How to Make Custom Pavers and Stepping Stones for Your Garden

Landscaping pavers are absolutely the most in thing for gardens right now. They come in all shapes and sizes and many different colors to give you almost any look you want in your garden.

Being able to afford them is another thing entirely! With prices up to five dollars per paver it can cost a fortune for even a small project.

The good news is that you can buy molds and make your own pavers in almost any shape imaginable. By making your own concrete pavers you can get a truly custom design at a fraction of the cost of buying ready made landscaping pavers from places like Lowe's or Home Depot

• You can also use candy molds, candle molds, and soap molds for smaller items and embellishments.
• What about writing in the wet cement to make memorial stepping stones, adding poetry or Bible verses, or some other special message?
• Items like leaves can be pressed into the cement to be preserved forever.

Whatever your mind can imagine you can create in your own custom stepping stone or paver.

Choose a clear day to make your pavers.

You will need more than one mold because it will take time for each paver to set. Making a large amount of custom paver can take a long time if you only have one mold. Keep this in mind.

Materials you will need are:

• Mold release spray
• Pigment
• Concrete
• Plastic

Apply the mold release to the concrete molds. Mix the desired pigment into your concrete mixture according to directions. Scoop the wet concrete into the paver mold, filling the mold to the top. For the pavers to be durable they should be at least two inches thick. Get the air bubbles out of the concrete by shaking the mold to release any trapped air. You can tap the mold gently on a hard surface as well. This is very similar to getting the air bubbles out of a cake batter.

Cover the mold with plastic to keep out insects and debris and place in a shaded spot. Allow the pavers to rest, undisturbed for a full 24 hours. Remove them, wrap in plastic, and continue to cure for at least two weeks. Apply sealer to your creation and install as desired.

With this method you can also make your own stepping stones. You will need:

• A square frame or mold
• Mold release spray
• An embellishment -handprint, seashell, or basically anything to press into the wet concrete to make a design

If you want to use an embellishment just press into the molded concrete while it is still wet to leave an impression. You can also add things to the concrete at this time:Marbles River rock Flat pieces of broken pottery Just use your imagination.

You can also make special shapes if you are handy with a jigsaw.

You will want to make sure the mold is at least two inches thick. You can do this by cutting the outline of your desired shape out of ½ inch thick plywood.

1. Make four exact copies and glue them together using strong wood glue.

2. Clamp tightly until dry.

3. Glue a bottom to the frame in the same way and allow to dry thoroughly.

4. Use as you would any mold.

Creating a space all your own with personalized touches like pavers and stepping stones is a great summer project that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Not only does great landscaping give your home curb appeal but it can increase the value quite alot. By using custom landscaping pavers that you make yourself you will add visual interest to your garden at a fraction of the cost of professional landscaping.

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