Thank you, Lynda! I didn't want to worry about paint chipping later.
We started with a pile of sand and patted the leaf down onto it so the sand was supporting the shape of the leaf. (Put the leaf upside-down so the veins at the bottom make a cool pattern.) Then pile portland cement on it, the instructions are on the package, just add water & sand. I said plaster earlier but I meant cement. Add a flat bottom if you want, allow to dry. I coated it with urethane after it had dried for about a week. Before the waiting to dry phase, it took less than 30 mins.