For each stepping stone :
• Fill a pie plate 1 / 3 full of concrete , place a round of wire on top , and fill the rest of the way with concrete . Press your decorative pieces into the wet concrete , making sure no sharp edges , if any , are exposed .
• After the concrete is thoroughly dry , pour some of the lacquer onto the top of the pie plate , and , using the roller , smooth it to preserve the surface .
• When the lacquer is dry , tear away the aluminum pie plate and enjoy your pretty stepping stone .
• I saw a suggestion to paint rocks and stones with glow-inthe-dark paint for walkways ; this idea could also be used for rocks and stones embedded in stepping stones .
10 . An old ladder can be used as a trellis .
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash
8 . Turn tree stumps into planters , seating , or “ fairy ” houses .
9 . Create stepping stones from broken crockery , colored glass , marbles , buttons , stones and pebbles , bottle caps , you name it ! Besides the decorative items , you will need aluminum pie plates ; mesh wire ( such as chicken wire ) cut to fit each pie plate to reinforce the concrete ; a bag of quick concrete ; a can of concrete and masonry lacquer ( this can be found at hardware stores ); and a roller .
11 . You can turn an old wire wastepaper basket upside down to use as a garden cloche to keep birds , and small animals out . You might want to nail or glue something ( such as a large bead or upright metal ring ) on top to use as handle to lift it .
12 . Small old drawers can be filled with seeds and used as bird feeders .
13 . An old sink with the drain stopped up or a large serving-sized salad bowl can serve as a bird bath .
14 . A compost bin can be made from an old rubber trash can . Compost helps enrich your garden soil .
A can with wheels is best , so it can be moved .
18 Summer 2023 | Thomasville Scene