Need Help with Cement BirdBath...Please :-)

[TXmom]

OK, so I saw AHappyChick's amazingly beautiful cement birdbath here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=177512

So I decided to try it. I've never worked with cement or concrete so I'm completely unsure about everything I'm doing. Surprisingly, so far so good

I did 2 big elephant ear leaves, and 2 small elephant ear leaves, and 1 of each came out looking really good...works for me! The column is still in the cardboard but ready to come out, I think.

Now my questions...stain? paint? sealer? I want to give this as a gift to my step-mom and I'm working against the clock. The cement stain that my husband bought only came in natural colors like tan, beige, gray, brick red, blah, blah, blah. So he bought brick red because it sounded like a decent color. I don't like it

We might use it on another project, but not my beautiful bird bath. So can I use a pretty spray paint instead? Do I need to use a water sealer before the spray paint? Or after the spray paint? Also, the sealers and even the cement stain that hubby bought all say the concrete needs to cure for 30 days before staining/sealing it....

Seriously??? I don't have that kind of time, but I could just ask my Dad to seal it later.

Thanks for any help y'all can give me.

PS: I want the easy answer

Spray paint it now, ask Dad to seal it later. Will this work??? Also, they might not use it as a bird BATH, they might put bird seed in it, or just set it out as a decoration.

 

[AHappychick]

it should cure in a few days if you put it in the sun. you can use any paint as long as you put a clear cement sealer over it

glad you are having fun

the leaves cure fast since they are so thin

eta: yes go ahead and paint it now and seal in a day or later in the afternoon as long as paint is dry

 

[sparkles2307]

I dont know about the stain or paint but that is AWESOME and I am going to use rhubarb leaves to make one this summer!!!! Or two....

 

[TXmom]

Thank you, thank you, AHappychick! That's what I was thinking, but I was really worried I'd screw it up...LOL.

My poor husband, spent all that money on the brick red stain and I just make faces at it...