I've only made the flat ones but have seen directions for the shaped ones. Usually the ones that are "bowl" shaped are used as bird baths or fountains. According to the directions one just puts a rounded pile of sand on a piece of plywood, plastic over, then rhubarb leaf, then concrete.

There are lots of sites online - here's one of the first I found.

Here is a link that might be useful: making a sand cast birdbath

I've made the stepping stones but I've done mine a little differently. Instead of using sand, I took the leaf and laid it on the ground and used a trowel to cut into the ground to mark the area around it. I then removed the leaf and put it in an upside down garbage can lid with water in it to keep the leaf from drying out. Then I dug inside the area I marked on the ground. I made mine dip slightly towards the center from all the sides (the edges I made about 4 inches deep and the center was about 5 inches) Then I laid the leaf in the bottom, added cement about halfway, put in some chicken wire for stability, then put more cement to the top. I then used the garbage can lid (minus the water) to cover the area to keep kids and critters out. I left it like this for 3 days, never misted it or anything. Then I dug it out, turned it upside down which was now right side up and removed the leaf (some leaf parts remained but they wore off from the weather and use). I guess you could do the same except, instead of making it deeper in the middle, you could dig around the edges but leave the middle part mounded - to what degree or how tall would be up to you. Then do the cementing. When done and flipped right side up then you would have the depression in the middle. I hope this wasn't too long and I wish you good luck whichever way you do it. Colleen

Wander on over to the Hypertufa forum and do a search for leaf casting. A lot of us who like to play with concrete love making leaf castings!

Enjoyingspring, I thought of this post when I stumbled across a video today at YouTube, that gives great instruction on how to do leaf castings. Two ladies do a small batch and make a simple leaf.

I had always thought "heavy huge wheel barrel full of concrete" when I thought hypertufa. Not for my arthritic hands, but this video even makes me want to try it! They just mix up a small bowl full.

You won't believe the tiny casting they show towards the end of the video. It was definitely a 1st for me, I never ever would have thought of it ..... hypertufa earrings! :-)

Show us some pics if you make anything, please! ~T

Here is a link that might be useful: YouTube Cemet Leaves Video

Tenderlee..we just watched the video..wow she makes it look so easy. I'm going tomorrow after work to buy a bag or 2 of cement and another box of wood screws.Maxeys been out of work for weeks now, he works for a home builder and no ones buying anything house wise around here right now.Ther's a show @ Highgrove first of June & I think feeders & stepping stones would sell, along w/ a bench & a trellis. those earring are a cute idea too,but they'd have to be clip ons, cos I'm sure they're heavy.Now I have to get to painting some windows...creative juices are flowing. You guys are the bomb..as the young girls at work say.. LOL...judy