Crafts with Rocks

There is something fascinating about rocks. Children of all ages collect them, at some point in time. Rocks come in all types: large rocks and small rocks, shiny rocks and dull rocks, single color rocks or multi color rocks, fat rocks and flat rocks.

Is there anything else we can do with rocks, aside from collecting them and their dust?

Sure there is. Let's explore together some of the things that we can do with rocks.

Pet Rock

This may be the most known craft idea when it comes to rocks. You can create just one pet rock or a whole pet family. You can create a whole zoo, if you like a variety of animals.

Materials needed
Rocks of various shapes and sizes
Paint and brushes
Googly eyes
Pipe cleaners
Yarn
Felt
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Cartoon pictures of animals

You can craft pet rocks just by simply painting on them, or you can use a combination of paint and other materials to create their features.

The first step to take is to wash the rocks you intend to use. Clean rocks will retain paint and glue better. Once washed, dry them completely.

You are now ready to create your pet. Choose the cartoon picture of an animal. You may want to check Microsoft Clip Art for a picture to use. If you know the specific animal you want to draw, search for that particular animal.

You can proceed in one of two ways: you can paint the background color first, by painting the whole rock, and then add the details, once the background has dried; or, you can draw or add the features of the animal first and then paint the background.

The first method works better if you, or other crafters, don't have great brush control. The second method works for experienced artists.

You can add the features by painting them, or you can add them by using different materials. Googly eyes are fun, especially because they move as you move your pet rock; but, you can also create eyes with pieces of felt (white for the white of the eyes and another color for the iris). Tails can be made out of yarn or pipe cleaners. Ears work well when created with felt. Make sure to use hot glue to secure these items. It glues faster and it is more durable.

Your pet rock can resemble a real animal, or you can make your own "out of this world" pet. Just use your imagination.

Paper Weight Rock

You can use your pet rock as a paperweight, or you can make something totally different.
Let's take a look at a flowering rock.

Materials needed
Rocks
Bread (or modeling clay)
Paints and brushes
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

As before, wash and dry your rock thoroughly. Take a slice of bread (but not the crust) and start working a small piece at the time until it takes the texture of modeling dough. Form leaves and petals and let dry. The bread works great with children because it won't hurt them if they choose to put it in their mouths. However, you can choose to use modeling clay in its place.

There are a variety of flowers you can create. Search the net for pictures of flowers for you to use as a model.

As you wait for the flower parts to be ready for the next step, paint your rock green. Once the leaves and petals have hardened, paint them and let them dry. With all items now dry, you are ready to glue them to your rock.

Next, you can create the "House Built upon the Rock" paperweight.

Materials needed
Flat rock
Toothpicks
Glue
Paint and brushes are optional

Wash and dry the rock, but you will not need to paint it. Once the rock is dried, you are ready to build your house out of toothpicks. This is an activity for adults or older children as it requires dexterity younger children have not yet developed.

First lay two toothpicks in front of each other, the distance determined by the length of the toothpicks. Next, glue a toothpick at each end of the ones already prepared. Continue to do so, as to create a log house, until you reach the desired height.

You can choose to build the house first and paint it, if you choose so, and then glue it to the rock. Either way will work fine, but you need to make sure that the surface of the rock is flat.

If you feel really creative, you can draw and paint pictures of windows and a door to glue to the finished house. Or you can cut and paste pictures of windows found in magazines.

Of course, you can also choose to cut the toothpicks, before you glue them to the rest of the structure, in order to create a window.

Whatever project you choose to create, the most important thing is that you, your children, and fellow crafters have fun with it.