Painted Rocks

Collecting and decorating rocks is one of the fun things about getting out and exploring in the warmer weather.


Here are a few ways to paint and decorate yours.


You Will Need

  1. a few rocks or large pebbles from a trip to a creek or the beach or even from a store (the best ones have a flat side to paint on but all of them are beautiful)

  2. paint (thicker paints like Acrylic or Gouache work better for stronger colors and don't get washed away as easily but they need more grownup supervision)

  3. popsicle stick is useful for the paint dipping method

  4. extra items could be pipe cleaners, googly eyes or some air drying clay


Step by Step - Dip into a Rainbow

Obviously you can paint a rock with any paints you have in any way you want to. This is a dipping technique and uses thicker paints like Acrylic or Gouache.

Squirt paint in lines on to a scrap piece of paper as long as your rocks

If the paint spreads out too much use a popsicle stick to push the colors back together then place your rock, face side down into the paint.


Carefully lift the rock up, as straight as possible, and place it on a none painted side to dry.


The paint is thick and will need an hour or 2 to dry completely before deciding how to add to it.


You could decide to leave it just like this, a beautiful rainbow rock to display or leave for someone to find in a trail or public space.

Maybe you could write an inspirational message underneath when it is dry?

Pet Rock

We had a little bit of air drying clay and added ears and a face to one of our rocks and made a little bear.


You could think about adding googly eyes or drawing a face on it after your paint is dry, or maybe you have different colored air drying clay for a beautiful creature.

Picture Holder

Take a long pipe cleaner and wrap it tightly around the middle of one of your painted rocks. Leave a long tail and curl this tail around your finger to create a curl to hold a small photograph. It makes a perfect gift or a beautiful way to display your memories.

Tie it tightly and wind it around to make a strong stand for the picture

More Crafts are coming your way soon, keep your eye out and we will have more ways to collect craft-a-long packets and more in store to help you through this special year.


If you didn't collect all our Summer Craft-a-longs please visit the Craft-a-long section on the site and if you have any ideas for future activities please contact changoartsined@gmail.com or join us for one of our virtual PTA meetings