Welcome. Your third question is the answer. Grout is for grouting, concrete is for building. If I were making the steppers from scratch, I'd prefer to use the diamond lathe for reinforcement over chicken wire. You can add colorant to the water you use to mix your Crete. Be sure and show us pictures of your WIPs.

Welcome. Just wanted to add, if cost is no object, you can use Diamondcrete (I buy it at Hobby Lobby) and it is super easy and permanent; you don't have to reinforce it. However, it is pricey.

I would do it like Slow said...Klinger also puts her tesserae in her molds and then pours the concrete in.

Here's what I read somewhere if you do it like Klinger. Put your tesserae in the mold and then very carefully sift some sand over it. Just a little thin layer. Purpose being to help hold the tesserae in place. Then slowly and carefully pour the mixture. Then when you turn the stone out, brush off the excess sand, and then grout. I haven't done it this way myself.

I've done it both ways ~ using a mold, lay the glass out on a piece of clear shelf paper (right side of glass to sticky side of paper); lay it in the mold and, using a "topping mix" or a "pre-mix" brick mortar, pour a layer on top of the glass, lay in the reinforcing wire, then pour a layer of concrete. The brick mortar is sandy and fills in around the glass nicely. The concrete is rocky.

I've also used a pre-made stone and glued the glass on and grouted the stone.

Here are some pics of stones I made over 10 years ago. They do fine in North Florida where we don't get a lot of freezing weather and I keep them out all year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stepping stones

Thanks, all of you, for your help. I didn't think it sounded right to use grout for the stone but wanted your advice. Diamond lathe it is.

Now, I'm just back from Lowe's where I looked at Quikrete--didn't know there were so many kinds- -topping, mortar, concrete, pro mix, etc. Which kind should I use? I did see a liquid concrete colorant that I might use to make a darker stone, but if I adhere the glass and tiles to the stone after the stone is made, there is no point in coloring the concrete. Do you use thinset mortar to adhere the glass and tiles to the stone?

China, I love your stones. Thanks for linking to them. So, you have made them both ways. Did you like one way better than the other?

I am so excited to actually get started! Will post pictures along the way.
Again, thanks for everyone's help.

The sunflower stone with the black grout was a true mosaic. I applied the glass to a pre-made stone and used black grout.

Actually, I like pouring the stone. Don't know why but it seems to make a really smooth top. Never tried it with broken china (I use most of that for my jewelry) but will have to give that a try.

Now that I think about it, for the stones I poured, I think I used regular concrete for the whole stone. When I poured the layer that goes around the mosaic, I sifted the dry concrete (yep, with my flour sifter) to get out all the little rocks and make a smooth surface.

Good luck and definitely let us see your progress!!

China- get the quikcrete with no stones in it and then reinforce your stone with chicken wire or as Slow suggested the lath that is sold for stucco work. Get your thinset and grout back in the flooring dept of Lowes, Slow and I use Mapai and make sure the thinset you get is for outdoor use. Same with grout and use a sanded grout. The colorants are usually in the concrete dept with the Quikcrete, you can get rust, buff or charcoal I think but you're right you dont need color with the top covered. Good luck, hope this helps.

I realize all the pros have answered ur questions & u now have a plan in place. here is my 2 pennies anyway, I just re-made a table with china pieces (my first attempt at this, thank goodness it was just a practice piece) and obviously didnt place pieces close enuf (live & learn) and in the larger grouted areas, it cracked.... so I can only guess what a stepping stone would do.
I made a beautiful eagle this week, and as soon as I figure it out again, I will post pics!!

No, I'm still in the planning stages, but getting more of a plan each day. Just need to make me a list from this post and take it to Lowe's. Hope to get started on it this weekend. It's a little intimidating to start but know I need to just jump right on in. Here goes...!

Would love to see your eagle, Recycler!

Thanks.

good info! I'm hoping to get the women on my street together this summer to make a bunch of these,
I don't seem to be able to find the quick crete with no stones anymore tho I've gotten it in the past. Which color package is it? I don't remember.
China I love love your house stepping stone in particular.
Kathy

Try Quikcrete's Mortar Mix. That's what I used on my front fountain. It has finer pebbles, but you can get a smooth finish using a wet paint brush.

Stepping stones, here I come!

Yaaaaaay - pictures of WIPs, please.

Hello,
I cut & grind my glass, apply glass to clear shelf paper ( wait a day for it to settle) then spread vaseoline jelly in my mold, mix my concrete.
I use sand mix & add a polyfiber (just a pinch) which gives it its strength (make sure that you mix this very well). About 17 cups of concrete to 4-5 cups water for a 16 in. round mold (give or take). Then pour into mold & gently tap mold to get rid of any air bubbles. Wait a couple of days, un-mold & peel off shelf paper. I usually don't put mine out in the sun for a couple of weeks. Good luck.

Slow, that fountain is the bomb.
Kathy

Why do not you think to design your own stone mosaic.
Its easy and you can find line art guide on web for mosaic designing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Design Your Mosaic