Before each school year starts, make a mold of your child’s foot and create a memory lane; a lovely stone path for your favorite outdoor area. For added fun have your child decorate the stone and you can seal it with penetrating concrete sealer (silanes, siloxanes, and silicates) for longevity.
Follow these easy steps: Gather all your materials. Most of the items can be found at dollar stores and home improvement stores like The Home Depot, Ace Hardware and Lowes. Use Pizza boxes (reinforce outside edges with tape), pie plates (with a few tiny pin holes in base), disposable cake pans that you can cut open, or plant saucer plates all make great stepping stone containers. If you want to get real creative look for aluminum cake pans that are fun shapes; flowers, trucks, animals, etc.
Set up in an outdoor area. You’ll want plenty of space to lay out your stone(s) overnight so they can dry (make sure the ground you prepare for the stone(s) is level so it dries evenly). Use a bucket or bowl that you don’t mind getting dirty to mix your mortar batch. Remember mortar dries fast.
Mix your concrete or mortar following the manufacturer’s instructions. (Usually until it is the consistency of thick frosting). It’s best to start with water and add mortar a cup at a time. Concrete stain can be added with water to give your stone color. Wear a mask and eyewear for protection from mortar dust.
Pour the mix into your chosen container. Leave about half-inch space from the top of the container. If you have really thick containers, only fill them about 1.5 inches full. If you make the mix too thick, it may not dry well and can crack. For added stability to your stone you can fill the container half way, add a piece of chicken wire or thin mesh, then fill the container the rest of the way (about half-inch from top of container).
Let the mix settle a bit and evenly spread out. You may want to gently jiggle the pans and tap the sides to get out air bubbles. You can use a trowel to smooth surface. The surface should give but not be runny.
In about 30 minutes to one hour you should check it, as your mixture starts setting it will get a gummy like texture to it. This is when you should step a foot in the mix and add your decorative pieces (rocks, mosaic tiles, shells, paint or whatever you are adding to decorate your stepping-stones). Push them in far enough so they set inside the concrete but are not covered. They should not sink in the mix. Kids can add handprints or messages, too. And don’t forget the family pet’s print.
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Allow the stone(s) to set completely. It is best to let the stones dry overnight and remove from pan. Let set and after 3 days you will have a very strong, complete dry.
Remove the stone(s) from the pan once they have been allowed to dry overnight. Sometimes the stones may not want to come out so you may need heavy-duty scissors to cut them out of the pans. This is why it is best to use cheap disposable containers.
Sand or file sharp edges and points around the sides of your stones. You want to have smooth edges that won’t cut anyone when the stones are being moved around. To lay stepping stones you can walk the area and outline it with flour or chalk to see the zig zag pattern for proper placement.
Seal with a penetrating concrete sealer (silanes, siloxanes, and silicates) and place your garden stepping stones where you want them and enjoy them year after year.
As with any project, always make sure you have the proper protective gear on. Also keep your medicine cabinet and first aid kit on hand and properly stocked. Remember for free medical care savings visit http://www.fldiscounts.provisionrx.com and print your free medical care savings card. Keep one in the car, your wallet, suitcase and anywhere you need it for quick access. It can be used nationwide, for you and your entire family and the family pets too. There are no charges to use the card, no expiration date and you can save on everything from diabetes supplies, flu shots, x-rays, prescriptions, mail order meds, hearing aids and much more. Visit the website today to learn more and save. http://www.fldiscounts.provisionrx.com
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
