Garden stepping stones are a great way to beautify your garden. It can be the first step to the landscaping that you’ve always wanted. Although a garden stepping stonecan be purchased at your local hardware stores, a better idea would be to make your own garden stepping stone, and personalize them as you go along. Making one would also be much cheaper than your stepping stone regular price.
Here are the nine easy steps on how to make your own garden stepping stones:
1. Mark the path of the stepping stones. First things first. Plan out the path of the garden stones. Estimate how many stones you will need, and their size. You don’t want to have made your garden stones already, only to realize that they don’t fit the design that you want. Planning out will also give you an idea on how much supplies you will need.
2. Gather your supplies.The supplies are mainly basic. Most can be bought in crafts and hardware stores. You can even use old household supplies for molds, such as cooking pans and plastic plant containers. The supplies that you will be needing are:
- mold
- petroleum jelly or cooking spray
- concrete
- water
- wheelbarrow, tub or any container for mixing
- decorative items such as mosaic glass, paint, shiny stones
- shovel
3. Prepare yourself and your workspace. Make sure to wear gloves and comfortable clothes. Long sleeved work jackets would be ideal so as to protect your skin from coming into contact with the concrete. Lay out newspapers in your work area for an easy clean-up afterwards.
4. Prepare the molds. Lay out your molds on your workspace. Liberally apply petroleum jelly or cooking spray on the molds so as to prevent the concrete from sticking on to the mold once it has dried.
5. Prepare the concrete mixture.Now you are ready to mix the concrete with water. Follow the instructions written on the bag of concrete as to how much water you are supposed to mix it with. Remember that the texture is similar to that of cookie batter. It should be thick enough that it needs to be spooned, not poured. If the mixture is too dry, simply add more water. If it is too wet, add more concrete.
6. Place the concrete inside the mold.Spoon the mixture into the mold. Tap the sides of the mold to make air bubbles rise to the top and to even out the texture. Leave it for 45 minutes before decorating.
7. Decorate the stones.Now here comes the fun part! Make your own personalized garden stepping stones by adding your own artistic touch. You may use decorative stones, seashells, or tile pieces to create mosaic garden stepping stones.
8. Leave it to dry.Leave the stepping stones for the garden to dry for about 2-3 days before removing it completely from the mold. Cracking may result if you remove it too early.
9. Remove the stones from the mold. When you are ready to remove the stones from the mold, tap the bottom and the sides of the mold gently. Eventually the stones will peep out, allowing you to remove them completely. Leave it for another week or so for more durability.
Now you have your decorative garden stepping stones ready! The new addition to the outdoor landscaping of your garden will surely be the envy of the neighborhood. So get your materials ready and get started now.
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