Incredible Indoor-Outdoor Concrete Decor to Make Now

Now's the time to get busy with craft projects (preferably small ones you can work on in a corner of your basement or garage) that you can use on your porch or deck next summer ... or inside your home any time of the year. Your material? Concrete. Yes, you heard right. Besides the fact that it has become very fashionable for modern home decor, concrete is inexpensive, and surprisingly easy to work with. Try your hand at one or all of these great indoor-outdoor concrete projects.

Planters -- Creating pretty pots for your posies is one of the easiest, most enjoyable concrete do-it-yourself's. Have fun with this one; you need only a basic shape (like folded cardboard or an artfully draped old towel) of any size you please to mold concrete into amazingly amusing planters for your deck or coffee table. And if you end up with a few holes or cracks in your perfectly imperfect pieces, it doesn't matter one whit ... they will just give you more drainage for the plants you put into them.

Candleholders -- Concrete candleholders are a bright idea that can be molded in repurposed plastic containers or bottles of various sizes. Don't let their striking good looks distract you from the fact that they are sturdy and fire safe. Candles ablaze in these handsome holders will set an equally festive mood for dinner al fresco or in your formal dining room.

Concrete stool or end table -- The DIY concrete stool or end table, aka the "bucket stool," has become wildly popular. No surprise ... this simple-to-make piece of furniture (yes, it is actually molded in a bucket!) fills the bill for convenient extra seating and table space, whether inside the house or out on the patio. When the concrete has dried, paint your new stool/table in bright bling-y colors or finish it with concrete stain to look like stone or wood.

Stepping stones -- Hand mold concrete stepping stones to add pizzazz to a garden path. The smaller indoor version of these squares or ovals is made with the same technique, to become wall plaques (to show off treasured photos, to commemorate a family milestone, or just to look very cool). Micro minis can be used as uniquely attractive coasters.

Leaf dishes and trays -- An idea we adore is casting leaves from plants such as rhubarb or hosta. The concrete will hold the detailed leaf shape amazingly well, and can be painted green for an even more realistic effect. The results are perfect for a multitude of purposes -- garden sculpture, a tray for hors d'oeuvres at a barbecue (seal the concrete before exposing it to food), a soap dish in your guest bath, or your own imaginative idea.

Holiday decorations -- Craft holiday decorations on a dime with the help of concrete ... plus a little ingenuity. Think out of the box and shop your local thrift store or your own recycling bin for molds. Old silicone ice cube trays are great for forming hearts (Valentine's Day), stars (Christmas or the Fourth of July), and even skulls and crossbones (Halloween, of course). Try egg shells to whip up Easter ornaments or a kitchen glove to create a "hand" to hold on Friendship Day. Don't forget to make a hole in the concrete while it's wet (a plastic drinking straw works well for this) so that you'll be able to string your ornaments with twine if you'd like to hang them. These will send a happy holiday message adorning your front door or your mantelpiece.

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