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Making Concrete Stepping Stones

August 27, 2012

Mold and Concrete Stepping StoneUse half flat plant containers to make fast and easy paving stones for your garden. We had a bunch of half flat containers left over from buying plants this spring. I thought they would make great stepping stone molds, but wasn't sure how to get the best results and be able to reuse the molds for future projects. I got the idea to line them with plastic and turned out to be the perfect solution.

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Supplies

Easy Concrete Stepping Stones
 

Instructions

  1. Cut the garbage bag along the side and bottom of the bag and unfold it to make 1 large plastic sheet.
  2. Easy Concrete Stepping Stones
     
  3. Cut the garbage bags to fit as a lining to the half flat containers. We found that we could easily get 4 from each garbage bag.
  4. Easy Concrete Stepping Stones
     
  5. Line the half flat containers with the cut pieces of plastic. We found it helpful to wrap any extra loose plastic around the bottom of the mold as it was a bit windy that day. Keep it as flat as possible because folds in the plastic will show on your finished stepping stone.
  6. Lining Molds with Plastic Garbage Bags
     
    Concrete Mix with Lined Mold
     
  7. Mix the concrete in your wheelbarrow or bucket. Use a shovel to stir the water in until it is the right consistency.
  8. Mixing Concrete in Wheelbarrow
     
  9. Scoop or pour the concrete mix into the molds.
  10. Pouring Concrete into Mold with Shovel
     
  11. Lightly shake and tap the mold on the ground to level the concrete. This will also help push the concrete in to all the nooks and crannies of the mold design and reduce bubbles on what will be the top surface of the stepping stone.
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  13. Let the concrete set-up for about 24 hours.
  14. Setting Concrete
     
  15. After the concrete is set, flip the mold over and remove it.
  16. Removing Mold from Concrete
     
  17. Now peal back the plastic to reveal your new stepping stone.
  18. Removing Pastic Garbage Bag Liner
     
  19. The concrete will continue to dry out over the next few days, but you can put it in place right away.
    1. Finished Stepping Stone
       
      Close-up of Concrete Stepping Stone
       

      By Jess from Hillsboro, OR

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5 More Solutions

Share on ThriftyFunThis page contains the following solutions. Have something to add? Please share your solution!

October 30, 2018

I have been carving and casting stepping stones for almost 20 years and this is how I do it. Hope that this will help someone with their project.

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The mold used is a purchased ABS plastic stepping stone mold.

Making a Welcome Stepping Stone - finished stepping stone, painted and sealed

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Videos

May 22, 2013

Here's a video about making your own stepping stones.

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Questions

Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.

March 18, 2010

Would I be able to use Elmer's glue as a super placticizer for making cement or concrete stepping stones?

By Annie from Boulder City, NV

Answers

March 21, 20100 found this helpful
Best Answer

Yes you can, but what you want to use is regular Elmer's Concrete Bonder or Elmer's Probond. It's used to bond new concrete to old.

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When mixed into the concrete it acts as fortifier making your stepping stones stronger and more weather resistant.

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June 5, 2017

Is there any easy way to make stepping stones? I am looking for a easy craft to do with the older grandchildren. What supplies would I need, what type of concrete, would I need a finishing spray and also how thick should the form be for the stones?

I am thinking of using a thin plastic form that you can purchase at the garden store that you are used under potted plants. Any easy steps or suggestions that you might have would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Answers


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
June 5, 20170 found this helpful

You line molds with petroleum jelly and put concrete mix in. P&G everyday has the instructions here: https:// www.pgeveryday.com/home/crafts/article/diy-stepping-stones-with-the-kids

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
June 5, 20170 found this helpful

Not sure what age group you are referring to but sounds like a fun experience.
There are several good sites that give lots of ideas in case you plan to decorate your stones. Also, there are some easy instructions on thriftyFun past issues.

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thehappyhousewife.com/.../

www.thespruce.com/instructions-for-making-stepping...

www.thriftyfun.com/Making-Concrete-Stepping-Stones-2...

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June 12, 20170 found this helpful

we did this project with our grands last summer,Gather pie pans,buy quick creet at lowes mix it with water fill the pie pans up smooth them out then we used old jewelry rhinestones pebbles ,sticks acorns or any thing you have look in your junk drawers .we let the kids decorate however they chose .they all turned out great oh and sea shells too, we are going to use them as a pathway into our back yard they are so cute let them dry for two days then remove them from the pan.make sure you press the objects in deep so they wont fall out it if they do just glue them back in place

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April 28, 20210 found this helpful

Tried your link, it does not take your to your suggested craft. I even tried a search on the site, no results

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Silver Post Medal for All Time! 267 Posts
April 28, 20210 found this helpful

It looks like that link has been removed from the original site. It was published in 2017 and the original site has been reorganized. Hopefully, you can find other instructions.

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December 8, 20210 found this helpful

can you supply pictures please. I too want to include Grandsons in this

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Silver Post Medal for All Time! 267 Posts
December 8, 20210 found this helpful

You might find better instructions here, there are a couple of step by step projects that you might be able to use. The comment you are leaving feedback for was posted over 4 years ago so it is unlikely they will see your comment to respond.

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www.thriftyfun.com/Making-Concrete-Stepping-Stones-2...

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Archives

ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.

March 18, 2010

I have 2 16"x16x1" concrete forms for making patios or just stepping stones. My question is should I use quick setting concrete or just concrete? Also, what would be the ratio of water to concrete?

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