These painted sticker rocks are so fun to make with kids! Hide them at a local park for other kids to find to keep the smiles going. Stickers are a fun and easy way to customize the rocks with your favorite characters. This post contains affiliate links.
If you love simple crafts for kids you’ll love these DIY pocket fans that kids can make!
Watch our step by step video!
We’ve been busy exploring the state parks here in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. So many amazing trails to go on as a family. During our walks, we occasionally come across painted rocks. The kids love them and get so excited to spot one. Mac was SO excited to find one a few weeks back that he squealed and threw it—-resulting in it landing in a swampy pond.
We decided it would be fun to replace that little rock and add even more to the hiking trails for other families to enjoy.
We kept things SUUUUUUPER simple by adding stickers to our rocks and covering them with a coat of acrylic spray paint to seal (can also use Mod Podge if the painted rocks will be inside or on a porch). So quick, so easy, and perfect for kids.
More ways to decorate rocks:
- Decorate with puffy fabric paint.
- Heat rocks then color with crayons for a glossy look.
- Mod Podge wrapping paper or tissue paper to rocks.
Tracking Painted Rocks
Make sure to check and see if your city has a painted rocks website or facebook page to track them and see other rocks in the area.
Supplies for Painting Rocks And Adding Stickers
Rocks
The best place to pick up rocks (if you don’t have any in your yard) is Home Depot or Lowe’s. You can get a big bag of Mexican river rocks in the garden section for about $10. Much cheaper than Amazon.
Paint
Acrylic craft paint is about $.50 a bottle at most craft stores and works great.
Brushes
We used a variety of sponge brushes and regular craft brushes.
Stickers
You can use whatever kind of stickers you’d like as long as they are flat. We found that we liked flat stickers better than puffy stickers. If you paint your rocks WHITE, you can try applying temporary tattoos! We added temporary tattoos to soap bars last year and couldn’t believe how well that worked out.
Acrylic SealerÂ
Mod podge is a quick and easy way to seal the sticker to the paint and adds a water-resistant barrier, but it is not weather-proof in wind, rain, and extreme heat. The best sealer is an acrylic spray gloss. We used mod podge and were happy with the results since the rocks have been kept in the shade, in planter pots on our porch, or were found quickly at the park.
Painted Sticker Rocks Tutorial
Painted Sticker Rocks
Equipment
- paint brushes
- blow dryer
Materials
- river rocks
- acrylic paint
- stickers
- spray gloss sealer
Instructions
- Coat river rocks in two layers of acrylic paint. Blow dry paint to help it dry faster.
- Place a sticker on the rock and press firmly.
- Cover the rock in a layer of sealer and let dry.
Video
Notes
3 More Painting Projects for Kids
Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!
Sam says
Modge Podge will come off in the rain