Painted Rocks

Every spring I like to plant a garden and this year was no exception. One day my daughter and I were in a mood to do a craft and didn't have money to go a buy things so we decided to paint some rocks. Two rocks became ten and before we knew it people were asking us to make some for their gardens too. 

It's a fun simple craft and you can use rocks for many things besides sprucing up a garden. They can be doorstoppers, paper weights, gifts, decorations etc...

Supplies:

• Rocks (all sizes) 
• Guesso
• Acrylic paints (various colors)
• Spray finishing gloss
• Cardboard
• A mixing tray
• Pencil
• Various sized paint brushes
• Small fan (to speed up the drying process)

Directions:

1. Once you choose your rocks, scrub them clean with a dish scrubber and a mixture of dish soap and bleach for disinfecting. 
2. Dry them on a drying mat, an old towel or even a few pieces of paper towels. 
3. Coat rocks with Guesso. Guesso helps the paint to adhere and stick better. 
4. Once the guesso is completely dry you can draw your design onto the rock.
5. Now you are ready to begin painting. Paint the rock at least 3 coats of paint. Allow each layer to dry before painting the next. My daughter always rushes this process and thinks she can do just one coat but what happens is the rocks fade quickly and the paint does not hold up.
6. When you are completely done painting spray the rock with clear gloss spray from the hardware dept. You can get a big can for under 4.00 but purchae in the hardware department in places such as Walmart. The craft store will charge more.

Here are some of the rocks we painted. They make great decorative rocks for a garden and gifts too.

Initially Speaking

Wherever you go now a day you see these huge alphabet letters in the craft aisles at places like Walmart, AC Moore and other big name craft shops.

 You can do many things with these giant letters. You can add fabric like the one you see here on your right. Then you can add some type of trim that you can get at any craft or fabric store. This would be one option.

 
On the other hand, another thing you might try is cover the letter in glitter. You can buy glitter almost anywhere. My favorite is the Martha Stewart brand. She has fine glitter and they are so colorful too. Let your imagination run wild. Think of a chameleon and do it in stripes or maybe polka dots.

 

You could decorate a letter with colorful buttons, or maybe with mosaic squares. Alternatively, even with photographs as you see in this photograph to the right. Yes,...there's many fun and innovative ways you can decorate these letter.

 
The key is just to have fun and use your imagination!








Books related to our project:


Alphabet Fun Children's Rhyming Picture Book Alphabet Fun rhyming book is filled with creative pages that are meant to be silly and have your children wanting to read it over and over again. The book uses colorful pictures that makes it fun to learn their ABC's and all the letters in the alphabet. Available on amazon




ABC Come Play With Me: A Picture Alphabet Book for Young Children

Available on amazon

Painted Sneaker Craft

What a cool way to update some old sneakers or a pair of cheap ones.You could be very creative and draw polka dots,maybe some cartoon characters,or chevrons as you see here on the photo to the right.

Here is the link for directions on how to do this cool project.



Here are some other ideas to decorate your shoes. Make sure you spray your shoes with a Scotch guard water proof repellent after you paint them with the fabric paints or waterproof markers.

 



 

Books related to our project:

 There's a Spider in My Shoe!                           Ew! There's a spider in my shoe! There are many things I don't like, but spiders are the worst! Oh, it's not because of their many fuzzy legs or their creepy crawly smiles. No, no. The reason that spiders are the worst is because... Available on amazon

 

Tallulah's Toe Shoes

Tallulah is back in ballet class and now she wants to go en pointe—to dance up on the tips of her toes in pink satin toe shoes, like a real ballerina. But going en pointe is not good for growing feet, and her ballet teacher says her feet aren't ready yet. Oh, yes, they are, Tallulah thinks. And so am I. Not only is she ready, she's determined. And nothing stops Tallulah when her mind is made up! Available on amazon

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Three Pumpkins In A Row

I absolutely love this idea---I found it on FamilyFun. It's a nonperishable alternative and you can save it to display for many Halloween's to come. 

Materials
Terra-cotta pots
Yellow craft paper
Mod-Podge Outdoor
Short, fat sticks

Instructions--For each one, invert a terra-cotta pot. Cut eyes, a nose, and a toothy grin out of yellow craft paper. Brush Mod-Podge Outdoor on the surface of the pot where you want the features to go and press them in place.To weatherproof your creation, apply a final coat to the entire pot. Finally, insert a short, fat stick into the hole for a stem.

Books related to our craft--

Duck & Goose Find A Pumpkin By Tad Hills

Reviewed on Amazon~"I was walking through the book store looking for books for my 17 month old and this book caught my eye because of the beautiful fall colors. The story is short (but not too short), cute and funny, and I love the illustrations. This is our first duck & goose book and now I can't wait to get more!" To Purchase

Druscilla's Halloween By Sally Walker

Reviewed on Amazon~"Adorable and hilarious at the same time. I was taken in by the beautiful watercolor artwork that drew me into the storyline, which was, by the way, very humorous. This story revolves around an old witch named Druscilla, who has creeky knees and a real problem being able to scare the children on Halloween night, seeing how witches are supposed quietly creep up on their victims. But, this didn't discourage her from performing her yearly duties, it only made her more determined to find a solution to her problem. A very good real life lesson. Written in a very endearing style, the author gives Druscilla credit for the invention of the flying broom. I loved reading it and will enjoy it for many years to come. A definite must have for your children's library." To Purchase

 

                                                                                                                                                                                    

MY Kids Walk All Over Me

I had to laugh when I saw this craft project. How many times have we said our kids or even our pets walk all over us?  

Here's  a fun t-shirt that you can make using your kids foot prints or even the family dog or cat. It also makes a great gift idea!

 



Materials Needed:White T-Shirt
Cardboard
Fabric Paints
Paint Brush
Styrofoam Plates or Other Shallow Containers

Instructions:

• You can put fabric paint on a paper plate or in shalow dishes
• Give each child a t-shirt
• Lay the t-shirt out on a flat surface. Place a piece of cardboard inside the shirt so the paint doesn't leak through to the other side. You might want to keep a large container with warm soap water and towels near where you are making this t-shirt.
• Using a paint brush paint bottom of foot and then step onto tshirt carefully so that footprint does not smear.
• Allow to dry
• Once the footprints dry, use fabric paint and write "My Kids Walk All Over Me".

Books related to our project:

"I was hoping that this book would bring more chuckles than it does. Coming from Jeff Foxworthy one would have that expectation. It's not a book of humorous things that kids do, well, not in the laugh out loud sense, but is a collection of cute poems for kids. I still enjoyed the book, but expected more laughs."

FOR PURCHASING INFO 

"This simply is one of the finest children's picture books of the year, and sure to be named on every one's Top of 2000 list. Quietly humorous and tongue-in-cheek narration, fluid and expressive black-and-white-and-red artwork, and the charming portrayal of the busy and mischievous Olivia make this an instant classic. Sight gags abound (Olivia's ambitious sandcastle, her pink-pink sunburn, her dreams of being a ballerina, and her songbook "40 Very Loud Songs") and Falconer, a New Yorker cover artist and theatre designer, portrays the never-ending energy of a tiny pig, er, girl, with wit and charm. Don't miss this one: suitable for all ages from the very young to the very old, "Olivia" is the prize of the season. It's the kind of book kids will be begging to have read to them before bed: bargaining for not once, not twice, but three times."
 
FOR PURCHASING INFO 

Printing With Veggies

Vegetable Printing: You may be amazed to know that how various vegetables cut through root and dipped in tempera paints can be used to give some interesting patterns and pictures. Kids of all ages can enjoy this project. Parental supervision. 




Here is what you will need:

• Onion
• Potato
• Apple
• Orange
• Corn on the cob holders
• Paper
• Tempra paints
• Paper towels
• Crayons
• Sharp Knife

Directions: **Parents Must Cut

ONION--Cut the onion horizontally and vertically. Use it as a stamp to stamp the paper with different colours and create amazing patterns.

POTATO--Take a medium sized potato and cut into four pieces. Carve a design into the potato...ie:heart,flower etc...

Orange--Cut in half.

Apple--Cut in half and remove seeds.

To make it easier to hold use corn on the cob holders and stick them into the onion and potato.






Books related to our topic:

For Purchasing Information

For Purchasing Information

People Puppets

Make one to look like you and one to look like all your friends.

You need:

• Empty Paper Towel Tube
• Tube From Paper Towel
• Paint and Brush
• Markers
• Two wiggly eyes (large)
• Ribbons
• Scissors
• Craft glue 

Glue a jumbo craft stick inside the empty tube for a handle. To make hair, cut strips down one side 4". Bend or curl the pieces around a fat marker. Trim. Paint the face and hair. Glue on wiggle eyes. Draw on details with marker. Glue on hair bows if desired.

Put on your own show for your Mom's and Dad's or even your friends.

More Father's Day Gifts

I have been searching for father's day crafts. Here is one father's day craft that really stood out and I think Dad's will really like this stylish,cool hammer. It's a great craft for tweens and teens. PAINTED HAMMER

Here are some more really neat crafts that I found HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.

June 19th is Father's Day!!!