Homemade stepping stones?

[mammabooh]

I made up a story last night and told it to our 7-year-old son at bedtime about a pig and his mamma. The little pig (Arthur) was being a bad pig and broke his mamma's favorite plate (ya know, it's really hard to carry a plate when you have cloven hooves). Instead of yelling at Arthur, Mamma decided to do a fun craft. They wrapped the plate pieces in a few paper towels, then in some plastic, and whacked it a couple times with a rolling pin. When they had broken the glass into many differnt pieces, they made up a form with some scrap lumber and mixed up some quikcrete. They poured the crete into the form (after spraying the form with some silicon for ease of release), allowed it to set for just a bit, an then carefully added their broken glass to the top. They let it dry, turned the form over, and gave it a little whack to release the stepping stone. Arthur and his mamma had such fun with it, that they decided to go to Goodwill and get a bunch more pretty plates and some marbles with which to make more stepping stones. Our son loved the idea and said "Mamma...we need to do that!".

So, my questions are...can we use quikcrete, or would something else work better? I'd like to use them for our front walkway so they will get quite a bit of traffic.

What would be a good thickness? We are in zone 5 and get quite a lot of snow...is this even a good idea for something that will be outside for many years?

If we can do this, should we use any sort of protective glaze when we are done, or jut leave them raw?

Suggestions?

[JIL]

look up mosiac art there might be some tips there a few years a go we made stepping stones but instead of glass we used flat small stones from around the property and pressed into the quickcrete worked out really well and looked nice too but they were really heavy to move we used a dolly. I think we made them too thick but didn't want them breaking when we walked on them. sounds like fun let us know how it turns out JIL

[Callieslamb]

I think they would be okay as long as you don't plant them in the ground. If you want to secure them - put them in sand. The freezing and thawing of the ground might break them over time if they are in dirt. I did this with my kids, but ours were too small to really step on. We used them as decorations in the flower beds. I would make them at least 3 inches thick- maybe 4 if you want to step on them.

[mammabooh]

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

I think they would be okay as long as you don't plant them in the ground. If you want to secure them - put them in sand. The freezing and thawing of the ground might break them over time if they are in dirt. I did this with my kids, but ours were too small to really step on. We used them as decorations in the flower beds. I would make them at least 3 inches thick- maybe 4 if you want to step on them.

I was planning to put them in sand and then surround them with pea gravel. Sound like a good idea? I was thinking maybe 18-inch square paver size.

[willow_girl]

I did this a few years ago. On one of our hikes up north, my ex and I came across an old abandoned factory site outside Mancelona that had lots of fist-size chunks of something that looked like amethyst slag glass in a heap out back. As luck would have it, I had a few buckets in the car, so we took some home.

I used a round metal hoop from a barrel as a form. I poured the stepping stones right in the spots where I wanted them -- just leveled the dirt, filled the ring with Quikcrete (it took about a 40 lb bag) then pressed the pieces of slag into the Quikcrete. By the time I was done, I could lift the ring off and go on to the next. (I think I mixed the 'crete a little dryer than normal.)

Mine were above ground level because I hadn't mulched the bed yet, and I knew the bark mulch would bring the soil up. These were in place for a couple years; never had any problems with cracking, etc.

[mammabooh]

Willow...you don't have pictures of those, do you? I'd love to see them!

[wy_white_wolf]

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/ste.../a/040201a.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_17931_make-stepping-stones.html

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/makingsteppingstones

http://www.the-artistic-garden.com/g...ng-stones.html

[willow_girl]

Sorry, I don't think I ever photographed them.

[frankva]

I have made quite a few pavers over the years. My thoughts. 18x18 is a great size, I made some 2 1/4" thick. Hard to work with. Too heavy. I would try 1 1/2" next time.

Dead sand for base. Cover with dead sand, sweep off to fill gaps. It is all in getting the base prepared.

I have had good luck with long rectangular frame of strapping in the desired width. Crosspieces at desired spots. On poly, on a flat surface like concrete floor. Or plywood. Flat surface will help with uniform thickness. Makes it easier later.

Lighty oil wood frame. I used a windex bottle with gas/oil mix. ventilate! Allow to part cure, knock apart frame. Sit them where they can cure. Sakrete type premix is convenient but expensive.

I have never sealed them.
I have releveled them.
I have colored them.
Be sure to have the dog walk thru a couple. (Rinse paws.) I have a bunch of different paw and kid prints.

The glass might be slippery?
I bet a craft store would have some slick ideas for things to add.