The-Artistic-Garden's Blog

What Kind Of Paint Can I Use For A Tuscan Look
On My Grey Concrete Planter?

Gabby emailed me asking:

Hello, can you help me find the right type of paint for a large concrete planter? It is grey concrete and I want to achieve a tuscan look. Also where do I buy this paint?

Thank you sooooo much … Gabby

My reply:

Hi Gabby:
I will be happy to help and answer your questions.

#1) For information on what paints to use and info on what I think will be an easy way for you to get a tuscan look, please refer to my article: Decorative Sponge Painting.

Note: in this article I do not mention concrete planters (but I should – think I’ll add that to the page) but acrylic OR latex paints will be fine for your planter. Follow the directions in my article and you ought to have a nice long lasting decorative paint finish for many years.

Getting the “Tuscan look” you want will of course rest upon your artistic abilities. If need be … practice on a large piece of cardboard to get the color combination and appearance right. Sometimes my color choices aren’t always the greatest after I see them applied together. I have to do trial runs myself sometimes!

#2) In the USA, acrylic craft paints can be found at stores like Michael’s Crafts, Hobby Lobby, even the Wal-Mart in my area has a huge array in their craft section.

Or, regular latex paint can be purchased at stores like Sherwin Williams (though probably pricier than what you need to spend), Home Depot, even Wal-Mart sells latex paints, or most large hardware stores. You do not need to buy the most expensive paints.

#3) Make sure to apply at least 2 or 3 good coats of clear sealant, too. There are matte, semi-gloss and gloss finishes. For a Tuscan look I will say a matte finish is what you should use.

In addition, I suggest you take a few extra minutes to read all the pages I have in the decorative paint techniques section of my website. You’ll get lots more helpful how-tos that will not only help you have success with this decorative paint project, but any others you decide to to try.

Best of luck in dressing up your concrete planter! A Tuscan-type technique really isn’t a too-difficult decorative paint project for even a beginner to try.

Questions About A Concrete Stepping Stone Project

I received an email from Hilda who asked:

I was delighted to find the information you provide on your website. I am making stepping stones from a silicon mold. They are basically 10″ x 10″ and 2″ thick. I need the “details/design” to appear of course.

I wonder which recipe would be best and ask what recipe would you recommend? I prefer a lighter color than the dark grey. Regular paint for added color, or stain?

Can’t wait to begin. I just hope the drying time is not too lengthy, as I need to make production on these.

Many Thanks, Hilda – Alabama

My reply:

Hi Hilda:

If you have details and designs that you really want to be a feature of your stones, then I’d opt for a pure concrete recipe, versus using hypertufa. ‘Tufa has peat moss in it, which doesn’t make for as smooth a consistency recipe. Plus, the hypertufa decomposes over time, and that will leave small pits and crevices in your stepping stones. So … use a concrete recipe instead.

For easiness, why not just go to Lowe’s or H-Depot and buy a big bag of ready mix concrete?? You certainly could use that and many crafters do.

Or, here’s a recipe on my website concrete art mold recipe that ought to be a good one for you to try.

**Please note: I have also seen this same recipe recommended on other sites, but the ratios are a bit different – 1 part Portland cement to 2 parts sand. I would say try a small batch of each recipe/ratio and see which one you like best. Remember … often times it’s trial and error until you get a recipe working just right for your particular needs.

You want a lighter color? Then you’ll have to find WHITE Portland cement, but understand it can be more difficult to locate. You probably won’t be able to find it at Lowe’s or H-Depot, but do some research (online, Yellow Pages, etc.) and call around to companies that supply materials to the stucco industry; or call swimming pool installation companies; or commercial concrete companies who might be able to steer you in the right direction. I’ve also read that ACE Hardware and the Ready Mix company sell it (if you have either of those in your area).

Also WHITE Portland cement will likely be about double the cost of regular grey Portland. Just so you know.

For those of you reading this who live in Canada, I have read that Target carries white Portland; also Pacific West Systems Supply Ltd; and Curtis Lumber. Again, call around first to see who stocks it in your area.

About stains vs. paints … either will work, just depends on your desired final outcome. Again I will refer you to my website to my stain and colorant guide. The link for the PDF guide is about 1/2-way down on that page.

About drying time … “curing” time depends upon a few factors, like the temperature and humidity to name two. But figure about 30-days minimum before you can feel safe to walk on them. But less time as far as being able to take them out of your mold (maybe a few days or so – but they need to keep curing after you remove them) so you can start a new one.

This “how to make your garden stepping stone project” information ought to get you pointed in the right direction so you will have success. Good luck!

This Is One Creative Bird Chaser!

I came across this great photo of a very creative piece of garden yard art today and I thought “I’ve just got to share this with my visitors.”

Plus … for many of us, thoughts of what we are going to plant in our vegetable garden is looming in our minds. Warm weather is slowly starting to take hold. So I thought this yard art decor idea might prove helpful for you in the future.

Need an effective bird chaser? Well, I think this crazy bird chasin’ monster just might do the trick.

If you have young children, perhaps you’ve got one of their old rubber or plastic monster toys collecting dust that could be resurrected and placed out in your vegetable patch.

If you’re like most gardeners I know, myself included, birds can become quite a problem because they love to peck into things like tomatos and nibble, leaving lots of damaged fruits. Not that I mind our feathered friends getting to eat my organically grown ‘maters … but geez, they take two nibbles and then move on to another ripe beauty to sample. I don’t appreciate that – they ought to stick to just one and then I’d be more tolerant!!

For another idea – maybe a few aluminum pie plates tied onto this monster would be an added feature to scare away the birds. I don’t know how aggressive your birds might be.

Anyhoo … I just thought I’d share this whimsical garden yard art idea. If nothing else … I hope it puts a smile on your face today.

See ya later!

A Very Frustrated Hypertufa Trough Maker
Seeks Helpful Advice & Answers To Her Problem

I received this email plea for assistance from “Laughing”:

Please help me Claudia! I have tried the hypertufa beginner recipe several times and my ‘tufa troughs and containers break apart while taking them out of the molds I am using, which are simple large plastic containers – nothing fancy or anything. Just rectangular containers.

Only 2 of my hypertufa troughs out of about 20 have survived! Any thoughts?

Help please. Laughing

My reply:
Hi Laughing:
Oh dear … sorry to hear about this and I know you really aren’t laughing! (But if you are – good for you! Life has too many other things to get stressed over … hypertufa isn’t one of them! )

Unfortunately, I can’t nail down where the problem lies, as I haven’t a clue to everything you are doing, from A to Z. But my BIGGEST guess, based on years of experience in helping other beginners with the same problem is this:

??Are your ratios of dry ingredients to water correct??
This is normally the #1 culprit that causes disasters.

I will also ask are you unmolding them too soon? Or perhaps you’re not providing enough moisture during the cure process? You should make it a point to peek inside the plastic bag you’ve wrapped your troughs in to see if condensation is collected on the inside of the bag every now and then.

Perhaps my reply doesn’t sound too helpful, but really … either a too dry or too wet mixture is what normally causes the problems. It *sounds* like maybe too dry a mixture is why the portland can’t set-up nice and strong, since you say they fall apart. Even though when you apply the mixture it seems OK, after the item(s) start to cure, that’s when the issue of not enough water in the hypertufa recipe becomes apparent.

If your mixture was too wet, most times it would start slumping off the sides of your form and you’d know almost instantly you had goofed and used too much water in the recipe.

My only other stab-in-the-dark guess is are you really using the right ingredients as listed in the beginner’s recipe?

Good luck and I hope this sets you on the right path.

Hey “The-Artistic-Garden” readers … want to learn about ‘tufa trough making? Then click this link to read my instructions on how to make a hypertufa trough. And remember to be mindful of the ratio of water you use in your recipe!