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| LOL... I finally got serious and made a mold of a nice big healthy rhubarb leaf... withOUT holes! It was the ONLY one without holes! SIGH!!!
I have a few ORDERS for my stones!! (Dick, the garden tours are working!!) So now I can start making them ... and I will make a second mold from the POP mold so I can make two stones every day, maybe even four if I can start one batch in the early morning. I also want to do this with a nice big hosta leaf. Have an order for one. NOW... can anyone give me an idea of what they would charge for a rhubarb leaf stone?? This leaf is 17" tip to tip, and 16" wide. This is the POP mold
This is the silicone made from the POP mold
Marly |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Your mold looks great! I believe the garden store that sells leaves here has that size (painted) for around $45 - 60. I bought one that was about 6-7" for $10 and they had a huge 20"+ for $100+. I may be dreaming... |
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- Posted by DicktheHick z5 OH (My Page) on Mon, Aug 9, 04 at 11:33
| Marly ..... Hi! You were right, "I think I can, I think I can!" Congrats ..... This book from the library was very good about the how and why of pricing handcrafted products. Raised some interesting considerations I think. 'How to Start Making Money with Your Crafts' Caputo ... #745 Cap Also ..... consider Have a disclaimer about colors ..... as close as possible ..... with limitations because of weather effecting curing and absorption , etc. Another thought .... Perhaps, you can get that $100 and more if you have a picture of your frog, mushrooms, or ..... a companion garden bench or .....??? In conversation say something like, "I was thinking as I worked on your fountain that a froggy family would just be perfect here!" Let's see ...... Have fun ! |
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- Posted by olddutchman z8 AZ (My Page) on Mon, Aug 9, 04 at 13:10
| very nice, good luck with your sales Michael |
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- Posted by groovey_junk z5 MO (My Page) on Mon, Aug 9, 04 at 16:48
| You should be able to get 45 or 50 for your leaf. I got 150.00 for a elephant ear that was 2 1/2 wide and 3 1/2 long. Also 75.00 for 22" wide by 33"long. and I get 45.00 for small caster bean leaves..They are all made to be fountains, with a 5/8 hole molded into them for piping.What do you clean up your edges with? I just finished another elephant ear last nite and cleaned the edges with a horse shoeing rasp, it worked great. Before that I was using my dremel with a tungston bit. I went to the smooth-on distributer last friday and bought molding supplies, there stuff really works good. I did some off of the leaf direct and got a neg. mold and now I am molding off of that for a positive mold. Hope it works. Sorry to ramble on so. Your mold and leaf looks great. Groovey |
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| Buddyfly, your mold looks just great. How much POP did you use on the original leaf? I tried one about half an inch thick and left it overnight to make sure it set. Then I carefully turned it over and removed the leaf, but the whole thing began to crack and fall apart. I tried gluing it, but it seems like a lost cause. Can I make another "plop" of POP and place the pieces of plaster leaf on top. I just need to hold it together enough to make the silicone mold. Also, is there any "use" for broken pieces of plaster? Lava |
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| Good questions LAVA! I too would like the answers to them as I've had a few abysmal failures when trying to make POP molds! Marly-O tell us how, puleez? Kathy/Longlocks |
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| Hi Lava and Longlocks! I would say to go ahead and put a plop of POP on the back to stick it back together. HOWEVER... it will show that darned crack no matter HOW meticulous you are at trying to make it disappear! Note the example immediately below. This is a personalized gift I made for a friend's daycare center. I had been carefully carving the name and 'kid critters' on the POP. I also went to turn it over and it cracked! Boo hoo. I patched it up as best I could and she sure didn't seem to mind!
As to any tips for the thickness... my rhubarb mold is LESS than half an inch thick!! I put on layers of POP actually. I did a thin coating first because I didn't want the ruffles on the leaf flattened down by the weight of a lot of POP. When that hardened... about an hour later... I applied the second layer. THIS time however, I carefully patted onto the top of that wet layer a sheet of CHEESECLOTH. That acts like the chicken wire or hardware mesh does for you in poured concrete. Then I added a couple more layers, each after the previous had hardened. That is all I did that I think you want to know about. As far as reclaiming clumps of broken POP... I have tried doing a few things and they all failed miserably! Looks like you only get the one shot with POP I'm afraid! Bummer I KNOW!! I was out shopping this evening and bought two more tubes of silicone from the hardware store. It takes just a little more than one tube to make a silicone mold of that HUGE leaf! Let me know how yours turns out Lava! Marly |
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| Marly, Do you thin the silicone and if not how do you spread it over the leaf? It must be pretty sticky. Thanks. Lucy |
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| Good question Lucy! First of all, I paint a coat of Murphy's Oil Soap over the whole POP mold and into the veins. Then I blot off all the excess soap, especially in the veins where it will have pooled. I use a dry brush to get into the veins and wipe the brush on a paper towel. I use strips of paper towel and lay it on the flat surfaces, rub it and lift it off... that usually takes care of the excess soap on that surface. THEN, I put on a disposable latex glove and, starting with the veins I smear/squish the silicone into them. After that is done, I continue on over the entire surface of the leaf. I put on about three THIN coats of silicone. You want the silicone to be fairly thick so that it can withstand being pulled off the concrete when it has cured. HOWEVER... don't try to rush things by putting a thick coat of silicone on. Sometimes that will ruin your project because the silicone won't be able to cure underneath. It will 'feel' cured but will be WET and STICKING to your POP when you go to peel off the silicone mold after all that work! After I put the second coat of silicone on the whole leaf, I press another sheet of cheesecloth into that layer while it is fresh. That can be quite tricky to do, let me assure you! lol Just make sure it is all flattened into the silicone. It doesn't have to have the silicone on top of it at this point because you are going to add another layer after this second one cures. Pay attention to the ruffles at the end of the leaf... you will have to play around with the cheesecloth to have enough 'give' to get it all flattened into the silicone. Be willing to throw out your latex glove after each layer of silicone is added. MUCH easier that way. Grab any garbage laying around your area into your gloved hand and just peel off the glove over that garbage and pop the neat little ball into the garbage can. I have a stash of used latex gloves from all my projects... I have been using them up for this mold project. OK, I think that covers it for this lesson! lol Ciao for now! Manic Marly |
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| Marly, Thanks so much for the thorough instructions. I guess you must know me.....I probably would have globbed it on in one big layer. Your directions make it seem quite easy. Lucy :) |
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| Thanks Lucy! But.... I forgot to answer your question!! LAFF!!!! NO, in this case I didn't thin the silicone! lol Used it 'as is' in the tube. Marly |
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- Posted by Carolina_pig (My Page) on Tue, Aug 10, 04 at 16:31
| Is this the same silicone as in "GE Silicone II?" Thanks! Carolina |
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| Yep, that is the kind of silicone I'm using... but I use whatever brand is available... right now I'm using a Mastercraft tube... the one I did that leaf mold with was a Home Hardware brand. As long as they are 100% silicone and marked that they are for exterior/interior it can be used. I prefer white rather than clear because with the white you can tell if you have any particularly thin spots that need to be built up. I have used that GE brand before and it works beautifully... except for the two tubes I bought from Home Depot... they may have been frozen or something because the caulking NEVER cured! WHAT A MESS!!!! Marly |
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| Marly, Help! I have done some concrete leaves, and love the way they look. I want to try making some molds like you did, but I don't understand the thin layer bit. Do you make the POP very thick and pat it on, or do you make it thin? If it's thin, how do you keep it from running over the edges of the leaf..Is my problem that I am trying to use elephant ear? The POP just beads up, so I have to make a pretty thick layer to get it to cover. |
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| Hi Glenda, I usually make my first layer more fluid than the following layers. The consistency of that first layer is like ... hmmm... like a creamy ranch dressing! lol I was going to say like a stirred sour cream but that is even a bit too thick so the salad dressing is more descriptive. I don't know about the texture of the e-leaf ... i didn't grow any this year so I can't go and check on it. It 'might' be the problem with the beading but try a thicker consistency and see what happens. When I put that first layer on, I use my fingers (wearing latex gloves of course) to smoosh it all over the surface of the leaf. If it is too thin it will just run off. On some of the ruffles at the edge of the leaf I had to do the POP in stages because it wouldn't stay on the top of the ruffle. So I just banked up as much as I could around it, let it harden and then with the second layer it had a 'foothold' to hang on to and it stayed on the top of the ruffle. Boy, some things are rather hard to explain... so much easier if you could watch me! lol Say, do you use MSN's Instant Messenger? I could do a live mini demo for you using my webcam if you like. Send me an email via this forum if you want to give that a try. Marly |
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| Thanks Marly, That does make sense. I wasn't sure that the POP would hold onto the first layer but if it will then I can put some connecting stuff around and the add a second layer to fill it out. I was not sure about making the POP thicker or thinner than the "pudding" that my instructions talked about. I'll play tomorrow....after I paint the living room. Thanks again |
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- Posted by ButterflyBush (My Page) on Mon, Aug 16, 04 at 21:51
| Buddyfly: I want to know if you ever made a concrete leaf in the silicone mold you made in this thread? How did that turn out? I am making my first silicone mold of a sycamore leaf. But I want to see your follow-up!!! Thanks! BB |
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| No, I still haven't done the casting from that leaf yet ... but I DID make one from another silicone leaf I had made that was smaller. It turned out just fine!! So go ahead and give it a go with yours! I wanna see it now! I've been in a 'funk' for a couple of days now and not doing ANY creating. I'm sure the urge will come back! I hope! lol Marly |
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- Posted by ButterflyBush (My Page) on Mon, Aug 16, 04 at 22:29
| I have put the silicone on the sycamore leaf today. I don't know how long to wait to do the second coat of silicone? I had trouble getting the pumpkin leaf off of the plaster. I will try that with silicone if the sycamore leaf works. I also bought a tube of black Neoprene Flash cement. Thought maybe it would also work? It says Liquid Rubber. ?????? Your thoughts on this? Sorry you are in a blue funk. You may need to sit under one of those sun lights, these cloudy skys are enough to depress anyone! Wanna see my POP leaves? BB |
Here is a link that might be useful: POP leaves
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| Marly, I recommend doing something stupid and crazy. 'Tufa-wise, of course. Sometimes we get too caught up in all of our WIP and plans. When we get to the point we feel we "have" to do 'tufa we lose the joy of experimenting and playing in the mud hole just for the sake of getting dirty. Hmm... hope folks don't read more into this post than I intended peak |
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| BB, wonderful POP molds you have there! Can't wait to see your crete results. About the neoprene... never heard of using that for a mold but HEY... it is always worth a shot. Try it out on a scrap POP mold like a broken piece with the leaf imprint still on it ... or even make a small POP to try out the neoprene. I wouldn't want to see you ruin your gorgeous POP leaves if it DOESN'T work! Good job! Marly |
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- Posted by ButterflyBush (My Page) on Tue, Aug 17, 04 at 10:53
| On my POP leaves, I was very careful putting the POP near the edges of the leaves, and after it set, I used an exacto blade to trim the POP to the very edge of the leaf, and an emory board to smooth the edge and back side near the edge. I was hoping this would allow me to take the silicone a little around the edge, and maybe my concrete leaves would have a finished edge? My first try, so we'll see. I looked at my sycamore leaf today, and there are one or two bubbles in the silicone, I am going to try to "patch" them before I try to cast them in concrete. A lot of work, a lot of waiting!!!! We'll see soon enough! Thanks, BB |
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| Marly, You give such good instructions--you really should write a book. Have you ever made a silicone mold from an existing 'tufa or cement piece? Would it work? I know POP provides better detail but sometimes it's hard to reproduce a leaf arrangement that's already been cast exactly the way you want it. Deb |
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- Posted by ButterflyBush (My Page) on Wed, Aug 18, 04 at 6:01
| I wouldn't recommend the Black Neoprene Flash cement. Too much like tar, not enough like rubber. Oh well, I tried. It smells horrible, too, not that silicone smells any better! Still waiting to unmask the silicone leaf. I put on 3 layers. |
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| BB, that is what experimenting is all about! Thanks for posting the results ... now we ALL know not to use it! Can't wait for your unmolding of the silicone! Woo hoo! Marly |
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- Posted by Gardener_boy z10 sf CA (My Page) on Wed, Sep 15, 04 at 11:40
| Bump to top, that's all. |
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| I haven't worked with POP much yet, don't know how strong it is or how flexible/compressive the silicone is so here's my question...How do you get the silicone mold off of the POP leaf impression when you have very large, fat veins? In other words, the veins are creating undercuts where they connect with the 'flat' part of the leaf. Does the silicone pull out of these okay? How careful of breaking the POP mold do you have to be if you are wanting to re-use it? Would pulling the silicone off kind of from the side (in the direction that the veins get wider) instead of 'lifting' it off from the top work ok? |
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- Posted by ButterflyBush (My Page) on Wed, Sep 15, 04 at 18:00
| Silicone is flexible. It pulled out of the POP very easily. Did not even hurt the POP. I had more trouble getting the leaf off the POP, the veins stuck in there and I had to use a toothpick to work them out! The silicone came right off of the concrete without any trouble, either, as it flexes. BB |
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- Posted by Gardener_boy z10 sf CA (My Page) on Mon, Oct 18, 04 at 23:26
| Bumping instuctions back from past to future. |
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| bump |
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| Hi, I'm new to this forum and this craft. ButterflyBush your pop leaves were terrific. Not sure I understand the process completely. Why can't you cast the cement right from the leaf? Is this the correct procedure? A pop cast is made from the leaf. |
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- Posted by Gardener_boy z10 sf CA (My Page) on Sun, Mar 27, 05 at 23:07
| Keeping this on my to do list. |
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- Posted by ginamarina z4 WI (My Page) on Thu, Apr 21, 05 at 0:35
| I was wondering a couple things like mzpatti-- how thick is the new "silicone leaf"? Do you use it just like you would if you were casting right from the actual leaf? I make some of mine cupped into birdbaths and some flat for stepping stones, would the silicone be that "flexible"? Geez I wish it would warm up!!! --Gina |
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| Gina, thanks for asking your questions... and also thanks for pointing out mzpatti's posting. Somehow I missed that one obviously... it was posted back in January. I think I will email mzpatti to answer their questions and apologize for the non-response! I may have assumed the questions were for ButterflyBush when they could have been addressed to me! The silicone mold is about 1/4" or more at the thinnest point. In my pics way up above they show you how I have filled in the 'veins' and the grooves caused by the ruffles on the leaf. Those spots are thicker for sure. And YES YES YES the silicone mold is flexible so you can cup it to make a birdbath! I had better get busy and start using that mold and make up some stepping stones. Have to stock up my inventory for a yard show/sale this spring or summer. I make most of my stuff indoors so I don't have the cold weather as an excuse. So what IS my excuse?? lol Gardening! lol Hope that helps you! Marly |
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- Posted by ginamarina z4 WI (My Page) on Thu, Apr 21, 05 at 1:32
| Thanks Marly! I went back up and read - so, the ruffles "stay"? I've never worked with POP before (yet) :) I've done straight concrete castings, and I would 'fluff' the ruffles into the sand. Unfortunately some of them still embedded into the crete, but it wasn't too bad. I shouldn't stay up this late, I get so excited I can't sleep! |
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- Posted by ChristineW 3b (My Page) on Thu, Apr 21, 05 at 11:28
| What an inspiring site! I love these leaves and can't wait to try my hand at it. I have never done anything like this, garden stones with my kids is about it. This will seem like a dum question to you pros, but after making the silicone mold, does the concrete go directly on top on the silicone or is the mold pressed into the concrete? I have been reading for hours trying to absorb as much information as I possibly can. I guess I need the 101 for Dummies version. But I am willing to give it a try. The results are truly wonderful. Thanks for your help. |
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| Christine, there is no such thing as a dumb question in here! Yes, you put the crete on top of the silicone leaf. You 'could' put a leaf on top of poured crete but you don't get as great of an impression. If the crete is put on top of the leaf and the casting is vibrated, the more fluid parts of the mix settles to the bottom and gives you a smoother casting. At least that is how I explain it! lol Marly |
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| Hey Marly, Just coloured my first leaf from a silicone mold using a Rex Begonia leaf [I think] for the colours. I just love the way the mold takes the mix, and it is sooooo easy to unmold. Jilly
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| JILLY!!!! That was cast from my mold??? WOW - is it EVER SMOOTH!! What mix did you use? I think your painting is just stunning! I'd be so proud of that stone if I had made it! Good for you! Love how you composed that pic with the yellow flowers draping over. Is that forsythia? Marly |
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- Posted by ginamarina z4 WI (My Page) on Thu, Apr 21, 05 at 22:12
| HOly CATS! That is Beautiful! I LOVE the colors! I had a terrible time trying to paint my leaf. Is that metallic paint? ~Gina |
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| Thanks for the nice comments! Yes Marly that is from your mold. It was so easy to use. The mix was just a sand mix from HD, but once it was on the leaf I spent ages really patting it down. You were right about the forsythia. Gina, The greeny colour was a mix of a blue and green metalic with another green, and the center colour is a mix of purple and pink and red until they looked the same as the colours of the leaf. Then it was sprayed three times with a verathane spray to seal it.
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- Posted by ginamarina z4 WI (My Page) on Fri, Apr 22, 05 at 0:19
| I love it, really do - how thick is she? Is it a rhubarb leaf? I'm so jealous!! |
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| It is a rhubarb leaf, and is about 1/2" thick. Jilly |
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- Posted by ChristineW 3b (My Page) on Fri, Apr 22, 05 at 9:25
| Your leaf is absolutely gorgeous!!!! I get more excited everyday & can't wait to try this. I now have another question tho? When you are using the silicone mold, do you lay it in sand or directly on the floor when pouring into it. I flow of the leave looks wonderful. Just curious on how you get such a nice shape. I haven't yet tried this and am trying to gather as much info as I can before starting. In Northern MN the leaves are JUST starting to come out, so I have a little wait yet. Thanks for the info. |
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| Hi Christine, Thank you! For most of my leaves I place them on a mound of sand with plastic over it, and move the sand around underneath to support the "frills" along the edges. If I was going to use it as a stepping stone, then I would place it flat on the surface - my next project, I haven't made a stepping stone yet from a leaf. Jilly |
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| OMG! I love your painted leaf! That is Gorgeous! I love rex begonias!  Dixiesmom |
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| Jilly, I almost missed that leaf! That's gorgeous--you matched the colors with the real leaf perfectly. |
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| Wow, I almost missed this too! The painting is very impressive! Great color combo, great job! Leigh |
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| Holy cow. Great mold, great explanation on how to do it, and a fantastic paint job on that finished leaf. I can see I'm going to have to try this. Onto my 'To do' list it goes. (That means I just might get to it by the end of next June - my list is funny like that. For everything that gets crossed off, two or more are added!) |
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| That leaf is gorgeous, I love how you have it painted. I'm going to have to try this one day too. I wish I had planted rhubarb now :) Maybe a pumpkin leaf, they're getting pretty fair sized lately. Diana
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| What is a POP? |
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| Plaster Of Paris |
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- Posted by MuddyMesaWoman z10NM (My Page) on Thu, Aug 4, 05 at 12:06
| danaoh wrote: What is a POP? Plaster of Paris |
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- Posted by ButterflyBush (My Page) on Fri, Aug 5, 05 at 8:37
| Jilly, what a BEAUTIFUL leaf! You done us all proud!!! And I almost missed seeing this!! mzpatti, I am so sorry for not responding. I did not know a question had been posted to me!!!! Marly, thank you for responding. I wish this forum would send us an e-mail notice about postings to all the places we respond. They only send an e-mail to the ORIGINATOR of the posted message. :(so I missed this!! I'm gonna get my silicone molds out and start casting, I have been so busy, I haven't done any concrete work this summer at all!!!! I miss the mud! |
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- Posted by shirleywny5 (My Page) on Fri, May 5, 06 at 8:54
| I have a broken ceramic Gnome. The face is the only part not broken. I'd like to make a mold of the face. Can I put silicone directly on the ceramic? Do I need a release? I can't use POP as there are no clear features on the back of the face.I have made many pots,leaves,grots and birdbaths but never made a mold. I'd like to incorporate the finished face into a flower pot. Hope someone can help. |
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- Posted by shirleywny5 (My Page) on Sat, May 6, 06 at 18:06
| I have a broken ceramic Gnome. The face is the only part not broken. I'd like to make a mold of the face. Can I put silicone directly on the ceramic? It is shiny smooth. Do I need a release? I can't use POP as there are no clear features on the back of the face. I have made many pot, leaves,grots and birdbaths but never a mold. I'd like to incorporate the finished face into tufa pot. Running Dog. I mistakenly posted a message for you in the Harvest Forum. Everyone else, sorry for the repeat. |
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| Hi I know this is a very old posting, but I thought I would ask a question anyway. To make a leaf mold, do I just need the leaf, sand and silicone (the kind for bathrooms that comes in tubes? After I get that mold, can I use it and reuse it to made concrete leaves? I don't mean to sound simplistic and I am aware of the difficulties (somewhat since I have not done it) but just wanted to make sure I am not missing something here--and before I start another project. Thanks so much in advance--you are all inspiring. |
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- Posted by marcia7439 4 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 2, 08 at 9:28
| I really suggest you search for Nofu's mold making thread...the process is very well explained! You need the leaf first. Then you need to cast that leaf in POP Then use your ***100% silicone *** caulking. (Do NOT Put the silicone on the leaf! A mold can be use multiple times, depending on how 'rough' you are with the mold. Marcia |
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| Marcia: Thanks for the note and the clarification. Now I know I need to make a mold of POP first, then make a mold of silicone of the POP mold and then pour the concrete on the silicone mold. My question is,how do I make a mold of my "real leaf" with POP, why make a mold of POP first, why not make a silicone mold from the the "actual leaf" and then support the silicone leaf with sand and pour the concrete on it? Do they use the POP mold as a "container" for the latter silicone mold while I pour concrete on it. I have a feeling I am missing the boat somewhere. Thanks again. |
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- Posted by marcia7439 4 (My Page) on Fri, Oct 3, 08 at 17:59
| I'm not a pro at this, but I will try to help a bit. If you take a leaf and look at it, you don't (Maybe you do) but leaves are cast on the back side so that the 'veins' are 'embedded within the leaf. So you need to make a mold of the leaf, as if you were casting it the first time. I have used kids modeling clay, rolled out to about 1/4 " (small leaf) pressed the backside of a leaf into the clay, and carefully cut around the edge of the leaf. Then I carefully removed the leaf. I lightly -Very lightly sprayed the 'clay leaf' with Pam cooking spray. I then proceeded to apply my silicone in THIN layers. (You can smooth with an icecube) It tends to be slippery from the oil, but you can get it to work. IF the silicone sticks to the clay, it can be gotten off with a bit of dishsoap when you wash the mold when it is cured. Takes awhile for the silicone to set up, especially if it is too thick... OR If you have a leaf done, and painted, oil it up and apply the silicone. That works too. You really have to try and experiment.....making a POP leaf isn't the easiest thing to do......but it can be done with patience. spray your leaf with Pam then Brush on a thin layer of POP. Let it dry and keep adding layers. Removing the leaf from POP has always been my problem Good Luck...... Marcia |
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- Posted by brendak_59 (My Page) on Fri, Oct 3, 08 at 20:27
| Hi, New here and love all the instructions. I am going to try this asap before my leaves are gone. I have a tree in my back yard (not sure what kind) but it has huge leaves. I would like to know a good source of cheese cloth. Haven't seen any around here. Maybe just not looking in the right place. I'd like to try this tomorrow so please help. Thanks Brenda |
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