How to Make Garden Statues

Choose the materials to make molds for your garden statues. You can use wood that's nailed together to create forms, PVC pipe of various lengths, polystyrene foam or buckets.

Make the forms for your garden statues. If you are using wood, cut it to the lengths you need and nail the pieces together with duplex nails (nails with two heads). If you are making molds from polystyrene foam, cut the foam to length and bind it together with duct tape. You can also use pre-made latex molds for garden statues. These molds have details built-in, saving you the step of creating them.

Prepare the mold. For the PVC pipe or the bucket mold, no preparation is necessary. For a wood mold, applying petroleum jelly to the inside of the mold so that the concrete does not stick.

Mix the concrete according to the size of the statue you are making. For smaller garden statues, mix 2 or 3 parts of sand and 1 part cement with water. For larger statues, mix 3 parts of sand, 3 parts gravel and 1 part of cement with water. The gravel will help the larger statues hold together. If you are in doubt, consult the directions on the cement package.

Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a wheelbarrow. Pour the concrete into the mold and allow it to set overnight. Remove the garden statue from the mold.

Shape the statue with a sharp implement like a stick or a knife when you are using the wood, polystyrene, a bucket or PVC pipe as a form. Do this when the cement is not completely set.

Create a mixture to encourage moss to grow quickly on your garden statue. Mix 3 cups of water with a handful of porcelain clay. Stir it thoroughly to create a paste. Add 1 cup of shredded moss and 1 cup of fish emulsion to the paste. Paint the mixture onto your garden statue. Mist the statue with water.