Shake painted rocks – a great technique for younger children
Do you have a child that wants to join in the rock painting fun, but they are just not old enough to sit and paint? Or maybe you are just looking for an easy and fun way to paint rocks that are very discolored or misshaped? Then this idea is for you. We are going to shake our way to some colorful, painted rocks.
For Shake Painted Rocks You will Need:
- Box with lid, or a plastic container with a lid
- Paper towel
- Acrylic paint in assorted colors
- Rocks
- Spray sealer
- Paper plates
I started with an old box that shut. I would have thrown this box away, but it was perfect to be reused for this purpose. I placed a paper towel at the bottom of the box. The box I used had a small hole in it where you could carry it more easily. I used a paper towel to help cover this hole and prevent a huge mess.
Then, I placed a nickel-sized dollop of each color of paint I wanted to use at the bottom of the box. I used Folk Art Acrylic Paint in Tangerine, Ocean Cruise, and Apple Red.
Next, I placed the rocks in the box and closed the lid. The rocks I used were very uneven and had some jagged edges. I would not normally use rocks with these irregular shapes for rock painting unless they served a specific purpose.
Now, hand this off to a kid and let them shake the box to their heart’s content. If your lid is not very secure, you might need to attach a few pieces of tape to hold it shut. You would not want the lid to come off and then your rocks go flying.
Once I was done shaking, I opened the box and turned it over onto a paper plate. You can see how the paint is randomly placed all over the rocks and there are areas where the colors blend together. The rocks will need to dry completely. Keep in mind that you may have a few areas of think paint that may take longer to dry than normal. To speed up the drying process, I placed my paper plate outside in the sun.
After a while, when the paint was dry, I decided to seal these rocks. I want the paint to last a long time and not chip off. You may decide to skip this step if these rocks are just for a child to play with or display. I used a clear acrylic sealer by Mod Podge. I always use this sealer outside, it can get very fumy. This step should be completed by an adult. Be sure to follow the directions on your can of sealer and allow it to dry completely.
These shake painted rocks are so cute and colorful. I think I will try other color combinations and see what else I can create.
