Lots of us have big dreams about improving our homes and yards, but money is usually the issue that keeps us from fulfilling our every dream. That’s okay. We usually have 20, 30 years or more in our home to do the improvements. Although some repairs take priority, other improvements are done just for beauty’s sake. Some of these can be done so easily and with little expense that it makes no sense to put them off. Make stepping stones for your walkway or garden and not only will you save a ton of money over their retail price, but you’ll definitely impress your friends and visitors. Start saving deli trays and their lids, purchase inexpensive foil pans, or just use old pizza pans and cake pans from home. Purchase a bag of quick-setting concrete or cement for pouring the stones and prepare it according to the package instructions. Now look around the house or garage to see what you can use to decorate the stepping stones.
Marbles, flat pieces of glass, shells, beads, bottle tops, white gravel, tumbled stones, foil pieces, broken dishes and other unusual items can be arranged in the bottoms of the molds before pouring the concrete. Be sure all glass pieces and broken dishes are placed flat in the bottom of the mold. Shells and bottle lids should be turned concave side up before pouring concrete. To place objects around the perimeter of the pan, use a dot of hot glue or white glue to hold the object in place until the mold is poured. Pour the mold all the way full, or diminish the amount of concrete depending upon how deep you want the stone to be. When the stone has dried, pull or cut the mold away from the stone. Spray on sealant before setting the stepping stone in the dirt. You can first paint it a solid color or draw a particular pattern or picture. To write on the stone or to make a hand or foot print, pour, dry, and turn the stone out, then slide on a rubber glove to spread a small amount of concrete smoothly on top. Now place hand in the fresh concrete and allow to dry, or use a stick to write or draw.
For metal pie, cake or pizza pans, spray the dish first with non-stick cooking spray, then pour the mold. After drying, drop the stone out. This technique will also help to release the stones from deli trays and lids, too. Wipe it down well with a dry cloth before attempting to paint, since the non-stick spray will prevent paints from sticking.
Rectangular cake pans are great for making a walkway to the garage or from the front door to the sidewalk. Oval roasting pans give a unique shape to stepping stones for the garden. Plastic bowls can be used, then placed convex side down into the soil, but deep bowls should only be filled partially. Cardboard boxes, like pizza delivery boxes are great for making stepping stones. Pour the flat stones, then arrange them side-by-side for a small patio. Remove the lids from shoe boxes and pour stones for outlining gardens and shrubs.
Just about any shaped bowl, pan, box, lid, pot or tray can be made in to a stepping stone and almost any small objects can be used to enhance it. You’ll come up with even more ideas as you look around the house.
