Hypertufa Time - How to Make Hypertufa Ornaments

Here is my recipe-3 1/2 gallons portland cement(not quikcrete) 2 gallons sand, 2 1/2 gallons peatmoss. Break up peat well and remove large twigs and such. Mix well until no sand or peat can be seen. This dry mix will store well and can be wet as needed. Here are some basic tools

These wire hangers are made by bending several inches of wire(I like glavanised aluminum) in half and then bend each end up and splay out. Plaques and small stones are made in a cake pan or any small plastic container. Large ones use stepping stone molds, washtubs, etc. When using plant material arrange it in your dry mold ahead of time, set aside. Grease your mold with petroleum jelly.(use a baggie) Put some of your dry mix in a bucket and wet it a little at a time, mixing well. You MUST wear disposable gloves to work with this. It is CRITICAL that you not get this too wet. Always reserve some dry mix for this reason and for patching the finished product if needed.Mix until no dry is showing. This should hold its shape fairly well when a ball of it is squeezed in your hand. Now is the time to put material in your mold. Mark the top of mold so you know where to put the hanger. If painting your leaves green do it now. Use a paper plate and put a fairly thick coat on the BACK of the leaf. All leaf printing is done on this side where the veins are prominent. Lay leaves, ferns,globs, broken crockery etc. in mold.(paint side up)Globs go flat side up. Fill mold by putting handfuls of mix in mold and then gently patting. Pat, pat. Fill mold full for stepping stone, 3/4 for plaque. pick up and tap mold several times on hard surface to release air bubbles. Now insert hanger with loop out of the crete. Cover with black plastic(trash bag). Let sit for 24-36 hours. Gently unmold onto board. Your piece is at its most fragile now. Take your putty knife and gently incise around leaves. This is worth it to do. If using glass or globs gently clean around them with putty knife. Now genly remove the leaf by prising up stem and pulling off. Some will come off in pieces. Let dry a day or two then file rough edges smooth. Now the world is your oyster. From these humble beginnings

comes this

This is a plastic pot with the saucer yanked off, an old canning pan lid and the dogs tennis ball cut in half. Grease plant pot. Do plant material same as plaque. Put several inches of wet mix in bottom pressing well. Build sides by handfuls of mix pressed against them going around pot a little at a time. Make fist and knuckle that crete into the side. Build up to top and make a nice edge. Take dowel or stick and press holes in bottom. Invert lid on bucket (or something) grease, build same way. All balls with embedded material are made like this-ball is in 2 halves, grease, put in material, patting. Fill other half,pat. You will set this in a dish of damp sand to hold it upright. The bottom will be the TOP of your finished product so put the good stuff there. The second half is now placed on top the first one. Press. Any excess will squish out and gravity will do its job. Unmold and file seam joint. Carve around leaves before removing them or clean around glass or globs. If you have a lot of imperfections (and don't we all)wet a little of your dry mix and rub over ball. Wipe off with rag. cure. This giant pot and ball is made the same as small ones

This planter is made in a plastic garbage can and broken dishes are in the balls

Now let's make a piece from an old glass lamp. Take the works out and upend piece in a bucket of sand. Plug hole with tape or cardobard. If using leaves grease with vaseline. If making plain use a generic Pam spray. Start filling with mix pressing well in bottom to get good detail. Fill up and make a nice level top so it will sit straight. After 36 hours-lay on newspapers and gently smack with hammer and remove glass. Be careful. Put hose on low and while wetting start rubbing with a wire brush in ONE direction (like sanding)This makes a nice finish and takes off any paint.

Cure.Large stones are made the same way as small ones

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Ready to Grow?

Bertie, here is a variation on the recipe: Mine calls for vermiculite instead of sand. The recipe calls for 2 parts portland cement, 3 parts peat, 3 parts vermiculite. If you double this, you will have a large wheelbarrow full of "tufa"--enough to bring on a long nap. I also put in a handful of fibers that are meant as concrete reinforcement. Soak them in a pail of water while you are mixing the dry ingredients then throw them in, water and all,and mix before adding any more water. My mom gets the fibers from a concrete manufacturer--they are not readily available, at least that I know of. If anyone has a better source, please post.

My leaf impressions turned out beautifully. Thanks so much for the instructions, and also for the suggestion of outlining them after the first 24 hours of cure time. I used a dandelion fork, which much improved the look. I'm very pleased with the results.

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Barbara Craig
Under the Arbor
Specializing in Home Elements Inspired by the
Timeless Appeal of Nature.
www.underthearbor.com