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08/06/2008: "Leaf Castings - thought I would share"

Remember those cool leaf casting my mom gave a Christmas a few years ago? Well, they have many uses and I came across this site: go here. I loved them when my mom made them and now I want to make some more myself (of course, this will be in the Fall after some of the house stuff settles). My favorites are the gutter downspash catchers and the birdbath. They just have so many cool applications, so I thought I would share so people could get ideas and see their uses. Thanks for such a cool gift mom! What is everyone doing with theirs? Decoration? Bird Feeders? Just curious.

Replies: 5 Comments

Oh, and I think my parents might have covered the mound of sand with a garbage bag before laying the leaf (mom, interject here if I'm worng). You can also buy cement coloring at teh hardware store that you add to the cement to give it colors, like the reddish one pictured.

Erin said on Tuesday, August 12th @ 11 :00 AM CST

From what I understand, they are pretty easy. Aunt Krissy and I are going to make some I think because she wants more too. Basically you need to find some big leaves... Elephant Ear, burdox, tobacco, etc. You also need your cement and some sand. You mound up the sand into a pile (this gives the bowl effect), then you lay the leaf top-side down onto the mound of sand. This allows for the thicker creases on the back of the leaf to make the nice indentations on the front of your piece (in other words, your cement lays on the back-side of the leaf). Then you mix your thick cement and place it on, covering the leaf. You let it cure for several days and then flip it over and scrape off the dried leaf with a wire brush or something to get it all off. You can then files some of the edges or leave it as is. Whala! Artistic leaf for your garden!

Erin said on Tuesday, August 12th @ 10 :59 AM CST

I just got mine!! Surprising I know. That's what happens when you move twice in one year. I have to find the spot for mine!

beth said on Sunday, August 10th @ 10 :45 AM CST

Mine is out in my gardens and I use it as a bird feeder. Not 100% happy with the way it looks, but I put old bread crumbs out and stuff like that for all our critter friends. LOVE the DOWN SPOUT IN THE GARDEN- too cool- unfortunatately all of my are buried so I don't have an area to use it like that, but I love it. I thought you did that Erin and I was going to tell you - very creative (like I didn't already know that!)

Kay said on Thursday, August 7th @ 06 :31 AM CST

OK Farley- give instructions of what to do and what materials you need- these are cool and I want to try and make one!

La said on Wednesday, August 6th @ 02 :09 PM CST