Here ar pictures of a Rhubarb leaf that I just finished and painted. It measures 2 feet wide by 2 1/2 feet tall. I just couldn't resist when I found such a big leaf to work with. I used plaster of paris. Building a form large enough to hold the sand base I covered the wet sand with plastic wrap. Then placing the leaf face down onto the plastic. I then cut wire mess(the type used for crawlspace vents) I laid it on the leaf,overlapping each piece slightly for strength. Then I cut a piece of copper wire to make a hanger and threaded it into the mesh at the top of the leaf. Mixed up the plaster of paris and poured. This leaf took 9 pounds of plaster of paris. ooohhh my! Waited 2 days to move it. lol Today I cleaned up the edges with a dremmel and painted it. using red,green,copper and brass. Then I sealed it with clear coat. All that is left to do is find somewhere strong enough to hang it. LOL Here is a link that might be useful: http://groups.msn.com/cementleaves

If you do a search on this forum you will find a lot of information like the link I'm posting below. Billie Here is a link that might be useful: sand casting

Hi, Everyone, Thanks for the kind comments about my fish. Sorry I haven't been around much lately...nose to the old work grindstone. Flyonawall (cool name!) -- Yes, I'd be glad to explain sand casting and to tell you a little about how I do it. In sand casting, you're actually making a mold in the sand and then pouring your mix into that mold. A fish is an easy creature to start out with. All you need to do is draw a fish shape with your finger on the top of some damp, compacted sand in a container (a plastic dishpan, kitty litter pan, mortar pan, etc.), and then scoop out sand inside your outline to make the contours of your fish. At this point, you can make imprints (your thumb print is good for fish scales) or add embellishments such as seashells, half marbles, costume jewelry, etc. by pressing them into the sand face down (the side you want to appear on your casting in the sand), leaving part of the item sticking out of the sand so it will become embedded in your mix. Keep your sand mold moist by misting it with a spray bottle if it starts drying out. Then you're ready to mix a batch of cement or 'tufa. I've been using 1 part Portland cement to 2 parts sand with a pinch of fibers, because I like how much detail I get with that mix. But a lot of different mixes would work. I make my mix more on the wet side, somewhere between packable and pourable. Apply your mix carefully in handfuls to avoid disturbing your designs in the sand. Leave for about 18 hours or so, and then demold. Since it's been so hot here, I work outside in a shaded area. I cover my sand mold containers with pieces of plywood and then plastic bags weighted down with bricks. The sand in the containers is very moist, so I don't worry about adding any more water until I demold. After demolding and hosing off the casting, I put it back in the sand mold container and spray it and the sand with water. On very hot days, I sometimes cover the casting in the container with wet towels or t-shirts. I leave the casting this way for a few days. In my Webshots album, you can see pictures of some of the sand molds that I've made. If you have any other questions that I can help with, please ask away. Eva Here is a link that might be useful: Sand Molds

elkski-- I use a premix product called Quikwall which was suggested by Laura, another poster here. It already has the fibers mixed in it along with a bunch of other good secret stuff including something which makes it waterproof. I think it's listed as a stucco mix and I have to order it through Lowes. My nearest Lowes doesn't carry it but they will order it. HD doesn't carry it at all in my area. It's very strong. FWIW, I also use something called EIFS mesh which you can sometimes find on ebay by the single 4-foot by 150-foot roll, ($50+/-) enough to last a lifetime. I use it instead of the drywall tape for most projects.