Make DIY Concrete Mosaic Stepping Stones for the Garden, Ep 37 Fridays w/Flora

[@mariajohnston2147]

If you make a contact paper sandwich you can make your design finish side up. then flip it. I also use shipping tape it holds better. My mixture is 2 parts play sand and 1 part Portland cement by weight add water to make a pancake batter thickness put in greased mold add chicken wire finish pouring, remove tape or contact paper from front the end product is silky smooth.

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

These are AWESOME plus-ups. Thank you for sharing this with us. Is portland cement easy to find? I would love to try this technique on the next few stones I need to make to finish the woodland garden path. Thank you for stopping by the channel!

[@heathersalt5233]

A wonderful video. Being so detailed oriented, I appreciated you covered all possible steps. I feel confident trying this with my stained glass pattern. Thank you!!

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

good luck with your project!

[@leahdory]

Great video, I like this method, excited to try it! Time lapse in these kinds videos would be nice. Cheers

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Thanks! They held up during our horrible winter, too. Give it a try!

[@cooperroutsong7190]

Cool that looks fun

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

It was! Thanks!

[@cooperroutsong7190]

@@TheUrbanDomesticDiva Thanks for replying to me it makes me feel special because people say I'm not special ):

[@cooperroutsong7190]

btw you so cool because you have like 42 thousand views on this vid you must be rich

[@cooperroutsong7190]

i wish i was rich :( :(

[@kapnkerf2532]

This would be a great use for leftover Quickcrete from a project. I want to try this.

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Quikckcrete is awesome! It sets up quick, though. So you'll have to move fast. I made a leaf birdbath with quickcrete! The video is from last month.Good luck with your project!

[@maidenfairefly]

Good video. You could try using quickcrete Sand Topping mix for these too. It doesn't have all that large gravel in it. Makes a nice smooth stone.I use it only now I found it. Thanks for the video

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Does it set up too fast? I created a quickcrete birdbath (see video on fridays with flora playlist) and boy did it start setting fast. That would be my worry. But Yes, some of my stones got pretty gravelly/rough.

[@Goldiemagic]

Good video! Could the very first step be to vaseline the sides, then place down the contact paper?

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Yes. Totally! I thought that was what I did? But it's been a few years. There are many tricks to get the stones to release easily. Some other commenters below have other good ideas. Pam cooking spray, WD40....etc.

[@TheExpressiveworship]

Are they sharp after? just for little ones running around?

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Hi there! That is a GREAT question. I found that the cement gets them buried enough that it sort of smooths them out. In fact, if you see in the last part of the video I need to brush off a lot of the cement to unearth the tiles a bit. I go barefoot on mine and my footsies are fine. But if you are concerned, maybe use flatter mosaic tiles from craft stores or home improvement tiles found in the bath dept, they will sit flat and have smoother edges. Broken plates and such will have sharper edges and maybe a concern. Good luck with your project!

[@patreecemcintosh8036]

Any ideas on what I can use to coat mine? I have sharp edges exposed.

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Hi there! You can skim coat some grout to fill in on the top. My mosaic address number video shows how to work with grout. Also check out epoxy resin? I have not tried resin, and not sure how well it would stand up to weather. But it would fill in the grooves and give you a shiny flat surface, I think?

[@suprithababu3147]

Super project loved it. will try it. what is this contact paper? i live in Toronto, hope we get all these materials in hardwares here. i know its worth making. thanks for sharing

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Hi there! The contact paper helps but is not necessary. You can use plastic or wax paper, but the contact paper helps with the sticky side so that pieces stay in place and if you use flat pieces you can lift it up and look at the design from the other side before pouring cement, because they will stick. I would check the kitchen aisle in your store or hardware, where shelf lining is sold. Thanks for your kind words and for stopping by!

[@jwkittles]

I appreciate the info about using Dollar Store items for molds. One note... you might want to not block the view with shadows of you or tripod legs.

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

LOL! Good point. I'll tell my production team...ie* ME. It's hard to do all this yourself and share it with the world. But I keep trying to de my best! Thanks for stopping by and your support.

[@nancymcshane3501]

Have you tried putting down a layer of sand first? We made some in cardboard boxes with sand, in the third grade!

[@christinelaver942]

I'd grease it up before doing the mosaic pattern.

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Yup! You're right. Which is why in the video I use vaseline to coat the mold first as well as use contact paper on the bottom. Perhaps you missed that part? Thanks for stopping by!

[@christinelaver942]

I guess I did.

[@yvetteopinion1587]

Wouldn't be easier to spray a lubricant instead of messing with vasaline!

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Sure, some people use cooking spray. But be careful as other lubricants may stain, like a WD40, or something like that. Vaseline works wonders for me. Thanks for stopping by!

[@anneofgreengables1619]

Pam works a treat.

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

@@anneofgreengables1619 I have heard that! I just wondered if it was effective enough. It doesn't get my bundt cakes out very well, so I was skeptical on cement.(LOL) If it works for you that awesome!

[@KMF3]

@@TheUrbanDomesticDiva why not put the Vaseline on before you do your design

[@elenacruz3635]

What is the Quikrete recipe for one stone?

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Oo, tricky question. It depends on size of your mold. For my big molds that are the oil drip pans fro the dollar store, I would say a 1/4 of a bag? Or you can buy a small canister of quickcrete versus the heavy bags (which I hate carrying in and out of the car).

[@aloeveradownunder]

Ive got some seconds ( chipped) turkish tiles. This project would be perfect. I also have heaps of Moroccan looking bowls , chipped and cracked ; suitable for this project

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

sounds gorgeous! I have tile envy.

[@SilentNoMore64]

I use contac paper to hold the ceramic pieces in place while adding the cement. I'm just sharing an idea.

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Yes! In the beginning, you may have missed, I use clear contact paper upside down on the bottom. It works great with smaller, flat pieces. For broken plates, it's harder, because the pieces are not flat and don't stick so well. But the contact paper also makes it easy to pop out the stepping stone, and release it. Great tip! Thanks for sharing.

[@KMF3]

That first one looks very crumbly

[@TheUrbanDomesticDiva]

Yes, we did not mix the cement well enough and the first one was crumbly. You have to get that water mixed in well. It has held up though, even with the weather extremes.