If you’re looking to add more decorations to your garden, leaf castings are excellent choices. Not only are they elegant and eye-catching, but also fun to make! Take a look at this tutorial on how to make your own brilliant leaf casting. No one will be-leaf you made it!
What you’ll need
To make a leaf casting, you will need water, cement, play sand, containers for mixtures, and wire mesh. You will also need large sheets of plastic, like the garbage bags pictured below, to place on top of your work station. Because cement dries quickly under sunlight, try to set up your work station in a shady area.
For this tutorial the creator used a large rhubarb leaf. Feel free to experiment with other types of leaves as you wish, but simply make sure they are whole and relatively fresh.
Making your sand and cement mixtures
In a bin or container, mix play sand and water together until the sand is moist. You will want to make sure the sand does not become runny.
In a separate container, gradually add water to the cement and mix until it has a consistency similar to cookie dough. It is important that you don’t add too much water in order to prevent the cement from seeping. Using gloves, squish any remaining clumps with your hands.
Building the cast
Place the wet play sand on top of the plastic and shape it into a mound with a small peak in the center and a small trough, as displayed in the picture below. This will allow your leaf to attain a curved shape, and the trough will keep the cement from oozing out.
Before placing your leaf on top of the sand, place another piece of plastic to keep sand from mixing in with the cement.
Cut the wire mesh as best as you can so it is the same shape as your leaf.
Pour a layer of cement over the leaf and then place the mesh on top.
Add more cement over the mesh to try and cover it completely.
Cover the cemented leaf with more plastic, and use rocks or other hefty items to secure the covering in place.
From here, let the cement cure for about three days under a shady spot.
Finishing touches
After the three days have passed, remove the plastic and peel the leaf off.
Chisel away any excess cement and leaf residue in the crevices.
Finally, add some shimmering metallic paint to give your leaf casting a rustic look. It is now ready to be welcomed into your garden!
For a more in-depth explanation on the leaf casting process, please visit katfromthehat.com.
Have you ever tried to make a leaf casting? What was the process like for you? Let us know in the comments!
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[Source: katfromthehat.com]
