Making a Stepping Stone With Thrifted Plates
Winter is over, the ground has thawed, and the garden centers are full of beautiful plants and flowers. Let me show you how to create beautiful stepping stones to add a whimsical, charming touch to your garden.
Welcome to the 'Do It Over' Designers blog hop. We are a group of bloggers who love to recycle/upcycle/DIY. I'm happy to host this hop and I hope you'll visit everyone to see what they have to share with you. Our theme this month is "For the Garden" and I've challenged the team to 'do over' something that would be perfect for the garden. Please visit to see everyone's creativity. The links will be listed at the end of this post.
Here's what you'll need to make a stepping stone:
- Plates. I find mine at yard/estate sales.
- Disposable cake pans.
- Tile nippers. I really like the wheeled ones.
- Safety Goggles. We 're cutting plates and glass pieces can fly. Protect your eyes.
- Petroleum jelly
- Cut Resistant Gloves. Those edges can be sharp - protect your hands.
- Concrete Mix. Not shown
The first thing I did was trace the cake pan on a piece of wood. This way, I had a template for placing my pieces once they were cut.
After donning your safety goggles and gloves, it's time to start cutting your plates with the tile nippers.
I found that sometimes they cut just the way I wanted and sometimes they had a mind of their own...bit of a learning curve, but I persevered!
I did not use the center flower on the plates since the background was white and the edges were cream. They were saved though, for future projects!
Once I had several pieces cut, I started placing them on my template.
I kept moving them around until I had a design that made me happy.
The cake pan was coated with petroleum jelly to prevent the concrete from sticking.
After mixing the concrete, it was put into the cake pan and smoothed with a wide putty knife.
The pieces of broken plate were gently pressed into the concrete.
Once they were in, they were in. I didn't want to start removing pieces and smoothing concrete a second time.
Did I change things up a bit as I went along?
Yes, I did.
Why?
Because that's how I roll!
I made sure each piece was level with the concrete and left it to dry.
After a couple of days, the cake pan was turned upside-down and my stepping stone came right out!
A little sandpaper was used to clean up the edges and my stepping stone was ready for the garden.
Why no picture of it outside?
Well, I just had surgery on my ear and I'm under strict orders - no bending, among other things.
Have no fear, there should be more garden posts in the future and my stepping stone is bound to make an appearance.
As for the ear surgery...that's a story that will have to be told in another post.
Anyway, on to the blog hop!
The rest of the team has some wonderful ideas to share with you and their links are all listed below. Be sure to visit each of them for some unique and inspiring ideas for the garden!
Beautiful Ann! I love that plate, what pretty colors. I'm sure it will look great in your garden. I hope you are feeling well, my friend. Thanks for another fun hop!! 🌹
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim. I fell in love with the flower design when I saw them. This hop is always a pleasure - you know how I love it!
DeleteWhat a stunning stepping stone, once you are fully recovered and are able to install it in the garden it will look gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Julie. Now I want to make more! Of them and create a path!
DeleteI hope you are feeling better Ann, I am wanting to know if this surgery has helped? Love your stepping stone, I will have to look for a cutting wheel, I have a set of dishes I purchased thinking I could remove stains on the plates, it didn't work out so well for me, so I am not using them for their intended use.
ReplyDeleteI am getting better, slowly, and I may not know if the surgery worked for a while. If the temporary patches were any indicator, it should. How lucky to have a whole set of dishes! You can make several stepping stones and create a path!
DeleteYour stepping stone looks absolutely beautiful, Ann! What a fantastic and clever way to upcycle plates! Can't wait to see it in your garden!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gail. This is a project I've been wanting to try for a while and I'm so glad I did. I have a vision of my whole yard full of them!
DeleteI love mosaics using old china. Your stepping stone is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Tania. I'm seeing so many projects in my future!
DeleteI wish you ever success for your ear surgery Ann! Your stepping stone is beautiful; I'm looking forward to seeing it in your garden once you heal :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sara. I'm looking forward to seeing it outside too!
DeleteThis is so cute - what a fun way to use broken china dishes, too. Hope you are feeling better soon!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patti, and guess what? I just broke one of my dishes the other day...more stepping stones in blue!
DeleteWhat a pretty idea, and it turned out great. I just bought some plates similar to this from a market, so this could be my next project.
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for plates the past few months, knowing I wanted to give this a try. It's surprisingly easy!
DeleteWhat an interesting idea for those plates and a perfect garden addition.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cat!
DeleteStunning! Love your plate turned stepping stone!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Nancy!
DeleteAn ingenious idea to create something beautiful and long-lasting!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHow cool is that! I can imagine this being a great way to preserve a sentimental plate that has broken, instead of throwing it away.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! It could be preserved in the garden.
DeleteWhat.a pretty idea. Are the stepping stones sturdy? I guess these are more for the pretty rather than actually stepping stones that are stepped on ritually?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read, they are pretty sturdy. Some people put mesh in the concrete for more strength. I think it may depend on the weather in your area. I'll let you know!
DeleteThat is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joanne.
DeleteWow, I'm amazed at how you've done this. It's lovely! Thank you for sharing this post with us at the Will Blog for Comments #84 linkup.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennifer. It was a fun project!
DeleteThanks for sharing with us, I’m featuring you when the next To Grandma’s House we go link party starts!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Tarah!
DeleteGreat post and tutorial. I've added a link to my recent post on mosaics to this post. (If you would prefer I don't link to your let me know and I would remove it. I'd love to be included in your links for the 'Do It Over' Designers blog hop if possible - It's something up my alley, so to speak. ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jeanne, and a 'shout-out' from another blog is always appreciated.
DeleteAnn, featuring you at SSPS #413!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Melynda.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful! Featuring you at Wednesdays in the Studio!
ReplyDelete