In addition to being a total DIY lover, are you also a pretty avid organizational enthusiast? Then Id be willing to bet that you get just as excited as we do about the concept of making your very own decluttering solutions and small storage units as I do! Im always on the lookout for new, crafty ways to give myself additional spots to put little things that might otherwise end up scattered across my dresser or bathroom counter. That and my recent ongoing love for DIY concrete projects is what got me thinking about the possibility of making my own concrete hair clip container. I tried it out and Im pleased to report that the idea was eve more than a possibility; it was a total success!
In fact, I was so happy with how my container turned out that I decided to make another one for a friend who I know has the same habit of scattering their pins and clips all over the bathroom as I do. I kept track of my steps while I was at it, just so I could show other people how simply it can be done! Check out these step by step instructions complete with photos! If youd rather follow along with a video tutorial instead of written words, scroll to the bottom of this post to find just what youre looking for.
For this project, youll need:
- A spoon
- A plate
- DIY fine particle cement
- Water
- Scissors
- Hot glue
- Oil (canola or vegetable will do)
- Paint (two colours)
- A paintbrush
- A folding utility knife
- Tape
- A pencil
- An empty toilet paper roll
- A template
Step 1:
Gather your materials! I copied the idea of this template from something I found online to get the shape, but I drew it myself using a ruler and a pencil. Ive made a copy that you can use here!
Step 2:
Use your scissors to cut out your paper template, cutting only around the outer edges andnot along the lines of the square in the middle. Then place the paper template on your piece of cardboard and use your pencil to trace around the outside of the shape to leave the same shape sketched on the board.
Step 3:
Use your scissors to cut the template shape out of the cardboard, once again only cutting around those outside edges. Then use your pencil (and a ruler if you need one) to draw the straight lines of the inner square like you saw on the original template, so each of your four protruding sides has a line at its wider base.
Step 4:
Using the tip of your utility knife, very carefully and lightly cut along sides of the inner square at each line, only pushing down hard enough that the knife cuts through the top layer of the cardboard andnot all the way through. This will help you bend the pieces in a way that creases more easily. Test your creases put by folding each of the four pieces up and inward to meet in the middle along their sides. This will be your mould or concrete form.
Step 5:
Apply hot glue along the sides of your cardboard moulds four bent pieces. Fold them back into place and carefully stick them together so you know have a shape like a pyramid that doesnt close all the way to the top, with a hollow inside.
Step 6:
Use your spoon to mix your DIY fine particle concrete! Read the directions on the back of your package to get the ratio of mix to water right for the proper texture, since it varies from brand to brand.
Step 7:
Use your paintbrush to coat the inside of your cardboard concrete mould with oil. This will stop the cardboard from sticking to the concrete too badly as your piece dries later on.
Step 8:
Use your spoon tp fill your cardboard mould with concrete mix. Leave about a half an inch or so at the top so your mix doesnt overflow in future steps. Tap the bottom of the mould on the tabletop to even out the surface of the mix inside your cardboard and get rid of air bubbles.
Step 9:
Use your paintbrush to apply oil to the whole outside surface of your empty toilet paper roll. If your roll looks a little too wide to fit into the opening at the top of your concrete mould (like mine was), cut along its entire length, overlap the freshly cut sides as far as you need to make a thinner cylinder, and then glue the sides in place for a thinner roll that will fit better. I also glued a circular piece of cardboard the same size as my rolls open ends over one end to make a cover. Press your oil coated toilet roll into the middle of your concrete mix with its covered side down, through the top opening of your cardboard mould. Use tape stretched from one side of the mould, over the top of the roll, and stuck down to the other side to hold the roll in place while the piece dries. I braced my roll with two pieces of tape stuck in opposite directions like a cross. Set your entire project aside to dry.
Step 10:
Once your concrete is thoroughly dried right through the middle, peel the cardboard mould away from its sides to free your new shape. Next, peel the cardboard roll in the centre out from the newly formed hole in the middle of the concrete. Use your abrasive block to sand down the outside of the block all over, making its sides, top, and bottom smooth.
Step 11:
Use your paintbrush and paints to add colour and detail to your concrete holder! I chose to keep things simple with two stripes around the bottom in complementary colours but you can add as much or as little shade and shape to your concrete as you please.
Your pin holder is finished when youre satisfied with your paint job! Set it somewhere reachable, fill it with bobby pins or hair clips, and there you have it. Just in case youd like to try this project out for yourself, heres a fantastic tutorial video to help you!
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