Fill Plastic Dollar Tree Ornaments With Cement To Create Modern Decor Gems

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Having one of your decor pieces serve as a conversation starter is an easy way to entertain your guests. Rather than buying a store-bought accent, a DIY project like this one is sure to spark interest. Jorge Gomez, the creator behind the social channel @casa_refined, recommends making your own decoration by filling plastic Dollar Tree ornaments with cement. Once the cement hardens, you remove the ornament and embellish the cement balls to create modern decor gems on a budget. Not only will the cement balls look timeless in your home, but you can also change their placement (from your coffee table to your mantel, for example) if you get bored of staring at the same decor day-in, day-out. 

Moreover, you can use them both indoors and outdoors, depending on your requirements. And if you need something new to "wow" your repeat guests after a while, DIYing a new set of balls with different colors and textures won't set you back by much. You just need cement, such as Hartline's 1 pound box (you can even repurpose leftovers from your old DIY projects). You'll also need a few plastic ornament balls from Dollar Tree. You can get a pack of two small ones for $1.50 or get a bigger one for the same price. Other items needed for this project include a funnel, several disposable cups, an old container, a plastic spoon, some water, gloves, and a heavy-duty saw. Paint finishes off each piece nicely, so have acrylic paints and brushes on hand to complete your masterpiece. 

Place a tarp or an old cloth on your workbench before you begin; cement can be time-consuming to clean up. Line up a few plastic cupsto hold the ornaments. Remove their crown (the part with the hanger loop) and place each one in a plastic cup. Now, get your container and start mixing the cement with water according to the package directions. Add the latter in small increments, as you want the mixture to be a little runny, not completely watery. Combine the two elements well so there's no chunk of dry cement left behind. 

Once the cement is ready, place a funnel on top of your ornaments and start pouring the cement mixture in. Fill each one completely and tap them a little against your workbench to let out any air bubbles. Let them dry for a few hours or overnight to allow the cement enough time to solidify. Check the package directions for the recommended curing time. Afterward, grab your saw to start removing the plastic ornaments from your cement spheres. Be gentle, or you may end up taking out big chunks from your decor piece. You can also use a screwdriver to remove the outer pieces once you make the initial cut with your saw's blade. Once you have them all out of their mold, it's time to paint and finish them.

While you can display your cement spheres as-is, some people prefer to jazz them up. To make them look fancy, give them a coat (or two) of watered down paint. Since its consistency will influence their final color, experiment with the paint to water ratio for a cool effect. You can even draw inspiration from the solar system; the planets and their many many moons all feature a distinct hue and finish. Layering paint can be a good option, too. For examples, you can paint the base a regular color and add a dab of metallic hue on top.

However, if you plan to make them seem kind of vintage, there's an easy way you can create a distressed paint finish. Dip your spheres in water and lightly sand down their surface. This may also help you rid of any surface-level marks you left behind while cutting them out of the ornament molds. While they're still wet, stain them using watered-down acrylic paint. Rustic colors, such as red, brown, and black will work better for this purpose. Roll them around your paint tray for a distinct appearance. You can also layer on paint with your hands (gloves are optional), or combine all three methods if you like. But if all of this seems like too much work, add a little raw organic pigment, like Natural Earth Paint Pigment Sample Packs, to the cement mix before pouring it into your ornaments to get colored spheres right off the bat. Either way, don't forget to seal the exterior of the spheres to protect the paint, especially if you plan to use them outdoors.