With ShapeCrete it's possible to cast thin tiles and panels that can be used as decorative elements in the home or kitchen.

STEP 1: Gather Supplies

Find a cookie sheet with raised sides and a shelf liner with a pattern you like. This particular shelf liner has a very fine pattern that the concrete will mirror exactly. Your local home improvement store will have a variety of shelf liners with different patterns. The shelf liner can be trimmed down to any size you like. In this example the shelf liner is glued to a baking tray, and then filled with ShapeCrete to create a panel that is about 1/2" thick.

STEP 2: Cut Shelf Liner to Size

Measure the inside of the cookie sheet and cut the shelf liner to fit. The approximate dimension of this piece is 13" x 9". Use a straight edge and a pen to mark out the shape, then cut out the shelf liner with scissors or a utility knife.

STEP 3: Glue Shelf Liner to Cookie Sheet

It's important to glue the shelf liner to the cookie sheet, otherwise concrete can get under the shelf liner and cause problems. Spray the back of the shelf liner with adhesive, wait a few minutes, and then carefully lay it into place.

STEP 4: Trim Shelf Liner

Take a razor blade or utility knife and trim away the excess material of the shelf liner until it fits the cookie sheet.

STEP 5: Mix and Cast

Mix ShapeCrete to a Castable Consistency and fill the form to your desired thickness. Vibrate the form, shaking it side to side, and gently lifting one edge and dropping it to help minimize air bubbles.

STEP 6: Cover and Cure

Cover the piece with plastic and let it cure for at least 24 hours.

STEP 7: Remove the Piece

To remove the piece, gently pry the sides of the cookie sheet away. Lift the piece out, flip it over, and gently pull off the shelf liner.

More Examples:

Other sources for tile patterns are Plastic Placemats (like this one from IKEA) and Rubber Texture Mats (sold at the Ceramic Supply Store). If you find a texture that you love, and want to have reproduced in ShapeCrete, consider making your own rubber mold, like we did to create the Wood Grain Tile.