Concrete leaves are a very easy idea to make with a stunning result. Nature is the best sculptor. You don’t need to buy expensive silicone molds, just find leaves with clearly defined veins. Each leaf will be unique and will be imprinted in the concrete for many years if you handle it carefully.
How to make concrete leaves?
If you have a garden and grow different vegetables, then finding leaves for the craft will be easy. My favorite are courgette leaves. They are large, the veins are clearly visible, and they are easy to work with. So, you will need suitable leaves, a piece of oilcloth, concrete mortar, a pair of gloves. I prepared the concrete mortar myself (I took 3 parts sand for one part concrete). I added water to the concrete mortar in parts. The consistency should not be too liquid, so that the mortar does not spread in different directions. But not too thick, so that the mortar follows all the lines on the leaf.
It is very important to remove the leaf in time, here you can’t wait for the concrete solution to dry completely, but at the same time the concrete should become strong enough not to break. I remove the leaves after a day and let the craft dry completely for a few more days. With this approach, the tender courgette leaves remain elastic and are easily removed.
This is what concrete grape leaves look like.
Where to use concrete leaves?
After the leaf had completely dried, I covered it with a deep penetration primer and painted it with enamel paint. I made a small area in front of the house where I placed concrete sculptures. There was also a place for leaves. Such a craft can serve for many years if you do not step on it and refresh the paint.
