7 Easy-to-Follow Steps for Creating Your Backyard Stone Blocks

“We’re off the see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!” That’s one of the most famous lines from one of the most famous songs from one of the most famous movies which happens to also be one of our most favorite movies, “The Wizard of Oz” from waaaaay back in 1939! It happens to be a Christmas season movie for us, too, for some reason… However, we've created a way to embellish our backyard with easy DIY Painted Stone Blocks. Here's how... 

We really enjoy the part in "The Wizard of Oz" where Dorothy “collects” friends along her trek on the infamous “yellow brick road.” There seems to be something magical about following the path of the yellow brick road up to the wizard’s palace. We enjoy it so much until we stumbled across the idea of making our own decorative “bricks” for our back yard...

We’ve always had 12”x12” concrete stepping stones that lead from the back gate to the patio, but we finally thought to PAINT them. How wonderfully inviting the idea became! It adds such flair, artistry, color, and energy to the campus. A few years later and they are still just as vibrant as before, though a tad bit dustier. :)

Here’s how we did ours:

1. Purchase several concrete 12”x12” stones from your local hardware store. We needed 10 steps.
2. Purchase cheap paintbrushes from the Dollar Store for one-time use (especially for the little helper) (see more on our Top 10 Dollar Store Must-Haves here)
3. Purchase and coat each stone with regular, white, inexpensive cheap white paint or primer
4. Allow the primer to dry, which only takes a few minutes
5. Then paint any scene on them you choose to paint for your yard (we alternated between beach themes and multicolor abstract scenes)
6. Our choice of paint was regular, $0.50 acrylic paint from the hobby store
7. After they were all dry (and we painted one a day over a course of a month), coat them with a sealant of some sort (we used regular art acrylic spray)
8. Then install your blocks where you see fit

You instantly have a splendidly, authentically decorative yard! This was SO MUCH FUN! We hope you try it and observe the immediate flair you’ll create for your home and yard.

If you and your kids enjoy painting and are looking for new ideas on what to paint or who to paint with, check out our "4 Tips on How to Start Your Summer Paint Club" article, or our "Summer Craves Craze" articles. Please leave a comment in the section below telling us what you think about this easy, fun, lively painting project.

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Here are a few others that we've painted that are still in use in the backyard now. Plus, a photo of how beautiful they look even in the snow.

For this and many other innovative, artistic, homeschool arts, crafts, projects, recipes, and activities, be sure to follow and friend us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for more information on sweet treats to make with the kids, additional articles, and fun daily Dilly Days. Enjoy! :) 
for more information on sweet treats to make with the kids, additional articles, and daily Dilly Days. 
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"Even if you’re in the gutter, you have the option of looking at the stars."
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

We've included links below to a few other hands-on activities that you'll enjoy, too.

DIY TIC TAC TOE

DIY BODYWASH

"I DECLARE WAR" CARDS