DIY alabaster figures. DIY garden figurines made of plaster (38 photos): materials and tools. Creating a garden sculpture. Preparing a mold for making a plaster figurine

Gypsum is a material widely used in creativity and construction since time immemorial. It is known for sure that it was used in antiquity for making sculptures. Today, professional architects and sculptors use gypsum in their work. Each of us can purchase this material at a hardware store for personal needs. Plaster sculptures are easy to make at home without being a professional. detailed instructions and work tips - especially for you.

Main characteristics of gypsum

In any hardware store you will find gypsum powder or gypsum plasters. The material is made from sedimentary rock - gypsum stone. Such diverse and wide application in construction work gypsum owes its availability combined with low cost. Working with this material is quite simple. It is necessary to dilute it with water, after which you can begin pouring molds or modeling. Attention: gypsum hardens very quickly in air and at the same time increases slightly in volume (no more than 1%). Prepare the solution for one time, immediately before starting to work with it. The material is capable of conveying the smallest details. If desired, plaster sculptures can be decorated with paints and other finishing compounds, and create a high-quality imitation of precious stone or metal.

Methods for making plaster sculptures

If you are not a professional sculptor, it makes sense to start working with plaster by making sculptures using the molding method. This technology involves obtaining finished products by pouring gypsum mortar into molds. Molding is a very simple way to create sculptures, which is suitable even for children's creativity. For children under 12 years of age, creative activities must be conducted by an adult. Alternative option, how to make a sculpture from plaster - model the desired figure from diluted plaster on a frame. It is convenient to use a variety of spatulas and other tools in the work. What sculptures can you make from plaster with your own hands? The frozen material is quite porous and fragile. But despite this, it can be used to make outdoor sculpture. Plaster is ideal for creating interior elements and decorative figures. If you are just starting to work with this material, try doing something small and simple in shape for the first time. Gradually improving your skills, you will learn to create real masterpieces from plaster.

Ready-made form or homemade?

To make plaster sculptures, you can use ready-made molds. They are sold in craft stores. Interesting idea- use culinary molds, for example for ice, cupcakes or candy. In joint creativity with children, you can use sand molds for casting plaster. If you couldn’t find anything interesting, try making a mold yourself. Simple sculptures (for example, interior columns or large mushrooms for garden decoration) can be made using household appliances. For example, a mushroom cap can be cast in a basin or bowl suitable size, and the stem - in a cut-off plastic bottle. Casting molds can be removed from any existing figures and figurines. Cover the selected product with cling film. Then cover it with clay or plasticine. Wait for the material to harden, then carefully cut the mold and pull out the figure hidden inside. Yours homemade uniform ready, now you can make sculptures from plaster.

Preparing the mold and pouring plaster

The form requires special processing before starting work. Carefully coat the inner walls with Vaseline, vegetable oil or paraffin. Special attention pay attention to small casting elements. Professional sculptors often prepare a special lubricant for processing forms. Take 2 parts of coarsely grated soap, add 1 part vegetable oil and 7 parts water. Mix the ingredients until smooth. The lubricant is ready - you can start processing inner surface forms. Do not skip this step under any circumstances, otherwise you will not be able to remove the finished product after it has hardened. How to make a sculpture from plaster with your own hands, how to properly dilute the dry mixture? Simply mix the powder with water until it reaches the consistency of sour cream. Be sure to leave the plaster for a few minutes, and then, after mixing thoroughly, proceed to filling the mold. A small amount of PVA glue can be added to the water to prepare the gypsum solution - no more than 25% of the total volume of liquid.

Product protective treatment

The optimal temperature for drying gypsum products is 16-25 degrees. Sculptures made by molding should be removed from the molds after complete hardening. At this stage, you can smooth out any uneven areas with a brush or wet sponge. If you are completely satisfied with the shape of the plaster sculptures, leave them for a while to dry completely. The next stage is preparing the figures for painting. Apply a special primer in several layers to the entire surface of the product. You can replace it with PVA glue diluted with water. If you have made a sculpture that will stand on the street, you can additional protection treat it with drying oil or shellac.

Sculpture decor

After the primer has dried, you can begin the most creative part of the process - designing the sculpture. Garden sculptures made of gypsum must be painted with the most durable paints. Small figures and children's crafts can be painted with gouache. To paint a sculpture that will be located indoors, you can use any paints and techniques for applying them. After painting, you can additionally coat the product with a layer of transparent varnish to secure the decor. If appropriate, additionally decorate plaster sculptures decorative elements. These can be individual beads and rhinestones, bows, textile parts or special plastic figures.

Follow all the rules for working with gypsum and the sequence of technological steps. Very often there are problems in working with this simple material arise when the sculpture manufacturing technology is violated. Be sure to thoroughly dry the products after removing them from the mold and only then proceed with their further design. Try using various shapes for making sculptures. Any small figurines, children's toys and household items. Using the technique described, you can make impressions of your hands at home. Making sculptures from plaster is an interesting and accessible form of creativity for everyone!

Probably each of us dreams of creating something unusual to decorate our home or garden. Store shelves are filled with a variety of figures and figurines, which many people do not have the opportunity to buy. In such cases, you can easily make crafts with your own hands. For such creativity, no special skills are required, just desire and a little imagination, and everything will work out. In this article you will learn how to make crafts from plaster with your own hands for the garden.

First, you need to examine all the places where you would like to place plaster figures, and then choose the most suitable ones or, based on our design, come up with something yourself. These could be just figurines for decorating the garden, or they could also be useful crafts.

Now you are wondering, “How much does plaster for crafts cost?” Let's figure it out. Gypsum is an anhydrous calcium sulfate that hardens quickly when it comes into contact with water. It is used mainly in construction, and you can easily find where to buy gypsum. Gypsum is quite cheap, its price depends on the mass and manufacturer.

Flowerbed cat

To create such a figurine we will need the following materials:

• Plastic canister;
• Cement;
• Sand;
• Gypsum;
• Several wooden planks;
• Wire;
• Water-based paint or car paint;
• Latex gloves;
• Sandpaper;
• Water.

Step 1

First you need to cut the plastic canister as shown in the photo. We would like the frame of the figurine to be made from wooden planks. We wrap the canister with wire to strengthen our craft.

Step 2

Now the next step: how to dilute plaster. Rubber gloves must be worn. We will mix the cement mortar in the proportion of 1 part sand and 1 part cement, and we will add gypsum only to the portion that is in our hand.

Take a handful of solution in your hand and add a spoonful of gypsum to it, knead a little in your hands, roll it into a sausage and attach it to the frame. Apply portion by portion, making the necessary bulges, smoothing the surface.

Step 3

We sculpt the cat's face. This is where your imagination comes in. Let's sculpt small parts separately.

Before gluing them to the main frame, you need to lubricate the surface with water for better adhesion of the solution.

Step 4

We put our hand in the water and polish our cat, smoothing out the unevenness. Next, cover with cellophane for 4 days to allow the figure to dry. The first day we moisten the surface of the craft with water. After drying, sand the surface with sandpaper.

Step 5

There is very little left. We paint the figurine with the prepared materials, and then varnish it. You can leave the coloring process for the children, let them show their imagination, and thereby you will spend time together.

We got such a wonderful figurine for the dacha. Remove the cat from the street every winter, otherwise the cement may crack.

Also very popular are mushrooms, gnomes, various insects, butterflies and others. If the planned figures small size, then you can use silicone molds to make them. Before pouring the solution into the mold, it must be lubricated with silicone so that the finished product can be easily removed from the mold.

Simple caterpillar

We will need:

• Gypsum;
• The glue is waterproof;
• Dye;
• Priming;
• Clear varnish;
• Brush.

Let's get to work. It is necessary to mold several flattened balls of various sizes and shapes (about 10 pieces). Next we make 2 balls for the eyes. They can be small or, on the contrary, large - as you like. We wait until all the elements dry. Using glue, we attach all parts of the caterpillar, making any shape for the body of our figure. We glue the eyes on the head.

We cover our craft with soil and give it time to dry (about 2 hours). We paint the caterpillar with bright colors and dry it.

Using waterproof varnish, we cover our craft with it and leave it to dry. A bright, lively and slightly fabulous figurine for the garden is ready.

Gypsum mushroom

Materials used:

• Gypsum;
• PVA glue;
• The glue is waterproof;
• Stationery knife;
• Compass;
• Pencil;
• Acrylic paints;
• Brush;
• Various small details (beads, flowers);
• Wood cutters;
• Cling film;
• Water;
• Silicone;
• Plastic bottles and bowls.

Step 1

To make plaster figures, you can use ready-made silicone or plastic molds, but we will tell you in this article how to make plaster and such a mold yourself.

Let's take a bottle and cut off the neck of it - this will be the stem of the mushroom. Grease the mold with silicone. To the center future legs Let's put another smaller plastic bottle. Thanks to this, the leg will be hollow.

Step 2

Dilute the plaster with water to the consistency of liquid sour cream. Pour the mixture into the mold, while securing a small bottle in the center of the mushroom stem using a heavy object.

We are waiting for the plaster to harden. Carefully remove the finished craft using a utility knife.

Step 3

For the cap, use a plastic bowl, grease it with silicone and pour in the mixture.

Tip: prepare the gypsum mixture in small portions, because... you may not have time to use it, it hardens very quickly.

When the plaster has set a little, insert the stem of the fungus into the center of the future cap. Wait for the craft to dry completely.

Step 4

Let's make the base. Take a deep plate, larger in diameter than the mushroom cap.

Lubricate this mold with silicone and fill it with plaster. As soon as the mixture sets, place the mushroom stem wrapped in cling film, at the base of the craft. Wait until completely dry. The mushroom is ready!

Relatively recently, it has become fashionable to make DIY crafts for the garden using plaster. Today, in almost every family that has a private house or a dacha, there is someone who expresses a desire to decorate the local area in this way. For garden plot you can make various objects not only from gypsum, but also with the addition of polymer clay, seed beads, beads, shells, bottles, etc. By using your imagination, you can create a real work of art for your garden with your own hands using improvised means. Such different figures will enliven your garden and bring new and bright colors to it.

Everyone can get acquainted with several master classes on making interesting items decorations local area or dachas made of plaster. Working with such material is a real pleasure, and it also has a pleasant price. In addition, handmade plaster crafts can be painted in different colors, which allows you to decorate the entire garden with interesting and bright objects.

If you have no experience working with plaster, then it is recommended to start doing simple crafts with your own hands. In this case, we will consider making multi-colored stone leaves, which can later be placed along the path or near shrubs and favorite plants. Such a master class requires the following materials (photo 1):

• rhubarb or burdock leaf;
• sand;
• cement;
• paint as desired.

The sheet must be pre-rinsed to remove unnecessary dirt and dust. After this, you should lay sand on paper or oilcloth and apply it on top front side sheet, compact it well and pour already diluted cement on top (photo 2-3).

Cement must be diluted as follows: the dry component is mixed with water until a thick sour cream consistency is obtained. When pouring it onto the sheet, you need to make sure that the solution completely covers the workpiece. All that remains is to let the sculpture dry.

When the craft for the garden or vegetable garden hardens, it must be freed from sand and leaves. Now you can start decorating the craft (photo 4). It can be decorated with multi-colored stones, drawings on top or highlighting the lines with paint. The craft looks good in in kind. Colors such as bronze, pink and green are often used for the vegetable garden. Finally, it is recommended to cover the top of the sculpture with a water-repellent mixture or primer so that water does not spoil such beauty over time.

Making garden mushrooms

Gypsum mushrooms will look very beautiful and natural in your garden.

After previous experience, many have probably already become convinced that working with a material such as gypsum is not difficult. Therefore, it is recommended not to stop there and start creating a slightly more complex craft.

Such mushrooms are made using the following materials and tools:

• building gypsum;
• plastic bottle (several different sizes are possible);
• plate round shape;
• cling film;
• wire;
• acrylic paints;

Let's look at the master class step by step, and on its basis it will be possible to make different sizes mushrooms to place them throughout the local area or at least in several places so that they are not lost in a single form in the garden. To make mushrooms, you first need to create legs for them. To do this, you should cut the prepared plastic bottle, removing its bottom. To make the craft stable, it is recommended to place wire inside the bottle.

After this, we dilute the plaster until we obtain the desired consistency (thickness of sour cream) and pour it into the bottle. The solution must dry completely, only then can the mushroom stem be released from the bottle. To do this, make a diagonal cut and remove the plastic with your hands. Now the workpiece needs to be sanded.

The next step is to make a mushroom cap. You will need a deep round plate and film. The dishes need to be covered with film so as not to spoil them. We dilute the plaster again, pour it inside the bowl and, without waiting for the workpiece to harden, we place the finished leg in the middle. After hardening, the craft can be freed from the bowl and film.

The final stage is decoration. This is where your imagination comes into play, because mushrooms for the garden do not necessarily have to be of a natural color. You can highlight them or decorate them in accordance with the surrounding landscape. When you're done painting and it's dry, don't forget to varnish the mushrooms.

As you can see, this craft is also done quickly and without special effort and costs. In addition, you can involve children in the very process of creating this sculpture - they will also be interested in making real works of art for the garden with their own hands.

Funny flowerbed cat

The next master class is suitable for craftsmen in the matter of creating plaster crafts for the dacha. And if you have practiced with previous master classes, then you can safely proceed to more complex tasks.

We suggest creating a flower bed in the shape of a funny cat. To do this you will need the following materials and tools:

• latex gloves;
• cement;
• gypsum;
• sand;
• water;
• plastic bottle (large);
• wire;
• wooden slats;
• paint and varnish.

First of all, we cut the bottle, which will serve as a flower bed. Afterwards, the form needs to be well wrapped with wire, which will cling to the cement solution, because otherwise it will simply slide along the plastic. Then you need to knock down a frame from the slats and attach it to a plastic blank (photo 5).

Let's start mixing the solution. This must be done at a rate of 1 part sand to 1 part cement. Gypsum is already added to the finished mixture, since the solution with this component will harden quickly. Don’t forget to wear gloves and mix the solution itself with a separate stick.

Now you can begin the most difficult part of the process - sculpting. the desired shape. You need to take the prepared solution in your hand and add 1 tbsp to it. l. plaster, then knead it in your hand and, rolling it into a sausage, attach it to the frame. So, the solution should be applied step by step, separating the necessary bulges and smoothing the surface of the workpiece.

While the frame dries, you can create a cat's face. This will require experience from childhood, when various figures were sculpted from plasticine. Using the same technology, we create an animal’s face from a small ball. And for better bonding of small elements, it is necessary to first lubricate the body with water, exactly those places where a new layer will be applied.

Finally, with wet hands, polish the surface of the craft. For better drying, the product must be covered with cellophane and set aside for at least 3 days. However, you shouldn’t forget about the cat. On the first day of drying, it must be additionally moistened with water. When the craft is completely dry, it should be sanded using sandpaper (photo 8).

All that remains is to paint the cat. It can be done water-based paint, car paint or enamel. After painting, it is necessary to coat the surface with varnish so that the garden flower bed does not deteriorate under the influence of unfavorable weather conditions.

Gypsum is flexible and environmentally friendly, so fakes made from it are increasingly becoming fashionable among handicrafts.

The softness and flexibility of the material allows you to make realistic figures, cut out small details and patterns, which makes plaster crafts beautiful jewelry for apartments, gardens, and vegetable gardens.

Crafts made from gypsum are attractive due to their simplicity and accessibility, and master classes on such creativity can be shown to young children.

Moreover, in the process the child improves his skills in working with bulk materials, repeats or learns colors, develops fine motor skills.

Gypsum variety

Hardened plaster is strong and hard, so crafts made from it are practical and functional. Thus, plaster vases, flower pots, boxes, and flower pots are popular.

It’s easy to make DIY garden decorations from plaster, such as figurines of gnomes, mushrooms, flamingos, hares, artificial flowers, and decorative hatches.

Step 1 – Turn on your imagination

Options for gypsum crafts for the garden, vegetable garden or home interior There are a great many, so you need to focus on a specific area.

For example, if you have a pond, then decorate it with a frog with an arrow in its mouth, the hummock can be supplemented with a miniature window and a gnome, and children and grandchildren will be delighted with the ones hidden among flower beds And garden tools favorite fairy tale characters.

Step 2 – Select a shape

If your choice fell on standard swans or gnomes, then any suitable shape, plastic, wood, metal or silicone can be purchased at the store. For thrifty or original craftsmen, there is the opportunity to make the base with your own hands.

To do this, you need to cut out a certain texture from listed materials or make a mold from plaster: dilute the solution in a container, lower the object requiring a copy into it, let the plaster harden and repeat the procedure for the other side of the original figure.

The resulting halves are varnished, glued together and subsequently used for the next filling of the solution.

True, it is better to use elastic silicone molds that do not require lubrication and do not damage the fake during separation of the model.

You can make a silicone base yourself in the same way as a plaster base.

Step 3 – Prepare the solution

All that is useful for needlework is plaster purchased at the pharmacy, plain water, a container for diluting it and a mold for casting the figure.

To dilute plaster for crafts, pour powder into a medium-sized basin or large bowl, add water and stir. There are no special proportions, but you need to focus on the consistency of liquid sour cream.

If your figurine is intended to be one-color, then when making the solution, you can add paint to the water and only then mix the plaster.

The amount of gypsum must be thought out in advance, since it hardens quickly, and if there is a shortage of material, it will be impossible to make a new batch in time. It is better to dilute more solution and use it immediately.

Note!

Step 4 – Decorate the craft

An ordinary gray figurine will not decorate your garden, so it is better to paint it thoroughly. You can look for inspiration and ideas among photographs of plaster crafts.

Before applying paint, the product is primed with wood glue or PVA, and then coated with varnish to protect it from rain, wind, snow, sunlight and other external influences.

Step 5 – Deciding on a location

You can install the figure of a stork or a cow along garden path or on the sides of the gazebo, the main thing is that they fit well into the overall atmosphere.

As a warm-up, you can bring to life the following idea: make a mold in the form of a large sole, a footprint, or purchase a similar one in a store, cast several dozen of these crafts and lay out paths in the garden or vegetable garden with them.

When arranging the figures according to personal plot You should avoid their excessive accumulation and be guided by your own taste.

However, it is better to place gnomes and flamingos in open areas, place animals in bushes or flowers, and place large figures - houses, fountains, flowerpots - in the middle of flower beds or near the house.

Note!

Creating with plaster is fun, easy and, most importantly, safe. All this makes this type of needlework interesting and exciting for children and adults.

Photos of plaster crafts

Note!

Most of us have a craving for beauty and comfort. In the courtyard own home, at the dacha and in the garden, we strive to surround ourselves with charming flower beds, lay out paths that invite us to walk, and cannot do without unusual and funny figures. Gypsum is one of those materials that can be easily transformed by hardworking hands into a wonderful garden decoration.

Features of the material

Gypsum or alabaster has a number of properties that predetermine its use in construction and medicine. It is also great for making garden figurines with your own hands. Even large sculptures are made from alabaster. The use of forms allows you to accurately copy the most complex volumetric figures. Working with the material is not physically difficult, so many women are interested in creating art with plaster. Professionals have already made a considerable number of alabaster crafts for the garden.

It should not be forgotten that alabaster is a rather fragile material that is afraid of moisture. It is better not to test products made of alabaster for strength. They must be protected from water with paints and varnishes. In the autumn and winter, plaster figurines are stored in a dry room.

The most important thing is that to make figurines from such material, molds are needed.

Most often, garden figurines of animals and people are cast from alabaster. Less often - objects inanimate nature. We invite you to evaluate the photos of animals that you can make from plaster. Of course, you will have to come up with, purchase or make forms for them.

In order not to make a mistake in choosing an alabaster figurine that you are ready to make with your own hands, it is useful to find a place in the garden for the future figurine and imagine the general plot of the composition. We recommend starting with a simpler figure.

Using this pattern you can make any figurine from alabaster

First of all, to cast a plaster craft, you will need a mold. A budget option- usage plastic bottles, old toys, dishes, etc. Of course, the list of possibilities is limited and you will have to rack your brains to find suitable material. It is much easier to use ready-made children's molds for plaster or sand. Large silicone molds that are used in production are too expensive. With a strong desire, silicone mold You can make it yourself, as the following video describes.

The material has limited strength and relatively large crafts are reinforced with mesh or wire. To save material and reduce weight, the figures are placed inside plastic containers. A special plaster intended for casting sculptures is stronger than alabaster and building gypsum. To increase strength, PVA glue can be added to ordinary alabaster.

For ease of manufacturing and painting, figures are often made in the form of separate parts. The parts of the craft are fastened together with glue or alabaster solution.

To make it easier to remove the finished figure from the mold, it can be coated with a water solution liquid soap and vegetable oil. There should be twice as much soap as oil. The resulting mixture is diluted with five portions of water.

The dry material is diluted to the state of liquid sour cream and poured into the mold. The solution hardens in a matter of minutes. Chemical reaction accompanied by the release of heat. During casting, air voids may form. IN production conditions The issue is resolved by using a vibration stand. When working with your own hands, you need to carefully pour the solution, and the voids can be corrected with putty or alabaster solution.

A small figurine will be ready for further work in half an hour already. A large casting should dry for several days in a dry place and out of the sun. You can continue working with the craft when your hand does not feel the moisture. It is easy to make drawings on the surface of the figure. For these purposes, use a knife, awl, or needle.

To protect against moisture and improve adhesion with paint, the craft is primed. You can use construction soil or half-diluted PVA glue. Professionals cover plaster sculptures with several layers of drying oil heated in a water bath. After the surface has brightened, you can continue working.

The surface of the figure is successively decorated with paints. Water based paints do not adhere to surfaces covered with drying oil. Oil, pentaphthalic, and alkyd enamels are suitable. Final processing carried out with drying oil, wax or varnish. The figurine can be decorated with all kinds of decorative elements: buttons, glass, acorns, pine cones, and more.

In practice, the same technology can be used to cast figures from cement mortar. They will be durable and will not be afraid of moisture. However, cement-based mortar hardens slowly, and it will be difficult to make relief designs on the surface.

Crafts from plaster can not only be cast, but also sculpted. In this case, it is necessary to make a frame onto which parts of the craft are gradually applied. Prepare and apply the gypsum solution in small portions. It is better to do the work with gloves. It is convenient to use a plaster medical bandage. Pieces of bandage are soaked in water and applied to the figure. It is necessary to smooth out uneven areas. The sinks are sealed with alabaster mortar.

Note that stucco figures are often made from cement mortar, including the addition of gypsum. This is a separate article.

Master class on making a charming mushroom

The mushroom seemed to me the most suitable craft for decorating the site, which can be cast from plaster. Forms for it are easy to provide. The mushroom will fit perfectly in the garden. To make it you will need a very short list of tools.

Let's take a step-by-step look at the figurine making master class:

Upon completion of the work, I came to the conclusion: working with the material is easy and simple. The most important thing is to choose the appropriate form. I recommend that you try to build your own garden figurine. Let the video help you with your work.