Have a go at transforming a plain paver into a beautiful stepping stone that everyone will admire.



AIthough glass may seem an unlikely material to use in the garden, it's tougher than you think. These pretty pavers would suit a small courtyard as well as a rambling garden.

Have fun experimenting with different designs - birds, dragon flies, tulips, stars. Choose colours that reflect your garden's personality.

You'll need
Cement payer 300 x 300mm
Glass in a variety of colours
Flat-bottomed glass nuggets
Copper wire
Wire cutters
Round-nose pliers
Glass cutter
Running pliers
40-grit sandpaper
Clear contact plastic
Greaseproof or tracing paper
Bag of sand and cement
Liquid Nails
Dark-blue carbon paper;
Pencil, sponge, bucket, plastic spreader, scissors, toothpick, cloth

Here's how
Step 1
Trace your pattern twice onto greaseproof paper with a pencil, ensuring the outlines are clear and dark. Cut a sheet of clear Contact a couple of centimetres larger all round than the payer. Lay one traced pattern face down on the work top so you can see the pattern in reverse. Peel away the backing from the Contact and place it sticky-side-up on top of the design.

Step 2
With the smooth side of the glass uppermost, lay the second design sheet on top. Slip a piece of carbon paper between the two and trace one element of the design onto the glass, tracing quite close to the edge of the glass.

Score the glass with the glass cutter, taking care not to press too hard. To score evenly, press the cutting wheel firmly onto the glass, close to the traced outline. Score over traced line up to adjacent edge. Score along the other side of the pattern piece, then use running pliers to break the section from the sheet of glass.

Sand edges of glass if necessary. As you cut out each element of design, place it on its corresponding position on clear Contact, ensuring it fits well within the lines of the pattern beneath.

When cutting the iridescent glass, either flip the pattern over, or work with the iridescent side uppermost. Cut off a length of copper wire and bend with pliers along same lines as pattern for -legs and antennae. Set aside.

Step 3
If the top surface of the paver has a slight ridge around the edge, work on the smooth underside. To prepare the surface, mix sand and cement following manufacturer's instructions and spread over the surface of the paver to a depth of 2mm. Use the spreader to get the surface as smooth as possible.

Carefully pick up the Contact with the glass pieces attached, turn it over and place it on top of the payer, carefully aligning the edges.

Allow the cement to set overnight, then peel away the Contact. Mix more sand and cement and grout between the glass pieces. While the grout is still very wet, press the copper wire into it then remove, leaving an indent in the grout. Let the grout dry, use a toothpick to fill the indents with Liquid Nails and reposition the wire. Use a damp cloth to carefully wipe away excess glue.

Use Liquid Nails to glue any glass nuggets in place (here they form the centres of the flowers).

Let the glue dry according to manufacturer's instructions, then grout between nuggets and around wire. Clean paver with wet sponge.

Optional: If the pavers are to be placed in a wet area, spray or brush on a coat of Slip Grip (about $15 per 200ml from hardware stores).

Source: Better Homes and Gardens