Greetings neighbors! On this segment of Mass Appeal, we will be making cement planters from doilies, old towels and blankets. The technique using doilies was made popular by artist, Helen Wyatt. Here’s a link to her videos. She’s amazing!

The doilies are easy as pie. The flowers take a bit of practice. I ruined 3 before I got one I liked. This is a nice way to preserve your Grandma’s old linens that are too worn out to use. Remember, light weigh fabrics will need a lot of cement and more than one layer of fabric to stay stiff. To make the flower pot bowls and planters, heavy fabrics like denim, old coats, sweaters, towels and wool blankets work best. You can get really creative with this. If I had more time I would have done more with the painting but, you ladies know how it is. 🙂 Any yes, this craft is VERY MESSY!

SUPPLIES NEEDED

• Rapid Set Cement
• Gloves (The LYE in the cement will dry out and damage your hands so take this suggestion seriously. The powder will get into your cuticles and cause pain!)
• Paint tarp or ground cover
• Plastic bags
• Oil or vaseline
• Towels, thick fabric, blankets (for flower pot bowl)
• Doilies (for easy flower pot or vase)
• 2 Buckets
• Bowls or vases (for the mold)
• Acrylic paint (optional)
• Paint brushes
• Spatula to mix the cement
• Towels to wipe up the mess
• AND LOTS OF PATIENCE, a brownie or a glass if wine!

INSTRUCTIONS for DOILY VASE (Easy) and FLOWER POT BOWL (Harder)

Step 1

Cover your bowl or vase with a plastic bag and oil the bag with baby oil or Vaseline. *FLOWER POT additional instructions: Cut 3 different sizes of leaves from the template at the bottom of the page. Any size or shape will due. The leaves should be slightly longer than your bowl.

Step 2

PUT YOUR GLOVES ON! Pour DRY cement into a bucket. Slowly add tiny amounts of water and stir until you get the cement into a cake batter like consistency. You can always add more powder, so use as little water as possible.

Step 3

Immerse the doily (or leaves) into the cement and kneed the cement into the fabric until it is completely saturated. If the cement gets too dry, add water. You want the doily or leaves dripping with cement. Gently wipe off the extra cement and lay the doily over the vase or bowl. (over the top not inside!) You can use more than one doily to make it easier and stronger OR you can cut a circle of fabric and drape that over the bowl first.

*Flower pot additional instructions: Put a small leaf over the bowl, then a big leaf so each leaf is different. Arrange the leaves over the bowl in a circle with a hole in the middle. Then once you are finished, add some cement in the center to cover the hole. (photo #2 see small bowl next to the spatula)

Step 4

Allow the doilies or leaves to dry for 3 hours. Then come back, mix up more cement and paint a layer over them again. The fabric shouldn’t bend. If it does , you will need more layers of cement. I used 3 layers on the bowls I did. Paint the cement with an old brush so you don’t get drip marks.

Step 5

Gently pull the doilies/leaves off the bowl. It should be hard as a rock. (If they aren’t hard enough, repeat step 4.) You can now paint the flower pot with acrylic paint and then spray it with clear coat sealer. The sealer will allow the bowl to be used outside.

Flower leaves template

Let me know if you have questions. This is the first time I made these, but I’m happy to help. I check our facebook page once a week and you can also email me. (Just be aware I do 150 orders a week so if I don’t get right back to you, call the store and leave a message.) Thanks for watching everyone! I love doing these shows for you. I would do more if I had time.

Happy Crafting!

Malena Chipps