RHUBARB LEAF IN CEMENT....

A friend of mine, Laura, said we should get some rhubarb leaves and make some cement castings.... You can imagine my excitement!!!!
Something I always wanted to do, but didn't know the procedure....
and my rhubarb leaves were HUGE this year!

So, even though I have my hands completely full with trying to get my house clean for company, doing wedding stuff and trying to get yard stuff done,
I was all into making a birdbath with a rhubarb leaf!

Our first attempt, 2 of the 3 castings broke. We needed to get the cement thicker where the veins are sooo thick. So yesterday, I made two more and thought I would take pictures as I went along.

FIRST... mound up sand (we used damp sand from Laura's grandson's sandbox.) When the sand is dampened, you can shape it to fit the leaf.

SECOND.... cover the sand with saran wrap so it does not stick to the leaf or cement.

THIRD... fit the rhubarb leaf over the mound of sand taking care to make sure the saran wrap is under the whole leaf. Make sure all edges are laid out flat.

This leaf was huge. I measured it 24" from side to side and 23" from top to bottom.

Use portland cement and mix it with water, the consistancy of like brownie mix. I just put one handful at a time down on the edges first, being careful to shape and form the edges of the leaf.

Make extra sure, that all holes are covered. I probably mixed 3 different small batches and just kept layering the cement. I needed to build up where those heavy thick viens were.

Then when you are all done working the cement, cover it with saran wrap again.

Let it sit and dry for several days. I left mine sit for 3 days. I didn't move it at all.... Then I turned it over and let it sit for 3 more days before peeling off the rhubarb leaf. I took the pressure hose to it (not full blast) and it scraped that leaf off quite well.

Here is one from the first batch I did. (The others will be done in 5 more days!)

I LOVE IT!!!! I hope to get some paints and paint it some pretty colors or maybe even just green. and then seal it.... I have a masonary seal that I use with my stepping stones that I will use. (Thompsons Seal for masonay work).