Make Stepping Stones

Creating a stepping stone pathway in your yard or garden can be a necessary part of landscaping as well as a form of self expression. Although there are many ways to create yard and garden pathways, making your own stepping stones is a fun project that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Making stepping stones is a wonderful way to bring both personality and useful protection to an often-traveled path.

Steps

  1. Determine where you would like to place your stepping stones before beginning to make them.
    • Select an area of grass that looks particularly worn--such as those leading to, and from gardens. Keep in mind that you can even lay a decorative stepping stone path that leads somewhere nonspecific.
  2. Purchase a bag of premixed concrete at your local gardening or hardware store. This is the material your stepping stones will be made of.
  3. Draw out a blueprint to refer to during the decorating process. Although this isn't necessary, it will help you if you have a particular design plan in mind.
  4. Create a form for your stepping stones.
    • Make a form by cutting a 5-gallon (18.9 liter) bucket to the desired size or simply use a plastic dishpan.
  5. Rub the form with a lubricating oil or spray with a nonstick spray to ensure that the concrete can be easily removed once set.
  6. Mix the premixed concrete per instructions to an amount that will fill the container, usually a depth of 2 to 3 inches (50.8 to 76.2 mm).
  7. Fill the container with the wet concrete. This formed concrete is your stepping stone mold.
    • Swirl mold as it sets to loosen trapped bubbles.
  8. Level off the concrete to make the top of the mold even by using a paint stick or other scrap wood.
  9. Wait 30 minutes for the concrete in your stepping stone mold to partially set, then personalize your stone.
    • Press hand prints into the concrete and use the hard end of a paintbrush to write a name and date.
    • Place marbles, garden stones, natural rocks, mosaic tiles, shells, sea glass and/or beads into the concrete. You can use a random pattern, or arrange the decorations to make words or images such as a child's name or the moon and stars.
  10. Let the mold set inside and away from direct sunlight for 2 to 3 days. This will ensure that it doesn't crack when removed.
    • Remove the stepping stone by turning the stepping stone mold over above a thick towel and tap the base of the mold until it comes out.
  11. Finished.

Tips

  • Prior to decorating, be sure to let the mold dry for 30 minutes before placing your tiles to ensure that the decorations do not sink and the hand-prints and writings do not fill with water.
  • Hardware stores and nurseries will often give discounts on torn bags of landscaping stones, such as mosaic tiles or garden rocks, as well as providing discounts on chipped tiles.

Warnings

  • Wear gloves if making hand prints in the mold.
  • Immediately wash your skin with warm water if it comes into contact with cement.
  • Wear protective goggles before beginning to make the stepping stones.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-gallon (18.9 liter) bucket or plastic dishpan
  • 1 bag of premixed cement
  • Decorations such as marbles, garden stones, natural rocks, mosaic tiles, shells, sea glass and/or beads
  • Painting sticks or spare lumber parts for smoothing
  • Rubber gloves
  • Protective eye goggles

Related Articles

  • Make Mosaic Stepping Stones

Sources and Citations