Have you ever seen this stuff?
It’s called NeverWet. It’s supposed to get sprayed on fabric and make it waterproof. I bet you a bazillion dollars that a mad scientist mom who was tired of wet and muddy shoes created this. Ibetchya that much money and I would win.
On the front of the package, Rustoleum brags that you can use it on wood, metal and concrete. It also says on the back you can use it on fabric. Well….I got it for a totally different project than this one (maybe I will still try it…I am on the fence) and then decided to scrap the original project (yes, I think I might try to tackle it) and do this one since I already had the materials (no longer on the fence…firmly in yes-camp. thanks for convincing me.)
Back to this project….I decided to put paver stepping stones in our front garden bed. It was out of pure laziness. I was tired of taking those ten extra steps….it was exhausting. I found some cute (and super cheap) round concrete pavers at Walmart. I had to trek through the ‘parking lot aisle’ to get them (yes that exists) and grabbed five for under ten bones.
On one of the pavers I decided to make it a little special….stencil style…
First I placed my stencil (it’s from a Martha Stewart stencil pack from Michaels) and then covered the rest of the stone with tape.
The Never Wet is really easy…you just spray on Step One and wait…then spray it on again and wait…repeat.
Then after it’s dry, you do Step Two (which is another spraypaint type can) and wait….then remove all the stuff.
After it’s dry and free from bondage, you set it in place. It looks like a normal paver….but when it gets wet, the suprise pattern will suddenly appear.
It’s really fun. I might move this paver over to another area and do these five stepping stones with number stencils instead….that was Will’s request….
But overall – I love this idea of sprucing up some regular ole concrete. It makes them special. It makes them a little shocking. It makes me wanna dance in the rain just so that I can see my stencil!
So this is definitely cool, and my mind is racing with possibilities!
But very big question… does it make the paver slippery?
Such a neat idea! I like concrete pavers in my vegetable garden as little stepping stones for the kids as they help water. They would have a lot of fun sprinkling water on the pavers as they work! Thanks for sharing your project.
What a cute project! Makes me want to cover my whole sidewalk with this, if my neighborhood would allow it. 😉
Also, on a blog design note: If I wanted to scroll back through recent posts to see if I’ve missed any, how would I do that? Right now I can only see the two posts right before this one.
I love this, how clever of you! And how clever of the MOM that probably invented the Never Wet.
Fun! Such a creative application, I never would have thought of that!
What a cute idea! Hmm…now where can I do that in my yard! 🙂
This looks like magic! I don’t really have any use for a surprise-when-wet-sorta-deal, but I need to find one right now!
Not sure if it’s just my browser and how your blog appears in it, but I cannot navigate further back than your last three blog posts. I see the current post and the two posted before that but then don’t see anyway to see others posted before those two. Just wanted to let you know in case it’s an issue with the redesign. 🙂
What an awesome idea! I have been wanting to get some pavers for our new garden and I might just need to try this idea out on them 🙂 Thanks, Katie!
HOLY MOLY this is the coolest thing you’ve ever done.
This is awesome! What a fun way to add a little detail to the outdoors.
Funny story about Never Wet…my husband bought some MONTHS ago and put it in his closet never to be seen again. Well, last weekend we competed in Tough Mudder and he said, oh I totally should have used that Never Wet stuff on our shoes…yeah! That would be a great idea! Or how about the $20 you spent on it actually makes sense and you use it on SOMEthing, anything!! 🙂 I’ll have to try this trick soon.
Oh my, this is so cute! I love love this idea. I need to get some pavers and some stencils to stencil all the things! HMM wonder if it works on asphalt driveways, names, initials – oh the ideas are ENDLESS! (wouldnt it be neat if it was colored and then the colors changed in the rain?!?!)
What a lovely idea, I think the numbers will be great 🙂
I LOVE this idea! We’re moving to a new house so I think I’ll need to do a couple of new designs on the walkway! Thanks!
I actually have seen that stuff! Unfortunately, it starts to breakdown if any oily substance touches it and since dirt contains triglycerides (oils), it could start to wear off pretty quickly with regular use 🙁
If that happens, maybe you could try matte spraypaint? I’m sure it’d give you the same effect (its also cheaper!)
Anyways, it’s an awesome idea! Be sure to let us know how it holds up 🙂
-Sarah
Doh… I meant there are lipids in soil, not triglycerides in dirt 😛
I was just reading something about triglycerides this morning, which is probably why I mixed the two words up, Sorry!
I watched a video years ago when they were developing never wet and they covered a toliet plunger in it. It was so cool.
What a cool idea! That’s awesome!
I used the Never Wet stuff on the fabric for our dining room chairs before I covered the cushions in it thinking my preschooler could not destory the fabric if it was coated in this. I was wrong. Not only did it make the fabric super uncomfortable to sit on but it already has several stains (from liquids) on the fabric. Super bummer.
Hey Katie,
I”ve been reading for a few years now and always wonder about your old house. Such a cute house and most of the reason I got so much into DIY decorating is because of that house and how you had it decorated. Just wondering if maybe you could do an update post. If you ever sold it? If you’re renting it still? Any pictures? I know you had some kind of mess with previous tennants. Just wondering!!
What a cute idea! Love fun projects like this!
We are still renting it. And since we did have that mess with the first tenants, we treat it very much with a landlord mentality and so until we decide to sell it, it’s a pretty boring subject.
xo – kb
Oh man…so sorry to hear that!
xo – kb
The stencil is very small so mine doesn’t make it slippery but I would imagine that it could if you were covering a natural slick surface it could.
xo – kb
I recently saw a video of some people using something similar to sidewalks in Seattle. I think it lasted around 8 months they said? Very cool, I totally want to do this!
Love the idea of a surprise when it rains. My girls would love it! Great idea, it’s looks so pretty.
http://palsywalsyblog.blogspot.ca/
I love this! and all the other small projects like this that you do.
What?! That is so awesome. I’m definitely trying this.