When we were "imagining", designing, and planning our children's Secret Garden, we came up with this idea. At the same time we bought the stone for our ashlar pattern slate patio, we got some extra pieces to create a hopscotch of slate stepping stones. The main pieces are 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 (9 pieces) and the number 10 piece for the top shape is a 23 1/2 x 11 1/2 cut with a curved top. These will be laid out and set into the dirt area with sand under them. The children can either stencil and paint or free-hand paint the numbers on the slate pieces. These will be placed in the "games" area section of their garden. Something different than the traditional spaced stepping stone look and they can play on them too!

To see some pics of the Secret Garden in process, ck out my Picture Trail:

careytearose

Here is a link that might be useful: look at the Landscaping Projects 2007 album