Ric cleaned out the center isle way of the barn for us to work in since the weather was a bit iffy. We started laying down some forms to add depth and support to the sand piles. Styrofoam, plastic bottles and stacks of wood. Then added the sand with a layer of plastic to keep the sand out of the cement while we were working it. Then we put down the leaf (face down), and poured the cement over it added a bit of wire screening for strength and another thinner layer of cement over that.

We let them cure for 2-3 days and turned them over. I was very pleased with the results. On some we loosely followed the leaf edge and those needed touched up a bit to make the edges look nice. Ric took his grinder and metal file to them. We did two where we just made a shape and put the leave in the middle those look just fine you can see the leaf imprint in the bowl. So I figured out that I either have to follow the leaf edge very closely or just make a shape and put the leaf impression in it no in between. Here are pics of several finished ones you can see the difference between the worked and un-worked edges. We let the stem stick out the bottom of one of them and that created a hole that we can put a tube through and attached to a pump to use as part of a water feature. Next I will have to figure out how to paint them. I could use some suggestions on types of paint and sealer to use on them. They aren't near as heavy as I thought they might be so I should be able to bring each one inside to paint.

Those are extraordinary Holly! Love them. Great craftsmanship!

Thanks so much David this was my first try and I was pretty pleased with the out come.
I got pulled away before I posted this last pic.
We made 6 castings, 5 of them were portadora alocasia leaves and 1 was castor bean. The castor bean I did a large shallow bowl shape with the leaf impression. One of the Portadora was done much the same way with plenty of concrete around the leaf. The other ones the concrete followed the leaf edge. I will be using several of the Portadora castings for a water feature. Three of them are a good 4ft long the smaller two are 3ft long.

The size is super impressive. Keep up the great works. I love your tiled bowling balls, pedestals and such too!

You are very talented and have the artists eye.

WOW Holly - just beautiful and loved the descriptive photo's

Very nice work, Holly. Looking forward to seeing them painted.

Your leaves look amazing Holly! BRAVO!!!!

Beautiful job Holly. LOVE how big they are!

I was just thinking about you Chris, @goldfinch4 and the leaves you cast some time ago. I still haven't done any yet, but you surely inspired me and now with Holly's . . . well, maybe if I ever get warm and maybe after this current iceberg thaws, I can get creative.

Great job, Holly, I also love the size of them.

Those are really great, Holly!

Sharon, I didn't make any the last few years because of too many other projects going on. Maybe next spring though. Stay warm!

Thanks everyone, I will post pictures later when I get some of them painted and this summer when I put the water feature together.

Great - can't wait!

me too!

Even unpainted they are gorgeous!

Becky would you or anyone else have suggestions on the paint or sealer I should use?

Holly, I just use acrylic craft paint - like Folk Art brand. To seal mine I use Behr Wet Look Concrete Sealer, but there are a lot of other brands on the market now too.

Thanks, I did a cement stepping stone last year and painted it with the craft acrylic paints I have and then sprayed it with the same Folk Art sealer I use on my other crafts. No one is walking on it but so far it has held up well. Since these will be part of a water garden I was wondering if I should use something else.

Paint used for a swimming pool, maybe?

Exterior oil based paints last a long time on cement too, in all kinds of weather, but I don't know how it would do constantly in water.