Painting Rocks

Painting rocks is a one-of-a-kind outdoor craft that you can do with your kids in the summertime. If it’s hot outside, find a shady area to work so that you can enjoy the outdoors without overheating. This is a great activity to keep kids of different ages busy as everyone can participate. Not to mention, the end product can make an attractive addition to your garden. You don’t need to buy any expensive materials for this project, nor does it involve time-consuming clean up.

Materials

If you don’t have paint and paintbrushes on hand, take a trip to your local craft store. You may be able to find supplies at discount stores as well. You will need several different types of water-based paints. Try primary and secondary colors for starters. Paintbrushes in a few different sizes are also a necessity. At home, gather some paper cups and a large bowl of water to rinse out the paint brushes. All that’s left is the rocks and you can leave that up to your kids.

How-To

Choose a suitable area to paint. Make sure you’re not in direct sunlight. It’s best to have a table or some kind of flat surface to work on – outside, a picnic table is best. If you don’t want to worry about spills, cover the area with old newspaper. Pour each different color of paint into its own paper cup. Pass around the paintbrushes. The rocks may need to be washed or rinsed and dried before they can be painted on. Let each child work on the rocks he or she gathered.

Ideas

If your children need inspiration, you don’t have to look far. They can choose to paint scenery, such as a forest, ocean sunset, or lake. They might also want to try writing words on rocks, as these make a nice addition to a garden. Themes can be fun, too. Have your children work on a series of rocks along one theme, such as animals, flowers, beach, or seasons. Repeated patterns and designs can also have a stunning effect. If your children like to really get creative, have them try a paint splatter design.

Ideas and Suggestions

If you don’t have any suitable rocks around or it’s raining outside, a trip to the local craft store can be helpful. You can buy a package of small pebbles or medium-sized rocks to use for your project. Paint is another aspect of this project that you can change up. Magic markers and Sharpie pens work well on smaller, smooth rocks and can be used to draw detailed pictures or letters. Marker paints or fabric paints are another alternative if you don’t want to use traditional paints. They can allow you to have more control over fine details. In the end, it’s up to your kids and what they want to create. You may find that they are more than pleased with regular acrylic paint. Finally, if you want to seal the finished product, mix white glue with water and paint over it – this will ensure that your child’s precious art lasts forever.