Add some color and texture to your yard or garden that can also double as a fun project, and later a game for the kids.
You will need nine concrete stepping stones, each 1’square foot in size (you can use larger stones if desired, or for a large yard). Stepping stones are available at most garden centers or home improvement stores for a couple of dollars each.
You will also need two different colors of paint, specially formulated for painting stone or concrete. Choose bright colors that coordinate with the exterior of your home or with some colors found in your garden or flowerbeds.
Paint five stones one color and four the other color, completely covering the top and the sides. When dry, arrange the stones in a level area, making three rows of three, alternating colors and rows. Use a spacer to make sure the stones are evenly spaced. Most anything that’s about an inch wide will work.
You’ll have a nice colorful area where you can display plants or place a chair for a reading area, but the colorful stones can also be used to play tic-tac-toe. For game pieces, pick up pre-cut letters, X’s and O’s, from a craft shop or home improvement center and paint them in bright colors. Alternatively, you can use painted blocks of wood labeled with letters or adorned with decals. You can paint different designs on the blocks instead of X’s and O’s if desired. You might want to use daisies and daffodils or lady bugs and bubble bees instead, or create your own unique designs.
Provide a container to collect the game pieces when not in use. A brightly colored tin pail or plastic crate will work great. For even more interest, create a border from smaller stones or 4” x 4” planks of wood, painted in constrasting colors.