It's really fun to make together. There is no instruction manual included, but I first put some glue at the bottom and my toddler put the buttons or stones on it. In the container, you put the powder and then a little bit of water and mix it into a soft paste. Use a spatula to put a dollop on top and spread it well between the stones. Then, wipe the stones and the edges with the dry sponge. It might be better to do it differently, but we thought the result was great. You can't really make a mess with it.