4 Rock Painting Projects - No Drawing Skill Required

You don't have to be an artist to create colorful rocks.

No drawing or painting skills are needed for these 4 techniques:

• Mod Podge a design
• Fingerprint stones
• Graphic stones
• Pattern tracing 

How to Mod Podge a Design onto Rocks

For this technique, all you'll need is a smooth rock, your design (I used a napkin) and some Mod Podge.

Click here for my tips on how to Mod Podge a design onto a rock.

How to Paint Fingerprint Stones

For this technique, you'll need some stones, acrylic paint, a marker and your finger (or thumb). The idea is to use your fingerprint to create a body and then add simple features with a marker.

Click here for my instructions and tips to create fingerprint stones.

How To Paint Graphic Stones

The secret to this "no drawing skill" painted stone is to portion off parts of the rock with masking tape. The only supplies needed are stones, paint, a brush and masking tape.

Click here for step-by-step instructions for easy, graphic stones.

How To Trace a Pattern onto a Stone

Graphite transfer paper is the special item you'll need for this technique. Although drawing skills aren't required, this technique is more involved than the other three mentioned in this post.

Click here for step-by-step instructions for transferring a pattern onto a rock.

No drawing skills? No problem! You can create colorful rock and stone art using these 4 techniques.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

How To Mod Podge a Napkin onto Rocks

I was saving a pretty napkin for a craft project and decided to try Mod Podging it onto a large rock. (I love painting rocks and stones but wanted a break from detailed painting.)






First, I cut a design from the napkin that would fit best on the rock.

Then I used a brush to paint a thin coat of Mod Podge on the rock and pressed the napkin design carefully onto the rock.

Next I applied a coat of Mod Podge over the design.

PROBLEM: I could not smooth the wrinkles from the Mod Podge-saturated napkin without tearing it.

So, I left the wrinkles/bubbles.

Napkin design Mod Podged onto large rock

Maybe less is more? I decided to use smaller designs and smaller stones following the same steps as above.

This time I was able to smooth the Mod Podge-saturated napkin without tearing it.

Napkin design Mod Podged onto small stones

SOLUTION: When Mod Podging portions of a napkin onto a stone, smaller is better. 

Tips & Ideas:

• Look for pretty napkins with small designs that would fit nicely on small stones
• Work carefully once Mod Podge is applied to the napkin design to avoid tearing
• My fingers worked best for smoothing the napkin after the Mod Podge was applied
• Once the saturated napkin has dried, you can sponge paint around the edges (like the 2 green stones pictured above on the lower right)
• For no-skill-required painting, Mod Podge the napkin design onto a stone and apply paint over it (using the design as a guide) so the rock will now look painted rather than Mod Podged
• Add a few paint strokes in strategic spots or use 3-D fabric paint strategically for added dimension and interest
• For a child's party, buy extra theme napkins and Mod Podge them onto stones as a party favor
  

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks