Easy, strong, and beautiful DIY stepping stones

We made these stepping stones three summers ago. None of them have cracked, and they are still beautiful.
Click "read more" for some brief specific ideas on how to do a great job on this.
First, do NOT used cement or concrete mix. Use "mortar mix", which is cheap and commonly available in hardware stores in 50-60 pound bags (20-30 kg) or perhaps smaller quantities. I used at least a couple bags to make 11 stepping stones.
Second, to make strong and durable stepping stones, you MUST use the hardware cloth (stiff wire mesh) as a reinforcement, or else they will crack soon. The hardware cloth goes between two pours of mortar. I used half-inch (1.25cm) hardware cloth.
Third, press the half-marbles DEEPLY, farther than you think looks nice, because they will float up a bit as the mortar dries. I know this is true because some of the marbles have come loose that my wife lightly pressed, but the ones I deeply pressed have had no problem. (Sorry honey, but it's true!)
If some half marbles or stones DO come loose, clean the empty "socket" with an old toothbrush, and on a dry day glue the marble or stone back in the socket using clear silicone adhesive sealant (silicone glue tube, cheap in the hardware store).
The cardboard on the bottom of the forms may be unnecessary, but I figured it would help to retain moisture in the mortar mix as it hardened, resulting in a stronger "product".
The garden edging easily comes loose after the mortar dries. We did not walk on these steps until about four hours later. Since then they have gotten a lot of traffic!
If I did this again, I would dig a wider hole for each, and underlay it with a circle of weed-block fabric. Then I'd surround with 4 or 5 inches (10-12cm) of gravel instead of the 2 inches I did. That would make it easier to maintain the grass around these with a lawn mower. As it is, I have to use clippers a couple times a year to keep grass off them.
Materials:
*mortar mix
*decorative half-marbles/stones--whole marbles probably work too
*hardware cloth, small roll of 1/2 inch type (1.25cm)
*flexible garden edging--plastic or aluminum
*scrap cardboard
Tools
*large bucket for mixing mortar
*small shovel for stirring and moving mortar
*circular cookie sheets (got them at Dollar Store)
*wire cutters or snips--for cutting the hardware cloth
*strong clips--like alligator paper clips, to hold the circle form together
Regards to MASON, who filmed this and had the idea years ago to make this DIY video!

[@susannautterback6815]

Going to try this..it is beautiful but I'm sea sick trying to watch this video!

[@rosajacobsen8140]

What a super idea! They look great and I am going to give it a try.

[@bmerenbloom]

I'm dizzy. Cannot watch.