The Mom I Want to Be

Fresh leaves
8 inch plastic plant saucer
Petroleum jelly
Newspaper
Plastic Gloves
Face Mask
Safety Glasses
4 lb. Concrete (home improvement stores)
Old bucket
Water
Wooden Paint Stirrer

Collect some fresh leaves. Make sure to choose ones where the veins on the back really stand out. Rub saucer with petroleum jelly to keep concrete from sticking to your mold. Cover your work surface with newspaper. Put on your gloves, mask and safety glasses. Place concrete powder into the bucket. Add about 1 cup of water. Mix with pain stirrer. Keep adding a bit more water at a time, mixing after each addition, until you don’t see any more powder. The mixture should have the consistency of soft ice cream. Pour concrete into the plastic saucer. Use stirrer to level off the top and make it as flat as possible. Gently place the leaves, back side down, into the concrete. Flatten them the best you can. If some edges curl up, you can hold them down with small stones; be careful not to let the stones touch the concrete directly or they will stick. Let your stepping stone sit in a place where it won’t be disturbed for 24-38 hours. Peel the leaves off the stone and remove the stone from the mold. Let the stone sit in a dry place a few more days before you put it out in your garden or yard.

Note: Concrete can be harmful if you breathe in the powder or touch it with bare skin. Wear the proper gear as described above, and ask an adult for help. Clean the bucket and stirrer outdoors or use disposable ones you can throw away. Wash your hands well with warm soapy water after you finish.