There is a mosaic artist in the UK by the name of Rebecca Newnham who makes a light weight substrate for her mosaics from fiberglass and lightweight fabric. I wonder if you couldn't use something like that? I've been trying to find more information on her method of constructing the substrate but have not been able to. I have a book that has a couple of pages on the method but can't even put my hands on the book at the moment. The fiberglass that I've used does set-up pretty quickly so that might be a disadvantage. What I've used is made for auto repair. Something to consider and maybe play with?
spiderwoman

This stuff is wild - it gives amazing detail & it's tough stuff. Not easy to find or cheap, but well worth it. I've only just begun to experiment with it.

Here is a link that might be useful: FoamCoat

Really, if you are making ornaments, you can use cement sand mix and only make them about 1/2 or 3/8 inch thick. You only need the extra thickness or weight if you are going to be using them outside. After the cement mixture dries they don't weight that much. But they are about as fragile as porcelain. If you try, don't forget to add a hanger, or make a hole to run a ribbon through. The only problem I see with this is that I can never get the back to look smooth enough to suit me. I've been thinking, maybe press another leaf, right side into the back of the leaf?

Hi all,
When I make my leaves, I use a dry paint brush and brush my leaves when I am done, it smoothes them nicely, but leaves them just a bit rough. If you want very smooth, take a bit of plastic wrap and lay it on the backside. I also brush this down and leave it on until it is set up, and it's time to remove the leaf. Gives a very nice smooth back. (This was someone else's idea and it works VERY nice.)
Marcia

Do you have pictures you can show?
Thanks

Livnlife,
if you were asking me for pictures of a backside smoothed...here is one of front and backside.
It is a little rough on the edges, because I filed a bit to smooth out the edges...

This was a welcomed reject...I used bits of an old navy blue Tshirt - wettened down to wrap my leaf in as it cured.
It Tye Dyed, so I left it as is and sprayed with Krylon clear acrylic spray.

Here is a link that might be useful: tye Dyed leaf...smoothed back

That is really cool, marcia!
I am new to this and probably a bit late for the leaf casting...til next summer....but I am interested in learning more. I'm not sure I understand what you are doing with the plastic wrap...does it go between the leaf and the concrete? And...what was your mix/recipe?
Thanks for your help!
Crystal

Livinlife,
No,
I put down som plastic wrap and lay my leaf face down over a bowl, sand pile**, or flat surface (I use styrofam plates, or anything I can pick up without bending the leaf). Apply my crete mix, (usually 1port 2sand)
I apply in tiny bits with a tiny palate knife or my cheap 'goodwill' steak knife. Thin...about 1/4 to 3/8" thick. Then I tap on the table around the leaf to release air bubbles. ( a small hand held massager does a great job!)Then I take a dry cheap kids paint brush and brush up the edges and fix points etc...and then put in a hanger if I choose to, and dry brush the back side. I then put a small piece of sahran wrap over the back of the leaf....brush it again...and carefully lay a damp piece of folded paper towel on it.
About 12 hours later, I take off the towel, remove the plastic from the back, pick up my leaf and remove the real one from the front, and I use a small file, to touch up bumps, edges, points etc. Then I wrap the whole thing in a really wet piece of material (this one was a blue Tshirt) and put it in a plastic bag ( I date the baggie and put a dozen or so in 1 bigger bag)and forget it for a couple of weeks. Take it out, dry it a few days, and paint with acrylic craft paints.
They are fragile, like porceline is, and I don't try to drop them, but they are strong.
Sometimes, (usually only the cupped ones) I soak a few days to leech out the cement before I dry them and paint.. I use those for the deck with birdseed and the birds love the treats.
My daughter is into Tea candles, and uses them for that. Otherwise, decorate and place them where-ever.

**(in reference to sand pile) I have one of those neat little cookie tins with a lid...lined with a plastic bag and damp sand in it - so I can work inside during the winter. I can cast in it and close it up over night)
As for being late in the season, if you have the ingredients, which I took my end of season left overs and mixed all the dry sand and port in proportions and put them into mayo jars. (They are the plastic ones) I spoon out what I need - add water mix and go. I can mix a bit here and there, and grab leaves from house plants all winter. (I won't tell you what my house plants look like in spring! lol;-)

Marcia

Wow...thanks for explaining it all so well! I am excited to give it a try. I have been making hypertufa pots and done some sand casting...so I think I can do this...especially with the help of such talented people!
I like your idea of mixing the dry ingred and storing them for use inside during the winter. It get's quite cold outside here during the winter months and last a long time, too...so it would be good to continue my new hobby indoors!
That tie dyed affect on your leaf is so cool...have you tried to repeat it? Would it work to use fabric dye somehow...something like RIT?
Could be worth a try, anyway.
Thanks againfor the info!

You know, I think this thing eats my responses. At any rate, to respond (again) to gansn, I have tried the leaf on the back. It actually works quite well, altho I am still refining the practice. I think there is probably a critical point for appling a second leaf to get the best impression. But what I've been doing is moldin a shallow concave depressing in sand--I usually use dry for this, bec it seems to work better for the smaller leaves. Then I choose 2 leaves of the same variety as close in size and shape as I can. Done a lot of morning glory ones, since they are such a pretty heart shape. Pat the cement mix--I've been using 1:1 cement to sand, with a dash of fortifier in the water--down on the leaf, adding a twise of copper wire for a hanger. I try to make the back side a convex (hope I have those two terms right) form to match the sand, gently press a 2nd leaf vein side down, cover with more plastic and weight it with sand. So far I've got some nice ornaments, but can improve.

Marcia, what do you use for leaves in the winter? Houseplants? And I never thought of thumping on the table--just the bowl of mix. Maybe that will help get rid of some of those pesky air bubbles.

bizabet,
I don't spell, but I have been using my philadendrons, peace plant, and 2 others I have no idea what they are. Smaller leaves though.
I 'thump' on the table, but If I can find it, I like the hand held back vibrator, it has like 3 legs...it works nice, but can't do it long, the cement tends to get runny or real watery, which isn't good.
My air bubbles used to be much larger. Now I get a couple, but I can usually paint them closed with a tip of the brush.
Marcia