Kathy, I just push the damp sand to support the ruffled edge of a leaf.
There's lots of information online and here plus there are books. Can't think of names other than Sherry Hunter (she's got one book out with 2 different names, changed the name when it was reprinted). Try looking for books on garden art. Billie

Kathy, I have made rhubarb and caster bean leaves. If i were at home I would include a picture. I use wet paper towels and try to squeeze them into the shape you need. You may need to work to use some thing to force the paper towel to stay in place, more paper towels or a piece of concrete to brace it. You can remove in a few hours.

/we toured Little & Lewis one time and I asked them that question. He said it was a trade secret.

I would really like to know other people's method's also.

I have thought about using paper mache. Good Luck.

Thanks Gradengalke, I'll try that next time. There must be some more ideas out there. I have some chard leaves I did and made them pretty flat and used wet sand in the ruffley part that worked well but I'm not haveing that success with larger leaves that I want to make more bowl like. I need to get some rubarb, sunflower leaves. I tried caster bean 2 seasons ago and I failed. Thinking the leaves were to small or the mix I used was wrong. Do you grow all of your own leaves? I'm going to have to find someone to beg leaves from. So far my leaves haven't produced very well. Kathy

I've used, pencils, nails, and other round items, and poke them into the sand under the ruffles....
It works ok, I try to put my sand mound on a flat piece of styrofoam, so that along the edges, I have something for my items to stick into.
Hope that helps.
Marcia

Good idea Marcia. I will have to try that. And, yes, Kathy, I do grow my own leaves. Except the rhubarb. I get them from a friend. I need to start my own but haven't yet. If there is a key to castor bean leaves, it is repeated trying. Start with a smaller one and keep at it. My largest leaf is about 34 inches. Last year I planted the Carmencita variety and they did not get large enough. I use drywall tape for reinforcing and reinforce again at broadest part of leaf with a flexible metal from an art supply over internet. Hobby shop has it but quite expensive. I just wish I were younger. It hurts my back to bend over a workarea. Enough, enough. Good luck and let me know if you have questions. Marie

If your ruffles aren't too small, start collecting cardboard tubes (paper towel & TP tubes) and wooden dowels (cut them down into useful lengths). Wrap them all with plastic and fasten with tape.

Unwrapped cardboard will soak up moisture and get soft/collapse, and will draw needed moisture from the concrete. I've considered coating them with a couple of layers of shellac to replace the plastic wrap, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Sue

I can see I am going to be busy looking for round things and using everyone ideas if I manage to get some leaves this year. Kathy

Kathy
"I just push the damp sand to support the ruffled edge of a leaf".
Billie's suggestion work really well. I first place a layer of wet sand on a flat board, I cover with dry cleaner bag and then push the wet sand under the ruffle to support the bend in the leaf. The wet sand will not move much and you can make it any size you want. It works great.
I have seen pencils and rolls of newspaper, but this seems to be pretty easy and the leaves turn out just fine.

Mike

I've used just the damp sand to support the ruffles in my rhubarb leaves, but then they're pretty small. I have yet to try something large, so the suggestions for supports are great!
{{gwi:66609}}From GardenWeb

Nice leaf, Nancy. I have some rhubarb leaves that are getting big enough to use so I am excited to give them a try. Thanks for all the ideas. Kathy

Would PVC pipe work instead of cardboard rolls?

Hey Dee, that's what I was thinkin'!!

Hi, It's been looong time since I've been to this site- (been busy painting those I made last year) but just happened here today and want to pass on what I know-on for making ruffles on leaves, I've pushed up the sand, sometimes rolled newspaper, and both seemed to work well, although the paper method do collapse some,(as someone already said) but what I want to tell you is that a friend tried this method out on very LARGE rhubarb leaf last year using very LARGE HAIR ROLLERS and THESE RUFFLES looked perfect! This is the first year I've had my own plant and there is this one large leaf-'just a begging' to be 'fossilized' so shall be trying out her technique, as last year a new neighbor kid broke my very first large RL Bird Bath one(I think he though it was a seat), and was I ever annoyed to say the least! but at least he didn't get hurt. Good luck! Wendy

Wendy, I bet you wanted to hurt him tho! The rhubarb leaves that I thought were going to work died, plant and all. Think we had too much rain. Now I have another plant and some sunflowers,and elephant ears but everything is small. I'm hoping for big leaves or I'm going begging! Or perhaps become a thief in the night. Kathy

Hi Kathy, to bad about your rhubarb plant, it does take a couple of years before those leaves get any size-if you happen to have a 'Farmers Market' near by it's possible one of the vendors could give/bring you a couple of leaves-they usually just bring the stalks to sell, wouldn't hurt to ask. We need more hot summer tempertures here, the temps. have been so cold at night to get those larger leaf plants to grow-but it's starting to warming up now, so I'll be mixing the 'mud' again soon! Wendy

I had an idea the other night about possibly imbeding a rhubarb leaf the reverse of normal (a vase shape). The vein side down, the smooth side up. Then use paper mache and make a support from the inside of the leaf. You would have to have two leaves very close to same size. Let paper mache dry and reverse using the mache over sand. I'm going to try next week, it may not work but what the heck. I tried to add pictures from photobucket but couldn't figure it out. Marie

Gardengal, Not sure I'm following you, you're going to use the paper mache to support the leaf ruffles? The sand bed we use for supporting the leaf is wet/damp. So the sand will conform and support the leaf. Wouldn't the paper mache get soggy? If this is about supporting the ruffles of the leaf it seems like a lot of work when there are other, easier, supports available. Billie

I am not sure I follow you on what to do to get the ruffles on the leaves. This leaf was cast just using a mound of sand. Didn't do anything but get the cement to the edge of the leaf. Is this what you are talking about when you say ruffles?

becky

{{gwi:66610}}

Becky, Nope, their talking about the wavy, ruffles ON THE EDGE of the leaf. You're talking about pushing the cement mix TO THE EDGE of the leaf. Your leaf is flat their's isn't. Nice leaf though! Billie