Either premixed concrete or mortar and stucco mixes are the fastest and easiest ways to create stepping stones. But if you wish to experiment, blending your own mixes requires very little extra effort; the reward is a much wider range of colors and textures in the finished stone. Keep in mind, that concrete should roughly contain (by weight, not volume) a minimum 15% cement, 60-75% aggregate (this can be all sand, or a mix of sand and crushed rock or pumice) and a minimum of 15-20% water.

To make your own blends you'll need:

Cement

The base material of concrete is cement. Portland cement is sold in any hardware store or home improvement center. "Portland" refers to the method used to create the cement, and not to a specific brand. Portland cement is most commonly grey in color, but white Portland cement can be purchased as well. It's more expensive and a little more difficult to find than the grey, but most masons' supply houses will carry it.

Grey Portland cement alters the hue of any added pigments. By increasing the quantity of pigment, the color can be intensified, but the color will still remain somewhat muddied - particularly lighter tones such as ochre. This isn't necessarily a bad thing- it just depends upon the desired look.

White Portland cement blended with white sand is ideal for creating more saturated, true-to-value colors. When white cement is blended with white sand, the resulting rock resembles plaster. So-called "pool sand" (actually white marble dust) makes an especially bright white mix; think of it as a versatile canvas for fine-tuned color blends. This might not be important for the production of stepping stones, but if you wish to use the molds for creating decorative wall plaques, white Portland cement may be more suitable.

Sand

Bags of sand can be purchased in any hardware, building or home improvement store. This sand is invariably grey river sand, so if you wish to make lighter-colored stones using white Portland cement, you'll need to source white sand. Mason's supply stores are your best bet. Note: beach sand should never be used in cement mixes due to its high salt content.

Aggregate (optional)

Beautiful, strong and fine-textured stepping stones can be made without aggregate; aggregate is usually added to lower the cost. Crushed rock is the most commonly used aggregate, but pumice can be used as well. Certain percentages of pumice in a concrete mix create a rough, aged look to the stones. Other special effects can be produced with metal flakes and shavings.

There are many interesting, creative possibilities that exist for concrete blends. Don't think of these recipes below as your only options; think of them as a starting point. After you've made a few batches and are comfortable with the process, try concocting your own concrete mixes. Each recipe is enough for approximately one stepping stone, but keep in mind that there will be some variance due to differing mold sizes. And remember all measurements are by volume, not weight.

TIP: A one-quart yogurt container is ideal for scooping and measuring.

Recipe #1 - Concrete without Aggregate

2 1/2 quarts Portland cement, white or grey
5 quarts sand, white or grey
1 3/4 - 2 quarts water

Mix the dry ingredients well. Slowly add water until the concrete is workable. Don't add all of the water at once- you may not need the full amount. Continue to add water until the mixture resembles a thick pancake batter.

Recipe #2 - Concrete with Aggregate

2 quarts Portland cement, white or grey
4 quarts sand, white or grey
3 quarts aggregate- rock, pumice, etc.
1 1/2- 1 3/4 quarts water

Mix the dry ingredients well. Slowly add water until the concrete is workable. Don't add all of the water at once- you may not need the full amount. Continue to add water until the mixture resembles a thick pancake batter.

Recipe #3 - Concrete with Perlite

Perlite is an ultra-light, glassy volcanic rock. Added to a concrete mix in higher percentages, it creates an interesting pock-marked, antiqued look in the finished stone.

2 quarts Portland cement, white or grey
3 quarts sand, white or grey
3 quarts perlite
1 quart water

Mix the dry ingredients well. Slowly add water. This mixture doesn't contain as much water as a standard concrete recipe because the finished stone should have a more open, porous texture. Therefore add water until the mix resembles a crumbly cookie dough. Press the mix firmly into the mold.

Hypertufa is a substitute for Tufa rock, a spongy rock found in limestone country. Though not as strong and durable as a standard concrete, hypertufa can be used to create some interesting finishes on stepping stones. If the stones are intended solely for decoration, you can fill the entire mold with hypertufa. If the stepping stones are intended for foot traffic, fill the bottom 1/2- 1 inch of the mold with hypertufa, then top the mold with a concrete mix. For extra stability and strength, lay strips of nylon sheeting or fibers in between the hypertufa and concrete layers.

Recipe #1

3 quarts Portland cement, white or grey
2 1/4 quarts sand, white or grey
4 quarts peatmoss
1 1/2 quarts water

Mix the dry ingredients well. Slowly add water. This mixture doesn't contain as much water as a standard concrete recipe because hypertufa has a more open, porous texture. Therefore add water until the mix resembles a crumbly cookie dough. Press the mix firmly into the mold.

Recipe #2

3 quarts Portland cement, white or grey
3 quarts peatmoss
3 quarts perlite
1 quart water

Mix the dry ingredients well. Slowly add water. This mixture doesn't contain as much water as a standard concrete recipe because hypertufa has a more open, porous texture. Therefore add water until the mix resembles a crumbly cookie dough. Press the mix firmly into the mold.