How to make garden stepping stones using colorful sea glass. This project requires only a few inexpensive materials including glass pieces. Full video at the end.
Sea glass can have romantic origins — it could come from old Victorian bottles or broken glass from a shipwreck. Most of the time it comes from modern day bottles. Most of the rubbish that ends up in the sea doesn’t have a happy ending, but glass is a different story. The motion of the waves and the grinding from stones and sand polishes each shard into a soft and jewel-like piece. You can display it in jars or cases but it’s fun to use in creative diy projects too.
Collecting Sea Glass
Following up on my week in Venice, I had an old friend visit me here on the Isle of Man. I hadn’t seen her in over a year and we spent the time listening to music from our teenage years and catching up on our lives.
Though the weather wasn’t that great we also spent some time camping on the beach and scouring it for sea glass. There’s something so fun about hunting for colorful shards of glass. Something that satisfies the hunter-gatherer instinct in you.
In an hour of hunting for our sea jewels we collected quite a pile of colored glass, bits of pottery, and small shells and rocks. Now to make something beautiful and useful for the garden.
First off you’ll need a few materials
This project will take you about two days to complete (most of that time is letting the stone dry) and costs about $25-30. That cost includes enough material to make a five or more stepping stones though.
- 1. An old pan or plastic tub to use as a mold
- 2. Cement and coarse Aggregate (basically a mixture of sand and gravel) Or get both of these together pre-mixed Quikrete Concrete Mix Bag 10 Lbs
- 3. Gold Spray paint, Flat/matte White spray paint and Clear Glossy spray paint
- 4. Sea glass and any other hard stones, shells, pottery, or objects you’d like to embed into your stepping stone.
- 5. A square of chicken wire or other metal fencing that will fit inside your mold
Step 1: Spray Paint
Using your matte white spray paint, paint one side of the beach glass you want to embed in your stone – the side that you want to be pushed into the concrete. If you don’t paint one side then the dark color of the concrete will make your glass look dark and murky since the grey color will come through the glass.
Step 2: Cement
Mix one part cement with 3.5 parts aggregate or use the material from the pre-mixed bag I have listed above. I used an large yogurt container for measurement but the exact amounts will depend on the size of your own mold. Next, add enough water to make it wet but not soupy. If it’s too wet then the decorations will sink.
Step 3: Filling the Mold
Fill your mold half-way with your wet concrete mix then place the square of wire on top. Fill the rest of the mold with concrete and completely cover the wire. This extra addition to the inside of your stone will give it more stability and help ensure it doesn’t split in the future.
Step 4: Optional Gold Finish
Spray the surface of the concrete with gold. It will look garish at first but the gold will add some beach-sand like shine to the dull concrete when you’re finished. (Update: the gold finish eventually wears off)
Pin this idea to Pinterest
Step 5: Adding the Sea Glass
Create your sea glass design by pressing pieces into the wet cement. Push them in firmly or they may come off eventually. If there’s any water puddling on the top after you’re finished, soak it up gently with toilet paper or a soft rag.
Step 6: Taking the stone out of the mold
When you’re finished, allow the stone to set for at least a day though I gave mine two days before I popped it out of the mold. To get the stone out, turn your mold over something soft (like grass) and shake it out – it should pop out easily. If you’re having trouble getting it out, leave the stone to dry for a few more days.
You can also gently tap the sides to get the stone out but be aware that some glass pieces may fall out. The video at the end covers how to put them back into place.
Step 7: Clear Varnish
Clean the glass in the stone off with water and an old toothbrush. When it’s dried, spray the top with clear spray paint to give the pieces that wet look.
Step 8: Siting your Stone
Dig a depression in the area you wish your stone to be placed and set it inside. Doesn’t it look beautiful? I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and if you’d like to see more of my crafty ideas please browse through my projects here.
I love this idea but I have a question. Do you think I could finish this with resin?
I’ve not tried, and it might be fiddly, but I don’t see why not.
Thank you!! I will let know how it comes out when I try this!!!
Can u use a spray coat in pan before starting so mold will come out easier, or will it compromise cement?
I’ve never tried it, but if you’re worried about sticking, use a large, round, silicone baking dish instead.
I have heard you can use WD40
Going to try this out!
The sea glass shades can match what you are doing in the garden as well with this method.
Thanks for posting,
Sea glass is never home made. It is actually surf tumbled glass. The tumbling of glass in salt and repeated waves create distinguishable markings that differ from tumbled glass. Home made frosted glass can be pretty too. But there is a definite difference and cannot be legitimately referred to as sea glass or beach. It would simply be tumbled glass. One of my favorite aspects of collecting is discovering the history behind the glass pieces and their original uses. Fascinating. My favorites are those dating back over 100 years. Almost passed out today when I found a gorgeously frosted, obviously quite aged RED piece that blew my mind. Best day ever!!!
I, too, make my own sea glass. I go to a local bar and ask for the empty bottles (free and you can get clear, greens, blue, brown and black) and I go to thrift stores to find other colors of glass. Just make sure the color is NOT painted on as it will come off when tumbled. I don’t have a rock tumbler so my husband borrowed a cement mixer. Can do larger quantities and comes out great.
Kathy
It’s not sea glass is it if it’s made at home?! Seaglass comes from the sea there is a difference.so it can,t be called seaglass it should be called art glass because that’s what it’s used for right? Don,t want to confuse the two.🙂
I was so excited to make this, but it won’t “pop out” of the mold. Help please.
Hi Susan! This has happened to me on occasion and I’ve figured out what the issue was. It was me measuring the cement directly into the pan I was using and not cleaning it out thoroughly. The little bit of cement made the stepping stone stick when the wet mix was poured on. What I suggest is first letting the stepping stone dry for at least a week. If it still won’t come out, support the stepping stone with a pillow wrapped in a plastic bag. Turn the pan upside down and GENTLY tap the bottom with a hammer. It’s come out every time but be prepared for some sea glass to potentially fall off too. Glue them back down with cement or another adhesive and all should be well 🙂
Can I use a disposable aluminum cake pan from the grocery store instead of having to purchase the cake pans?
Thank you!
You could try but I’m not sure how sturdy it would be. the sides might bow out from the weight. It would be better to go to a second hand shop and buy an inexpensive pan there.
I’m trying to print the directions, but I’m not able to do it without the photos (too much ink being used). Do you happen to have it is a printable form? Thanks, Teresa
I’m sorry but no I don’t. You could try copying the text into a word document and then printing?
Thanks for all the how to, I’m no way a beach person but am planning to use your technique with river rocks, guess I can eliminate a few steps ?
I think collecting old sea glass very romantic. Those stepping stones are a great idea. I always collect a jar of stones, sand and sea glass whereever I go on holiday. I also own a jar of Douglas Isle of Man sand too. I don´t know yet what to do with it, but with your clever little tricks I am sure I´ll have an idea someday. I have been to the Isle of Man many times before, a truly enchanting Island.
This looks awesome!!
Thanks Ritza!
Love this idea! A great way to treasure little keepsakes.
That’s a cool idea to use sea glass in a stepping stone like this. The fact that you made them look wet in there makes them look their best. They always look better at the beach when they are wet. I’ll have to try doing this for our stepping stones in our garden.
I so agree! I love the wet look of pebbles, shells, and sea glass on the beach.
This is a really lovely idea! I am often collecting sea glass and then not knowing what to do with it, Thank you so much for sharing and for the excellent tutorial.
You’re so welcome Debbie! Have a great time sea glass crafting 🙂
I really like this and have jars of sea washed glass at home as I’m a real beachcomber at heart. Wouldn’t have thought about spraying the back of the glass with white paint so thanks for that tip!
This is so beautiful! I’m a huge fan of sea glass but unfortunately there’s hardly any on the beaches here… You could easily sell these!
I live in land locked Colorado, so I MAKE my own “sea-glass”. I go to the thrift stores and buy any blue, green, or light blue bottles, plates, etc and then take them home and SMASH them! Then I throw them in my rock tumbler I got for a few bucks off Craigslist. For a few bucks investment for the grits you add to the glass and the time it takes for the glass to become smooth, I can make ALL the “sea-glass” I want!
Hello Tanya,
that’s a mega great idea.
I would like to imitate.
On our next trip to the North Sea, I will keep an eye open for such beautiful things.
Even your instructions are very clear.
Many kind regards
Uwe