Make your own concrete leaves

Attractive concrete garden ornaments.

From building material to decorative material: concrete is wonderfully versatile as it can be cast into almost any shape. Ideal for brightening up any garden, it can be used to make a variety of low-cost ornaments such as a home-made plant-pot holder or bird bath.

Craft and DIY stores stock a wide range of concrete for craft and do-it-yourself projects. It’s so easy to use that even those who aren’t practically-minded can end up with fabulous results. The leaves shown here look very real – and that's partly true, because for this beautiful garden art idea we used large rhubarb leaves as moulds for the cement leaves. Their natural appearance has been retained by spraying with edding Permanent Spray. As well as making lovely concrete garden ornaments, they also make great bird baths.

Kategoria: Pomysłowe dekoracje do ogrodu
Produkty: Permanent spray
Materiały: Concrete and stone
Trudność: Bułka z masłem
Pobieranie: Obrazy (ZIP)

Krok po kroku

Krok 1

To prevent the leaf from tearing or breaking, you'll need a protective layer of sand to rest it on. Start by spreading out the newspaper on the floor and cover it with a thick layer of sand.

Place the leaf on the layer of sand with the upper surface facing down so that the veins on the underside of the leaves are clearly visible.

Krok 2

Mix the concrete by following the instructions on the packaging. Coat the leaf with the mixed concrete. Allow the concrete to harden for about 24 hours before carefully peeling away the leaf. Turn the concrete leaf over and carefully remove or brush away any sand from the top of the moulded leaf. Before painting, the surface must be as dust-free as possible.

Krok 3

To make your chosen colour really stand out, we recommend first applying a coat of Universal Primer to the leaf shape. After applying the primer, leave it to dry briefly. Once you've chosen which colour Permanent Spray you want to use you can get down to painting. Spray the concrete leaf rapidly with edding Permanent Spray. We recommend using horizontal and vertical strokes when spraying to ensure an even finish. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.