The "One Bag Wonder" contest from concrete maker Quikrete revealed a seemingly endless array of creative possibilities for projects made with just one bag of concrete.
Top honors went to Mike Moyer of Sarasota, Fla., who took home the $2,500 cash prize with a toilet tank topper designed to conserve about 1 gallon of water per day. The topper was constructed of Quikrete countertop mix.
Corpus Christi, Texas, resident John Olvey claimed second place and $1,500 with an ornamental sculpture created by molding the company's concrete into the shape of an old surfboard. Three projects shared third place and received $250 each:
--Warren Ness of Spokane, Wash., shaped stucco around a wire mesh tube to form a driftwood candle holder.
--San Antonio, Texas, resident Mariano Garcia used concrete to form the bottom and back of a textured desk seat.
--Andy Gaynor of Abingdon, Md., combined concrete and black walnut to build a multi-media kitchen island.
The more than 100 entries ran the gamut from cake pedestals and beer taps to iPad chargers and rocket lamps to checkerboards and outdoor bars. “The creative appetite for concrete projects represented in the One Bag Wonder contest really exceeded our expectations,” says Frank Owens, Quikrete vice president of marketing. “ They were all truly award-winning caliber concrete projects from DIY enthusiasts across the country."
