Stepping Stone Craft - Easy, Easy!

The garden stepping stone craft is a fun and easy but messy project! Kids love being outdoors, introducing them to nature in this way is entertaining and will shape their creativity! If you complete many of these inspirational stepping stones, you could construct a small path just for the kids in the garden. These easy projects also make wonderful homemade gifts to make for Mother's Day; perfect gifts for grandmothers or grandfathers on Grandparents Day or Christmas. The dads in your life just might even enjoy fathers day gifts to make with their children, the end product is a present for dad, the project is a present for them both! Just think about the people who would be touched by having a sweet handprint of your little one in their yard! This is a great, inexpensive & thoughtful gift that really only costs you time and effort. Even if you just use the garden stepping stone craft project as a way to pass a lazy Sunday afternoon, you will definitely enjoy the end result ... have fun!

What you Need To Make Stepping Stones

Cement mix, Gravel-free, pebble-free (local home improvement store)

Disposable plastic gloves

Embellishments - mosaic tiles, broken ceramic, glass stones (dollar store), money - be creative!

Large plastic bucket (dollar store)

Large soup ladle (dollar store)

Measuring cup (dollar store)

Old newspaper

Old towel no longer in use

Plastic mold with at least a 2 inch depth, or an old baking pan would work as well

Sturdy wooden spoon (dollar store)

Well ventilated work area

Step by Step Instructions

Place a few layers of newspaper on the work area. Better yet, choose a nice day and work outdoors! I normally like to work on a large piece of plywood covered with newspaper so I can move the stepping stone while it is still wet and not harm the stone.

Measure 2 cups of water and pour into the work bucket.

Stir 5 lbs of cement mix into bucket with wooden spoon or paint-stirring stick.

Add another 5 lbs of cement mix to the bucket and mix well.

Add water, a tablespoon at a time and mix until the consistency is that of cookie dough, thick but smooth.

Spray the mold with a cooking spray.

Fill the mold halfway with your soup ladle and shake gently to even out and release air pockets.

Finish filling the mold and shake gently again.

Wait 10 minutes before placing embellishments in the cement.

Once embellishments are in place shake gently again to help them settle into the concrete.

Allow the concrete to cure for 20-30 minutes before making handprints, footprints or writing in the concrete.

You can take a pencil and write in the concrete. Or you can purchase a letter set for this purpose from your local craft store.

Place your project inside to keep it safe from small children and pets and the weather elements. (while moving the project, keep it on the plywood or it will crack!)

Grab your old towel and dampen.

Cement Stepping Stone

Place damp towel over stepping stone and allow to cure for 72 hours. The damp towel will allow for a slower curing time, which will strengthen the stone.

Release the stone from the mold and finish it with a clear acrylic.

Place it in your garden, even with the depth of the soil or mulch.

Tips and Tricks

If you're working with very small children, complete steps 1 - 9 before involving them in the project. Just bring them and