Create your own DIY Garden Stones using pieces of china, store-bought gems, rocks, and more! They’re the perfect way to decorate your garden area! This step-by-step tutorial will walk you through the easy DIY process!
*UPDATE* This tutorial was originally posted April 2013 and has been updated with new pictures, more detailed instructions, and a video!
These fun DIY Stepping Stones were made after a sad day of having grandma’s china break when the box carrying it got dropped. Initially, I was devastated! But quickly I got the inspiration that I could incorporate the beautiful china pieces into some Beautiful Garden Stones for our backyard and get to see them daily, honor her memory and put a smile on my face!
This is a great project for beginner DIY’s and gives you a lot of freedom to customize them to look exactly like you want!
*DISCLAIMER* I would not recommend using the broken china garden stones as actual stepping stones since the teacup pieces are not perfectly flat. I would not want anyone to get cut on them. However, I love having these in my garden as a decorative element.
HOW TO MAKE DIY GARDEN STONES
Most of the items needed can be purchased at your local hardware store or online!
Items Needed:
- Stepping Stone Mold
- Mortar Mix – I suggest buying this local, but I linked it for reference.
- China Cups
- Marbles or Mosaic Tiles
- Cooking Spray
Directions:
MIX AND POUR THE GARDEN STONE
Mix the Mortar Mix following the instructions on the bag. Make sure it is mixed really good!
Take your DIY garden stone mold and spray it with cooking spray. This is a trick I learned from a friend and just helps the hardened stone release from the mold easier.
Add the mix to the mold, leaving about ¼″ space at the top. Smooth out the mixture using a large spoon or spatula and shake or tap the mold to ensure there are no bubbles in the mixture!
BREAK THE CHINA INTO SMALLER PIECES
If you are going to be putting china in your garden stones, then follow these instructions:
Whether you’re using china you have or china you bought, you need to break up the teacups into a lot of different pieces! The safe way to do that is to fold the piece of china into a thick dish towel and use a hammer to break it into smaller pieces.
Remember to break them in a variety of shapes and sizes!
ADD OBJECTS TO THE DIY GARDEN STONES
Now it’s time to add your broken china, Mosaic Tiles, or handprints to your garden stones.
Just push the pieces (china, tiles or marbles) down with nice even pressure until it sinks into the cement. Sometimes I needed pieces to fit but didn’t have anything, so I took a bigger piece and wrapped it in a thick towel and then hit it with a hammer until it cracked as big as I wanted it.
During this process, sometimes the water from the cement would come to the top and get in the way of being able to put the little pieces in. When this happened, I just placed a paper towel over the top and let it soak up the water.
ALLOW DIY GARDEN STONES TO SET
The drying time will depend on the air temperatures the stones are in. I would give them 24-48 hours to be safe. Be careful as you remove the stone from the mold ensuring that it seems all the way dry!
WHAT KIND OF MIX SHOULD I USE TO MAKE STEPPING STONES?
I suggest using Mortar Mix, which is a sand-mix concrete. It is a much smoother mix and allows you to put items like china, gems, handprints, and more in it.
A gravel-mix concretes will give you a pebbly surface that is generally more used for sidewalks, patios, etc. The gravel mix concrete will not dry as smooth and it will be hard to make imprints in it and add objects.
You can also purchase stepping stone kits that will dry smooth, but in my opinion, they are not worth the cost and you only get one stone from it.
HOW MANY STEPPING STONES CAN I MAKE WITH A BAG OF MORTAR MIX?
A 60-pound bag of Mortar Mix should be enough to cast approx 3 to 4 stones, depending on their size.
Looking for some other fun DIY for your garden? Check these out!
DIY STEPPING STONES
Materials
- Stepping Stone Mold
- Mortar Mix
- China Cups
- Marbles (optional)
- Mosaic Tiles (optional)
- Cooking Spray
Instructions
MIX AND POUR THE GARDEN STONE
- Mix the Mortar Mix following the instructions on the bag. Make sure it is mixed really good!Take your stepping stone mold and spray it with cooking spray. This is a trick I learned from a friend and just helps the hardened stone release from the mold easier.
- Add the mix to the mold, leaving about ¼" space at the top. Smooth out the mixture using a large spoon or spatula and shake or tap the mold to ensure there are no bubbles in the mixture!
BREAK THE CHINA INTO SMALLER PIECES
- Whether you're using china you have or china you bought, you need to break up the teacups into a lot of different pieces! The safe way to do that is to fold the piece of china into a thick dish towel and use a hammer to break it into smaller pieces.
- Remember to break them in a variety of shapes and sizes!
ADD OBJECTS TO THE GARDEN STONES
- Now it's time to add your broken china, Mosaic Tiles, or handprints to your garden stones.
- Just push the pieces (china, tiles, marbles, or hands) down with nice even pressure until it sinks into the cement. Sometimes I needed pieces to fit but didn’t have anything, so I took a bigger piece and wrapped it in a thick towel and then hit it with a hammer until it cracked as big as I wanted it.
- During this process, sometimes the water from the cement would come to the top and get in the way of being able to put the little pieces in. When this happened, I just placed a paper towel over the top and let it soak up the water.
ALLOW STONES TO SET
- The drying time will depend on the air temperatures the stones are in. I would give them 24-48 hours to be safe. Be careful as you remove the stone from the mold ensuring that it seems all the way dry!
Video
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If this post was helpful, I’d LOVE you to pin this fun project! Have a great day!
Elaine
Ms Lisa,
I stumbled across your website in search of a way to clean the stone my niece did with her children for my parents about 20 years ago. I wanted you to know your spot on with your directions. Being in the quandary I’m currently experiencing, may I suggest you and your readers seal the stone with the same type of sealer that is used on concrete driveways. Another trick to release forms besides spray can oil, is to use any oil and a paper towel or rag. Back in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, the concrete guys would slap on a thin coating of shortening and repurposed the lumber or metal forms for the next job. (savings went to the customer) Oil and water don’t mix explained the old to me back then gentleman LOL. Guess I’ll wait until I clean our driveway and do the stone at the same time. Thanks again for an excellent tutorial!
Pam Dana
Thank you so much for the tips!! I really appreciate it!
Eden
These are so fun to make and I love having a little garden keepsake with the kiddos prints. Thanks for this great tutorial!
Lily
Oh my goodness I remember we used to make these in school when I was in elementary school, they bring back so many memories. These will be so much fun to decorate with kids using marbles and all kinds of stuff, thanks for the cool summer idea.
Trang
I love this idea! I’ve never seen one using old chinaware but I especially love the idea of using my son’s handprint. We’re actually giving our backyard a makeover.
Dawn
I am looking for a project to do something with my grandmothers pieces. I have a few urns and some tea cups. No one in my family wants my things, so this may be a way to repurpose them into something more usable!
Pam Dana
Good luck! They really are so beautiful and I love seeing them in my backyard!
Donna
Your garden stone is beautiful. I’ve not ever done anything with cement. Was wondering about the type of try you used?
Pam Dana
Use Mortar Mix!! It’s the best!
Karla Harney Thompson
Beautiful! Was looking for new ideas when I came across your blog! I will try this…i ways have a fee extra dishes around! Lol
Elsie Warner
What did you lay in the pan before pouring the cement? I was curious about the white paper looking thing around the cake pan and cement? This is beautiful
Betty Lofton
Try this on a bird bath. Probably have to glue on and stain or something. I’ve see heavy plastic bird baths may be easier to do. You could do flower pots or paint some to match.
Pam Dana
All such great ideas!
Jeanett
Can they be left out in my garden in the winter or do i need to take them out each year?
Bonnie
Couldnt you put pieces in bottom then fill with cement, let.dry,.turn over and WASH off with water
Sharon
Lisa did you need a special mold to make the turtle? I love it the most and also have my mother in laws broken dishes.
Pam
So funny, this is the second post I have seen about stepping stones…Great job. I really like that.
Ann Campbell
I havve been experimenting with making stepping stones out of some precious old Wedgewood china that I loved, but unfortunately, I let my daughter take it to her college apartment and several pieces got broken! My question is this….I cannot lift the 50 lb. bags of Quikrete , therefore, I am wondering if their is another kind of cement that I could use that is lighter in color. I’ve seen small boxes of something in Hobby Lobby, but not sure if that’s durable enough. I don’t walk on my stepping stones…just display them in my flower bed.
Marly
What a neat idea!!going to try this ..
Judi
Why would you show us how to make this crockery stepping stone, if you then recommend we not make it because of sharp edges? Makes no sense.
Pam Dana
I’m sorry you’re upset. I explained that these were made for decorative stepping stones. I’m merely suggesting not to use them as actual stepping stones, unless you check to make sure there are no sharp edges. You may do whatever you please though.
Nancy Kent
Hi, what did you use as a mold for the broken china stepping stone. Also, did you coat it with anything? The coating would make it safer I would think; however, I’ve never done this but would love to try. Thank you. Nancy
Susan Case
I would seal these with grout, just as you would you would with ceramic tile. But first, I would try to score pieces of the China with a Dremel saw to maybe have a little more control over the shapes & sizes of the pieces. I would make sure there was at least 1/3 of an inch between the pieces of china. I would glue the pieces of china to the cement stepping stone with the same adhesive you would use for tile (following the directions of the tile adhesive just as you would for tile). Then follow with grout (following the directions of the grout of choice) in the color of choice, as well as a grout sealer.
Pam Dana
Great tips!
Jackie
I live in Wisconsin and things freeze solid during the winter. I have made a stepping stone before out of stained glass and it disintegrated in about 3 years. Is there a way to make this freeze proof?
Thanks!
Pam Dana
I honesty can’t say! We don’t have that cold of winters where I am at! Sorry I can’t be more help!
Angela
I live in Ohio, and have some pretty cold, freezing Temps too. We use driveway sealer on the stepping stones (both top and bottom). That seems to make ours last at least a couple years longer.
Pam
Beautiful, totally beautiful. You still have the teacups only in pieces but you will be able to enjoy them each time you go out to the garden. Very nice.
Sylvia
I haven’t tried this yet, but wondering if you could put the pieces in first ( obviously won’t work for impressions, though) before pouring in the mortar mix?
Pam Dana
Possibly. I just wanted to use as few as possible. I feel like if you put them in first, a lot of them would just end up hidden in the mortar mix. So, I liked the idea of just putting them more on the top layer!
Julie
That is such a WONDERFUL idea. Thanks!
Pam Dana
You’re so welcome! Happy New Year!
Christine Poskus
If I used cake pans should i coat the pans with something ???
Julie Bauer
Love it! But where do you get the ‘tray’s from that you lay the cement in?
Alice
Very nice, I have broken China I have been saving. I will be making steping stones.
Bekah
This is so helpful! My sister accidentally smashed one of the mug’s that belonged to my late aunt and my mom threw it out when she was so upset. I have had the pieces secretly kept in my room for a year now, thanks!
Justcuz
So pretty and I like how you incorporated the tea cup handles.
lisaloving
Where do you get the molds?
Stephanie Ann Wilhite
i absolutely love this idea and will be trying this out this coming Spring!
Stephanie Ann Wilhite
i absolutely love this idea and will be trying this out this coming Spring!
Loretta Wilson
I just ran across this pin. I was trying to cut the bottom off a blue wine bottle and it didn’t work. So now I have a stepping stone drying in the kitchen. Thank you for a great idea!
rachel
I’m wondering if this could be used as a trivet for hot pans or dishes in the kitchen and dining. Maybe with some felt on the bottom to protect counters and furniture.
Lisa
The cement is kind of rough and they are really heavy.
Tamara Reyna
I had my grandmothers small teacups my mom called them something that sounds like demi tossy cups and, some regular sized ones as well. Some of them were very valuable, the cups were the only thing of hers I had. Well my daughter’s drunk freind fell into the shelf I had them on and broke everyone of them! I’m not materialistic and, only 3 things I own would hurt me to lose those cups were one of the 3. I have had them in a box for about 10 years now. I love your stepping stone idea. I was wanting to make a tabletop embedded with them but I want it so have a smooth finish. do you have any ideas on that? I have also been considering making jewelery out of some of the peices. I need to figure out how to smooth the edges first though.I thought I was the only one in the world with a box of boken teacups. LOL
Sudbury 2013
you can file the edges smooth with fine grit sand paper and then finish with a fine emery board
Teresa
Something you might consider is putting them inside a tray, you could buy one at a craft store or home goods store or even a second hand store. I love those. If you put your pieces of broken china in the tray, placing them as you would like them, just as they are placed above only with no cement. After you are happy with the layout cover them with clear epoxy/resin that you can get at a craft store, perhaps even an hardware store. When it hardens it will be clear and slightly shiny like water. You will be able to see your beautiful mosaic of pieces but it will be smooth on top. A great keepsake.
Shelia
They were probably Demitasse cups. A French word for half cup. I’ve got some demitasse spoons.
Vicki Starcher
There is a BobVilla idea for making a mosiac tabletop. Maybe that will help you.
Fishgal
You can use a rock Tumblr to smooth the pieces
Pam Dana
Great suggestion!
Babbs Harris
I don’t cook much, but I found some very nice silicone cake pans at the salvation army. I bought them for $1.00 each. I bought them just for this project.
Babbs Harris
I have many broken antique tea cups. compliments of two rambunctious boys 30 years ago. I couldn’t throw them away either. now I will have an ahhh moment. thanks.
Cherie
I used inexpensive thin plastic trays that are made to put under plants. They come in different sizes. 12 inch ones were about $1.50. They are reusable to some extent and recyclable if they break. Putting a circle of window screen or hardware cloth about halfway up will strengthen the cement. I used Quikcrete.
Evelyn Foley
Would I have to line the cake pan before putting in the cement, so it comes out easily?
Lisa
I am not sure. I used a flexible plastic pan. If you were using a cake pan I would probably line it.
Justcuz
I made some wooden molds to make cement blocks once. You can use a release spray. I just used vegetable oil. Make sure you oil the entire inside of the pan, bottom and sides.
Jev Marshall
need details please. TRAY – what kind of tray/ etc.
Kathlyn Black
Use old cake pans
tamera
where do you get the stepping stone cement and does the tray come with it….I have some old dishes i would love to refurbish and this is a great idea…..
Sue B
Go to Michael’s – they will have stepping stone kits – the tray and some cement and decorations
… but we made these using fast setting concrete from the hardware store,and 9″ aluminum cake pans for the trays – we did this as a craft with 15 or so kids,(used stones and $ store decorations) 🙂
Hoko Le
I might break my moms tea cups for this, I never liked them anyway, but I do like stepping stones! Who wants to step on grass over having tea all day?!
Summer Day
beautiful!!
Michele Fowler
Could also make them to hang on a plain wall.
Pam Chan
Hi, what is garden stone cement? We dont have such a thing in the UK. Does it have another name? Thanks.
johnlisa02
Regular cement will work.
Pam Chan
thanks a lot
Sue B.
use fast setting concrete, it will dry faster, and have a finer grain…
Pam Chan
thanks
Kathlyn Black
Portland cement
Toni
Love this idea, I have a big box of these cups I never use, and looks like a fun project, thank you for the inspiration!
Sheila Kresich-Truchon
What did you use for a mold?
johnlisa02
I used a tray that came in a kids stepping stone kit.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GMYRO6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001GMYRO6&linkCode=as2&tag=ovthbimo0b-20
Pam
Beautiful!! What a great way to keep the china.
Candy Fortner
You can also repurpose an old trash can lid, creating a larger masterpiece which can be sat upon a tri-table of legs after you clear coat it. You can also make it more concave and use it as a beautiful birdbath, sunk slightly in the garden, nestled amongst the leaves and flowers, as treat for the wildlife to find
eileen
What a great way to hand down family memories. Need to scrapbook the process and the garden resting place. Love it
Sheila
Just wondering if you sealed it with anything? Lovely !
johnlisa02
Nope!
gwendle
Awesome idea very beautiful.
Deanna
find a thrift store or garage sales, etc. where they sell odd pieces of china (cheap)… don’t break a perfectly good piece of your own! LOL
Elizabeth
Agreed!
Yvonne Eklund Layton
I like this, I am looking for stepping stone Ideas for my boulevard.
Jamsoup
Those were exquisite crockery. So terribly sad.
Marietta
Wondering if you coudn’t also use it as a picture handing it with a plate hanger? Place in a living room or kitchen. For those who live in apts or move around alot – a portable option! Very pretty. Thanks for posting!
Angela
Unless you pour the mix very thin, it would be very heavy.
Yasiris
Nice!!!
Thea
I love it ♥
Michaela
One thought (to make them actual stepping stones) would be to encase them in acrylic like they do with custom tables.
Mary Vance Nasvik
Michaela, that was my thought, too!
Kathlyn Black
That may cause them to be over slippery when wet.
Ilona Szentes
To prevent them from being slippery when wet sprinkle a small amount of sand evenly over the acrylic when still tacky to embed them & slippery problem is solved ..
Angela
I love that idea!
Rachel
This is lovely 🙂
Tricia Selbie
Oh my!!! This is deja vu. My husband did the same thing to teacups & saucers that his Mother had given me. I saved them too. Now I’ll go from OOPS to AHHH! Thank you for posting…
Natalie
Lisa, the tray you are using, is it part of a commercially available standard stepping stone kit? Or did you make it yourself?
Lisa
I saved the tray from when I did my kids hand prints. I think the kits are about $15 at Michaels and it has the tray and cement and makes 2 stones.
Kathlyn Black
use old cake pans
Karen E.
Do you the cement dry in the cake pan, or take it out after you have placed the broken dishes?
Lisa
You have to let it dry in the dish
Lisa
I’m not sure. Pam does our packs but I will let her know you are interested in one!
Andrea Celesia
🙂
Andrea Celesia
Love it Lisa! And I love your printables packs 🙂 Are you doing an Earth Day related one by any chance?
Kirstylee Cassidy
What an amazing way to turn something devastating into something beautiful. Those stepping stones will be so special!
Vickie
That’s a fantastic idea- and it turned out beautifully. I may have to go smash some china!