EASY STEPS TO YOUR TERRAZZO VASE

Terrazzo has firmly established itself as the ultimate modern material, and now you can recreate its colour-chipped luxe in vase form to jazz up your home. This version of terrazzo uses a non-toxic and solventfree casting resin to create the vase. Pair it with paper, or preserved or silk flowers, for an ever-fresh take on a bouquet, or use it to store pencils or craft tools.

Gather your supplies

• Jesmonite AC100 kit (or similar)

• Jesmonite acrylic pigments in red, yellow and white

• Round silicone pot mould

• Jesmonite acrylic sealer

You’ll also need

Plastic sheet; 7 clean plastic drink or beer cups; wooden lolly sticks; eye dropper; plastic sheet protectors or similar; plastic tray; 240- and 400-grit wet and dry sandpaper; lint-free cloth; paintbrush

For you to note

Jesmonite works on a very precise ratio of 2.5 parts dry to 1 part wet.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Measure out 25g Jesmonite powder and 10g liquid (from kit) into each of 5 cups (each for a different colour chip) and mix with a wooden stick until smooth.

STEP 2 Add pigments to Jesmonite mixes. They are very intense, so add a tiny bit at a time with an eye dropper, then mix in. Use yellow pigment to create a yellow colour chip, small amounts of red and yellow for orange and pale peach chips, and varying amounts of red pigment to create light and dark pink chips.

STEP 3 Spread each colour mix on a separate plastic sheet protector. Use sticks to spread thin, even layers and let cure for 30 minutes. The layers are ready when they snap if you try to break them. If they bend, allow a little more time to fully cure.

STEP 4 Once Jesmonite has set, crush layers into chips, some big, some small.

STEP 5 Make Jesmonite for vase as per Step 1, using 60g liquid and 150g powder. Mix until smooth, then add white pigment (this lets colour chips stand out). Mix in coloured chips and stir until evenly distributed.

STEP 6 Pour mixture into silicone mould pot, filling it three-quarters full. Let cure for about 30 minutes.

STEP 7 While first colour is setting, mix a solid colour for base of vase, as per Steps 1-2. Weigh out 15g liquid and 37.5g powder into a plastic cup and mix until smooth. Add small amounts of red and white pigment for a pinkish tone.

STEP 8 When Jesmonite in mould is dry to touch, pour pink mix from Step 7 on top, filling mould completely. Leave to cure for an hour.

STEP 9 Once Jesmonite is fully cured (if warm to the touch, it’s not ready), release vase from mould.

STEP 10 Dip vase in a tray of water. Sand with 240-grit sandpaper to reveal colour chips. When enough chips are showing, sand smooth with 400-grit paper. Let dry. Wipe with damp cloth.

STEP 11 Use paintbrush to apply acrylic sealer with a light hand to avoid brush marks. Allow to dry.

Once you’ve got the technique down pat, play with different pigment colours to match your mood. And, if you’d rather swap the matt finish for more of a sheen, rub a small amount of coconut oil on the vase surface instead of the sealer.