Bird is the Word

One of the things I like to do besides garden is to make stuff.  I have a bit of a creative side that needs to get out now and again, so I find different projects to make.  When I was on a garden tour this year I saw a concrete leaf one of the home owners made and I thought I can do that!

So I went and bought some concrete at Home Depot and looked for just the right rhubarb leaf for the task.  My friend Steve and his wife just bought a lovely home and he mentioned he would like to get a bird bath for his yard.  I thought I can try and make him one...if it fails well we aren't out much. 

I got a board and mounded a bunch of dirt on it and then put the leaf down on the dirt face down.  Mounding the dirt helps to achieve the shape of the leaf you want.  Then I sprayed cooking oil on the back of the leaf to help the leaf come off later.  I mixed up the concrete and patted it onto the back of the leaf...you need to make it fairly thick.  I covered it with plastic and let it dry, then peeled the leaf off and wala! 

One thing I didn't realize at the time was that the back of the leaf has a split shape which cut into the water holding capabilities.  So to resolve this I made a little decorative ball of concrete and cemented it in place.  I glued a little dragon fly pin to the ball for effect as well.  I sprayed the concrete with a sealer and here it is holding water.  I am giving it a final test before I take it to Steve tomorrow.

Hope Steve and his birdies like it!

(Challenge Post Day #22)