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Making 3D Garden Stones

Making 3D Garden Stones
Our Gardens are a place of therapy, solitude, a place where we can express our gardening skills, get our thoughts together and enjoy planting anything that suits our fancy. It is like our outdoor bedroom or office that is a soothing place to go to.

So why shouldn't we decorate these personal, sometimes private places as we do those same places in our homes to suit our liking?

I enjoy making stepping stones for my garden and have done many different styles from animals, to glow in the dark and even Memorial Stones for loved ones and pets. They are as useful as they are decorative and not too hard to make.

They do require o few days to make because of drying times but otherwise its a project you can involve the whole family, including kids around 6 years old and up.
 
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Step 1Gather Materials

Gather Materials
You will need:

Cement Mix (I used 7 lbs. for this project)
Cement Colorant, optional
A Mold
Mosaic Bits or Broken Glass Pieces
Glue
Old Sponges
Old Bucket
Stirring Sticks or an old wooden spoon
Craft Sticks
Paper (disposable bowl)
Flat Head Screwdriver
Rubber Gloves if using a colorant
Eye Protection (Because of Dust)
Breathing Protection (Because of Dust)
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33 comments
Aug 11, 2011. 1:14 PMdiamar79 says:
I looove frogs and this is very creative, but it ways it reminds me of the strange pipa or surinam toad bc all the pieces are places only on the back..lol..still very
nice;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCayq56wHSA
Aug 11, 2011. 8:11 AMspark master says:
looks nice, wear rubber gloves even if you do not use colorant, plaster AND cement are caustic and can blister or cause skin issues, I know this from experience.

he dust if exposure is once and never repeated and not a lot is not good but if you are workig close (you are) and working with kids, (maybe) it is both caustic and contriutes to silicosis, think emphazema, or lining your lungs with a coat of hard thin cement.

safety precautions always, not because a "nanny govermental agency" tells you to, but because it may keep you from painful issues, sickness or maybe bindness and death.

cheap cake pans and chocolate molds as well a sand box molds work great. Generic pam or just oily rag using cheap crappy tasting canola oil will work as a release agent. Used Motor oil is a no no, it smells has metals nasty chemicals in it, fresh motor oil is too expensive.(for me)

this is one of the two instructables that is getting me to make something, I am carving it now.....
Feb 16, 2010. 9:33 AMjudy8645 says:
I loved it and am eager to make these but where can I get this particular mold ?
Aug 8, 2009. 5:46 AMDebsCrochet says:
That's so cute
Jul 27, 2009. 1:08 PMDeewheat says:
These are really cute. I may have to try this!
Jul 22, 2009. 4:54 PMim4tooele says:
Cute frog, Debra.
Jul 22, 2009. 4:47 PMhsmomof2 says:
The frog is cute! My son wants to make one.
Jul 20, 2009. 6:51 AMjuvinurse says:
This is a cutie!
Jul 20, 2009. 3:35 PMchauntee2 says:
Super cute!
Jul 20, 2009. 7:17 PMvivianar says:
Nice work :)
Jun 23, 2009. 1:34 PMaunty says:
Thats very nice.
Jun 22, 2009. 1:39 PMBratillia says:
This is cool.
Jun 20, 2009. 7:05 AM{tauney} says:
My mum's doing things like this right now...she bought a Green Man mold somewhere and made me a pair of sweet book-ends, not to mention that she's made plant markers for the gardens of everyone she knows...
Jun 20, 2009. 10:01 AM{tauney} says:
She bought them from Lee Valley tools--

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=50900&cat=2,43319,33281&ap=1

I think they come with cement dye, too, which makes things a little more interesting!
Jun 21, 2009. 7:01 AM{tauney} says:
Haha! you're very welcome--glad I could contribute to your hobby! Enjoy!
Jun 17, 2009. 9:47 AMBettyBoop1 says:
This is just so cute, I would love several of these in my garden
Jun 14, 2009. 4:34 AMAmazingGracie says:
He is so cute! I like your dragonfly one too. These are really nice.
Jun 14, 2009. 4:23 AMCAWildWoman says:
This one is so cute. You have so many talents.
Jun 10, 2009. 12:50 PMDIYDragon says:
Very nice, but where did you get that mold you used for the stones? I rather like the little froggy. : 3
Jun 10, 2009. 10:29 AMbethmez says:
Looks very nice - have a friend who really likes frogs. Started whenever we were around a pond on the golf course - they sing (croak or whatever) to her.

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Author:DebH57
I am 51 and hail from sunny Southern California but originate from back east. I am a Web Designer by trade and own a small Web Design Service and a few online stores around the net and enjoy meetin...
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