Here are some cute stepping stones that you can make for your garden. The items that are used can be "found" items from around the house or the children's toy box. If you look at the stepping stones you can see rocks, marbles, buttons, shells, rubber snakes and insects, foam cut outs, beads, tools and even a dog leash. The stepping stones can be themed around your garden area. You might want to use bugs, insects and toys for a children's garden or bugs, fish and toads around a pond. There are limitless ideas for these stepping stones.
Here is how you can make them for your garden.
1. Use old metal round, square or rectangle cake pans, plastic dish pans or plant saucers for the form. Make sure that you use a piece of plastic over your work area. I would suggest that you also use disposable gloves to protect your skin.
2. Spray the inside of the form with spray cooking oil. This will help the cement to release from the form when it dries.
3. Mix up some Quikrete cement using 1 part cement to 5 parts water. The mix should be the thickness of a brownie mix.
4. Fill the form about 1 inch deep, then level and smooth the cement. Add a piece of screen wire over the cement that has been cut 1/2 inch smaller than the form. Add another 1 to 1 1/2 inches of cement over the screen. Smooth and level the cement. Tap the sides of the form to remove air bubbles.
5. Allow the cement to set for about 30 to 60 minutes then add your decorations. Lightly push them down into the moist cement.
6. The stepping stone should dry for 2 to 3 days, then you can remove it from the form.
7. Your stepping stone needs to dry 1 week before taking it outdoors. I would suggest applying a coat of clear cement sealer to help preserve your new stepping stone before you move it to the garden.
Hope you have fun with this project and Happy Gardening!
The Creative Gardener
Don't forget to "pick".