GARDEN Art DIY: Create Beautiful Garden Stones on a Budget

Create Beautiful Garden Stones on a Budget

Makes 20 stepping stones

Painters tape
Large sheet of paper as a guide
Box cutter
Tape measure
Plastic drop cloth
Wheelbarrow or large bucket
3 bags of standard concrete mix
2 bags of sand/topping concrete mix or repair concrete
Shovel and trowel
Leaves
Cooking oil spray
Pebbles or small stones
Safety gear – safety glasses, rubber gloves, ear protection

Note: please use safety gear when working with concrete and power tools.

Cut the concrete form into 20 two-inch thick molds by using and hand saw or a handheld circular saw. Use a sheet of paper wrapped around the tube as a guide and carefully cut the first ring off the tube. Cut it open by using a box cutter to slice through the ring’s width. Place the cut ring on the tube to use as a guide for all the remaining cuts. Tape the ring together and place it a fraction more than two-inches from the end if you are using a hand saw, or place it where the guide runs if you are using a handheld circular saw. Cut 20 rings to use as stepping stone molds.

Mix the topping or repair concrete and add it to the top of each stepping stone. This layer gives the stepping stones a smooth, refined top, perfect for leaf prints.

Working quickly before the concrete hardens, spray the back of the leaf with cooking oil and press firmly into the concrete. The best leaves are flat, strong, and have thick veins. Always press the back of the leaf (with all the veins) into the concrete for the best impression. Leaves such as hosta, rhubarb, and ivy work well.