Showing posts with label fabric paint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fabric paint. Show all posts

Thursday, July 24, 2014

5 Specialty Acrylics for Painted Rocks

 
Rock painting can be taken to a whole new level when you use specialty acrylic paints.


Here's how I used five, different types of specialty acrylics on my painted rocks.



Glitter paint


These little pots of glitter paint are perfect for Christmas-themed painted rocks. I used them to add sparkle to the puff ball and trim of Santa's hat. (Glitter paint also comes in 2 oz. bottles.)


Glow in the dark



I used glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint for the eyes of these mystery rocks. Glow paint is great for garden and Halloween-themed painted rocks.



Metallics


Metallics are one of my favorite specialty acrylic paints because I can use them on so many projects. In addition to gold, silver and copper, metallics are also available in many brilliant colors such as the  Emerald green and Topaz blue I used for the owls below.



Patio or Garden



Yard & Garden paint (also called Patio Paints) are specially formulated for outdoor use. This gnome home was painted using these specialty acrylics. I would still recommend you "seal" the painted stone if it will be kept outdoors.



Dimensional Paint


These specialty paints are referred to as fabric, 3-D and puffy paint. I used them to add realistic details to painted rock candy.



These are just a few of the many specialty paints available. Be creative, experiment, and try some for yourself. Most important of all - have fun!


Useful Links

Types of Craft Paint
Painted Mystery Rock Eggs
How to Paint a Santa Hat on Rocks and Stones
How to Paint Rock Candy
Add Magic to Your Garden with Painted Gnome Home Rocks


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

How To Paint Shabby-Chic Rocks and Stones



Pretty, shabby-chic painted stones are an easy rock-painting project for both Easter and year-round display.

Supplies
  • Smooth stones - any shape (oval rocks will look like painted eggs)
  • Acrylic paint in a muted color (I used "Light Buttermilk")
  • Black 3D fabric paint (also known as puffy paint)
  • Brush
  • Pencil
  • Sandpaper
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. 
Supplies used for shabby-chic painted rocks

How To Make Shabby-Chic Painted Rocks

Cover your stone with acrylic paint and allow it to dry.

Cover the stone with acrylic

Using a pencil, draw a swirly design on your painted stone. You can go around the edges, down the middle, whatever you like.

Draw a swirly design

Use the black 3D fabric paint to outline your sketched swirls. (You want the line to be raised.) Allow the fabric paint to dry for 4 hours.
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.

Outline the swirls with 3D paint


Once the black 3D fabric paint is dry, cover it with your original color and allow it dry.

Cover the swirls with the original color


Use sandpaper to carefully scrape off some of the paint on the raised design so the black shows through.

Scrape off some paint from swirls


Ideas

Paint different, muted colors and vary the placement of the swirl design.


"Mod Podge" flowers or other vintage images onto the stone.


Display your shabby-chic painted stones in a pretty dish or bowl.
 


Tips
  • Vintage paint colors are pale and muted - good colors to use are dusty rose, pale green, yellow ochre, cream, etc.
  • Practice with your 3D fabric paint first; it can be tricky if you've never used it before 
  • Matte 3D fabric paint works better than shiny but you can use either one as long as it's black
  • For a raised line, hold the 3D fabric paint bottle like a pencil and angle the tip while outlining your design
  • I did not use a sealer on these rocks because I wanted them to look "old" and the sealer would add shine
  • When you Mod Podge a design onto the rock, tear around the design's edges rather than cutting; the design will blend better into the stone. It also helps to add some of your paint around the design to camouflage the edges   

Helpful resources
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.

The inspiration for this project was a DIY idea for Shabby Chic Easter Eggs by Sylwia Serwin.


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Sweet, Simple Gifts - No-Fat Rock Candies

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

painted rocks, candy, candies, chocolate, Cindy Thomas


Quick How-To Lesson for Painting Chocolate Candy Rocks


  • Small, round stones make the best rock candies.
  • Paint one (or both) sides of each stone with a milk, dark, or white chocolate acrylic paint color. For the majority of these stones I used burnt umber acrylic paint. The light one is painted with buttermilk acrylic and for the shiny stone on the lower right I used brown fabric paint. 
  • If you have stones that are naturally chocolate-colored, you don't need to paint them. FYI: The stone on the upper right is unpainted.

painted rocks, stones, acrylic paint, chocolate, candy
Paint the stones with chocolate-colored acrylics

  • You can start decorating the stones now or you can add a little shading around the sides of each stone by mixing the brown paint with a little black (or brown with the buttermilk color).
  • An internet search for chocolate candy images will give you ideas for how to decorate your candies
  • I made this tool for applying the little dots on the stones

painted rocks, tool, DIY, dotting, pencil, pin,
DIY Dotting Tool

  • Now use your imagination - dots, swirls, lines, squiggles, a combination of designs - anything goes.
  • 3-D Fabric paint is what gives the designs dimension and realism. I used white, butterscotch and brown fabric paint
  • You may want to practice using the 3-D fabric paint before applying it to the stones.

painted rocks, stones, candy, chocolate, designs, Cindy Thomas
Add designs to the chocolate-colored stones


The painted rock candies will look even more realistic if you display them in a festive holiday dish...

painted rocks, candy, chocolate, festive, bowl, Cindy Thomas

...or a bowl.

painted rocks, chocolate, candy, bowl, Cindy Thomas
 

A few more gift-giving ideas: 
  • Adorn wrapped packages with a candy or two
  • Gift a few individual candies
  • Place a few rock candies in a Christmas stocking
  • Attach a ribbon to make a Christmas ornament
  • Create a unique and/or personalized gift by packaging the candies in a dish, bowl, mug, etc.
  • Painted rock candies make great gifts for Valentine's Day too.

Please, please, please remember to keep these candies away from young children. They can be very tempting and dangerous if ANYONE attempts to eat them.



Note: This idea was adapted from and inspired by Suzi Chua.


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks