How to Make Stepping Stones From a Kit

Make personalized stepping stones for your yard or garden with an easy-to-use kit. Mix up some cement, pour it in a mold, and start decorating.

Things You'll Need

• Seashells
• Acrylic Paints
• Clear-coat Spray Paints
• Glass Beads
• Paintbrushes
• Stepping Stone Kits
• Newspapers
• Pencils
• Ready-to-mix Cements
• tiles, pottery chips, or other mosaic fodder

Instructions

1. Pick up a kit at a garden shop or craft store.

2. Place a couple of layers of newspaper where you will be working.

3. Put 2 1/4 c. water in a bucket. Add 2 3/4 lbs. ready-mix cement to the bucket and mix thoroughly with a stirring stick.

4. Stir in another 2 3/4 lbs. cement. Add the final 2 1/2 lbs. and mix it in well.

5. Check the thickness of the cement. It should be thick but not chunky. If it's too thick, stir in 1 tbsp. water.

6. Set the mold on a flat surface. Pour the cement mix into the mold, filling it up to the rim.

7. Shake the mold gently to release any bubbles. Smooth the top of the cement with your stirring stick, then shake it again gently. This action will give the cement a smooth finish.

8. Wait 2 to 5 minutes before decorating the stepping stone with objects. Place flat stones or flat-bottomed marbles on the surface. Give the mold a couple of gentle shakes to help the cement settle around the objects.

9. Wait 10 to 30 minutes before you write or draw in the cement. If the writing fills in, wait a little longer. Use a pencil or other tool rather than your finger for cleaner lines.

10. Wait 15 to 25 minutes to make hand- or footprints.

11. Let the stepping stone set in the mold, undisturbed, for 48 hours.

12. Flex the mold as you would an ice cube tray and peel it away from your new stepping stone.

13. Paint the stone if you wish and finish it with a clear acrylic over-spray.

Tips & Warnings

• Times are approximate. Humidity and temperature will affect setting times.

• Design your stepping stone on paper before you pour the cement, so you can be sure that everything will fit.

• Include the date somewhere on your stone.

• Molds are reusable. A vinyl mold holds 8 lbs. of ready-mix cement (Portland cement and silica sand).

• Be stingy when adding water. If you use too much, your stone will take forever to cure - or may not cure at all.

• Cement may cause skin and eye irritation. Try not to breathe cement dust, and always wash your hands after touching cement.