10 Rock Painting Ideas for a Rainy Afternoon
Rock painting needs almost no preparation and works for a wide range of ages. Cover the table, put out paint and a cup of water, and try one of these ideas.
Before you start
Wash and dry the stones, paint a base coat in a light colour and let it dry for ten minutes. Acrylic paint and paint pens give the brightest colours. Finish with a clear varnish if the rocks will go outside.
Ten ideas to try
- Ladybirds and bees – one base colour, black dots, done.
- Friendly monsters – googly eyes and wild teeth, always a hit.
- Kindness rocks – short messages like "You've got this" to leave on a walk.
- Story stones – paint a sun, a house, a dog and a key, then tell a story with them.
- Tic-tac-toe set – five crosses, five circles and a cloth bag.
- Garden labels – herb names for pots on the windowsill.
- Dot mandalas – dots of paint with a cotton bud, calming for older kids.
- Pet portraits – a cat curled up fits a round stone perfectly.
- Fruit – watermelons, strawberries and lemons for pretend play.
- Paperweights – a personalised gift for grandparents.
Tip: keep a "rock gallery" on a shelf. Seeing their work on display is a great reason for kids to paint the next one.
