Fake Geode W/ <PERSON>
Introduction: Fake Geode W/ <PERSON>
You're in love with Geodes, aren't you? Big sparkly ones? Me too!
These super sized faux geode cathedrals will bring all kinds of excitement and with just a few customizations the project will Jazz up your indoor or outdoor environment. My project started when, after years of admiring these rich, glittery cathedrals filled with real amethysts and researching the cost led me to develop my own glass. I work with various mediums and adding beautiful colored glass in pretty uniform shape, stable color, washable, safe to use, endless colors and combinations, could withstand temperatures up to 300°F and fade proof. Well, here we are able to construct our very own faux geode cathedral. Guess what? You can even make it larger than 22”. Design as garden light, swimming pool side speaker with lights, designer tables and the list goes on. So come on grab a snack, sit back and enjoy my Instructable.
Step 1: Gathering the Supplies
Jazzy Glass, and other supplies sold here.
Step 2: A Step by Step Video .
A step by step video just for you! Little note I’m no professional videographer just an artist with a mission to create and share.
Step 3: Forming Geode Structure
Gather up these items from the supply list. Scissors, shaper sheet, ruler.
Measure out a length of 36”. The material is 18” wide so this cut Shaper Sheet will yield a very nice large geode cathedral (finished piece is roughly 22” tall). Now time to scrunch it up. Come on I know you have some pent-up aggravation, I believe it has been going on for close to a year now so give it a good scrunching. Feel better? Now let’s have some fun, unfold the Shaper Sheet and start to form it into the shape of the cathedral with the fiber side outward. (See photos). It’s this fiber side that gives us the tooth, we need to attach and lock on our hard coat, in this case it will be Sculptcrete (a concrete, clay) The interior material is made from strong form locking aluminum, it’s properties provide the strength to our structure and hold it in place while our coating drys or cures. I roll the edges inward and flatten, this will add even more stability, but give us a nice edge to adhere our Jazzy Glass appliqués to, plus allow an area for painting the geodes matrix structure. (See photos)
Once the desired form is created we can move on to the coating process. Let’s go.
Step 4: Hard Coating the Cathedral Shell
Start by preparing your area to work with water. Gather general housekeeping supplies.
This process will require an area to let the cathedral dry undisturbed. You will need a spray bottle filled with water and your mixing bowl and brushes for mixing Sculptcrete. 250
Mist the entire Shaper Sheet Geode shell with water. Put about 1.5 cups of Sculptcrete in the bowl and gradually add in water and stir. You're looking for a batter consistency. I’m using Woodland Scenics silicone collapsible bowls and silicone brush and spatula for mixing and spreading. After the mixture is ready coat all the white areas. You can spritz water a little as you go to get concrete deep into the fiber. Use the brush to smooth out the texture. We will apply another thin coat after it sets for a bit.
Approximately an hour. ( Just stiff to the touch, but still damp). See photos.
Next make a thin batch and do final coat. You can check to see if more is needed in areas that may be thin.
In this step you will have defined were or if you piece will have lighting, a Bluetooth speaker or maybe house numbers etc. Mark and drill out those areas if needed. I love just a spotlight when used in garden settings. It’s at this point I drill holes in the bottom for rain water to escape from, the holes are sealed with concrete sealer but can be done at the end.
Set to dry. If you can move to another area to create Jazzy Glass Amethyst appliqués.
Step 5: Coloring the Shell
Time to get our Shaper Sheet shell dry and apply the color. I use Woodlands liquid pigments (Earth Colors black and slate gray). Black was used.
You can use whatever you want we seal the concrete coating for outside use afterwards. Mix the Earth color as directed. It can be thinned and put in a small spray bottle this is good for hard to reach areas. A chip brush was used to do final an all over coat on Sculptcrete areas.
Let dry. 1013