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.😊