Q: Cake pans and pie pans work the best, but you can also use plastic tubs or cardboard boxes. You can also find special molds for making stepping stones in an arts and crafts store.  The mold needs to be at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick. If the edges of your mold are not rigid, then you will need to use something to reinforce them until the concrete hardens. This usually takes about 24 hours. This will make it easier to remove the stepping stone from the mold. If you are using a cardboard mold, cover the inside of the mold with a plastic sheet (ie: plastic wrap or a plastic bag) first. It would be a good idea to grease the plastic sheet afterwards as well. Keep in mind that if the plastic has any wrinkles or seams in it, then these will likely show on the concrete as well. This is very important. Concrete is dusty and can irritate sensitive skin. It's not something you want getting into your lungs either. Put on a pair of safety goggles, a dust mask, and work gloves.  Make sure to keep your workspace, tools, and mixing equipment tidy and avoid getting concrete on yourself as well. Wash your hands with mild vinegar followed by hand soap and water to reduce irritation to your skin if you get concrete on it. Avoid getting dry or wet concrete in your eyes. If you do get concrete in your eyes, flush them out with generous amounts of cool water immediately. If needed, go to urgent care, an emergency room, or to see an optometrist. Each brand will be a little different, so follow the instructions on your container closely. If the concrete is very wet, add some more dry concrete powder to it. The concrete should feel like wet sand. You want it to clump together when you squeeze it. If you plan to mix a few separate batches of concrete, then use measuring cups for the concrete and water to keep the mixtures consistent. Use a trowel to spread it around so that it covers the bottom layer of the mold. If you are using a square mold, make sure that it reaches and fills the corners. You want it to be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. You can also tap on the edges of the mold to make sure that the concrete spreads out and fills in any air pockets. Cut a scrap of chicken wire until it is 1 inch (2.5 cm) smaller than your mold. Set it into your mold and gently press it into the wet concrete. This step is not absolutely necessary, but it will help prevent the stepping stone from cracking later on. If you can't find chicken wire, you can use sturdy, wire mesh instead. This will actually be more durable than wide spaced chicken wire. Use a trowel to spread the concrete around and make it smooth. You want this layer to be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick as well. Tap on the edges of the mold again to make sure that the concrete spreads out and fills in any air pockets. Mosaic tiles are a popular choice, but you can use other items as well, such as broken pottery, glass gems, sea glass, seashells, and pretty stones. If you are using glass gems or sea glass, paint the back of each piece with white spray paint. This will help keep them looking bright and prevent the concrete from dulling them down. Let the paint dry before putting them into a mold. Make sure that there are no sharp or jagged edges sticking out of the concrete, especially if people will walk on the mosaics. This may lead to injuries. You can use a random pattern, or arrange the decorations to make words or images such as a name or the moon and stars. If your decorations are sinking into the concrete, wait about 30 minutes before trying again. This will give the concrete time to set up again.  Press the mosaics far enough into the concrete so that they don't stick out. This way, you'll be less likely to tip over them. You can also use a stamp to press mosaics into concrete. After two days, flip the mold over onto a soft surface, such as a patch of grass, a towel, or a blanket. Gently tap the bottom, then lift the mold away. Sand away any rough areas with sandpaper, and fill in any holes with aggregate free cement. Wipe the top of the stepping stone clean with a wet sponge or an old toothbrush. This will remove any cement that got stuck to glass or porcelain tiles or gems. Let the stepping stone dry before moving on. You can leave your stepping stone as is, or you can varnish the top, decorated part to give it that wet look. Sealing the stones will also help them to last longer. A high-quality marine varnish will work especially well here. You can also use a clear, outdoor-quality varnish instead. Let the varnish cure completely before using the stone.  Curing times are different from drying times. Read the label on your varnish carefully. You only need to varnish the top, decorated part. Pay attention to the finish. A matte finish is not recommended for glass gems or tiles because it will dull them down. Choose a spot in your garden for the stepping stone. Use a shovel or trowel to dig a shallow, 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep hole in the soil. Set the stone into it, design side up, then gently pat the soil around it to blend it in with the surrounding area. You can also prop up stepping stones to display them. They do not all have to be flat.
A: Choose a mold for your stepping stone. Coat the inside of your mold with petroleum jelly or nonstick cooking spray. Put on protective gear. Prepare the concrete. Fill the mold partway with concrete. Press some chicken wire into the concrete. Pour more concrete on top of the wire. Choose your desired mosaics. Press your desired mosaics into the concrete. Allow the concrete to set for 2 days before removing it. Clean the stepping stone up. Seal the stepping stone, if desired. Set the stepping stone into your garden.

Q: You can use any camera you have – your phone, a small point-and-shoot, or a DSLR. Taking photos outside requires you to really focus in on the nature around you. Look for unusual colors, patterns, or animals to photograph. A botanical garden is a great place to visit to take photos, because the displays are usually arranged in eye-catching ways. You can also visit a nature preserve and looking for photo opportunities with animals or plant life. You can take a journal outside with you or wait until you get home to write. Describe what you smelled or heard or saw, and how you felt being outside.  For example, you could focus on one thing while you're outside - the way flowers work, or the bird calls you hear. Then write as much as you can about your focus. You can also use your experience outside to tap into your emotions. How did sitting outside make you feel? Describe your emotions. You can make art while you're still outside, or you can get artistic after you get home. You can paint or draw or sculpt what you see, or go for a more abstract piece that reflects how you felt about your time in nature.  It can be helpful to take a photo of what you want to paint or sculpt so you have a reference when you get home. You can paint a particular plant or animal that you saw that caught your attention. You can also paint something more abstract, using paint to express how being outside made you feel. If you want to maintain your interest in nature, think about starting a blog. You can use it to write entries about the things and feelings you experience while you're out in nature. For example, you could write entries about new nature preserves you've seen, flowers you've never encountered before, and other exciting nature experiences.
A:
Take photos. Journal about what you see. Create art inspired by the outdoors. Start a blog.