Those leaves look great! I wanted to do one last year but did not have any rubarb leaves...I just bought some rubarb two nights ago to plant so I can do leaves this summer...
Any tips for me?....

Hi, sydneydavis
First if you have never made leaves before it maybe better to start with a few smaller size ones.
For me it seems a little overwhelming at first-working with such a big leaf, so I'll just go with my experience.
First make sure you are in a draft-free place with no sun. Have a large pile of damp sand for the mound to lay your leaf on, keeping in mind how deep and wide you want the birdbath to be. Cover this mound with plastic wrap, put the leaf on the mound to see if this is wide and deep enough, don't get it to deep, small birds like shallow water. Next place your leaf with vein side up, facing you. Mix up your mix, I used 1 part portland to 3 parts sand, mix throughly, (remove any hard lumps) Add cold water gradually, your mix need to be like a thick Brownie batter place a large scoop or handfuls on the top of leaf, pat down to remove air bubbles and to cover the top, then proceed almost to the leaf edges, the cement need to be thicker at the middle of the leaf over the center deep stem/vein. Don't let the cement go beyond the edges of the leaf. I later found out from the experts here its best to stop about 1/4" before reaching the bottom to have nice even edges.
When finished completely cover with plastic wrap and walk away. VIP: Don't try turning large leaves over for 48hrs. Use both hands or have someone help when turning, these are still green and still very fragile at this point.
Now you can remove the old leaf, sometimes this can be very time consuming, especially if you are anxious to paint.
Keep water misted for about 7 days, during this time never let dry-out. Keep tightly covered with plastic wrap. If you have a large container you can put the finished leaf in a cold water bath, completely covering with water. Try to change the water daily to remove the lime-that create that nasty whitish look on your new BB. Rinse throughly when finished.
Let sit a couple of days or so then paint and seal.
Always use a mask while mixing the dry ingredients and always where gloves. Above all have fun! Possible other readers here can give you some ideas also. Wendy

I am always amazed by what you can do if you just try. I really love the look, texture, color, etc. of your creations. One of you has a really good eye for color and the painted leaves are as well done as I have seen. I've done the leaves myself (a particularly large squash growing out of my compost pile) but as of yet have not attempted to paint them. Adele

Thanks dellare, sorry just getting back here, have my 11 year old granddaughter here on spring break.
I just love to paint these leaves!
My DH, helps with the casting of the Japanese Lanterns, but don't do any painting. I use the small hobby type water base paints that come in many, many colors, often I mix different shades to get the color I want. ALWAYS dilute the paint way down to a wash, starting with the darkest shade for the base then go from there, you can wipe some of the paint of here and there with a dry rag, let dry a few minutes, then add a few different colors/shades. You will figure out your own technique as you proceed, if it's not looking how you want it to be you can always start over. Sometime I find a final very watered down black wash over the whole piece gives me just the look I want. It is best to paint your smallest leaves first, then go on to any larger. Everyone seems to like something a little different. Wendy

Hello I am a newby to this forum that I have found recently...
I started leaf casting & such last spring. I was happy to find that I wasn't alone in this addiction! I was also surprised that so many of the items I have been thinking and working with were already done here and also finding others by googling. There I was thinking they were my original pieces of art~LOL!
I have gotten alot of useful info from this forum so far.
Thanks everyone here for sharing...its all great! I can't wait to get started. I am going to attempt to get started on a couple this weekend (leafless). Actually I may try to use some grasses that I prune or I may start hacking at the palm houseplant..LOL. It has been a long winter. I am tired of being leafless but it has given me some opportunity to come out of the "Leaf Zone" and do more....thinking out of the box. When I get ideas I sketch them out. Yes, this is a very addicting hobby! None-the-less happy to be on-a-roll with something fun.

elephantear...I love your Asian inspired lanterns ...they look great. Are you planning to paint them? They look great without it!

I have a question;

What is the best recipe for the lanterns or a smooth sphere? What concrete products work the best for each item?

Wendy,
Your leaves are beautifully done. I am interested in your beeswas product. What is it called and where do you get it? I like the sheen it gives..Dottie

Hi, I have been a member of the forum for over a year and I have gotton much useful information from all of you, thanks so much!!!

I too have been messing with the casting of leaves and I am completely hooked. I have made many huge rhubarb leaf birdbaths that were jaw dropping. Even the ones that I dont think turned out well are loved by others. I also used sunflower, hosta, elephant ear and squash leaves that turned out great too. I like Wendy's idea to make smaller ones and hang them up. I am now experimenting with concrete stain and this seems to be working great.

This year I wanted to use a cheaper cement product and have not had any luck. It seems to crumble easily and doesnt take the paint or stain well. Maybe I am doing something wrong. I used Vinal Patch last year and it seemed to work well. Any suggestions?

I would like to learn the art of hypertufa. I wish someone could just come to my house and teach me!!! I tried last lear and it didnt work. But I am determined to try again this year. But what I really want to learn to do is make a concrete or hypertufa sphere. Is there anyone out there that could give detailed instructions? And I am determined to try some kind of water feature with the larger leaves. Husband said he could help me build some kind of frame to hide the pump.

Guess I will be busy this summer!!! Diane

emtnest,
I bought the Bees Wax at a farm fleet store, and it's called just that 'Beeswax' Waterproofer, cost was else than $5.00 for a 7oz.container. I raged rubbed it in, a couple of coats if I remember correctly. Don't know if I'll have to apply more during the summer season, but it's easy enough to apply-so not a problem.

whisperer, I think if you put the word sphere in the search box above you possibly will find several answers to your questions on making a smooth sphere. The lanterns I made are made with a straight portland sand mix. Wendy

My you were busy last year. I love your use of color. Wish I had that talent.

I especially liked your little bird feeders on stems. What did you use for the stems? How did you attach them? Can you tell us how you made them? I have to give some sort of crete program to my garden group this summer and this looks like something doable for the group. We have many birdwatchers. Thanks for sharing all your things.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bird feeders

I like the lanterns.
Just finished one myself.
The web page is a mess but the lantern came out okay.
Care to look?

Here is a link that might be useful: Lantern