About Memorial Garden Stepping Stones
Creating a memorial garden honoring a deceased loved one isn’t difficult. Choose a few flowers that remind you of the departed, add a bench for visitors and you’re nearly done. However, many people wish to have some sort of sign with the departed’s name on it, or a saying or Bible verse that sets the garden apart. One simple and effective way to add this feature to a memorial garden, large or small, is with stepping stones. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Ready Made
-
Stepping stones suitable for a memorial garden are available at home improvement and gardening centers. Coming in many shapes and sizes, these stones are usually made from cast concrete and feature Bible verses or comforting quotes. Some ready-made stepping stones may be personalized with metal name plates.
Custom Concrete Stones
-
Stepping stone molds are available at most craft and home improvement centers. By choosing a motif that reminds you of a departed loved one, you can easily make your own memorial stepping stones. Some motif ideas include the departed’s favorite flower, a sun to remind you of his or her upbeat personality or a flag for a fallen soldier.
-
Mosiac Stones
-
It’s not difficult to make your own mosaic stepping stones featuring your loved one’s name, favorite saying or motif.
Line the work area with a painter’s drop cloth and mix some concrete according to the manufacturer’s directions. Spoon the concrete into a stepping stone mold until it’s about half full. Lay a piece of hardware cloth over the wet concrete. Lay more concrete into the mold until it reaches the top. Remove air bubbles by tapping your hands around the outer edge of the mold. Allow the concrete to dry for about 30 minutes.
Use bits of glass, broken pottery or colored stones to create a design or words on the still-damp stepping stone. Allow the stepping stone to dry about three days before sealing it with an acrylic sealer.
Word Molds
-
In some craft centers, word molds are available. These may be placed on top of filled, still wet stepping stone molds, allowing you to place simple sayings like “Love” or “Remember” on them.
Leaf Stones
-
If large leaves such as those from hosta, rhubarb or elephant ears remind you of your loved one, you can use them to create one of a kind, leaf-shaped memorial stepping stones.
Lay painter’s cloth down on your work area. Cut some heavy plastic about 6 inches larger than the leaf. Place the leaf, centered, on top of this plastic, the veins facing up. Mix the concrete and cover the leaf with it. Cut chicken wire to the shape of the leaf and lay it on the wet concrete. Lay more concrete on top of the wire.
Pull the plastic up and around the leaf, smoothing the edges. Pack some mulch or dirt around the leaf to help it keep its shape. Allow to sit for two days. Remove the plastic and spray the stone with water to remove any leaf particles. Allow to sit for a week, spraying with water every day.
-
