Garden Stones from a Pizza Box

Garden stones and path markers are very popular and are a great way to add a decorative look to your garden. This is a great project for the kids to pitch in with and they will love being able to show off their garden art for many years to come.

You will need to gather a pizza box (used is fine), Quickrete, a spatula or trowel, and anything that you would like to use to decorate your garden stone such as marbles, mosaic pieces or even small rocks. If children are helping, let them suggest what they would like to use on their garden stone.

Start by removing the top from the pizza box. One the top and bottom are separated, the box side should be reinforced with tape. Wrap a few pieces of tape on the exterior of the box to reinforce the corners. Place the pizza box onto a cutting board before starting to fill it with Quickrete. This will make the mosaic much easier to move later on.

Mix the Quickrete according to package directions and spoon or pour it into the pizza box. Once the desired depth is achieved, use a spatula or a trowel to level the Quickrete. Now it is time to add your decorations as quickly as possible. The Quickrete will start to set within 15-20 minutes and adding decorations after the stone has started to set will damage the Quikrete bonding fibers and will weaken your garden stone.

The garden stone should be set aside and allowed to dry for 24-48 hours depending upon the humidity level. The garden stone should be completely set before removing it from the pizza box. Once removed from the box, the garden stone should be set on a cooling rack in order to allow air to cure the bottom of the stone. The stone should be allowed to cure for a minimum of 5 days. During this time, the stone should be lightly misted with water once a day and covered with plastic wrap. Once the stone has cured, it is ready to be placed in the garden. If the kids helped out on this project, they will be anxious for visitors in order to show off their garden art.