My sister and I have helped our kids make these every year for the dads and grandpas for Father’s Day. We make a total of six, so we didn’t want to spend $20 on each kit either.
So here’s what we do. We get a bag of concrete from Menards ($5 or so, I can’t remember) and use those little plastic drainage trays that you can put under potted plants as the mold. (about $1 each - you need one for each stepping stone, but you can save them to reuse again). Mix up the concrete, pour a little in each mold and then the kids can stamp their handprints or footprints in the cement and decorate with mosaic tiles, beads...
You have to press down pretty hard for the impression of the foot or hand to really show - I think it’s probably easier for kids to use the kits, in that sense. But we’ve always made it work, and Josh and Eva love decorating them with beads and stuff. (And they’re so proud of them whenever they see them in the yard.)
Thanks for the info. My son is only one so hopefully we can make it work. I guess using his footprint maybe easier than his hand.
The foot is definitely easier - I should have mentioned that. Oh, and also slather on some Vaseline (on you and your son) so your skin doesn't get irritated when it comes in contact with the concrete. (It also makes cleanup super easy.)
I actually did this today and I didn't even know about this post. The concrete from Menards cost about $3 and I used left over pizza boxes (12x12 in). I lined the boxes with recycled plastic bags and tinted the cement to a tan color (bought that at menards as well $5) . I made 4 stones. total cost about $8.
OOOH this is a fabulous idea! Thanks! I think this is what we will do for Mother's Day!
We made these yesterday and they turned out great. I did read online to spray WD40 in the plant tray before pouring in the concrete. We did this and it worked great. Not sure if you really need to or not.
We've never done that. The cement has always just popped right out of our plastic molds.
I bought all the stuff to make these yesterday and can't wait to do them with Kyli after finals are done!
I thought I read somewhere on this site that you could cover your homemade stepping stones with some type of spray. I can't find that now... does anyone know what that is?
Thanks for your input!
SAHM to 3 Boys!
First, thank you for this idea. I made one for my mother and am planning to do one for my mother in law. I found a really cool kit at Hobby Lobby. It was a kit that had the supplies in it to have your childrens pictures under little clear stones in the rock. I gave it to my mom today and she loved it. We had 6 grandkids and one great grandson's pictures and we made them look like little flowers and then made a sun. They also had letters under the rocks (which act as little magnifying glass) and we wrote "Our Garden".
I think it was $18.99 and I used the 40% coupon on it so it ended up being around $12.00. (well worth it!!)
That would be so neat to be able to have your childs picture as well. I may have to go get a couple of those:)
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I am thinking about making stepping stones for Mother's Day. I was wanting to use my sons hand print in the middle. The kits you buy can be pretty expensive and I need to make about six. So I was wondering if anyone has made these without buying the kits. Any ideas on what works and what not to use.