From the moment I imagined my Cast in Concrete: DIY Zen Garden Decor, a peaceful accent gracing my yard, I knew I wanted a splash of colour and a reflective focal point. My new puppies, however, had other ideas—excavating every flower bed until nothing remained but bare soil. Instead of despairing over their enthusiastic digging, I decided to harness the chaos and create a small, vibrant structure crowned with a gleaming silver orb to catch the sun’s rays and restore harmony to my yard.

Today’s post launches our next International Bloggers Club challenge (IBC), and this week’s theme is “Cast in Concrete.” We were tasked with creating something using concrete in any shape or form, so I decided to craft Zen-style garden decor. Having never worked with concrete before, I didn’t hold out high hopes for the result. Stay tuned for more about IBC at the end of this post.

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Cast in Concrete: DIY Zen Garden Decor for Beginners

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Materials Needed

• Repurposed metal circle or bowl mould
• Cement mix (Portland cement or premixed concrete)
• Water
• Thick plastic sheeting
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Plastic lid from an adhesive can
• 80 mm stainless steel hollow ball
• Threaded rod with nuts
• Plastic chocolate container for the base
• Orbital sander and fine‑grit sandpaper
• Long drill bit
• Craft knife
• White masonry paint
• Blue mica powder pigment
• Paintbrush

Creating Your Mould

I found an old metal circle extension from my glass‐bowl convection oven and cut it in half so I could easily release the casting later.

Taped back together, it formed the perfect ring for my Zen disc.

Underneath, I secured thick plastic sheeting with hot glue to seal any gaps and added a plastic lid at the centre for the sphere recess.

Preparing and Pouring the Mix

Mix cement and water in a plastic bowl until you achieve a smooth, pourable consistency—think pancake batter rather than mortar.

Pour the mix into your taped‑together mould, tapping gently to release air bubbles, and let it cure for at least 48 hours to ensure full strength.

Removing and Refining Your Casting

Once fully cured, carefully remove the tape and slide your concrete disc free.

Although I attempted vinyl “cracks” for future gold‑leaf accents, the thin material didn’t produce deep fissures—note to self: thicker inserts next time!

Trim away the plastic lid with a craft knife, then sand the surfaces to smooth out rough edges and glue residue.

Adding the Stainless Steel Sphere

Drill a hole straight through the centre of the cement disc and the 80 mm mirror‑finish stainless steel ball using a long drill bit. Thread the rod through both pieces and secure with nuts above and below the sphere.

My first attempt was slightly off‑centre, but it adds character rather than perfection!

Building the Stand

First, seal the chocolate container’s lid thoroughly with hot glue to prevent any leaks.

Next, use a craft knife to cut a hole in the centre just large enough for your concrete disc.

Finally, mix a fresh batch of cement and pour it into the container, tapping it gently to settle and remove any air bubbles.

Press the top disc into position, smooth the joint, and allow another 48 hours to cure.

Remove the plastic shell and reinforce the interior ridges with a thin cement skim coat.

Painting Your Zen Decor

To enliven the grey cement, coat the surface with leftover white masonry paint tinted with blue mica powder pigment for a soft, ethereal hue. The result is a serene, sculptural piece that reflects light and invites contemplation.

More project ideas for your garden

I transformed an old pallet into this charming multi-tiered planter.

I crafted this wooden suncatcher from a slice of wood, drilling decorative holes and filling them with vibrant coloured resin.

More about IBC

If you follow my blog, you will know I am part of the IBC (International Bloggers Club), which is a group of talented bloggers from around the world. We have members from Spain, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Each month, we come together and create a project with a common theme.

If you missed last month’s “Resin Challenge” theme, here is the link to my wooden African-themed suncatcher.  The contributions from my fellow bloggers for this month’s challenge are listed below. Please feel free to jump over and give them some love.

Projects

1. Meegan Makes| How to make a cement block garden planter
2. A Crafty Mix|DIY Rustic Avocado sailboat
3. Raggedy bits |Vintage Farmhouse Faux Concrete Eggs
4. Birdz of a feather | How to make a cement planter
5. ME
6. Interior Frugalista|Funique DIY Concrete Succulent Planter

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