Course I took a pic in a place with no flowers. I was just so excited to show you guys. So that is the concrete 'n here are some primroses growing nearby.

{{gwi:143025}}

Wow! It turned out perfect. Who knew?! You're right, much nicer than the plastic! And a really decent price for a birdbath mold! I'm going to have to keep my eye out for one of them and try that!

I know you will have fun with it, you make beautiful mosaics.

I am happy to know how to achieve that crumbly look. (where you added the stones and it came off some) I once saw a concrete sphere that was crumbled like that, it looked ancient, I loved it.

Blue and white sounds beautiful! I like mirror mosaics in the garden too. Your primroses are just lovely! What a pretty shade of yellow. I've never grown primroses. I do have Wild Evening Primrose in patches in the yard. It's yellow too. Opens at night. And I've seen a wild pink one by the roadside.

Turned out great! I'm a little confused. Did your pour concrete right into the base and use the plastic base as a mold?

Well, crete, I think you stumbled onto a great idea! It looks awesome! Do you think you can silicone the top to the base now? I havwen't a clue on that...but what a great way to use those plastic birdbaths (that get tossed out so frequently)...GREAT re-cycling! Mosaicing the top would look awesome, too....but I also like it as is! Love the primroses, too! TFS! Jeanne S.

Very nice, can't wait to see what you do with it.

You went from a cheap piece of junk to an antique looking table!! Great transformation!! Looks fine, way it is but it will be beautiful with a blue & white top, too! Lovely yellow primroses. Mine always get eaten by snails, they seem to bypass the snail bait so I gave up on them! Jan

What a great mistake! Never would have thought to use those plastic birdbaths as a mold. You did great buying one for only a $1. The base amazing turned out well. I like it the way it is but a mosaiced top on the table would be fantastic too. I think you may have started a trend here. lol!

Turns out I wasn't the first. Here is a link from the hypertufa forum that tells how to reuse as well.
And yes I just poured concrete into the base (with some stones in the bottom, a mistake if you are using it as a mold). I figured it wouldn't work as a mold so I was just making it solid enough to mosaic, I thought. Not sure how it will last with nothing inside to strengthen it. But its pretty for now, and I can always make more!
Kathy

Here is a link that might be useful: Hypertufa forum- plastic birdbath as mold

Wow I had bought one of those plastic bird baths once and spray painted it with the faux granite spray paint, but it chipped off the smooth surface over time and then it warped from the sun. This is an even better usage. Who knew to use it as a mold. It looks great as it is, maybe even fresco painted or mosaic'd. Be sure to post when you decide what to do. It's an amazing piece! The primroses are beautiful!

Very, very cool! You did a great job with the concrete. I think mosaics is the way to go, you could do something interesting with the round shape. In the meantime it looks great sitting out there by that lovely chair.
Frou

Found a birdbath base in the trash a few years ago. Put an extra large red rose (4ft stem) in it. Added some fake fern around the top of base as filler. It is now at the local hospital, where I worked, and a red rose is their symbol.

Kathy- You are amazing!! I bought one of those plastic birdbaths this weekend because I couldn't afford the concrete one, and I was so sorry I did. But WOW, you have inspired me!! Great job - and your primroses rock, as well. Now I can put that flimsy plastic birdbath to good use. Thanks!!
-Sprout

Sorry, I meant to ask - how long did it take for the concrete to dry??
-Sprout

Well you know, it was in there all winter! I wasn't planning on cutting it out of the plastic, my plan was to mosaic the plastic stabilized with concrete.

I think it would take quite a while longer than a smaller item. Maybe a week? Check the link that I posted or search the hypertufa forum.

It might be better to cut the plastic stem mold before filling it with concrete, then duct tape it together. I cut into the concrete a little when I took mine off. You don't have to cut the bottom. Once you have cut down both sides, it opens up enough to pull it out.

If I make another one, I think I will put something down the middle of the stem, like rebar that sticks up slightly then make a hole in the middle of the top to help hold the top onto the base. I haven't really thought it through, maybe you can! Then let us all know.

Good luck and have fun.

Kathy

GREAT!!! It is so much cheaper to buy a bag of concrete than a cement birdbath!!! I wanna try one of those swan plastic planters..hmmm wonder how that would work....

There is a product that is like a glue that you can add to your concrete mix that will bond the top and bottom piece together. I can't remember the name of it but pretty sure it was HD where I got it..I did that to mine about 3 yrs ago and it is still holding.

Kathy, what a terrific idea. It looks like an old birdbath, no one would ever know you just made it.
I can't wait to see if some of the others here do them
too. I can't stir or work with concrete now or I'd for
sure try it myself.
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful project tho.

hugs, Karen