How to Paint Stepping Stones
Make a great art project with your children by painting and decorating stepping stones. Stepping stones of different shapes and sizes can be purchased inexpensively at your local building supply store. Add paint, stencils and images cut from magazines and children can create their own outdoor masterpiece with painted stepping stones.
Things You'll Need
- Smooth stepping stones
- Acrylic paint
- White glue
- Assorted nature stencils
- Nature magazines
- Small can of patio paint
- Scissors
- Spray polyurethane sealer
Instructions
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Personalized Stepping Stone Art
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1
Apply the patio paint, sometimes called concrete paint, to the stone. The paint seals the pores on top of the stones, preparing them for decoration and outdoor use. Allow the stones to dry completely.
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2
Give each child a stepping stone, a magazine, and scissors.
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3
Let the children pick a couple of pictures for their stones out of a nature magazine or other publication with nature photos. Have them focus on a theme, like birds or flowers, to give the stone a cohesive look. Cut the pictures out of the magazine.
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4
Find a stencil that complements the children's pictures. Use the acrylic paints to paint the stencil picture onto the stepping stone.
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5
Add the pictures to the stone, applying them with white glue.
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6
Use the acrylic paints to finish painting the stones. Encourage the children to paint something meaningful to them and to add decorative borders around the pictures.
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7
Lay the stones flat on a table and spray each one with polyurethane to seal the art against damage from dust and moisture. For an aged look, use a crackle-finish polyurethane spray.
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Tips & Warnings
Another fun project is to decoupage family photos on to tile paving stones or wooden discs.
Paving stones make great bases for homemade clocks, also.
When using paint, always work in a well-ventilated area. Provide safety scissors for children.
