Cement Cast Leaves - Part One

I'm sorry that many of my pictures got deleted from my blog.

Some of my neighbors came over today to make cement cast leaves.  I'll share the process with you so you can try it at home.

 You will need sand, Portland Cement, plastic (I used an inexpensive drop cloth), gloves and a leaf.  I used 2 different kinds of sand.

 I used  Leveling Sand to make the mounds that will form the shape of the leaf.

I used Washed Play Sand to mix with the Portland Cement.  It has a finer texture than the other sand.

Pour the leveling sand on a table and add water so that it will stay in the shape you want.

Mix the cement and washed play sand - 1 part Portland Cement to 3 parts sand.  Add water gradually and mix.  I wear kitchen gloves and mix with my hands.

Cover the mound of sand with plastic and place leaf, vein side up, on the covered mound.

Add the cement mixture to the leaf.  I start in the middle with a pile of cement and gradually work it down to the edge of the leaf.  There is a tendency to make the edges too thin.  Make sure the edges are about 3/8 inch thick for a small leaf.  If you're using a big leaf it should be even thicker and have wire reinforcement.  On this leaf, I cut off the stem and covered the area where the stem was.

On this leaf I left the stem on but didn't put cement around it.  Try not to overlap the leaf shape that you have chosen.  Pat the cement all over to make sure it gets in all the grooves of the leaf.

After you're all finished, cover the project with plastic so the cement will cure at the proper rate.  I have turned them after 24 hours but it's better to wait 48 to be on the safe side.  When I made the huge one I waited 3 days.  That is the hardest part of the process, being patient.

I will continue with the rest of the process after these have cured.  Have fun on this easy project.  You'll love the end results.