DIY Network

Metal Flowers, Part 2 Plant a playful garden that lasts forever. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-124

In this second part of Michele Beschen's Metal Flowers project, she shows how to make some pretty concrete "feet" for the stunning metal blooms. Scroll down to see how.

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	Make a pretty patch where your metal flowers can bloom.
	Figure A
	Figure B

Materials:

concrete/mortar mix
plastic tub
gems, glass, rocks and other decoration

• Use a concrete/mortar mix that has mostly sand instead of gravel and larger pieces of rock. Mix it inside a plastic tub that you will use as a mold. Michele Beschen used an old cat litter tray, and it worked perfectly. The concrete will pop right out once it's set.

• Stir your concrete mixture until it is the consistency of cookie dough; the base should be at least 2-3 inches thick. Level it off and add gems and other baubles to the top of the mix.

• To create a post in the center of the concrete base, slip a fender washer over a large bolt, then cover the threaded end of the bolt with a piece of copper tubing (figure A).

• Push this assembly down into the center of the mixture
  so the concrete will set up around it, holding it in place (figure B).

• Let your mix set up for about 24 hours. Remove the concrete from the plastic tub and remove the small piece of copper tubing. You're ready to plant your metal bloom!

  Note: If you will be "planting" in an area exposed to high winds, you can stabilize the flowers by screwing a longer rod onto the bolt. This will stabilize the flowers and make them less likely to blow off their "roots."