How to Paint Baby Jesus on a Rock

Useful Links

Rock Painting Tips for Beginners

Helpful Rock Painting Tools and Supplies

Christmas Holiday Painted Rocks Projects

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Before and After Painted Rocks: Christmas Holiday

Now is the time to put Christmas decorations away until next year.

Flip a triangular or heart-shaped stone upside down and it's the perfect shape for Santa's hat and beard.

A kidney-shaped stone worked well for painting Father Christmas.

Rectangular, flat stones were used for each of these Nutcrackers.

A triangular-shaped stone was perfect for a kitty in a Santa hat...

...and a puppy in a Santa hat too.

A round piece of slate and a small, oval stone were glued together to create a melting snowman.

Learn How to Make a Melting Snowman with Painted Rocks

See More Before & After Painted Rocks

• Various
• The Beatles
• Garden Critters
• Furry Pets 
• Machines
• Wild Animals  

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Christmas Holiday Painted Rocks Projects

Are you stumped and don't know what to gift a friend who has everything? How about a rock hand painted by you?

Are you looking for projects to keep the children busy during their break from school? How about an afternoon of painting rocks?

My gift to you is four holiday rock painting projects which are easy and fun for all ages to make, give and receive.

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Sweet, Simple Gifts - No-Fat Rock Candy

Painted rock candies are a sweet gift to have on hand around the holidays and very easy to paint.

Learn How to Paint Rock Candy

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How to Paint a Santa Hat on Rocks and Stones

Painted Santa hat rocks make cute DIY Christmas gifts which are easy enough for children to paint and fun for all ages to give and receive.

Learn How to Paint a Rock Santa Hat

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How to Make a Melting Snowman with Painted Rocks

"Build" this snowman in the warmth of your home instead of braving the cold, frosty outdoors.

Learn How to Paint a Melting Snowman on Rocks

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How to Make Christmas Trees with Pine Cones and Painted Stones

Collect a few pine cones and use them with small, painted rocks to create a Christmas tree. 

Learn How to Paint a Pine Cone/Stone Christmas Tree

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Merry Christmas, Everyone!

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks 

How I Discovered Rock Painting

It took me over 30 years to discover rock painting!

As a child, I enjoyed drawing and always had a pencil and/or crayons in my hand. I was one of those kids whose favorite class was art. 

But, rather than pursue an education or career in art, all artistic endeavors were forgotten when I moved to a big city, married, and had a child.

Twenty years later, I received a painted, clay pot as a Christmas gift from my sister. I loved my painted pot and it came with me (unbroken) on 3 moves to different states.

Skip ahead 13 years to where my last move took me - an environment I never experienced before - few trees and lots of rocky terrain. I thought I had landed on the moon! People used rocks instead of grass for their yard! Yuck, how ugly!

Then, I saw a review for Really Jazzy Pots: Glorious Gift Ideas and thought to myself, "I like gardening, want to paint with acrylics, loved my painted pot Christmas gift, why not give this a try."

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

So, I started looking for this clay-pot-painting book. I'm the type who likes to borrow a book from the library and peruse it before making a purchase. However, my library did not have this particular book nor did my local bookstore at the time.

Months later, while I was looking through the book rack at Hobby Lobby for "Really Jazzy Pots," I discovered "Rock Painting Fun for Everyone" by Lin Wellford.


Once I started paging through Lin's book, I was hooked! It was perfect and even better than painted clay pots! The "canvas" was rocks - something plentiful where I lived! 

Each page of the rock painting book brought a smile to my face as I saw the cute things I could paint with acrylics and rocks. And, Lin's step-by-step instructions illustrated how easily I could do it!

My first kitty cats painted on rocks

I painted my first rocks seven years ago. Now my eye is drawn to rocks of all shapes, sizes and textures. I see their potential to come alive with acrylic paint to warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.

P.S. I don't think rocks are so ugly anymore.


Rock Painting Links
Lin Wellford's how-to-paint-rocks books
Free rock painting projects and other resources 
Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks on Facebook 

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Make a Melting Snowman with Painted Rocks

"Build" this snowman in the warmth of your home instead of braving the cold, frosty outdoors.

 

Supplies:

• One flat rock and a smaller round or oval rock

• White, black, red, orange acrylic paint
• Glue (I used E6000) 
• Protective sealer (optional)

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Step 1: Glue the smaller rock onto the larger, flat stone.

Step 2: Paint the stones white. (You may need to apply several coats of paint for good coverage.)

 Step 3: Paint the eyes, carrot nose, mouth, stick arms and buttons.

Ideas:

• Use 3-D fabric paint for the eyes and buttons
• Use buttons for the eyes and buttons
• Attach sticks for the arms instead of painting them
• Add glitter glue to give the snowman a glistening effect
• Attach small, painted stones for the eyes and buttons
• Attach a pretty ribbon to make a hanging tree ornament
• For an outdoor display, use a round garden paver for the melting body and a large stone for the head
• Melted snowman cookies were the inspiration for this project 

A melting snowman is an easy rock painting project and great for Christmas stocking stuffers.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Free Rock Painting Tutorial: Christmas Mouse

Patsy Waters has graciously shared her tutorial for painting a very cute Christmas Mouse on a rock (or slate).

Photo Courtesy of Patsy Waters

Step-by-Step Instructions

Tutorial Courtesy of Patsy Waters

 

Another Variation

 

You can adapt the Christmas Mouse tutorial to create a prayerful Angel Mouse thanks to Lisa Carter of ROCK ART USA.  

Illustration Courtesy of Lisa Carter ROCK ART USA

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Start painting now and you'll have some very cute gifts and stocking stuffers ready for the Christmas holiday.

How to Make Christmas Trees with Pine Cones and Painted Stones

I collected a few pine cones the other day with the idea to use them with small, painted rocks to create a Christmas tree.

Pine Cone and Painted Stone Christmas Tree

Step 1: I cleaned the dirt, pine needles, etc. from the pine cone. If you prefer, you can wash and preserve the pine cone before starting this project.

Step 2: I went through my small stones and chose the rounded or oval ones.

Step 3: I narrowed down my selection of stones by fitting them on the scales of the pine cone. Some stones were too big, some too thick, and others fit nicely to maintain the Christmas tree shape.

Step 4: I painted my chosen stones with white acrylic paint as a base to make the paint adhere better and my colors appear brighter.

Step 5: Metallic craft paint in various hues - gold, silver, copper, emerald, topaz, amethyst, rose - was applied to the primed stones.

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Step 6: I thoughtfully placed each painted stone on the pine cone where the color and fit looked best, then attached them with white glue. (At times the stone wanted to slip from the pine cone's scale and it was necessary to hold it in place until set.)

Step 7: (Optional) Once all the painted rocks were in place and set, I sealed the pine cone/stone Christmas tree with a brush-on polyurethane sealer.

Painted Stones Become Ornaments on a Pine Cone Tree

Tips

• ALWAYS keep small stones away from children - they are a choking hazard!
• Use a toothbrush or bottle brush to clean the pine cones.
• Always test the placement of the stones to avoid the pine cone being tipsy.
• If using multiple colors, take care of the placement so you don't have the same colors bunched together.
• You may need to touch up the underside of the painted stones. Do it carefully so you don't get paint on the pine cone.
• E6000 or a similar glue should also work for this project.
• You can purchase small stones (in a bag) in the craft section of a dollar store.

Ideas

• Add glitter to the stones or edges of the pine cone. (I used glitter for the stone at the top to resemble a star.)

• Add a little white paint to the edge of the pine cone to resemble snow.
• Paint the pine cone instead of leaving it natural.
• Place the pine cone/stone Christmas tree in a painted clay pot (see photo above).
• Paint rectangular stones to resemble gifts under the tree.

• Switch up the colors for a Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, or other holiday/occasion.
• Use a pretty candle holder for a base. (I used a red, star-shaped candlestick.) 

Before/After

Useful Links

• How to clean and preserve pine cones
• Pine cones by the bag
• Small stones by the bag
• Metallic craft paint
• E600 Glue 
• Mini pine cone pot tutorial
• How to paint a pine cone Christmas tree

Note: When you click on certain links in this post, I may receive a commission for the purchase of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Christmas Ideas for Painted Rocks

Painted rocks are great gifts to make, give, and receive over the Christmas holidays.

Santa Ornaments Painted on Rocks

For Christmas rock painting inspiration, I have a new Pinterest board: Ideas: Christmas Painted Rocks.

Painted rocks can be more than ornaments, too. Larger rocks can be painted as indoor/outdoor holiday home and garden decor.

Large Painted Rock Santa with Detachable Head

Christmas will be here before you know it. Now is the time to start collecting rocks and stones (before they're covered by snow) and painting them.

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Visit my Pinterest Rock Painting Ideas and Helps board to get inspiration for other painted rocks projects.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Painted Rock Nativity Sets - A Collection of Year-Round Display Ideas

Painted rock nativity sets aren't just for Christmas.

My Inspiration - Marquita's Display

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There are many ways to display painted rock nativity sets year round and during the holidays to express your unique style.

Simply place the nativity scene figures in a bookcase or on one of your tables.

Easy Year-Round Display Idea

I would advise against placing heavy rocks in a high spot. If they get knocked over they could cause injury or damage.

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Natural Displays

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, and decorative stones.
 

Painted Rock Nativity Sets Displayed Using Natural Elements

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Candle Accessories Displays

Here's how you can display your unique, painted rock nativity scene figures year-round using candle accessories and glass gems. 

Painted Rock Nativity Sets Displayed Using Candle Accessories

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Charger Plate Displays

Place the nativity set on a metal or plastic plate and surround with greenery, glass gems, or polished river stones.

Customize this display to fit your decor with plate color choice, foliage type, gems, or rocks.

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Christmas Displays

Use an existing nativity stable and place the nativity scene figures inside.

Painted Rock Nativity Set in a Traditional Display

I found this stable at my local craft store (Hobby Lobby). Stables come in many sizes and you should be able to find one at craft or general merchandise stores

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Use an existing nativity stable and animals that came with the set.

Traditional Nativity Display with Animals

Store-bought nativity sets (stable and figures) come in many different sizes and are readily available. You can decide which pieces from the nativity set to combine with your painted rock nativity scene figures. 

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Make your own stable using balsa wood, bark, and moss.

If you want to keep a natural or hand-made theme, a simple stable can be constructed with balsa wood, moss, and bark. This rustic display would be charming in a cozy mountain cabin.

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Make your own stable using a wooden key caddy.

 
Learn how I made this nativity stable from a wooden key caddy.

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Outdoor Display

These edgestone paver nativity scene figures are sealed to withstand the outdoor elements. 

Outdoor Pavestone Nativity Scene Figures

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Painted rock nativity sets are a unique and versatile addition to your home decor any time of the year.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks