Homemade Stone Tiles for Gardens

Set up your work site by spreading out a drop cloth. If working outdoors, choose an area that is sheltered from the wind. This keeps the cement from drying out too soon. Put on gloves to protect your hands.

Place a portion of chicken wire over the mold, a 9-by-9-inch cake pan, and cut the wire slightly smaller than the pan using wire cutters. This will reinforce the garden tile and keep it from breaking.

Clean the mold thoroughly using a soapy mixture of dish soap and water. Rinse and dry the mold with a clean rag.

Measure out the amount of stepping stone cement you will need for the mold. Simply fill the pan with the dry cement mix and then pour it into a bucket. This prevents mixing more cement than is needed. Add water to the cement a little at a time and stir it with a stick until it is the consistency of thick cookie dough.

Spray the inside of the mold with a non-stick cooking spray. Pour half of the wet cement into the center of the cake pan. Tap and jiggle the cake pan to level the mix and to remove any air bubbles. Place the chicken wire on top of the cement. Pour the rest of the mixture on top of the chicken wire.

Place a stick across the pan and drag in along the top to level the cement. Allow the cement to set for 5 minutes. If there is any excess water on the top, gently lay some paper towels across the top to soak it up.

Avoid disturbing the mold for 20 minutes if you plan to draw or write in the cement. Allow the cement to set for 30 minutes before doing any paw or hand prints. Between 30 and 45 minutes is a good time to press tumbled glass, stones, marbles and pieces from broken ceramic plates. These are just a few decorating options. Pressing ferns or leaves into the cement can also be done at this time.

Spray a fine mist of water over the mold and cover it with plastic wrap. Allow it to set for 36 to 48 hours. Flip the mold upside down and tap the sides and bottom to remove the mold.

Remove any excess cement and smooth the sides, bottom and top using a stiff brush. Mist the mold again and wrap it in plastic.

Allow the tile to thoroughly cure for two weeks before placing it in the garden. Set the tile flush with the ground to avoid tripping over the edges.