Tips and tricks for painted rocks

Thanks to Terminix for sponsoring this post. As always, photos of my cute kids and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Sometime last semester, I started seeing painted rocks around campus. After a quick Google and Instagram search, I learned all about the Kindness Rocks Project – and I wanted to do my own. It should be no surprise to anyone that it took some time before I could get in on the fun. Not only did I want to paint them, but my son wanted to do it as well.  

If you haven’t heard of painted rocks, let me tell you….it’s a pretty fun phenomenon. If you search Facebook for your area and the word “rocks” you are likely to find groups where people are sharing photos of rocks they’re finding (so in my area, WNC Rocks is a big one.) It’s fun to see what people are finding, and what people are painting! 

To get in on the action do the following:

1. Get rocks. You can find rocks in area streams, rivers or lakes – or you can be like me and buy a bag of rocks. 

2. Paint your rocks. Some people recommend sealing the rock before painting. I painted my rocks with acrylic paints (and even Sharpie) and then sealed the artwork. I also used paints I already had, whereas others have mentioned using paint pens (which I think would be pretty cool to use.) 

3. Seal the rock with modge podge or another sealant.

4. Place your rocks where people will find them. This means, don’t leave them somewhere you don’t have permission to leave them. Don’t trespass on someone’s property. Don’t hide them in grass – or somewhere that can mess with a lawn mower or garden equipment. (I read in one of our local groups people had been leaving them under the seats at our local baseball stadium – and not everyone knows what the rocks are for, so some were being thrown away.) Be smart about where you are placing your rocks, and have fun with it while also remaining safe and not breaking any laws.

5. Pay it forward. It’s fun to find the rocks. If you find one, leave it in a new space!

So some of my favorite rocks are those with quotes (you can search Pinterest for some great quotes.) I don’t have the prettiest handwriting, so I tried to come up with some fun pictures that kids would like. I painted a robot (thank goodness my husband recognized it for what it was, making me feel a little good about myself.) And I tried to paint a ladybug. I am also a fan of aliens (being a mom to a boy who likes cute monsters will do this to a person.)  

Have you gotten in on the painted rocks fun lately?