Garden stepping stones are a beautiful addition to any garden, not to mention a fantastic gift idea for any gardener. Add your own special touch by including hand prints, or hand stamped messages. Each stone is a one-of-kind art piece that will last for years to come.
You will need:
- Stone concrete mix
- Plastic mold
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing stick or spoon
- Marking stick (if you want to carve words or shapes into wet the concrete)
- Accessories or embellishments (small stones, mosaic pieces, sea shells, etc.)
Before you mix the concrete:
- Layout your design idea on paper. The concrete hardens relatively fast, so you want to make sure to plan your design ahead of time. You can even layout all of your accessories on a cookie sheet so they are easily accessible in the layout you’d like.
- Find a clear working space and cover in plastic or newspaper, you don’t want concrete spilling on your nice countertops.
- Make sure to have extra paper towels handy, especially if you’re going to make hand prints. You want to wipe off as much of the concrete from hands in the trash BEFORE washing them so as not to clog the sink.
Making your stone:
- Follow instructions on the concrete mix or stone kit.
- If your going to add a hand print, do this first.
- Add your accessories or mosaic pieces. Don’t worry about washing hands before placing accessories into the concrete, the thin coat of concrete that may cover some accessories can be wiped off with a wet cloth later.
- Let dry as per the instructions.
- Once dry, you can paint as desired, however painting is not necessary. If you do paint it, use a light, even coat of spray sealant to help protect the paint on your stone from weather.
Hint: clean up all utensils, bowls, etc. outside with the watering hose so your sink doesn’t clog with extra concrete.
Once your stone is decorated and all paint has dried, you’re ready to find that special place in the garden for your new hand made decor!
Note: handmade garden stones are not ment to be used as regular walking stones. Although they are sturdy and weather resistant, try to keep them out of high traffic areas to prevent damage.
