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Re: [SG] concrete forms

Hello everyone:

Since several of you "Shadegardeners" expressed interest in a copy of
Rebecca's instructions for making stepping stones, I have typed it
out and will send it through SHADEGARDENS. I hope it goes through in
readable fashion. I work in 'WORD' and then send, so I never know how
it looks when transmitted. You can let me know how it prints out, if
you want to.

Rebecca's Garden - personalize your walkway . . .make your own
stepping stones.

YOU WILL NEED:

Quickrete*(sand topping)-mortar color-petroleum jelly or cooking
spray - water (1 cup/6 cups mix)-pie tin (and/or any form you can
come up with that suits your fancy) - rubber gloves - face mask -
straight edge - large spoon or stick to mix - decorations e.g.
Flowers, leaves, shrubs, small tiles, broken china (Forrest's note
let your imagination run wild on this. Rebecca also had broken glass
available at the demonstration, although she does not mention it here.
)

1. Start with a pie tin (or mold of your choosing). Be sure the tin
has a depth of about 2 inches. (Your finished stepping stone should
be between 1.5 and 2 inches to bear weight without cracking) Coat the
inside of your mold with petroleum jelly or cooking spray and put it
aside for now.

2. You can either leave your stepping stone gray or go for that extra
touch and add some color. Take your mortar color and mix it into the
water. Keep adding until you get a nice rich color.

3. SAFETY - put on your face mask! - Pour 6-8 cups of Quickrete into
your bucket and gradually add the colored water until the mixture has
the consistency of cookie dough. (You may make as much Quickrete as
you want, but remember the ratio is 1 cup water/6 cups Quickrete)

4. Pour the concrete mixture into the pie tin so that the tin is
completely filled. You may want to use a straight edge to smooth over
the top. Gently bang the pie tin against the table top to release air
bubbles.

5. Now for the personality part.....Add the decorations of your
choice. Go into the garden and find some shrubs, leaves or flowers.
Keep in mind that something with density works best. Gently press
your decorations into the top of the stepping stone. If you prefer,
you can also use small tiles or pieces of broken china.

6. Let the stone set for 24 hours. Carefully peel off any leaves or
flowers. If you can't get all the leaf or flower out, you can try
removing with a wire brush, or once outside, mother nature will take
care of decomposing leftovers. (Of course, leave your tiles or china
in the stone)

NOW you are ready to incorporate the stepping stones in your garden.
Don't forget, it makes a great gift idea too!

For questions about Quickrete call: 1-800-282-5828

Rebecca's web site can be viewed at www.rebeccasgarden.com. I logged
on but did not find these particular instructions but I was tired and
gave up. They might be there. Rebecca was a very interesting speaker
and we enjoyed her demonstration very much. Audience participation
made it even more "down to earth". A plug for Symphony In Bloom - If
you live within driving distance of Rock Island, Illinois, you really
owe it to your self to attend this marvelous "Breath of Spring" in
mid-March. Our own Carolyn Hamilton is deeply involved in this
spectacular production. The only negative about it is that we always
get too anxious to start our gardens and it is easy to buy plants too
soon and have to keep them inside.

A suggestion - Sharing your experiences with making these stones
would be of interested to all of us, I should think. Ideas for spray,
like Tamara mentioned (WD-40), types of containers for molds,
successes with other types of cement mixes, and decorations. This
might a be good, short term, topic for the SHADEGARDENS list.

As mentioned in a previous note, I am interested in taking a class in
cut glass for a Winter project. I've seen stepping stones that were
very professional looking that sported Hosta leaf and flower designs.
Since we are primarily Hosta growers, stepping stones of various leaf
shapes, flowers, and variegations would be a marvelous addition to
our gardens.

Happy gardening (and stepping stone making)

Forrest G. Johnson
Davenport, IA z5a
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