Now that I’ve started, I think I could really get into this concrete crafting.  Oh, the possibilities, and what fun to create some unique designs.

Concrete/stone pathways have been on my garden “want list” for a long time. My grands and I have been collecting rocks from our fields for years and there are so many cool ideas on Pinterest.  If only there were more hours in a day.

Anyway, with all the supplies here, I decided to use them again and start making a pathway happen!  I have no idea what the rest of the design will be, but it’s a step in the right direction.  

The stone was poured as in my previous post except the concrete was a little thinner and I smoothed the top. https://glassictouch.com/2023/08/11/concrete-heart-garden-stone-diy/. 

I still have a thing for rocks, so I scooped up a bucket of them and gave them a quick wash and rinse. When they were dry, I started layering and gluing them into the heart shape with E6000, trying to keep them level with the heart edge.  Sometimes tape was used to hold a glued rock in place to dry and then I filled in under it. Let glue dry a couple days.

The heart opening was taped off before grouting with an indoor/outdoor sanded grout. After a couple hours, the tape was removed and any unwanted grout was scraped away to make a clean line around the edge of the heart.  The grout was left to cure for 7 days before sealing the entire stone with grout sealer. I waited another week before putting it outside. (I do plan on covering this stone during the winter to protect it from ice.)

I won’t be making anymore of these large hearts for my garden, but plan on using the wooden box form several more times.  My garden is pretty good sized, so a few large shapes will help fill in areas more quickly.  I think I’ve already decided where my new stone will go, but don’t want to lock myself into anything until I figure out what I would like to put around it.  I have several ideas whirring in my mind, so we’ll see. It would be nice if I could get at least a 6’ x 6’ area completed after the weather cools this fall and share my progress with you. Fingers crossed.

As a newcomer to concrete, I forget that there is often a little extra mixed concrete left over after pouring a project. Such was the case here.  I didn’t expect much but was prepared with a prepped ice cream bucket and mini tart pan just in case.  And guess what?  The little stone is coming next, lol.  I don’t mean to overwhelm today, but it’s too hot to work outside, giving me a chance to catch up on my neglected social media until the afternoon sun passes. Hope you don’t mind. 

Thanks for hanging with me.😊