Cast leaf bowl

Cast a leaf-shaped bowl and decorate it as an autumnal candle tray
Set up your workspace and place the silicone mold for the leaf-shaped dish on a stable, level surface. This is important so that the casting mixture spreads evenly and the leaf texture comes out cleanly later.

Mixing the casting compound: a smooth mixture without lumps
Mix KeraHobby or another casting compound in the “ mixing cup ” with water to form a smooth, creamy mixture. Take a moment to do this: The smoother the mixture, the finer the surface of your cast leaf bowl will be, and the less sanding you’ll need to do later.

Pour into the “ silicone mould ” and remove air bubbles
Slowly pour the mixture into the silicone mold. Then tap the mold lightly against the surface it’s resting on. This causes any trapped air bubbles to rise, and the leaf veins and fine lines of the mold will become more defined.

Let it dry and carefully remove it from the mold
Let the cast dry for about 1 hour . Then carefully remove the leaf mold from the silicone mould, by gently bending the mold.

Sand the edges for a clean finish
Sand the edges smooth with sandpaper . This step not only makes the cast shell more attractive. Let the leaf shell dry completely afterward so that it remains sturdy during the finishing process.

Highlighting the leaf veins: Apply “ gold leaf priming milk ”
Trace the leaf veins with the gold leaf priming milk-marker . gold leaf priming milk is an adhesive for leaf metal: It remains tacky for a short time so that the metal adheres exactly where you want to add accents. This allows you to precisely control the look, from subtle to elegant gold.

leaf metal Place it on the surface and press gently
Place the leaf metal on the still-damp gold leaf priming milk and press it down gently with a soft, dry brush. Work without applying pressure so that the metal settles into the recesses of the leaf’s texture and the lines are cleanly highlighted. Let it dry briefly.

Remove excess and polish to a shine
Carefully remove the excess leaf metal with a dry brush. Let everything dry thoroughly. Afterward, you can polish the finished areas with a soft polishing cloth or some cotton as desired. This creates elegant highlights that look especially beautiful in fall and winter decorations.

Arranging an autumnal table setting: Candles and “ natural materials ”
Place a “ glass for tea lights ” with a tea light and another glass with a taper candle on the leaf bowl. Add individual sprigs of flowers—such as heather and Chinese lantern flowers—as well as a few pinecones for decorative effect. Make sure the natural materials are far enough away from the flame and that nothing extends beyond the rim of the candle. This transforms the cast-leaf bowl into a harmonious candle tray for fall, Christmas, and winter.

Now it’s your turn
If you’re looking for more ideas on casting with KeraHobby, silicone molds, and leaf metal-finishing touches, browse the online shop for the right molds, casting materials, and decorative details for your next seasonal decoration.