How to make a stepping stone mosaic

Mosaic Stepping Stones are a wonderful mosaic project, suitable for both beginners and experienced mosaicists alike. There are essentially two different techniques you can use make a stepping stone which we will detail here.

When making a stepping stone there are a few things you need to be aware of first:

Covering the entire surface in glass will more than likely result in a slippery surface when wet. You need to leave space in between the tiles for grout or cement.
Be careful when laying your tiles that you don't leave any sharp edges exposed. Lay your tiles carefully ensuring that they are positioned horizontally. Sharp tile edges and feet don't mix.
Choose your materials carefully. Glass tiles aren't porous so water can't penetrate them, freeze and crack this makes them a good choice. If you are using ceramic tiles make sure they are frost resistant. The softer the ceramic tile, the more susceptible it will be to frost damage.

The Two Methods

1. Using a Pre-Cast Base

Mosaics stepping stone can be made by using a cement paver purchased from a garden centre. With this method you can either adhere the tiles with a cement based adhesive, let dry and grout or lay a base of cement on the top and press your tiles into the cement. This method is known as the direct method and is quite easy to master.

If you would like detailed project instructions using this method, just click on this link.

2. Making your own Base

This method requires you to cast the stepping stone base out of cement. Once the base is cast the tiles are either pressed directly into the wet cement or the tiles are adhered to contact paper with the cement being poured over the top of them.

To make the base you will need something to cast your stepping stone in which could include: cake tins, a box lined with plastic or a bucket cut down in size. Whatever mold you use you will need to coat it with vaseline or cooking spray, lubricating it enough so that the cement base can be removed.

If you would like more detailed instructions on creating a stepping stone using this method just click here.

What to use to make mosaic stepping stones?

What kind of concrete do you use for mosaic stepping stones?

A good general-purpose sand-mix concrete is probably the best choice. An 80-pound bag should be enough to cast 5 to 6 stones, depending on their size. The texture is fine enough to allow you to embed decorative glass or pebbles, and it can easily accept imprints.