Horticulture/Landscaping Project

Decorative Stepping Stones

This project is simple and easy.  The object of the activity is to allow the student to use their own creativity to make one or a series of decorative stepping stones for their home lawn or flower garden.

Items you will need:

• Dog bowls, pie pans, or aluminum cooking pans (your choice). 

        (Number of containers, size, and shape desired should be determined by the instructor and student.  Remember, thickness, round, square, etc. should be taken into consideration)

• Quickcrete - Enough for all students.  A bag will do several small stones.
• Colored cut glass - This glass can be purchased at hobby stores.  Purchase several colors. (you can use colored rocks, sea shells, marbles or any other decorative item in place of the colored glass)
• Vaseline to smear in the bottom of the containers to hold the glass in place

Procedure:

    1.  (This step is for teachers only) Prepare the glass by wrapping the sheet completely in towels or other cloth.  Take a small hammer and cautiously break the glass into pieces that can be used by the students to decorate their stones.

note:  If you use sea shells, marbles, or decorative rocks, you can skip step 1.

    2.  Have the students smear the Vaseline in the bottom of the containers.

    3.  Have the students place the cut glass in a pattern pleasing to the student. (be careful with the glass.  It can cut you.  Use gloves to be safe.)

note:  Make sure the glass does not touch each other.  To much contact by the pieces will not allow the Quickcrete to fasten the to glass piece.

    4.    Mix the Quickcrete thoroughly.  You can add concrete die to change the color of the mixture.

    5.  Pour the mixed Quickcrete into the containers prepared with the decorative glass.  Place the container in a well ventilated area and let it sit over night.

    6.  The next day, carefully remove the stone from the container.  Place the stone with the decorative side up and let sit for 3-5 days.  After this time, the stone should be ready for placement. 

note:  It might take up to 10 days, depending on the thickness, for the stone to cure and be strong enough to handle foot traffic.

Have fun and good luck.

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