How to Make Concrete Stepping Stones With Broken China

Decorate your plain stepping stones with a mosaic of broken china.

Gardens are a creative process for the home owner. As a gardener you express creativity through the use of color and design in arranging flowers, trees and other plants and through other decorative items you scatter among the flowers and shrubs. You may choose to make your garden even more interesting with a path of mosaic stepping stones made from broken pieces of china plates and cups. They are attractive, colorful and make a personal statement through your artistic expression.

Things You'll Need

• Pavers
• China
• Hammer
• 2 towels
• Safety glasses
• Nippers
• Popsicle sticks
• Mortar
• 2 plastic containers
• Grout
• Tile floor sealer
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. 

   Patterned china plates make beautiful mosaics.

   Wrap a piece of china in your towel. Break it into pieces with a few strikes of your hammer. You don't want tiny pieces so don't overdo the breakage. The pieces should be large enough to be able to see and enjoy the colors and patterns of the china. The nippers can trim the mosaic pieces to fit into smaller places as needed. Be sure to wear your safety glasses.

2. 

   Design possibilities are endless.

   Arrange your china pieces on an spare stepping stone until you are satisfied with the design. You will remove the pieces of china, one at a time, as you glue them onto a second stepping stone in the corresponding position.

3. 

   Your mortar will act as the glue for your china pieces.

   Mix your thinset mortar according to directions in your plastic container. This will be the adhesive that you use to attach the broken china to the cement stepping stone. Use your Popsicle stick as a knife and smooth the mortar onto the backs of a piece of china. Place it onto your base and press gently to adhere it. Continue until you have the entire stone covered with your mosaic design. Let your stepping stone dry for 48 hours before applying the grout.

4. 

   The grout fills in the spaces between the pieces of china.

   Mix your grout according to directions in a plastic container. With a Popsicle stick, smear the grout over the surface of your chine pieces getting the grout into all of the cracks. Wipe off the excess grout with a damp towel. Your china pieces should now be clean. Let the grout dry according to the directions on the box.

5. 

   Sealer helps protect your mosaics from the elements.

   Apply the sealer with a paintbrush. Let this coat dry and repeat. Your stepping stone is now ready for the garden.

Tips & Warnings

• The mosaics can be damaged by the harsh winters in the northern climates. They should be taken inside during these months.

References

• Finegardening: Making mosaic Garden Art
• Makingmosaics: Making Mosaic Stepping Stones