Dragonfly Mosaic Stepping Stone

I am a student who enjoys making art so this project was really fun. If you are looking for some new yard art, mosaic stepping stones are the perfect addition to your garden! These concrete mosaic stepping stones are beautiful and not that hard to make. They can be used as decoration or as a stepping stone.

1. Concrete Mix (Quickrete works great)
2. Cardboard
3. Pieces of glass or tiles
4. Glass or tile cutter
5. Stepping stone mold
6. Trowel
7. A scrubber with hard bristles
8. Gloves
9. Safety goggles

The first step in creating the mosaic is to design it. In my opinion, this is the most fun part of the process. The dragonfly design doesn't have to be complicated. This is where you can let your creativity flow! I first used multi-colored glass tiles to create the dragonfly body. I then created the border with a matching color scheme. It is best if you create the design on a piece of cardboard or a cardboard box so you can move it. You can use the glass cutter to cut the glass. Be sure to where gloves and safety goggles when cutting them.

This is probably the hardest step. Once you've created your design, it's time to put it in cement. Mix the concrete according to the package instructions. You don't want it to be too dry or too watery. It should have the consistency of oatmeal. Next get your mold and put it on a cardboard to prevent your workspace from getting concrete on it just in case some spills out. Add the concrete to the mold and use a trowel to smooth it out to create an even surface. Afterwards, take your design from the cardboard, piece by piece, and lay it in the cement in the same pattern. Once it is all in, use the trowel to pat it flush with the concrete. The tiles should be submerged and only parts of the surface are visible. It's okay if concrete gets on the tiles because you can wash it off later.

Before doing anything else, you have to let the cement dry. I find that two days is the best curing time. When it is dry, you can take it out of the mold. Thoroughly wet the stone with water and use a hard bristled brush to rub off all the excess cement from the design. Continue washing and brushing the stone until the original design is all visible. Now let the stone dry and then you are done! You can display it anywhere in your yard or even in your house. Just note that it will take a few weeks to completely cure, so don't be rough with it. Also remember that it is heavy and will break if dropped. Now you can relax and enjoy your new piece of art!