DIY Sentimental Stepping Stones For Your Outdoor Entryway With A Few Affordable Supplies

If you're looking for a sentimental and whimsical garden stepping stones DIY that will stand the test of time and tug at your heartstrings each and every time you see them, this project is just for you. Frankly, few outdoor projects feel as personal as handmade stepping stones created with your child's footprint pressed right into the surface. It's a simple DIY that captures a specific moment in time. After all, those tiny toes won't stay that small forever, and this project turns it into a permanent part of your home's entryway.

The idea is simple: once a year, make a new concrete stone using your child's foot and a few affordable materials, alternating feet and watching the path slowly form as they grow up. After 18 years, you'll have a full trail of footprints documenting your child's walk through childhood — a living memory that leads right to your front door or garden. This project doesn't require any fancy tools or expensive supplies. You'll just need some quick-set concrete mix like Quikrete, a bucket, a mold like a 14-inch plant saucer, some cooking spray for easy release, and a few personal embellishments for decorating the stepping stones like name stamps, stones, or gems. It's a low-cost, high-impact project that turns a slab of concrete into something irreplaceable and sentimental for your family. Plus, if you're new to using Quikrete, you'll get a great introduction to their DIY products like Quikrete gravel that can also go to use in your yard.

To make your first stepping stone, coat the inside of a plastic plant saucer or shallow mold with cooking spray. In a heavy-duty plastic bucket, combine the Quikrete concrete mix with water until it becomes the consistency of "thick cake batter," as the DIY influencer Morgan, aka @olivebranchcottage, demonstrates. Pour the mix into the mold, smoothing the surface with a putty knife until it's even. Let it sit for about 30 to 60 minutes — the drying time will vary based on the weather, but you want the cement firm enough to hold a shape without being fully set. That's when you'll press your child's clean, bare foot into the center of the stone to leave a perfect little footprint.

Before the cement fully cures, continue personalizing the stone by stamping in details like your child's name and the year. Some people also choose to add extra baubles like colored gems, marbles, or natural objects, but even just a plain footprint can speak volumes. Make sure to let the stone dry completely before removing it from the mold. Seal it if desired, then place it along your entryway or garden. Repeat the process each year, switching the child's feet as you go. Over time, you will build something more meaningful than any store-bought path could offer. Just be sure to follow this rule to get perfectly spaced stepping stones every time to keep your trail both beautiful and functional.