Paint a Stepping Stone Flower

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Paint a stepping stone flower to pretty up those drab concrete pavers.  Create whimsical garden art you can walk on and enjoy even when there are no blooms yet!

The other day I was working in my Secret Garden, laying out a paved area under an arbor.   I am using the 12 x 12 concrete pavers. Thinking they looked so bland I wanted to add a bit of whimsy to them. I decided I wanted to paint a stepping stone flower.

paint a stepping stone into a flower, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com (10 of 23)

I remembered a book I had tucked away somewhere by Lin Wellford on painting stepping stones with flowers and butterflies so I tracked it down.  She did hers on round pavers but I figured I could make the square ones work just fine.

I started with some Zinser Bulls Eye paint (I had it on hand), I laid it on thick to help fill in the crevices a bit.  These pavers are very pitted.  She explains to hand draw a 5 pointed star in the middle.  Mine is a little wonky but I tell myself I like things that way.  Draw out lines from the points of the star then draw some slightly curved wavy lines along the outer edges to mimic petals.

Paint a concrete stepping stone into a flower. Easy and an oh so fun way to dress up those drab pavers. FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

I thought about leaving the background white but her photos in the book showed the flowers really popping against the black so I decided to follow her directions on this one.  So, as you see I added the black.  I used regular bottled craft acrylic.

paint a stepping stone into a flower, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com (4 of 23)

I chose a violet color for the petals since I am sticking with pinks, purples, and blues in my Secret Garden.  

I used these white nylon brushes, these are my ‘go to’ brushes for base painting or doing large flowers, painting furniture. 

They are lightweight and easy on the hands and wrists when doing a large piece.  I have also found these at JoAnn’s, look in the craft paint department.

paint a stepping stone into a flower, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com (5 of 23)

I added the shading and highlights as directed in her book.

paint a stepping stone into a flower, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com (6 of 23)

Some fuchsia in the center with some details.  It is the details that make projects like this come together.  And they disguise flaws too.

paint a stepping stone into a flower, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com (8 of 23)

Once it is fully dry I will seal it with a few coats of Exterior Varathane

I will coat all sides even the back to inhibit the concrete from absorbing water and lifting the paint from the back. 

Even so being out in the weather all the time will still do it some damage but I can always repaint.  I should try this with Patio Paint and see if it lasts longer.


What do you think?

I can’t wait to do some butterflies, the ones Lin Wellford has in her book are just beautiful.

UPDATE: I have painted the butterflies and I love them, check out the posts below for more!

More Garden Painting Fun
Brick Garden Markers
Monarch Butterfly Stepping Stone
Swallowtail Butterfly Stepping Stone

Happy Painting!

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34 Comments

  1. Anything outside, I coat with Triple Thick water-based varnish. My rocks are years old. Patio paint doesn’t fade and that varnish stays shiney

  2. Thank you very much for sharing about paint a stepping stone flower, it’s difficult for me to get such kind of information most of the time always… I really hope I can work on your tips and it works for me too, I am happy to come across your article.

  3. Gail tunick says:

    I love this idea. It is so creative

  4. Stepping stone painting is such a great idea. Will definitely do this.

  5. Love the stones and the colors you used! Can’t wait to see your Secret Garden when completed and I love the colors you will use for it.

  6. Yep, this is from one of the last paragraphs of the post. The post has the actual link to the product I use.
    Once it is fully dry I will seal it with a few coats of Exterior Varathane.  I will coat all sides even the back to inhibit the concrete from absorbing water and lifting the paint from the back.

  7. Do we seal these with anything after painting with acrylic’s?

  8. Zinser is just a concrete sealing paint. I used a multi surface craft paint, Plaid Multi-Surface works well since the paver gets sealed with the varathane. I want to try their Outdoor paint that is supposed to be self sealing and just for projects like these but I have yet to do that. I used what I had on hand and sealed them as listed in the post.

  9. Thank you what a great idea. I think i will try to paint like three for decoration . Did you use outside paint or acrylic craft? Not sure what Zinser Bulls Eye paint is.

  10. I used Zinser paint which is a sealing paint for concrete in white, that is how I sealed it. Then after I paint them I seal them with the exterior varathane. Some say you don’t have to seal if you use the outdoor acrylics but I have yet to try them.
    I hope this helps. I am going to do more butterflies soon. I still want to do the Blue Morpho.

  11. Did you have to apply a sealer on the concrete pavers before painting? If so, what kind? I want to try but am worried the concrete will just soak in the paint. I want to paint a stone for each of my 20 Grandkids then glue/seal the inner edges to form a cube to make a flower planter. Need any help you can give me on the painting… Thanks!

  12. I can’t wait to see the butterflies. I’m so anxious to try these.

  13. Thank you Mary for letting me know that. I am definitely going to get some and give them a try. I want to paint more stepping stones and I want to be sure they last a long time.

  14. Mary Hane says:

    I have tried the patio paints with much success. Since they are intended for outdoor use, they do not fade and also do not have to be varnished. I have a bright blue used on a stepping stone 9 years ago that is still very colorful.
    Love the flower colors!!

  15. I can’t wait to paint up some more. It was much more fun than I had anticipated and the result is such a treat.

  16. I am having more fun putting this Secret Garden together. I am trying to only use plants I have taken from cuttings or planted from seed so it is slow going but putting the word out about it has friends offering different plants to me from their gardens.

  17. Gorgeous! I’m inspired!!

  18. I will share soon some photos of my Secret Garden. It is a work in progress so it is not lush and full yet but I am working on it one step at a time.

  19. This looks like even I could do it! I’m intrigued by your secret garden. Pictures?

  20. It was much simpler than I thought it would be and really quite fast.

  21. Her book has all sorts of ideas that are neat and she is the gal that does the animal paintings on rocks. My mom does those, she has painted raccoons, skunks, bunnies, fawn and chickens on rocks. They are all so fun.

  22. Very pretty, 🙂 I have a long row of stones in my garden, I’d like to do some of these.

  23. Denise Taylor-Dennis says:

    What a fun project, I think I could actually do this.

  24. I need to get to working on all the others. My Secret Garden is just getting started so it looks a bit spare so it needed a bit of color and blossoms added.

  25. It was fairly quick and easy too. I am going to work on the butterflies soon.

  26. Bogdan Sebastian says:

    nice

  27. I LOVE this! I have a bunch of these just sitting outside waiting to be used, or I suppose waiting to be painted? Hehe! Great idea.

  28. Love theses! So pretty!

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