Adding Handprints/Footprints to Your Stepping Stones

[Arthur Schile]

Thanks for making one of our kits!  Before you get started, you should know that this is not a science.  The temperature, humidity, and how soupy your mix is will change the outcome here A LOT.  So keep these few  rules of thumb in mind as you go:

1. The warmer it is, the faster the cement will cure.
2. The lower the humidity, the faster the cement will cure.
3. The less "soupy" the mix, the faster the cement will cure.
4. You have a total of 45 min. until the cement is cured. 

With that in mind, the following rules should apply:


1 - AFTER MIXING THOROUGHLY, PUSH THE CEMENT MIX INTO THE MOLD  AND SET ON A TABLE – TAP THE MOLD AGAINST A HARD SURFACE A FEW TIMES TO TAKE ANY AIR BUBBLES OUT OF THE CEMENT MIX – SMOOTH OVER THE TOP SURFACE SEVERAL TIMES TO CREATE A SMOOTH/EVEN FINISH.

2 - ADD YOUR DECORATIVE ITEMS - MAKING SURE THAT YOU WIGGLE EACH PIECE OF GLcrafty!/GEM OR OTHER DECORATIONS INTO THE CEMENT THOROUGHLY WITH ALL EDGES COMPLETELY COVERED SO THAT THE CURED CEMENT HOLDS EACH DECORATION FIRMLY IN PLACE.

3 - ADD YOUR HANDPRINT(S)/FOOTPRINT(S).  START WITH THE FINGERS OR TOES, PRESS INTO THE CEMENT GENTLY AND ROLL BACK OVER THE PALM/HEEL TO THE WRIST/ANKLE THEN LIFT OUT. DO NOT PUSH ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CEMENT - JUST ABOUT 3/8".  (IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, YOU CAN SMOOTH OVER THE SURFACE AND BEGIN AGAIN)

4 - FINALLY - STAMP OR WRITE WITH LETTER STAMPS, PEN, PENCIL, OR POPSICLE STICKS TO CREATE YOUR PERSONALIZED NAME/MESSAGES.

5 – PLEASE REFER TO “MILESTONES HELPFUL HINTS” ON OUR WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL HINTS.

[joannd]

I bought the Inspiration Stepping Stone Kit. I wanted to put my 3 kids' handprints on a stepping stone. (I know, it may be a tight squeeze!) When I got the kit home, I noticed a warning having to do with the mix causing skin irritability. I have a 4-month-old baby; do you foresee any problems arising from pressing her hand into the mixture and immediately washing it off?

[Jeff Clark]

Hi Joanned,

Thank you for posting on our forum! If you are sure to wash your child's hands after putting the handprints in the stone, there is almost no danger. Sometimes the mixture can dry out your skin, but this can be easily overcome with some ordinary moisturizer. So, just be sure to wash your own and your children's hands after using the cement mix and it should be fine. If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to post them here or email us at marketing@milestonesproducts.com.

Thanks again and enjoy making your stepping stone!!