Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:24 pm
We have in our garden large beds and a rather wild overgrown herb corner. and in order to be able to see everywhere after the right, a few stepping stones were missing for a long time. The search for suitable stepping stones failed either because of the price or the appearance. But I already had a more precise idea: The stones should not be too smooth, so that one does not slip accidentally. And: They should fit to our nature garden, where everything is colorful and not so conform. Obviously, there was nothing for me to buy, so the only solution was to make them myself! And from concrete and all sorts of souvenirs from the last vacation from shells to cut glass. Since we still had concrete left over from the last construction project, we did not need to organize much else.
At the beginning I was a little skeptical whether the stepping stones really look nice and are stable enough for us adults. But all my worries were in vain. After one hour we had finished the stepping stones and could put them into the beds two days later. The stones also convinced me from a visual point of view. They fit perfectly into the garden. And our son is mighty proud that the beautiful shells from vacation got such a great place. Here’s a tip when you’re building your child’s “treasures”: Make it clear to your child that shells and co. remain in the concrete and cannot be removed. This way, favorite shells can still be kept safe.
Instructions for self-cast stepping stones
Here you can download the instructions for self-poured stepping stones as a PDF.
What you need
Concrete (foundation concrete)
Two old plastic buckets (one for mixing, one as stepping stone mold; however, you can also use old trivets as a mold).
Decorative materials as desired (shells, stones, colorful mosaic glass, marbles, etc.). When choosing, be careful not to choose too pointed elements. Otherwise it will sting a lot if you walk on it barefoot).
Waterproof base
Cutter knife
Shovel
And this is how it works
- First, cut rings out of an old bucket with a cutter knife. Make sure that they are the same height. These will serve as the shape for the stepping stones. I recommend a height of at least 4 cm. If the slabs are thinner, the risk of them breaking later increases.
- Tape the rings to a waterproof base with fabric tape so that no concrete can spill out. If you use old trivets as a mold, you don’t need to glue anything else.
- Mix the concrete in the second bucket according to instructions. The mixture should not be too thin so that the decorative elements do not sink in later. (picture 1)
- Now fill the mass into the molds. (Image 2)
- Press the selected decorative pieces about halfway into the concrete. Make sure, especially with the shells, that no sharp edges stick out and that they are deep enough in the concrete mass. This will give them support and prevent them from breaking when you stand on them. (Image 3)
- Now the stones have to dry for two days. It is best to choose a shady, dry place for this. Do not place the cast stepping stones in the blazing sun. Otherwise cracks may appear. (Picture 4)
- After hardening, you can place the stones in the bed. It is best to dig them in a little so that they find a foothold in the soil. If there are any sharp edges, you can simply sand them round with a little sandpaper.
Have fun being creative!