I like competition and especially winning! This was my entry to the Quikcrete-1-Bag-Wonder Contest. ‘Take a bag of concrete and create something unique. Well, I’d say I should have won, but I guess ‘beer’ won out. I’ll get over it eventually as I can now enjoy my unique creation in my garden (which incidentally won a Trillium Garden award). You too can join the fun and make your own DIY Gigantic Concrete Leaf Orb.
The Concrete Mix:
As you know I love to use Rapidset Cementall but since it was a Quikcrete contest I needed to use their product; Fastset All-crete. (may be under a different name in the US) I know it can get confusing when choosing a mix so I’ve made a post here to help you.
Once you have used fast setting mixes it’s hard to go back… I know.
The Mold Material:
It’s old news that many use Rhubarb as a way to cast nice detailed leaves. I don’t have enough production of Rhubarb so I was looking for an alternative and came across one at the grocery store! ‘Artist brain’ is always looking at things in a different way. I’m the only ‘crazy’ looking at food for it’s great textural value.
Savoy Cabbage is perfect! It has such great pronounced texture and it is quite sturdy so it lasts well.
The Process:
Get Ready:
Gather your supplies
- large inflatable form (24″ beach ball worked well)
- bucket or bowl to stabilize the ball
- Gloves and concrete dust rated mask
- FastSet All-Crete
- Fibreglass drywall Mesh
- Mixing Vessel, spoon & water
- Savoy Cabbage leaves
- scissors
Step 1:
Blow up the ball and set it in an appropriate container that will keep it from rolling or toppling.
Mix up only small batches as this will set quite quickly. I use a container that is about 500ml (yoghurt). If you let it sit for about 30 seconds it stiffens nicely to make applying easier. Aim for a consistency that is quite pliable and plastic-like. You will get the hang of the consistency after a couple mixes, don’t worry.
The Forming:
To ensure strength it is key to have good over lap of the shapes and reinforcement material. The first layer is thin leaf shapes that join allowing the mesh strips to be layered over.
Make sure that you have good connection to the shapes. I work form the top middle outward.
Since the Cabbage leaves are quite large they will probably need trimming to shapes that match roughy the size you intend to use on the orb. You can use larger if you like as they tend to have some curvature as well. If they are too stiff, you could leave them to wilt a bit in the sun or zap in the microwave for a bit. 
You are using the underside where the veins are. Put some mix on the shape replicating the size that you have on the orbs.
Quickly but gently ‘slap’ the leaf onto the one on the ball. Wriggle it to make good contact with the concrete. You can peek under to see how the shapes are joining and adjust if needed.
You can be fussy or more ‘rustic’ if you like The overall charm is the leaf textures anyways!
Around & around:
I work outward from the middle of the top and slightly rotate the ball to work outwards when it is hard enough. Keep the idea of gravity in mind. Do leave the valve opening accessible as well. The mesh also helps any shapes from sliding.
Since this mix sets so quickly I found that the leaves could easily be pulled off in a short time (will depend on your conditions like temperature etc) I even discovered that the cabbage leaves are so hardy that they will last through repeated use!
Wonderful Texture! If you have any concern that there are some weak spots where overlap did not occur that much you can add a leaf on top extra assurance. If it is really hot misting with water will help slow the curing a bit.
Do let the final shape cure well. I’d wait 24 hours to be sure. Open the valve and start to deflate the ball until it is small enough to pull out.
Any excess mesh can be cut or singed off with a mini torch as I did with these orbs.
The wonderful thing about these orbs is that they are light enough to carry! That one is about 25″ across and I can hold it no problem. It has such interesting shapes I’m hoping to install lights as well for great night lighting effects.
As a garden designer I believe that the ornaments should look natural in the garden not ‘kitschy’. That’s why the leaves work so great. They also echo the stepping stones that I have a ‘million’ of!
I am so delighted with this orb, I think it’s my favourite of all the orbs (but who knows) And I keep getting bigger! Bring on the exercise ball…
Garden delight… and wait til the snow in winter. Thanks for joining me in my garden and my concrete obsession! Go beautify your space!
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Barb-
Thank you so much for taking the time to write these instructions! I absolutely love all of your work and will definitely attempt this soon as it is spectacular!
Yes, I tend to have posts that are too long… Too many pictures! I love ‘eye-candy’! and making…
Oh, I LOVE this!! So want to try this, thanks for sharing.
Just sooooooo cool! 😀
I’m glad to inspire! If it’s your first concrete, do some tests and check out here. Welcome to the concrete obsession!
I guess vices (beer) will always win out, but in my books, this is a clear winner! Love it!
I think concrete is considered somewhat of a ‘man’s world’! We need to start prettying up the ‘concrete box’ look! Onwards and upwards!
This looks SO cool! Thanks for sharing and the great photos! I can see how this could become additive! I will bet that next you can make something even bigger -a leaf house-maybe using chicken wire (?) Love your creative brain! And of course I am sharing 🙂
This is fantastic! All of your stuff is – thank you so much for sharing!
It is one of my favourite and was pretty peaceful to work on!
nice to see your smiling face – love that these aren’t too heavy to carry around to different locations and how they add another texture along with your other ones in the garden!
Yes! ‘Cause I’m always moving my orbs around! Freshens the view!
Hello, Let the first coat dry before covering the concrete footprint ? Thanks for your blog.
No, don’t wait til dry. It will set slightly but add second layer as soon as you can. I’ll edit. If you are a bit nervous for this as a first concrete project you may try these stepping stones first. Or read the Tips and Tricks post… My smaller version may also be a good start.
I hate it when things don’t work so if I have doubt I do tiny tests. Cast a couple leaves and weight an hour to see how they worked out and how strong they are… Have fun!
Absolutely love your Artist Eye, and Thinker. One of these days I will make the time to play with concrete and thanks to you there is a growing list of projects to attempt. Thank you for your courage to experiment and your generosity to share your discoveries and processes.
Oh ya, I have the courage to try all kinds of things! I learnt that from a fabulous mother who always said if you put your mind to it you CAN do it. Children absorb what they see so I see the drive in my daughter too! Cheers!
I’m not sure I understand the mesh. Is it put on the underside of each leaf shape,? Is it put on the top of each shape and pressed into the concrete by the Savoy leaf? Or??? This is a beautiful project—you are, indeed, an artist.
The mesh is imbedded by being applied above the first layer and then the second layer with the leaf is applied on top. Try to aim for about 3/8″ or so thickness. You could go thicker for assurance it will just add some weight. Have fun!
Beautiful! I am in awe of the way your mind works. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas.
I love you……and your work!!! So inspirational to me……..I too love the sphere and your ideas really motivate to “branch ( leaf didn’t work:)) out on trying.
Thank you so much for sharing your gift!!
I find it funny sometimes how some ideas just come into my mind! I’ve had to now start a book to keep them documented. Now on to more making…
I can hardly wait to try this absolutely wonderful idea.. My question is..
. do you have to treat the beach ball in any way or does it just slip off because it is plastic? Thank you.
Yes, concrete does not stick to plastic surfaces! Just make sure that you make a good strong structure by overlapping the leaf shapes…
I love everything that I see that you have made out of concrete. You should have won, the Leaf Orbs are so beautiful as is also the rest time
Of your beautiful artwork. . So far my big projects have been good except when I remove the molds, they crumble. Last night I even cried over what I hoped to be the top of. A bird bath. I realize now it has been the wrong cement. Tonight I have fast setting cement, not sure it’s the same as yours and I hope to make some pots. Thanks so much for all the instructions and guidance. I’m not going to give up. I’m in Tennessee and will find the same cement eventually. I love your artworks, it is a huge inspiration to me. Thanks again. Jance
Thanks! I know that the RapidSet Cementall is made in the US so you may find it. I use the Quikrete Sand Topping mix for my Stepping stones and have made a curved version to use as a birdbath. It will need a good 24 hours of warm weather to unmold. If not set wait longer and do keep it hydrated. See here for some mix options. I do read the specs on the multiple concrete mixes and check for recommended thickness and use. I’m pretty sure each manufacturer has a similar product for all the uses. Happy Concreting!
Learning from Zimbabwe! Excellent! Thank you so much!
Wow! You must have way more choices of leaves! Thanks for stopping by way up here in the north!
Thank you ever so much for your inspirational, creative and brilliant ideas. Your posts are not to long. I think they are considerate and generous.
I’m glad to inspire! ‘Making’ is such a therapeutic practice! Makes me happy…
Love this! When you added a small leaf for extra assurance at a weak spot, did you just use concrete, or did you use mesh too?
I think I just added the concrete since there was already a criss-cross of the mesh. When in doubt you can layer in a mesh. All my quick set sculptures have held up really well.
Hi I too love your concrete orbs, I’m moving to a bungalow with a garden (hurrah) and after seeing this great idea I’m going to ask for a couple of large water lily leaves from someone I know with a very large pond. I’ll then make your leaf orbs to go beside my own small wildlife pond. I’ll have some with lights in and some with smaller gaps in the top that wildlife could use as a home.
I’m disabled so delighted that these are easy to carry, will be making stepping stones too and thinking about an orb variation for my cat’s enclosure. For sunning on and hiding in.
I do pottery sculpture and am now thinking of ways to do some of that in concrete 🙂 I made a bowl out of cabbage leaves and a fruit bowl from interlocking autumn leaves
It sounds like you are already enjoying a creative life! So nice to hear the enthusiasm…
Still not understanding when the fiberglass mesh tape is applied. Your work is wonderful and I would like to try your method for myself.
The mesh is meant to reinforce the connection between the leaves, so the most efficient is to put it on after a thin first layer of concrete. It will then be imbedded. It can also be the first layer but may be more visible on the inside. It’s similar to the lacy leaves Good luck!