Country Crafts - Patio/Garden Stones

by Catherine Pulsifer
Stress Less Country - a lifestyle change

Patio/Garden stones is a great project to do with children. Plus, the stones make great additions to your yard or your garden. They are very simple to make, and you can decorate as you please.

First buy a bag of cement mix (usually costs around $5.00).

Build a form to pore your cement in...we use a wooden form. Make a square or rectangle form by hammering old boards together.

Or you can dig a hole in sand, shape it the way you want your stone to look, and then pour your cement.

Mix up your cement mix and then simply pour it into your form.

Let the cement sit for an hour or so and before it hardens, decorate. Children love to put their hand prints in it. You can also use twigs and mark the year it was made. Or, you can use some favorite rocks or marbles, just stick them in the concrete. You can also use a leaf, press it into the concrete and leave, once it dries the leaf will come out and you will have an impression of a leaf in your stone.

Water the stone a few times so it doesn't dry to fast and crack.

Then let sit for at least 24 - 48 hours.

Then remove the stone from your form, or your sand hole, and you have a home made patio/garden stone!

About the Author:
Stress Less Country - a lifestyle change.
http://www.stresslesscountry.com
A collection of articles, thoughts, quotes, and stories on stress, simplicity, gardening, reduce, recycle & reuse and country crafts!
© 2004 Byron & Catherine Pulsifer