that baby pout!
To start this mold making I used this cute little fellow…
And I popped his head off. (Don’t worry, he is back together now)
My inspiration is this favourite planter of mine. She has aged well and her veil keeps growing gloriously…
Find yourself some type of head or perhaps even a mask.
Before casting I needed to fill the hole on the bottom of the neck. A quick patch of — ya, duct tape!
Tools and materials needed to make the form:
- 100% silicone caulking
- cornstarch
- head form
- gloves, bowl (mixing)
- rubber bands/pins
Materials to Cast and finish Concrete:
- RapidSet Cementall & Water (mixing container, utensil, Dust Mask, gloves)
- Concrete reinforcing Fibers (optional)
- Landscape Grass Flocking (moss)
- Liquitex Acrylic Matte Medium & black acrylic paint
- Brushes
Making the Mold:
The method to make this mold is the same as my first mold making tutorial. Lightly apply some vaseline on the master shape (the head). Mix the cornstarch and silicone carefully in the bowl without getting it all stuck to your fingers. Add cornstarch (just as you would add flour when working with dough) until it becomes workable without sticking.
It should be pliable to spread it around the ‘head’ and keep pushing it till it covers up to the rim of the head and fills the bottom. Spread it until it is an even thickness of at least 1/8″ thick.
It will set in about 30 minutes. Once it is completely ‘rubbery’, you can cut up the back, or at each ear side. Remove the ‘head’, adjusting by cutting as needed. I am alway amazed at the strength of this recipe! Mold is done!
Slush Pour your Concrete Mold:
To ready the mold, use elastic bands to keep the seams closed. Since it is a round shape this works well. To ‘line-up’ any seams you can also use my trick: securing with pins. This works well, as they make sure the edges stay together and later pull out without leaving a hole.
As with many of my projects this casting method works best with a strong, rapid setting concrete. This concrete is quite ‘plastic’ and will mix better if water is added first, and then slowly add premix until it has some flow. It has a working time of about 10 minutes. The flow should be ‘slow’ and somewhat thick.
Pour it into the form and start to turn it to coat all the inside. It may take a bit of trial and error until you have the right consistency. Turn slowly and watch for the flow to eventually stop. I discovered this slush-pour method when making the ‘balloon-cast’ monster eggs.
It may not be pretty, but it is easier than having a center form. Let it sit for an hour and then repeat and pour another layer. Depending on the thickness, you may need a third layer. This concrete is VERY strong and can hold well at only 1/8″ thick.
The top edge may be a bit uneven as well, but you can sand it as desired. As a planter it looks quite nice as a ‘broken’ edge style. Don’t worry about any texture that the mold has picked up, it IS concrete afterall.
To make it look aged, use some ‘washes’ as in my antiquing tutorial.
Instant Moss:
Do you want the ‘mossy’ look instantly? I came across some of my flocking material from my days as a ‘model builder’. It is also used in model train landscaping and can be found at hobby shops.
To adhere the flocking; use a bit of matte medium. Brush it in places that would naturally grow moss; areas that would tend to be in shadow.
Sprinkle the flocking into the wet medium. It’s the same method you would use for glitter. It’s your preference how much or little. To make it less likely to continue to lose bits, add another layer of matte medium. (If you can’t find flocking maybe you could put some moss in a sacrificed blender/coffee grinder)
I have tested some sealer methods (soon to be posted) before I planted up these fellows. Succulents are my favourite as they never seem to complain and they propagate like crazy!
Quite the hairdos! But this method is not limited to heads. (more projects in the works) It is somewhat reliant on a strong mix or perhaps a thick wall of multiple pours.
Happy casting and planting!
Can’t get enough concrete projects?! Check out my concrete obsession
Hi Barb, just wanted to extend my thanks for the excellent tutorial. I’d been wanting to try making concrete doll head planters but was scared off by the expense and technical processes involved in silicone mold making. And then I found our blog! This method worked great for me and (after a little trial and error) I’m now at 12 planters and counting. Looking forward to trying some different projects with the same technique.
Wow, great! As I work on something other ideas come to mind! I wish I had an army of workers busy making my ideas… But then again, I’d want to add my flair. Good to try new things! Have fun.
Hi, Barb. May I ask the circumference of your baby head…and why wouldn’t you use the head itself as a mold rather than casting one from it? Cheers.
Well, if you were to use the head, the concrete would go on the inside and they heads do not have great shapes (eyes, nose etc) on the inside. The doll I used was not that big, maybe about a newborn size head. I’m sure a larger one would work as well. I actually made about 12 with that mold and it’s great. Happy making (also make sure to use the concrete proper mix;they are not all the same)
Do you realize what you are doing is an illegal infringement of Berenguer’s copyright on that doll? I found your site because some guy has been doing the same thing with a sculpt of mine, and I’m guessing you might even have been inspired by his work. Jeff Galewood.
You might not realize it, but I thought I’d give you a heads up – it’s even worse when you teach people to infringe other’s artistic works.
I am so shocked Stephanie. I had no idea and I have never seen Jeff Galewood’s work. I am an upcycler and was just using old items. It did not cross my mind since it was only a partial piece, and did not resemble the original at all. I am always careful to not use other’s art and pictures. Rest assured I do not sell castings or molds. Lesson; make your own sculptures!
Barb, I LOVE your ideas, and sharing. I made my 1st mold on this weekend. I did not have the same cement at home. So I used straight Portland Cement from the Hypertula I was doing the weekend before. Also I am using a baby doll from Walmart, as all the thrift stores are closed. And I was so excited I wanted to get this project going NOW! If it doesn’t work out Home Depot sells the correct concrete, and I will go down that path. I also need for silicone/corn starch!
Love what you are doing, so creative and helpful!
Thank you.
I like your enthusiasm… There’s no turning back now! Happy concreting! Portland without any sand or other can work but may not be quite as strong. Be gentle…
Well, I was bummed last night when I tried to take the head out of the mold it crumbled. I had used a pretty small head as the mold, 5″ tall. My family thinks I may be nuts. I did make a run to local hardware store this morning at 6 when the opened.. to get your exact materials. I also think I let the concrete pour over the edge of the baby head and that makes the release harder.
I will be making another mold tonight of a larger doll tonight after work.
My question is, do you have any pictures of removing the concrete from the mold? I have re-read every instruction on all your concrete projects.
Thank you again! I should be cleaning closets or something during quarantine, but this is a lot more fun!
I am a little too excited to try this. Thank you for the detailed tutorial. I will be using one of my many vintage composite doll heads (yes, I know this may ruin it).
Because I want to make multiples of each piece can you tell me if these molds can be used again and again? Or do they have a 1 use shelf life?
Yes, I made a bunch. Make sure to use a mold release on the composite. Vaseline would work, make sure the mold mix is well mixed. Good luck!
I tried this with Quickrete vinyl patch and having issues. The Vaseline left on the inside of the mold seems to make the concrete not stick and it wants to crack when I try to remove the mold. Suggestions?
Hmmm, I have not used the Quikrete Vinyl Patch for this project. Was the vaseline from when making the mold? You can wipe it out and clean the mold. Yes, that’s why I don’t add a mold release. Rapidset Cementall is very strong but it usually still needs to be coated a couple times depending on the thickness. I like to have about 3/16″. I’m not sure how long the Vinyl Patch needs to cure, but think it’s more than the Rapidset Cementall. Depending on your shape you may need to provide extra seams (I cut the mold) to allow easier pulling out, as the more you need to force it, the more chance of breakage. Hope that helps.
Tried but failed. Maybe too much Vaseline on the doll’s face.
Did the mix slide off? Wipe it as clean as you can, otherwise it will not coat.
I love your ideas! I’m thinking of trying this slush pour method with a plastic bucket as a mild to make thinner-walled planters. Do you think a new bucket with a thin coating of baseline inside would release a 1/4” – 1/2” layer of concrete easily enough by turning it over and tapping?
Depends on the shape. If it tapers then it is much easier than if it’s quite vertical. I find plastic, especially new does not stick to concrete. Vaseline can get sticky. WD40 is a thinner release. Also use the stronger mix like Rapidset Cementall. Be aware that larger means heavier so might need to be thicker for strength.
Thanks so much! I had a tapered bucket in mind, so I’ll try WD-40 and let you know!
Awesome!
My mold stuck to my cement and I had to shave it off with my exacto did I do something wrong?
It may have something to do with the concrete mix you used. Was it pure silicone? Was it pliable went ready?
Yes 100% silicone and cornstarch and I used the cement you recommended. I’ve done a second mold and let it cure without the head inside so hopefully that helps second time around?
Maybe just us e a small blog of concrete to see how it reacts first…
I believe it is usually allowed unless you are selling said items
Just wondering if a hole was made for drainage for plants in head?
I did not since I also like the option to use in the house. You can fashion a way to keep an opening as drilling this super-hard mix may prove quite challenging.