I'm Becca - mom to four cute kiddos, professional photographer, chocolate addict, in love with all thing wildflowers, and (most importantly) a sinner saved by grace through faith!
When I was brainstorming ideas for Mother’s Day gifts, I wanted to do something that was unique, meaningful and kid friendly. Eventually I landed on the idea of making stepping stones for the garden, and knew it was the perfect project. However, things didn’t turn out quite as I had expected. We definitely put the age old adage to the test – when at first you don’t succeed, try try again.
One hot afternoon the kids and I headed to the backyard to work on our Mother’s Day project. But what I thought would be a simple project ended up being a huge failure. The concrete started to solidify while I was mixing it in the bowl. My hands were covered, my wrist was killing me from mixing the concrete and by the time I got the sludge into the trays, it was too hard to decorate with the gems and letters.
Needless to say, I was very frustrated. I had wasted money and materials. The kids were disappointed. And I didn’t know why this simple project just wasn’t working out.
Isaac and I talked through the process and I decided to change a few things. He found some concrete that hopefully wouldn’t harden as fast. He (and the kids) thought the heat outside probably contributed to the problem, so I decided to move attempt #2 indoors. Instead of mixing a larger portion in a bucket, I did individual batches in the trays (which also helped contain the mess). And I picked up some paint sticks to help stir the mixture, which made that whole process much easier.
And y’all. That second attempt was SO MUCH BETTER. We were able to make 7 stones, and cleanup was a breeze. What a nice change from the previous day!
However, while trying to remove the first stone from the tray, it broke. I realized I needed to loosen the sides, flip it over on the grass (or a soft surface) and gently release it from the bottom of the tray. All of the other stones came out perfectly, and thankfully we had enough concrete to redo the one that broke.
If you’re wanting to make your own DIY garden stepping stones, here are some things you need to keep in mind:
Instant drying concrete really is instant. Pay attention to the times listed on the packaging and get one that is closer to a 30 minute drying time.
If it’s hot outside, either work quickly or move it indoors. We used a tray to contain the mess, but a trash bag or tarp would work just as well.
Mix individual batches in the trays, following the ratios provided on the concrete packaging. I should have used a bit more mixture to make my stones because they turned out a little thinner than I had wanted.
Use a paint stick to mix the concrete. It’s much easier than the popsicle stick provided in the supplies kit I bought!
If you’re working with kids, have them get the gems/letters ready ahead of time so you’re not rushing against the clock to find what you need to decorate the stepping stone.
Make sure the concrete is completely dry and hardened before removing from the tray. Be gentle and patient, and turn it over onto a soft surface so it doesn’t break!
Have fun! The kids and I really enjoyed this project (well, the second day…) and I love the bright pop of color ours gives our garden.
These DIY garden stepping stones are the perfect project to do with kids this spring. I hope to make some more soon to decorate our garden even more. I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for kid crafts that turn out as cute as these did!
Brighten up your flower bed or garden with these cute, kid friendly DIY garden stepping stones!
Ingredients
Stepping Stone Kit (from Amazon) Extra gems (from Amazon) Paint sticks (from Home Depot) Quick setting cement (from Home Depot) – I got 20 lbs, made 7 stones and had some cement left over
Instructions
Prepare a space to mix the cement. I set up a large plastic tray in our kitchen, but you can also use a trash bag or tarp.
Carefully read the instructions for your cement and take note of the cement/water ratios required. In one of your tray molds pour in the water and then add the cement (this helps prevent clumps). Carefully mix everything together, making sure it’s all fully incorporated. Add a little more water if it’s too dry and hard to smooth out, or add some more cement if it’s too runny/wet.
Once you have reached your desired consistency, smooth out the surface as much as possible. Gently drop the tray on the table to help spread things out and to remove any air bubbles.
Now it’s time to decorate! Use the letter stamps to write a name, decorate with the gems or even add a handprint. Just make sure you decorate before the cement begins to harden.
Once you’re happy with the design, let your stepping stone fully dry and cure outside. Then repeat the above process with any other stones you want to make.
After a few hours you should see a consistent color on the top and bottom of the stone (lighter than when it was freshly mixed). Gently pull away the edges of the tray to release the stone, and carefully flip it over into your hand. While holding the tray over a soft surface (like some grass or a towel), continue to release the tray from the stone.
Once it has fallen out of the tray, flip it back over and admire your beautiful DIY garden stepping stone!
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