Unpainted Rocks, Stones, Pebbles - How to Have a Pile Ready for Painting

Having a difficult time locating rocks to paint? 

Why not enlist the help of friends and relatives who can send you a small, medium or large box of stones. 

Unpainted Beach Stones Shipped to Colorado

A generous and thoughtful friend in Delaware gifted me with this box of beautiful, unpainted beach pebbles. It was shipped to me using a small USPS Priority Mail flat rate box.  

Beach pebbles (a wonderful type of stone on which to paint) are unavailable to me in land-locked, southeast Colorado. I was now able to gift my Delaware friend with painted rocks as well as add several to my supply of unpainted stones.

Gifts that Keep On Giving

U.S. Postal Service flat rate boxes are ideal for rock painters because the weight limit is generous and the flat price very reasonable. (The small box of beach stones shipped from Delaware to Colorado was only $5.35.)

To learn about the various flat rate box sizes, costs, weight limits, etc. visit the USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate page. (Update: There were price increases on January 27, 2013, however this is still a good deal.)

Get inspired - visit Rock Painting Ideas & Helps on Pinterest.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Inspiration for Painting Owls on Rocks

Calendars are a great resource for rock painting inspiration.

This free owl calendar is chock full of owl designs created by various artists. (Respect the artists and use the images for inspiration rather than copying their work.)

If you love owls but don't paint rocks, check out the calendar anyway. It's fun to customize by choosing from 43 different owls.

How to Create Valentine's Day Gifts of Painted Love Bug Rocks

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it. Instead of giving a card, give gifts of painted rock love bugs.

Say Happy Valentine's Day with a Gift of Love Bug Painted Rocks

What you'll need:

• Round rocks - plump or flat
• Acrylic paints
• Brushes
• Valentine Love Bugs free how-to lesson 

Love Bug painted rocks would certainly warm the heart of that special Valentine both young and old.

Love Bugs Painted on Rocks

But, you can make these gifts more personal and special:

• Place the painted love bug rocks in a Valentine-themed container
• Use Valentine-themed padding in the container

Tip: Visit your local craft, dollar or thrift store for Valentine-themed containers and accessories (red baskets, bowls, dishes, mugs, fabric, wrapping paper, etc.) to customize your Love Bug Valentine gifts.

Idea: Purchase a box of chocolates and replace one of the chocolates with a brightly-colored Valentine Love Bug.  However, keep the recipient in mind. You don't want them to try to eat the stone!



Of course, Love Bug rocks aren't just for holidays. You can warm hearts any time of the year with painted Love Bug rocks.


Painted rock candies are another easy gift idea for Valentine's Day.

Year-Round Display for Painted Rock Nativity Sets Using Candle Accessories

You've learned easy and natural ways to display nativity sets painted on rocks.

Now, you'll see how to use candle accessories for displaying your unique painted rock nativity scene figures year round. 

You'll need:

• Metal, glass or ceramic candle plates or dishes or
• Candle holders and
• Glass gems

Tiny Painted Rock Nativity Set Displayed on a Small Candle Dish

Tip 1: Look around your home. You may already have candle dishes, plates and holders that you can use.

Tip 2: Choose glass gems in colors that blend with your decor or the the painted rock nativity figures. Glass gems can be found at craft stores (e.g., Hobby Lobby) usually in the floral department.

Tip 3: It helps to place the Mary and Joseph nativity figures on the plate first and then surround them with the glass gems. Baby Jesus can sit atop the glass gems.

Tip 4: For inexpensive display ideas, visit your local thrift store, dollar store or garage sales.

Here are four more ideas using candle accessories, glass gems and painted rock nativity scene figures.

The Tiny Nativity Set is Replaced with a Small Nativity Set

Red, Metal Candle Plate with Glass Gems and Tiny Nativity Set

 

Round, Glass Candle Dish Used with the Tiny Nativity Set

Tiny Nativity Set Sits Atop Glass Gems in a Frosted Glass Candle Holder

The possibilities are endless for creating a year-round, nativity set display to fit your unique home decor style using candle accessories and glass beads. 

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Year-Round Display for Painted Rock Nativity Sets Using Natural Elements

You learned the simple and easy way to display your painted rock nativity set.

Here's how to display painted rock nativity scene figures year round using natural elements such as a:

• Piece of slate
• Wooden bowl or plate

Idea 1: You'll need a piece of slate which has flat areas to accommodate all three nativity scene figures. Clean and dry the slate and place the painted nativity rocks on top. You now have a natural, easy, simple way to display your nativity set year round.

Piece of Slate Used for a Natural Nativity Set Display

Idea 2: You'll need a wooden bowl or plate

Wooden salad bowl and charger plate

Fill the bowl with smooth stones and add the nativity figures...

Wooden Bowl + Smooth Stones + Painted Rock Nativity = Natural Display

...or fill the plate loosely with smooth stones...

...rearrange the stones around the larger, Mary and Joseph nativity figures so they are sitting directly on the plate. Add the Baby Jesus nativity figure on top of the stones. 

Wooden Plate + Smooth Stones + Painted Rock Nativity = Natural Display

Up next: Year-round, painted rock nativity set displays using candle accessories.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Easy, Year-Round Display for Painted Rock Nativity Sets

Christmas is over and you're saddened because the holiday decor is headed back to the closet.

Painted rock nativities can be left out year round because of their unique quality. It's more than a holiday decoration; it's a piece of art.

The easiest way to display your painted rock nativity set...

...simply place it in a bookcase or on a table.

Painted Rock Nativity Set Displayed in a Bookcase

These medium-sized painted rock nativity scene figures fit nicely with the colorful vase and ornate picture frame. The paint colors of this particular nativity set also blend well with the vase and the encyclopedia.

Why not keep the spirit of Christmas alive all year long. 

Coming next: Natural display ideas for nativity sets painted on rocks.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Monkeying Around with Rocks and Paint

A friend paid me a visit over the holidays, fell in love with my painted rock chimp and gave him a new home.

Chimpanzee Painted on a Rock Finds a New Home

I decided to paint various types of monkey faces on rocks to replace the adopted chimpanzee.

Monkey Faces Painted on Rocks

What I love about rock painting is the versatility. I can go either cartoon-like or realistic, simple or detailed and it works for all types of critters.

Progression of Painted Monkey Rocks - Simple to Detailed

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks