How To Make Stepping Stones With Concrete That Look Natural

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Please see the materials in the description above and more details in the tutorial on my website. artsyprettyplants.com/diy-concrete-stepping-stones-look-natural/

[@coachtim6188]

My gosh. I've never seen so many complaints. From "can't hear" to "they won't last" ad nauseum. She's obviously a go getter. She's obviously very handy. If they crack, pretty sure she can fix. I can hear fine. She sure hasn't gotten rich sharing this with us and i bet did it because she likes helping others. How about a little gratitude. My mom used to say if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. Good grief people these days.

[@justjessica85]

Ad nauseum hehe...

[@tracybrooks5971]

Hey, my mom used to say that also! I agree with you 100% (and our mothers).

[@coachtim6188]

@@tracybrooks5971 We were blessed with awesome moms. ☺️

[@ninarobinson8752]

I agree, they ass is hard of hearing anyway

[@sherierodrigues1569]

Hi Ellen, I love you. I'm a 72 yo nanny from Australia, I have a wet front yard, and this is perfect for me. Just know that you have really helped me with my issue, I'm sure you have helped a lot more people as well. Every time I will be admiring and walking on my pavers, I will be thinking of you. God bless you darling girl. Sherie Rodrigues from Australia. Ps. I will be making some of your pots as well. Great channel.

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi Sherie! This makes me so happy to hear! That's exactly how I felt after making these, they just made walking in and out of the front door so much easier, because it really was a problem. And thank you for your very kind words, they are taken to heart. :0).

[@sherierodrigues1569]

@@ArtsyPrettyPlants i am happy they have been taken to heart, they were meant to darling. I am sitting with my notebook, taking notes to start. Wish me luck. Love to you. Sherie. Love the vinyl strip.

[@trido3815]

My neighbor did something similar. Instead of using the bag for texturing, he used a few rocks to stamp on the concrete to create the texture.

[@fab4fan173]

such a clever idea. Thank you for sharing your talent. I will be using this idea.

[@dianac2596]

You did this so beautifully. I’m doing this very rock stepping stone technique this year. Very impressive!

[@danielhanawalt4998]

This is what I was looking for. I have a short path to my patio and want to make a stone like walk without buying expensive pavers or flagstone. Nice work you did with your walkway. Wish me luck.

[@debraflowers5905]

Thank you for sharing this video. I have been wanted a pathway around the side of my house. I'm 67, just retired and think that this is going to be a great project to do! Thanks again.

[@kathywright1090]

This is a great idea, great video, well done. Any rude, crude or lewd comments should be ignored.

[@ApexxJimmy]

Thanks for the guide! Your audio was fine and the music was relaxing, btw. :)

[@janellekm]

They look great, I have put off doing a pathway due to the cost, however, using "fake" stones will mean it will fit my budget. Thanks for sharing this with us 😊

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Thanks Janelle!

[@staceyseden4227]

same here ❤

[@777Pattie]

Thank you for sharing👍🏼. I was going to buy the multi stone mold but your hand made molds I like better 😊💕

[@angeldye4168]

Great idea! ❤ You did an excellent job on these!

[@doghairdontcarelindaniel7531]

June 2020. You go girlfriend. Liked the plastic bag texture. Texas here y’all.

[@burnettlp]

When you said it's time to stop torturing the guests I cracked up 😆😅🤣

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

😁

[@thorbear80]

Exactly the inspiration for my next step in the garden! Thnx!

[@kezonline]

You did a really good job and it's a great idea, nicely explained too.

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Glad you liked it!

[@viviancharbonnet3761]

The video was great but I loved the detailed step by step you posted Also very helpful the coloring thanks

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi Vivian, I'm glad you saw the written tutorial. You'll always be able to find more specific details in the written versions.

[@jairosa823]

... están magníficos. ..lo agregaré a mi pequeño jardín.

[@katieclemons418]

Great! I want to try something like this for a diy walkway to my house. It gets muddy a lot. I like the tutorial you did great :)

[@moritanv]

Beautiful... Nice work!😍😍

[@ninarobinson8752]

I'm a great grandmother and i can hear great

[@mikemartinez1557]

That came out real nice..great idea..

[@barbarawalsh4936]

Watched a couple videos on Stepping Stones, and like this one best. Have two places in my yard to use these. Plan to make some smaller ones, to go around my tree out front. Thanks for the great idea and video.

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Oooh, I like the idea of doing this around a tree. In fact you just gave me a great idea!

[@melanieeaton3344]

I'm planning on trying it! Glad I found your channel!

[@hillbillyshack]

Very cool just the tutorial I was looking for, great job they look great

[@LindenRanch]

Looks awesome. Better than flag stone with such a custom shape and size vs cost. Will add to my gardens.

[@kimberlyf.4130]

Hey thanks for the tutorial, looks great and I'm excited to try it!

[@BigBBQJones]

Nice 👍 I'm going to try it ❤

[@stephenoshaughnessy2279]

Very good. The overall results are successful.

[@bondpaz]

They look amazing!❤️😊👌🏽

[@eliseintheattic9697]

This looks great. I would love to see a follow up to see how the stones have aged. I bet they look even better now. Is the stain thin enough to go in a spray bottle? If so it might be a good way to stain larger areas.

[@Lima547]

Thanks for sharing! Great outcome

[@laurentampa2054]

Great job! Looks awesome!

[@DrLauraRPalmer]

Such a bomb idea

[@vickybryan25]

Those are beautiful ty

[@thefrenchgardener1865]

Great job . . . looking forward to doing this project. Thanks for the specs: one 60 lb bag per large stone . . .

[@jtltet]

They look really good but I am a bit curious how well they hold up over time. What PSI was the concrete mix?

[@4TheFun1s]

Awesome will give this a try🤗

[@sazji]

Nice work! You might be able to darken things with some iron oxide after the fact. It could soften the contrast between the colors as well.

[@hendrikjbboss9973]

Very nice. You make it look very easy. Thank you.

[@MissPuh]

Looks beautiful! Im going to buy everything I need for this today :D

[@resident7385]

Looks very nice!

[@cmebeth]

Very nice!

[@catherinemurphy873]

Amazing job 💯. Thanks 👍

[@trvlswitrv]

Thanks for showing this. They came out really nice. I’m going to try this. These are just what I need to walk to my raised garden bed.

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi Maria, Awesome. I’m glad you saw this. It was good timing since I had just posted this a couple of days ago. Good luck!

[@therealfirstone]

Nice job, thanks for sharing.

[@carmenmollica1454]

Good stuff. I used a bucket which was a bit easier :)

[@rogdog3257]

Awesome and great job. This has really helped. I want to fill in an area, but it has custom brick boarder with curves. I did not want to cut and lay more bricks. (Plus, that would have been way out of my skill set) This solves my problem, make you own custom stones. How awesome is that.

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Glad it helped!

[@rase575]

Beautiful

[@earlydawn81]

Beautiful!

[@ЮлияШкуратова-ы9б]

From Russia.. 🙏🙏🙏🌹🌹🌹❤❤❤

[@MarielCardozo]

The way they look is stunning I will try it too :) I wonder if you could make it look like marble stones too. 👌🏽

[@DoYouEvenBlog]

You’re a dang pro!

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Lol, thanks. One day! :)

[@joprent6727]

Great job. I want to do this. TFS. X

[@jafinch78]

Never thought about or seen the materials use for a border. I've been wanting to play around with cost effective DIY dyes which are usually not recommended. I've thought about D cell batteries manganese oxide rinsed very thoroughly for a black dye source, titanium dioxide from pottery shops as well as other pottery glaze materials too. There are other additives that might be useful too, though do cost more as some use acrylic or latex paint... though when you talk to the pros, they recommend distilled water and knowing the % solids clearly noted in the store bought fortifiers. Looks neat though for sure and inspiring since I have some flagstone and this gives me some ideas to try to see what the decorative concrete can appear like.... if I get the time. Thanks for sharing!

[@svm8499]

I wonder if you could dilute the powdered color and spray on the concrete ...to create color

[@shingabiss]

Nice job.

[@LookInDJProduction]

Small tip. In countries, where are winters under -0 Celsius should be used Metal armature for protect concrete to not break by temperature delatation

[@tinadarlene4623]

What a great job ❤️

[@vh4367]

Great job with lot of love! thank you for sharing

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Thank you!

[@marcusdosh408]

Love these....

[@nadmiet7733]

I bought few flag stones and they're pricey. I like your video to make your own . What a great idea. Thank you for sharing ☺

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi Nad, Thanks! I know, buying them is surprisingly pricey.

[@SpinDizzy-fr8bc]

I commend you on your hard work and creativity. Your results are quite beautiful. I am going to use some of your technique for a backyard fire pit...have you seen the prices for flagstone these days?! lol Thanks for sharing!

[@abzaz6331]

You are great.

[@eduardoosaki9169]

Beautiful job good girl

[@viviancharbonnet3761]

Thanks

[@gwennumphress570]

Hi was reading your stepping stones it sounds interesting and I am new to this type of project so I am unsure of the type of cement how thick of container I’d probably use the pour and place my pattern as I am 80 year old women so mix and lifting cement any suggestions Thanks

[@rachelstauter]

Any updates on how they have held up? I can’t wait to try this!

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

I made these at a home I was renting. I went back the other day (4 years after making these) and a few of them have cracks. One cracked while I was still there and I knew was because I shouldn't have poured these on top of the gravel- which created air pockets. The other cracks may also be from the same thing. I also don't have any way of knowing if these cracks are from moving things like heavy appliances in and out of the home, or other reasons as this would be the only entrance to get them in through. I'm confident enough these would hold up under normal use and if poured directly on the ground, that I plan to do this where I now own my home.

[@arthartwell6628]

Nice job!!!

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Thanks Art!

[@attackongranny813]

Awesome

[@LapisLizard]

I love this video, and the finished result! May I ask what material the curved edging is made of?

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi! The curved mold material is vinyl. I have all the details for this written as a complete tutorial. All the materials are listed there, with links so you can see what they are. artsyprettyplants.com/diy-concrete-stepping-stones-look-natural/

[@LapisLizard]

@@ArtsyPrettyPlants thank you for your quick response. I would really like to have a go at doing similar for a path that needs attention. Thank you for your inspiration, Ellen

[@Регина-ш4б]

К вас это цемент или плиточный клей?

[@gwennumphress570]

I wud make my stepping stones not too big so not sure what diameter to buy in molds

[@Ego_Katana]

any problem with the stones cracking yet? I wonder if chicken wire could be used as a rebar ?

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

I have one that did, but that's because I left the large gravel underneath and it had an air pocket. The others have no cracking at all.

[@gabynavarrete3257]

Hola, ¿Qué tipo de cinta usas para hacer ese molde o como se pide en la ferretería?

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

I linked to the materials in the description. It's vinyl strapping.

[@staffordvideoproductions5788]

Beautiful work. The final product looks a lot flatter than the stone that you were working on. Is that just an optical illusion?

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Thank you! It's an optical illusion. If you go to my written tutorial: artsyprettyplants.com/diy-concrete-stepping-stones-look-natural/ -Go a little more than half way down the page, there's a photo where you can see the stones toward the back and how thick they are. I have the gravel covering most of the thickness. Most are just over 2" thick and quite irregular.

[@gensanchez9535]

They look awesome!! great job I have a very important question; are they slippery? or any concerned when it rains ? can you walk on them safely without falling? since they look kinda * Smooth

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi, nope, not slippery at all. I live in the south where it's very wet and slimy and they are great for this.

[@elsagrace3893]

It looks really nice! Great job with the coloring even though you wanted it darker. It’s just like watercolor. It lightens as it dries. 😬

[@aarongilbert9714]

Very inspiring video. If I want to make stepping stones for my garden, what is the mixture of cement and sand of it for size of 40 cm in diameters? Do I need rocks and mess wire for it ? Thank you

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi Aaron, you'll need to know the thickness you plan to make them and then you will have to check the labels on the mixes of concrete bags. But, if you are talking about just using a non-premixed cement and adding sand, then unfortunately I don't have the answer. I know it will be a high ratio of sand to cement, but as my bag was manufactured as a pre-mix, I can't say for sure. You might find this article helpful- The Best Mix For Concrete Projects. Read the first section and then skip down to the stepping stones example near the bottom.

[@patricialangdon514]

Whats the color stuff called?

[@earlydawn81]

What did you use for the vinyl

[@jobellecollie7139]

I wish you explained how to make the forms.

[@grizwits6011]

Looks awesome good work I’m gonna do a path to my fire pit like this

[@candlewoodfarm]

what kind od concrete.

[@chestercopperpot1433]

I might have missed it in the video. What were the molds made from? Your walk looks great!

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Thanks! It's linked in the description.

[@pamgrimm8850]

Who does the music on your video?

[@sdp6404]

great job! so nice looking. wondering if you've since had any problems with cracking since the stones are so large?

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Not at all

[@Tobymydog812]

Looks good..What did you use for forms?

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi, thanks! I used vinyl straps. They are linked to in the description and also in the written tutorial on my website, also linked there.

[@leahwood1805]

Where did you get your dye and vinyl

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi Leah, I have all the materials listed, with links to the items, on my website. You'll find additional info and pics there as well. Here's the link- artsyprettyplants.com/diy-concrete-stepping-stones-look-natural/

[@纯舞艺术]

Thank you for showing! Will fast-setting concrete work?

[@lauralea3858]

Hi, what is the plastic material you used and the brand of the colors if you could post

[@cheypam]

Laura Lee, See Lea Wood's question above. All of the materials she lists on her website are all out of stock. I listed items that are in stock now on Amazon that you can use 😊 for a lot less money! I hope this helps 😊 have a wonderful day!

[@billschofield4190]

Hi, I just paid for your concrete how to booklet for beginners and my printer ran out of paper before it finished printing. How can I print out pages 1-53 to complete the booklet. Thanks for your help. Bill Schofield

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi Bill, Yikes, sorry, I know it’s a lot of pages. You’ll have to go to your printer settings when you click print -in the dialog box, once you’ve refilled the ink, and where is says Pages, enter 1-53. You’ll be able to specify that. I hope that helps.

[@a0flj0]

Don't pour concrete onto the gravel/ground. Place a plastic bag or a tarp beneath, so no liquid from the concrete can seep out. The liquid takes dissolved minerals from the cement with it, leaving the resulting concrete porous. It will be more prone to cracking due to freeze/thaw cycles, algae will catch on it easier and it will be less strong than concrete which cures with the liquid in it. Also, you could place some pieces of fiber glass or metal wire mesh into each stone, to increase its mechanical resistance.

[@65csx83]

Of all the errors in the video, seeping is probably the least problematic. For instance, she's not actually making concrete. What's important is she tried to expand her skills and she's learning.

[@hanslund308]

I guess you are right, but for only walking on this should work fine. I have poured concrete straight on gravel several times and had no issues 10 years later. But sure if you are building something that tractors or heavy trucks are going to drive on, it should be done 100% accurate.

[@jacquelinemann3069]

Where did you get the edging? U did awesome!!!

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi, I linked the materials in the description and also on my website. The link is in the description there as well. You'll find even more details in the written tutorial.

[@SoftlySleepy]

It's there a way to do this in another location? My city doesn't allow building, even of sidewalks, in front of the house. Stepping stones should get around that since I'm not "building" anything, but i could draw some attention doing this rather than just bringing them in, and i don't want attention. I just wanna cover this dead patch of grass and work towards my no-lawn goals 😭

[@craftcrumbs]

The stepping stones are nice but you worked much harder than you needed to because you didn't add enough water when mixing. Should be easy to pour into the mold without scooping. This is when it becomes easy to work with and self-leveling. And remember, everything is darker in color when wet and dries much lighter.

[@2adamast]

More water washes down the strength

[@MichaelLawrenceMagic]

​@@2adamastShe's right, not enough water and definitely not self leveling when you have the consistency of clay.

[@Eric-ue5ed]

@@MichaelLawrenceMagic No, if you watch other videos they all say to get it to a peanut butter consistency. If you water it down too much it will be harder to shape, and it will be more brittle when fully dry. It wont stand up to foot traffic.

[@johnnyhoover2373]

Your on to a whole career If you want to build driveways Just thicker more rebar more Movements more helpers … I have all worked with these ideas

[@Max-kn9yi]

I'm doing this, but making my cement a little less thick..

[@MM-kz9pd]

How did you make the forms to shape the stones? What are they made of? Are they diy?

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Hi, I just added the materials list to the description above, with the link. I got it from Amazon. It's kind of a DIY because it's a repurposed material.

[@faeriesglance]

Are they slip resistant?

[@ArtsyPrettyPlants]

Absolutely. Very textured. We live in the south where everything builds up with slime and they’re as slip resistant as a concrete sidewalk. It’s like sandpaper. It was the perfect solution for us.