Rhubarb Leaf Stepping Stones
Sue requested the instructions to this - and I thought I would make a seperate post about it. It used to be on a website - but it is not longer there. I had saved it a while back - so I will post what I saved. I can't give credit to the original person who did it, as I don't know who they are. I have made many and they are neat!
I use Quick Crete - and I do not use a colorant - just because I can't easily get it here. The wire mesh I used in mine is called "hardware cloth".
MATERIALS:
- rubber gloves
- heavy plastic sheeting
- leaves
- pre-mix concrete - One standard-size bag will make three of the leaves shown here, which are about 45 centimetres square and eight centimetres thick;
- mortor or cement colourant, if you want a colour other than the light grey that pre-mix concrete produces (Lee Valley Tools has this stuff as well as Michael's Craft Store)
- Chicken wire or one-centimetre-square wire mesh
- wire cutters.
METHOD
1. To make the stepping stones, choose an area that will remain undisturbed for several days. Any level surface - a driveway, concrete patio, bare patch of soil or even the grass - will work.
2. Cut a peice of plastic sheeting at least 15 centimetres larger all around than the leaf (or another desired shape), and place it on the ground. Put the leaf in the centre of the plastic, vein-side up (Photo 1).
3. Mix the concrete to a stiff consistency, following package instructions. With gloved hands or a shovel, move concrete onto the leaf, spreading it almost to the edge of the leaf to a thickness of approximately 2.5 to 4 centimetres; press firmly to eliminate air bubbles (Photo 2). If you're using a small leaf or several leaves to create an imprint only, spread the concrete to form the shape you want.
4. To ensure strength and durability, place chicken wire on the concrete to within five centimetres of the edge, overlapping pieces if necessary. Shovel concrete on top of the chicken wire (Photo 3), again spreading to a thickness of about 2.5 to 4 centimetres and pressing firmly to eliminate air bubbles.
5. Gently lift the plastic up around the design (Photo 4), smooth edges with gloved hands or a trowel to ensure an even look, and place earth or gravel up around the form to support it while it cures.
6. Cover with a second piece of plastic to keep the concrete from drying out. Allow to cure for at least 48 hours, then lift the stepping stone from the plastic (the plastic peels away easily) and turn it over to see the walking surface.
7. Remove small pieces of vein or leaf with a hose turned to jet spray. If you've made the stepping stone in hot weather, much of the leaf will have already decomposed. You can place the stones in the garden immediately, but avoid stepping on them until the concrete has completely cured - curing time depends on the type of concrete mix used, but it usually takes five to seven days. Spray with water frequently during the curing period. Make sure the stones are set firmly in the ground and they won't move when walked on.
Comments (42)
Linda Wayman
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (1)Did you use the 5000 with water and nothing else? Why 5000? Did you work in too cold of an area, like outside or an unheated building? Too wet of a mix can give you crumbly and lots of air bubbles. Weather too cold? I know that 5000 is for working in cold temps but if a frost or freeze get this before it cures it can crumble. It's hard to tell from the pictures but these look a little thin to be stepping stones. You have to watch out when using rhubarb leaves or any thick leaf. The veins can be very large and lead to cracking of your stepping stone if the stones aren't thick enough. Billie...See MoreWest End Tailgater???
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Comments (6)I make these all the time. I use fig leaves but any large leaf will do. Use clusters of small leaves or even flowers for a different effect. I use a 5-gallon plastic paint bucket for the form. I slice it with a saw into little hoops about 2" high. I use readi-mix concrete with some extra portland cement powder added for strength. I have left the extra portland cement out a few times but the paving stones are more likely to crumble and break. You can use any flat surface to make the stones. I use some scrap painted plywood. Formica, plastic or sheet metal is also good. Put it on the ground where it won't bend from the weight of the concrete. Put the leaf with the veins up. Arrange the plastic hoop around the leaf. I like to have the stem going to the edge so I squash it down under the rim of the hoop. Plop the concrete in the form. I put a few lumps around the edge first to keep the hoop from moving, then I fill it up. It is important to pound on the concrete to make sure there are no air pockets. I use a trowel but a big stick or flat board works almost as well. The side you see will be hidden when you place the stone so don't worry about the cosmetics of it. Let it sit overnight. The next day take off the plastic hoop. The longer you wait the harder the hoop will be to remove without cutting it. Flip it over and dig out any concrete covering the stem. Don't try to remove the leaf and don't step on it yet. Stack up your stones and keep them wet for a few days. The concrete gets harder every day for years but they should be ready to use in a week. The leaf will turn brown and blow away in a few weeks. A 60-pound bag of ready-mix makes a half dozen or more of these, depending on the thickness of your form. You can also make these with pebbles, marbles, coins and rock salt. The rock salt washes out and leaves little indentations randomly on the surface. (I wouldn't wash it into my garden though!) If you are using river pebbles or money you need to flip the stone when it first turns hard and wash the surface of the stones or money with a wet sponge. Not too much or the stones will fall out. If you wait too long they get harder to wash. Practice on one before you do a lot. I don't use wire mesh but I suppose it will be stronger with it. It seems risky with leaves because you need to pound the concrete down well, especially on the edges and it's possible to rip the fragile leaf with the wire mesh....See MoreHow To Get DH Involved in Tablescapes
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