How to Do a Casting of a Real Leaf for Jewelry
Leaves are natural beauties that come in many shapes and sizes, and they can be shaped into organic, element jewelry that is sure to attract attention and compliments. There are a number of ways to transform leaves into jewelry, ranging from an electromagnetic process, which causes a metal such as copper to cling to the leaf itself, to sealing the leaf in a blob of clear resin. Plaster can also be used to cast real leaves to create jewelry. The lost wax method can create casts that are then filled with metal, or the plaster casts themselves can be turned into pendants.
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Instructions
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Select leaves that are fresh and pliable, not crispy or crinkly. Overly dry leaves will disintegrate, leaving pieces of the leaf in your clay. The more pronounced the veins are on the leaves you are using, the easier the project will be and the more realistic your finished creation will be.
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Roll out a thin layer of the clay slightly larger than the leaf you will be using for your cast. The clay should be the approximate thickness you want your finished piece of jewelry to be.
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Gently press the leaf against the flattened piece of clay; for the most definition, press the back side of the leaf — where the veins are most pronounce — against the clay.
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Cut around the edges of the leaf, using the trimming knife. Remove the real leaf.
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Bake the clay leaf on a tray in the oven at no more than 325 degrees, or according to the specific instructions on your clay's packaging. The length of time will depend on the thickness of the clay leaf. Very thin clay strips may need to be in the oven for as little as 15 minutes. Watch it carefully to avoid burning, and remove when hardened.
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Tips & Warnings
To turn the cast leaves into jewelry, attach the appropriate type of hardware to the leaf. For earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, use a stylus to poke a hole in the clay leaf at the appropriate location prior to baking. For brooches and rings, use hot glue to attach the cast leaf to a pin or ring frame after baking the leaf and decorating it as desired.
Using the lost wax method necessitates a kiln. In summary, the leaf is covered in wax, which is in turn covered in plaster. The object is baked in a kiln, which burns away the wax and the leaf, leaving a plaster cast of the leaf. The desired metal is then injected into the mold, creating a three-dimensional leaf replication suitable for jewelry.
Use caution when baking to avoid burning the cast. Check it regularly while it is in the oven. Use potholders when removing the pan from the oven. Allow the clay to cool prior to handling.
References
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