HOW TO MAKE
GARDEN STONES

by Debbie Butler

This easy-to-create garden stone is fun for all ages and may be completed with a variety of designs. The molds are available in assorted shapes and sizes that are available at most craft stores. Old baking dishes or plasticware also work well for molding, so be creative. Decorative items may be pushed into wet concrete, glued to the surface or inlaid.

It's best to have a design idea in mind before you get started. Items that have a flat surface like glass may be inlaid, (or molded flush with the surface), by pouring the concrete over them. Some items, like marbles are best pushed into the wet concrete after it is poured into the mold and some of you may prefer to glue items on after the concrete has dried.

STEPS:

The mold you choose needs to be a bit flexible and at least two inches deep. It should be clean and dry. Using a paper towel cover the inside of the mold with vaseline in a generous, even layer. (If you are going to pour concrete over your items cut the clear contact paper to fit the mold and place inside, sticky side up, the design should be stuck to contact paper to prevent movement while pouring concrete.)

To start, mix the concrete start with the water and coloring, mix well. Add and stir concrete a little at a time until you reach the consistency of a thick cake mix. If your mix gets too thick, just add a little water. Pour into the mold and shake slightly to remove any air bubbles that may have formed. Smooth the surface as much as possible.

If you are placing your decorative items into the wet concrete, push them in about half way for a good bond. You can use: marbles, broken or full pieces of ceramic, glass nuggets, rocks, sticks, beads, small toys, shells ... all work well. If you have a piece that doesn't stick well you can glue it back in place after it dries. The concrete dries in 18 – 24 hours depending on the temperature. If you press on it with your thumb and it still feels spongy, then recheck in a few hours. To un-mold your stone, gently flip and allow to slide out. Don't press on the middle of the mold if it won't release - just wiggle the sides of the mold gently. Handle this with care because the sides are still fragile and likely to crumble if mis-handled. Set right-side up to finish drying. If you have chosen to glue your decorative pieces to the dried stone, follow the same directions for un-molding above but don't flip over as you are already on the right side. Allow it to dry until it no longer feels wet to the touch. Use a good waterproof glue, I like E-6000 for the job.

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