If you’re looking on ways to improve your garden design, we have just the thing to achieve that. This interesting looking bird bath will attract not only birds but people alike. Make sure you impress every visitor to your garden from now on by making the DIY Sand Cast Birdbath in Leaf Shape. Like the name says it, this birdbath is made in the shape of a leaf, in order to blend in with the rest of a natural environment. And thus, the birds will feel safer to take a bath in your lovely piece of decoration.
Here is the list of necessary items for this DIY project:
Materials
• Large leaf ( rhubarb leaf)
• 1 bag of sand
• 2 bags of concrete
• Water
• Plastic wrap
• Tubular concrete form
• Paint or concrete dye (optional)
• Concrete sealer
Tools
• Bucket or mixing Tray for concrete
• Hoe for mixing
• crub brush
• Paintbrush
• Foam brush
• 2 containers for paint and sealer
Begin with pouring the sand over a paper-covered surface and lay your leaf on top of it. Make sure you made a mound of sand in the center so the resulting birdbath will be a proper basin filled with water. When your concrete is all mixed in the bucket, pour it over the leaf. Leave it to harden and then apply the paint and sealer. You could choose to place the birdbath at a certain height, in which case you must also make a tall foot out of concrete. Fill your DIY work it with water in the end and watch how your garden will enrich itself with some birds and a brand new ornament.
source: northville29.groupsite.com
so nice
so nice thanks
When is the plastic wrap used?
I would think it is used after pouring the concrete over the leaf. Cover with the wrap and smooth the concrete out. Pushing it out and around to all the edges, most likely. ??? Neat project!!
Where can I find a leaf that size?
use elephant leaves ….or any large leaf
most often patricia you would use giant rubarb leaves and you need those in the summer.. unless you can find tropical leaves somewhere at a garden centre…
It looks like it could be a rhubarb leaf.
Where can I find a rhubarb leaf that size?
often in the woods you can find big rhubarb leaves…or a neighbour who grows it
I saw the newpaper has an article about Paderborn. I studied abroad there for a semester!
This is best made with the leaf of a burdock plant which is the weed that produces cockleburs. You should be able to find them growing along any unkempt roadway. Warning, all parts of the burdock plant are poisonous and it is not related to rhubarb.
what paint and sealant was used?
2 bags of cement? 1 bag of sand? How big is this leaf? A bag of cement here in Arizona is 25-50 pounds. What and where did you get the colorant and the sealer?
Home Depot can help you out, I am sure.
We did this but could not pull the leaf off the concrete. ??????
I would put the plastic wrap between the leaf & concrete ….
How beautiful! What type of non-toxic colour would you recommend to ensure it is safe for the birds?
I’ve made several big leaf birdbaths. I used a board larger then the leaf to mound the sand on. I used a bucket (7 lbs.) of premixed smooth cement from Lowes & it works beautifully.
When mounding the cement, check the thickness because it can break. The edges should be no less then about 3/8″ thick for stability. You don’t need to smooth the cement as it is the bottom your looking at when making it.
Plastic is used to cover your project so it doesn’t dry too fast. Cement needs to “cure” slowly for strength & I also kept in shade. I made mine years ago & they are still looking as good as when I first made them.
I use Hosta leaves, Elephant Ear leaves & Rhubarb leaves. I’ve never used a sealant as the latex paints will seal the cement. I do bring them into the unheated shed during our Maryland winter’s. If you want to put it on a pedestal, place a heavy flat object on the area needed to be flattened so it won’t fall off the base. I’ve never had a problem with the leaf coming off the cement, as I leave the leaf on & let the sun actually burn it off.
Hope this bit of info. helps you.
I saw in the picture that the base of the leaf had a large amount of cement going out past the leaf. How would you clean the off and still have the natural shape of the leaf?
Heavy duty rasp & sandpaper can be used to smooth the edges & knock off rough & uneven edges before painting.
Your information was very informative. Thanks
I would love to try to make my own birdbath…thank you.
Can’t wait to try it this weekend!!
I can’t wait to try this project ,it’s so beautiful! ! I
Have worked with cement a lot and cant wait to try this. Looks like fun. What kind of paint do you use? After you paint it do you spray anything on it to keep pain from peeling or chipping off?
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Me encanta su ingenio para ser parte de la naturaleza.Tengo balcón pero igual me gusta.Gracias.
Gracias de parte de los pajaritos tambien
que hermosa tu respuesta querida Beatriz !! besos
I have used the burdock leaves to make patio stones.
1. Omit the sand
2. Use chicken wire or an inexpensive but sturdy mesh to stabilize–put 1/2 of cement on leaf, add chicken wire, put other 1/2 on.
3. Allow to cure for a few days
4. Repeat!
What’s going on with the buttermilk? Is that for sealing or for paint?
Thank you very much!
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