This is such an easy project and my kids (almost 4 and 20 months) have gone crazy for it. And I have to confess that I really enjoyed it too. Very addictive. I chalk their enthusiasm (and mine) up to a couple things:
- Painting or drawing on a 3-dimensional surface is a fun challenge
- The colors of the paint markers are vivid and opaque (i.e. pretty), and very easy to use.
There are lots of ways to paint a rock, for example, we recently painted a big rock with watercolor paints. But the method I’m sharing today is so easy and the mess is minimal.
Materials
- Selection of smooth river or beach rocks
- Paint markers. We used Elmer’s Painters Pens
- Covered table (the markers leave a mess on the work area that you’ll be happy that you prepared for it).
If your markers are new, you’ll want to shake them a bit and depress the tips until the paint starts to flow. Just follow the directions of your paint. 3-year old N wanted to make each of her rocks unique.
And her sister, Baby R, enjoyed the challenges of learning to hold the marker and controlling the lines as they hit the rock.
N was so proud of her creations, and actually hid her favorites (not seen here) in a closet for Father’s Day. Phew, guess I’m off the gift-giving hook.
The rocks really are spectacular and seeing them makes me so happy.
A small clean-up caveat: the ink will get all over your kids’ hands, but don’t fret. The mess would have been much worse if you’d given them a bowl of acrylic paint and brushes. And it will all come within a day or two.
More Rock Painting
Jen at Paint Cut Paste shows you how to make thumbprint rock magnets. Tweet Tweet.
This is one of my first posts: Rolling Rock Painting. It’s like rolling ball painting, but a little bit more unpredictable.
I love homemade games, and this rock domino set from Martha Stewart would make me so happy.
Have you or your kids painted rocks? If you’re a blogger, feel free to share a link in your comment.
You are the second rock painting post I’ve got across this week and I’ve equally loved both!! I guess we are going to have to go paint rocks! They just looks so pretty. Simple classic fun… plus we can make an activity out of looking for rocks to paint in the first place 😉 Love it!
That’s so funny, Jen. Sometimes the seasons put these ideas out into the air. And you’re right — it’s a great excuse to hunt for rocks and make this a two-for project!
thanks for including our fingerprint rocks in this post, rachelle. we love rock painting (and rock art in general.) pet rocks (https://www.paintcutpaste.com/pet-rocks-rock/) and hot colored rocks (https://www.paintcutpaste.com/hot-colored-rocks/) are so much fun, too! i love those paint pens you have – we’ll have to give those a try sometime!
Paint pens are fun and simple! Thanks for the suggestion to use them to decorate rocks.
I know, the paint pens are so easy and little hands have so much more control over them than they do paint brushes.
The efforts you have put in to create the posts are quite interesting. Looking forward to seeing you soon in a new post.
Children need to develop through a variety of arts that will encourage them to discover a variety of paintings.
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