DIY Concrete Cup Holder
Updated on July 1, 2021
If you ask me, one of the best parts about being a crafty person is that you can combine your creative skills so well with your need for practical things around your house. Sure, the little bits and bobs that I need at home are usually things I could very easily just buy in a store, but I’ve always found the process of making things for myself so much more satisfying than just shopping. I’m also the kind of person who goes on total kicks and sprees with certain materials or types of crafts, using that particular technique to make just about anything in a long phase until I move onto loving something else. That’s why, when I went to put a glass of water on my nice wooden coffee table and realized that I’ve lost or broken all of my purchased coasters and cup holders, I decided to make some more for myself using my latest favourite DIY tool: fine particle concrete mix!
I’m also the kind of crafter who loves following other people’s DIY tutorials. That’s why, whenever I make something I’m particularly happy with in the end, I also like to return the favour and make tutorials of my own that other DIY enthusiasts might follow along and try their hand at if they like the look of my project. Check out these step by step instructions complete with photos! If you’d rather follow along with a video tutorial instead of written words, scroll to the bottom of this post to find just what you’re looking for.
For this project, you’ll need:
- DIY fine particle cement
- Water
- A spoon
- Scissors
- Tape
- Oil
- A paintbrush
- Acrylic paint (blue and purple)
- A jar top (or a small pie tin will also work)
Step 1:
Gather your materials!
Step 2:
Use your paintbrush to coat the inside of your jar lid, small pie tin, or whatever you’re using as a mold for your cup holder with oil. Cover the entire bottom and all of the sides well. This will stop the concrete mix from sticking to the inside of your mold as it dries, making it much easier to remove at the end.
Step 3:
Mix your DIY fine particle cement! Pour your water into the powdered mix and stir it together with a spoon until you get the right consistency. Follow the directions on the back of your package to get the correct ratio of water to mix, since it can vary from brand to brand. Once your cement is mixed, pour it into your mold (the jar lid or pie tray you oiled earlier) and smooth the surface out with your spoon. You can also help work out air bubbles or clumps by lightly tapping the bottom of the tray on the tabletop until the surface is smooth. Set the cement aside to dry all the way through.
Step 4:
Once your DIY cement mix has dried all the way through, remove it from the tray or lid by flipping it upside down. You might need to wiggle the piece a little bit, but the oil you put down earlier should help it come out quite easily. The flat surface that you smoothed with your spoon when you filled your mold will actually be the bottom of your cup holder or coaster, while the bottom of the mold, where the shape tapers, will be the top.
Step 5:
Apply tape down the middle of your coaster on its top surface, angling the sides on jaunty diagonals for a geometric look. This will let you add colour to some parts of the surface but keep other parts of the concrete plain and industrial chic looking while still maintaining neat, straight lines. Use your paintbrush to paint the concrete on one side of your tapes section blue and the other side purple (or whatever colours you’ve chosen or like best). Set the painted coaster aside to dry.
Step 6:
Once the paint has dried competelym carefully peel your paint off to reveal the concrete section underneath. I liked the contrast that painting some parts and keeping others plain and visibly made of cement creates!
If you’re happy with your dual-coloured geometric pattern than you’re all finished! Of course, you can feel free to use this tutorial as a basic guide in terms of technique but play with shape, colour, and painted detail as you please. Just in case you’d like to try this project out for yourself, here’s a fantastic tutorial video to help you!