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What are the Different Types of Molds for Stepping Stones?
Molds for stepping stones can be made from several different materials, including plastic, wood, silicon, or cardboard. A mold should be chosen based on the project it will be used for. Thin plastic molds are inexpensive and readily available, making them ideal for small projects. Large-scale projects may require multiple molds, or molds that can easily be re-used.
The most commonly sold molds for stepping stones are made from thin, clear plastic. These molds can be used for either plaster or concrete stepping stones and are available in craft and home improvement stores. Thin plastic molds for stepping stones are usually the type included in kits as well. While the low price of these molds is appealing, they are flimsy and can only be used a few times before they break. These molds are best for beginners or for very small projects.
For simple stepping stones with a lot of impact, silicon baking pans should be used. These are typically designed for cakes, not garden fixtures, but their flat surfaces and flexible natures make them ideal molds for stepping stones. The decorative images on the front add expensive-looking detail without a high ticket price. These molds can be used again and again without breaking. Once silicon molds have been used to make concrete stepping stones, they should no longer be used for baking.
The most durable molds for stepping stones are made from wood. Wood molds have hard wood bottoms, so the molds can be relocated with ease while they are still wet. This type of mold often has removable sides, so removing a completed stepping stone is easy. Wood molds for stepping stones are most useful for large-scale projects or when multiple casts are desired. Wood molds can be handmade or bought in garden and home improvement stores.
Inexpensive molds for stepping stones can be made at home. Any sturdy box can be lined with plastic sheeting and used as a mold. Pizza boxes are particularly useful for making stepping stones. They are the correct size and shape, are readily available, and the cardboard can simply be torn away after use. Used boxes can be recycled or new ones can be purchased for the project from a restaurant supplier.
No matter what molds are used, stepping stones should be poured using fresh concrete or plaster, decorated as desired then allowed to dry. To limit breakage, stones should be completely dry and cured before they are removed from the mold. Color can be added to wet concrete or plaster or painted on after the fact.
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Discussion Comments
Using leftover pizza boxes is a great idea for stepping stone molds. I order carryout pizza at least once a week, and this is a perfect way to recycle those boxes.
I want to make some personalized stepping stones from my garage to the side door of my house. When I looked online there were all kinds of helpful ideas explaining how you can do this.
It sounds like you can't go wrong with it. If you don't like the mold you created, it is easy and inexpensive to just make another one.
Even if they only last a few seasons, you aren't out much money and have had a lot of fun creating your own stepping stones for your yard.
When my cousin and nieces came to stay for the weekend, we made some mosaic stepping stones. You can buy these in a kit or can really save some money and make them yourself.
Since we wanted to make several of them, we ended up making our own. I purchased concrete that would set quickly and spent a little bit more money on an expensive grade. This just made the texture a little bit smoother.
I also found it helpful if I rubbed some petroleum jelly around the mold before pouring the concrete in. This made it much easier when it came time to remove the stone from the mold.
After you pour your concrete, then you can add whatever you like to decorate your stone. We used things like broken tiles, pebbles and marbles.
They were ready to take out of the mold after 2 days and then you can paint them or leave them as they were.
This was a fun project that we look forward to doing again.
@honeybees - What a great idea! I want to place some garden stepping stones in and around my garden and have quite a large area for this.
When I priced some of the stepping stones I saw in the stores, it would have cost me quite a bit of money to buy as many as I wanted.
Making my own stepping stones would save me a lot of money and I never realized how easy this was. The materials are cheap and all it takes is a little bit of time and some creativity.
This gives me a lot of ideas and I can see myself making walkway stepping stones that lead out to the garden area too.
Making your own cement stepping stones is very easy and economical. For my mold I use the lightweight plastic holders you place under plants to protect the surface underneath.
You can buy these almost anywhere and depending on the size you want, most of them are priced under $1.00. These can be used again and again to make as many stones as you need.
I must mix up some concrete with some water and pour into the plastic mold. I have also added some jewels or sea shells to decorate the stones.
These are really more for decoration than stepping on, although it won't hurt them if they are stepped on.
This is also a fun project to work on with kids. It lets them be creative and have a great finished product to keep or give away.
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