Sealing Concrete Leaf Castings
Make the mound larger than the leaf.
Sealing concrete leaf castings. Brushes wear out fast when coloring concrete leaves so consider sponging on color or using rags to apply paint and stain. Place your leaf vein side up on the plastic. Look for nice veining with no rips or insect marks. Prepare your work.
Concrete leaf casting step 1. Using a pile of wet sand form the pile to create. 3 parts sand 1 part portland cement and an equal mixture of water and. Put a fairly thin layer of concrete on the leaf.
Select a leaf with a nice shape and free of holes and tears. 12 tall x 11 inches at the widest point. Using a stiff brush clean the joint and surrounding areas. This grape vine leaf is cast in concrete.
Some sources use 3 parts fine 1 sand to 1 part portland cement instead of the vinyl concrete patch. Leaf castings step 1. It has been lovingly hand painted in beautiful and vibrant metallic colors and sealed with a high gloss enamel sealer. The leaf measures approximately 11 x 10.
Mound concrete in the center of the leaf then smooth it carefully to the outer edges of the leaf adding more concrete as needed. Step 1 concrete joint preparation before installing a sealant the joint must be dry and free of dust dirt and release agent. Mix your concrete premix is fine and press concrete over. Cut the stem off.
Apply a thin coat of paint and stain to allow the concrete to absorb the colors. Cover the leaf with plastic wrap. Put another thin layer of concrete on and finish. Concrete reinforcing fibers leaves can wilt quickly so if possible cut them just before and keep them in a bucket of water until you are ready.
It is one of a kind as the leaf is discarded after the cast has dried. Keep in mind you can paint over stain but you can t stain over paint. Cover the sand mold with plastic. Roberta walked us through the steps involved in making the concrete leaves including mixing the concrete adding colorant mounding sand choosing leaves working with the underside of the leaf building up the concrete smoothing the bottom with a brush and adding a copper fitting if we wanted to put our cast leaf on a copper pipe pedestal for a raised bird bath or feeder.
Choose a leaf with deep visibly defined veins pour the concrete mix on a large tray or baking sheet.