How to Make Leaf Lawn Ornaments

Leaf ornaments are common decorations for lawns, gardens and pathways. These concrete ornaments, which are perfect replicas of either small or large leaves, are both beautiful and durable, as well as inexpensive to make. You can make the ornaments the main attraction on your lawn or use them to complement the real plants in a garden. With some concrete, chicken wire, sand and a few other items, you can quickly and easily turn a beautiful leaf into a long-lasting lawn or garden ornament.

Plywood table
Bag of sand
2 thin plastic sheets larger than the leaf
Stones
Wire cutters
Chicken wire
Leaf with defined veins
Concrete
Trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Set up the table in the shade to keep the sun from drying out the concrete.
- 2
  Pour a mound of sand onto the table about the size and shape of the leaf you are going to use. Cover the mound with thin plastic and anchor it with stones to keep it from blowing off the table.
- 3
  Use the wire cutters to cut the chicken wire to about the same shape and size as the leaf.
- 4
  Lay the leaf face-down on top of the plastic-covered mound.
- 5
  Cover the leaf with a thin layer of concrete.
- 6
  Put the chicken wire over it and cover this with another thin layer of concrete; use a trowel to carefully smooth out the edges, discarding any excess concrete.
- 7
  Cover the concrete with plastic and allow the piece to cure, which should take between five and seven days. When it has fully hardened, peel the leaf off of the concrete to finish your lawn ornament.

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