I don't know the answer to your question but I did pick up a few hints on this topic last year when I was starting out. Best advice is to make thicker concrete. Second best advice is to start with hosta leaves or small elephant ear leaves. They both have a sort of "cupping" effect that helps you control the edges. Another very helpful technique is to lay thin plastic down over your wet sand mound before laying down the leaf. Make the plastic a lot bigger than the mound. Now, as you get near the edge of the leaf, pull the plastic up and back a little to form a helpful "edge barrier". You can keep this in place by pushing sand up against it or wadded up plastic or paper towels or whatever is handy. This may be what is meant by "fluting" with sand...????? Sometimes with a big elephant ear leaf I push extra sand under each natural "fold" to enhance or at least maintain the fluted look of the leaf. I will try to find a photo...
Here is a 29 inch concrete elephant ear leaf and a close up of the same leaf. Maybe it will show the "fluting" effect - especially on the left side. The nice "wrinkles" on the right side were just built into the leaf and I didn't need to help with sand. Click on the photos to make them bigger.
Laura

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also, you can just put the cret almost to the edge, let sit for a few moments, and gently push to the edgse with a spoon or other utensil. And if you peel the leaf off befor the crete is too hardened, you use a steak knife to trim up the edges, you can also use a broken piece of crete to sand the edges.
bonnie

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Ah. I see I have a LOT yet to learn. But, I'm having so much fun! Here is one of my very first rhubarb leaves. It's not painted yet, because I'm trying to get as many made as I can and then I'll sit down and paint when all the leaves are gone. But, you can see the edges aren't that great....

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That's a very nice leaf!

Keep practicing, your edges will get better. Make your mix as dry as you can to avoid slump at the edges.

On the fluting thing; rhubarb and gunnera lose detail when they are cast flat because they fold over onto themselves but if you push sand up under the ruffles at the edge (under the plastic) you will end up with higher relief and more detail. I remember conversation about it on this forum when I first started casting and couldn't figure out what they were talking about until I finally tried it.

On edge technique, like Bonnie I put the crete almost to the edge and then hold my finger at the leaf edge to make sure it doesn't go over while I pat, pat, pat the back of the leaf like burping a baby. I'm convinced that the patting also helps bubbles migrate to the top and it gives me an even thickness.

Isn't it an amazing feeling, standing back and admiring the work of art that you created? Congratulations!

Deb

Doone - That is a wonderful leaf - edges don't look bad in the photo! You should be thrilled.
Laura

Doone, You did great!
I use sand as the initial mounding for the middle and significant undulations in the leaf shape. I have been using lots of rolled pieces of newpaper that are placed under the areas of the leaf prior to mix going on. I also have many extra 'rolls' to assist as I am working so that I can grab one and place it under the leaf if need be. Occasionally I will dip the newspaper in water to make it stay in its shape a bit.
I will often work to within about 1/8-1/4" of the edge of the leaf, then when cleaning up and adding water/bonding agent to the final brush of the back I can sort of push some to the edge, then brush back up to the center of the back of the leaf.
Experimentation will be your best teacher, what works for you. No hard and fast rules.
Happy casting,
Dena

Thanks everyone! I am proud of my first leaf! I cast my leaves on a bed of sand. You maybe can't see it here, but I used wet sand and then mounded a bit under the leaf to give the middle a bit of a bowl. I will definitely work on my edges! Hope to find some leaves this weekend and try again!!!!

Thanks for the help!!!