How to Create Decorative Stepping Stones

Create unique decorations for your garden that are fun to make and beautiful to behold! Accent your garden with decorative stepping stones that neighbors are sure to envy. Using a different materials and techniques, you can design a variety of one of a kind pieces for your garden, all in wet concrete.

Things You'll Need

• Non-aggregate mortar mix concrete
• Molds or plastic plant base, pie plate or enclosed pan
• Plastic wrap
• Wheelbarrow or bucket
• Shovel
• Large paint stick
• Large ladle
• Rocks, pebbles, sea shells or gravel
• Leaves
• Acrylic paint
• Concrete sealer
• Disposable gloves
• Apron or smock

Instructions

1. Purchase your materials. You will need non-aggregate mortar mix concrete, sold in 25 lb. bags at your local home improvement store, and molds for your stepping stones sold in craft stores and home improvements stores. You could even use a plastic plant base, a pie plate or any enclosed pan that is at least two inches high. If the mold is not disposable, line it with plastic wrap to protect the surface.

2. Mix your concrete in a wheelbarrow using a shovel for large projects, or in a five gallon bucket using a large paint stick for smaller projects. When you've achieved the smooth consistency of a brownie mix, you're ready fill your molds.

3. Use a large ladle to transfer concrete into your mold. Fill the mold two thirds of the way up, leaving about one inch from the top.

4. Decorate your mold while wet. Press tiny rocks, pebbles, sea shells or even gravel halfway down into your wet, concrete filled mold. Create a design by separating different colors, making swirls or by creating a picture.

5. Try different decorating techniques. Press leaves into wet mortar to make a relief. Use ferns or uniquely shaped leaves indigenous to your area. Leave the leaf in the impression until the concrete sets and then remove the leaf. Concrete will set in about 30 minutes. You can further decorate the stepping stone by color washing with watered down acrylic paint.

6. Allow the mold to set for about two days. Once set, gently pull away the sides of the mold. Any painted surfaces should be sealed with water proofing concrete sealer.

Tips & Warnings

• Non-aggregate concrete is only good for small, decorative projects. It does not have the strength of regular concrete and will crack under the pressure of heavily trafficked areas.

• Wear an apron or smock and disposable gloves to protect your clothes and skin from concrete.

• Have your molds or forms ready to fill and your materials ready for decorating before you mix the concrete. Concrete will harden within 30 minutes.

• If you notice water seeping to the top of your stepping stone while you are working on it, use an old towel to absorb the excess water.

• Rinse your wheelbarrow, shovel and bucket on the grass before concrete dries. Throw away any larger portions of hardened concrete.

• Never wash concrete buckets or utensils down drains. The concrete will harden and ruin the pipes.