Here is how to make papercrete containers.
The idea itself was invented by one of my Japanese friends.
It is getting popular here.
This message was edited Dec 5, 2004 8:12 AM
How to make papercrete containers.
Things to be prepared:
1. used newspapers : 8 sheets(wet),20(dry)
2. cement : 1.2kg
3. dye--in my case black:red=2:1(whatever you prefer)
4. thin stick : 20cm long
5. bowl: 1(40-50cm across)
6.plastic bags: 2
7.trowel:1
8.vinyl gloves: 1pair
This message was edited Dec 5, 2004 8:12 AM
How to make it.
1.Soak the folded 8 newspapers overnight in the bowl.
2.Break them into pieces ,add some water in case necessary,
and knead them untill they get slurry
This message was edited Dec 5, 2004 8:17 PM
3.Add cement and dyes into them and go on to knead.
4.Get it out and place it on the plastic bag.
5.Wipe the bowl lightly with a newspaper .
6.Place the stick in the center of the bowl,spread another
plastic bag on it.
7.Put the slurry the size of a softball on the center of the bowl.
Push and spread it untill it gets1cm -1.5cm thick and make a hole with a finger
in the center of the place where the stick lies.
8.Spread each of the dry newspapers left and twist them
into sticks.
9.Make a wall all around the inside of the bowl with the sticks.
10.Press the rest of the slurry inside the wall little by little with a trowel
This message was edited Dec 6, 2004 10:48 AM
11Leave it over night kept dry untill it hardens. Take it out with the plastic bag
and remove the twisted papers around it.
12Shower it once a day for two days to get it refined.
13.Now you can use it !
These are my friend's containers.
WOW TomTom, thanks for sharing that one! Very Impressive! I'll be using those instructions come spring. Nice work! Jill
TomTom, thank you so much for sharing this technique with us! I love these containers - they look so natural.
I have one question about the dye: please let me know what this dye is used for regularly. This will make it easier for me to find it.
Please congratulate your friend on my behalf.
Thanks so much, Tomtom! Wonderful new technique, and practical, too. What is the beautiful grass that's in the container? Yuska
Hi, momof2d,do have a try!
Nobody who don't know this have ever dreamed that this is made
of newspapers and cement.
Works as a big surprise.LOL
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Yes Ursula, they do look natural.
And in them alpine plants grow so well.
The dyes I use have been traditionally used here in the Japanese -style architecture.
They're inexpensive, but are getting hard to obtain because of their getting in less demand.
I think any dyes that might color cement would work just as well.
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Thank you, Yuska, for showing interest in my container.
I'm also grateful to you since I use here the "papercrete"that you dubbed this material.
The grass is Japanese Blood Grass, Tall Cottongrass 'Red Baron'
Imperata cylindrica. It turns attractive in the fall .
Now I noticed that the step 7 was omitted by mistake in my instructions.
I've just added it . Please take a look at it.
I'm sooo sorry.
Tom, I've added the 7th step to my word document. I'm dreaming of making some of these, I think they'd be great for bonzai, and for 'rock' loving plants and as you've shown just about anything. Thanks again for the info! Jill
Amazing! I love them!
TomTom, may I ask a favor of you. Could you please convert the cement [1.2 kg] to a measurement used here in the US?
I am not familar with kg and don't know how to convert the amount.
Thanks. Love your containers.
Maxine
Thanks for sharing this! I've been eyeing this forum, waiting for it, as you'd mentioned to me you would post it! Saving this to my favorites so that when I am ready I can make it. I too would like to know what the conver amount is for kg (like how many pounds and ounces that is).
Maxine,
Try this: http://www.teaching-english-in-japan.net/conversion/kilograms for help converting.
I imagine it is as difficult for Tomtom to convert Kilograms to pounds as it is for you. :)
Thank you for that link! I knew there had to be one somewhere!
Maxine and Karrie20x,1.2kg is about 2.2pounds or 35 ounces.
I apologize my ignorance of the measurement used in the US.
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Karrie, I 'm so sorry to have kept you waiting.
It took me some time to edit the photos and put what I wanted to say in English.
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MaryEv,Thank You so much for sharing the link.
You're right !
Converting kgs to pounds is as difficult for me as getting my ideas
across in English .LOL
I'm so grateful.
TomTom, I think that you are doing marvelously well. I know one thing, I sure couldn't convert any english to Japanese. Not that one could recognise!!!!
Maryev, my THANKS for the web site.
Nice to learn something new every day.
Excuse my spelling, please. Fibro fog is bad today.
Maxine
These are beautiful! Are they very heavy? I wonder how big they could be made? Thanks for sharing the idea with us.
Susan
Maxine,thanks for your encouraging words!
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lincolnitess,the quantity of cement and newspapers in my instruction was for
the container shown in the photo and is the basic ratio of quantities.
You might increase or decrease the quantities ,as the case may be ,so far as you retain
this basic ratio.
The container in question, therefore, weighs a little more than 2.2pounds(1.2kg)---
cement +newspapers+water. It is about 8 inches across and 6 inches tall.
You could make a wider one using a wider bowl.
But when you'd like to make a taller one, be sure not to make the slurry crumble down.
The best way to avoid this is to wait for about half a day till the base somewhat hardens and go on to pile up the slurry. You might attach some pockets to the container.
Tomtom
Thanks Tomtom. I am going to try one in the Spring. Don't think I want to try it in the house. They are really natural looking.
Susan
I started on one today.
Got some Questions. I twisted one newspaper sheet and it is quite small ( around 1 inch). When you say one newspaper, how many sheets are you talking about. Would it help to wrap the sticks in kitchen cling wrap.
When using a 20 inch pot do you just fill up to where you want to stop, being it is so tall.
TARogers5, so you've started on one!
I'd hasten to remind you of what I jotted down as "Things to be prepared"
--#1 in particular(for convenience, I repeat it here:used newspaper:8 sheets(wet),20(dry)) .
8 sheets of newspaters are for the slurry, and 20sheets of papers are for the wall.
It wouldn't help to wrap the paper sticks with wrap.
Rather it would spoil the natural looking.
In case you use a pot 20 inches tall, you might stop piling up just where you want.
But be sure not to make it crumble down. Please refer to my reply to lincolnitess
which gives detailes of this .
I wish you good luck !
Tomtom
This message was edited Dec 15, 2004 4:35 PM
ThanksTomtom for your detailed instructions. I can't wait to try it.
Where did you purchase your bowl? What kind of bowl is it? I love the looks of these pots!
Hi rockdrky,
I got this plastic bowl at 100yen shop (Do you have such as one dollar store?)
Of course any big bowl you have will do .
Have a try!
Tomtom
Tomtom, thanks for the detailed instructions. I luv yours and your friends containers. I'm going to have to try this when it warms up.
:) Donna
Can Quikcrete be used?
Can anyone suggest a paper shredder specifically for newspapers? The ones I've seen appear to be mostly stationery types.
I can not get over how nice that looks! Now mum and I are planning on making some.
Is there a way to water proof them so we can use them to grow Lotus and reeds?
I wanna make 'rocks' to decorate our ponds edges too. Wonder if they're fish safe.
Tom Tom - Hi!!!!! Been gone from Dave's long time due to health - just popped on for a minute to see if anything interesting was going on and look what I found! FABULOUS! Love these pots - and may even be able to make one since looks like not a lot of concrete to mix. Thanks Ursula!!!!!!!!!!!
dd
This is one that I tried from TomTom instructions. So far I have made four of them.
Awesome Ta!
Looks great, Ta!! You even put something on it to make it look all sparkly.
:) Donna
Donna,one of the advantages this has is that you can make a fairly good one even at your first try.
So why don't you have a try when it warms up?
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nut4spuds,
ordinary cement is more preferable.
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Yuska, a shredder whatever kind seems to be better avoided.I myself used it a couple of times ,
but the naturalness of the container was hardly attained with the shredded newspaper.
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crimsontsavo,
these are porous containers and not good for for water plants.
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Hi, dd,
long time no see! I believe you're now quite well. Thanks for your encouraging word. I'm surethey'll suit your taste well . Just have a try.
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Good for you, TARogers 5!!
I couldn't agree with cro,spmtsavo more! Looking forward to more pics with plants in them.
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That's fine- these will be gorgeous with regular plants in them!
OMG! I can make wall pots to put some houseplants in- how sturdy is this stuff?
Can I screw it into my wall and plant in it?
Oh gosh- I've already started thinking about converting this idea into a wall technique- might try it on the lower half of my bedroom to help with the gothic feel. Creativity rocks!
Gothic feel???? We need pictures????
:) Donna
Ohh- I'll post pictures as soon as Ginger_H gets here with her camera. It's a 'light goth' inspired room. Gotta get some black spray paint for the accessories and such.
I'll post a thread in the Decorating forum when we get pictures.