How to Find Rock Painting Ideas and Inspiration at the Used Book Store

When I visit a used book store, it's an exciting adventure to discover new ideas and inspiration for my painted rocks craft.

I haven't found a book about rock painting, but I have discovered several titles with projects and ideas easily adaptable to rock painting.

I'll show you a page from several books I purchased at the used book store and why I chose them.

Books found on my first trip to the used book store

A Crafter's Book of Angels by Deborah Morgenthal

A Crafter's Book of Angels by Deborah Morgenthal

This book contains Angel projects using fabric, paper mache, sculpting, paper, animals, florals, wood, tin, wire, and glass. I can use many of the patterns for these projects to paint Angels on rocks.

Tole-Painted Outdoor Projects by Areta Bingham

Tole-Painted Outdoor Projects by Areta Bingham

This book was a great find. Not only did it contain two rock painting projects, but it's a great resource for step-by-step Tole painting instructions.

Pencil Drawing by Gene Franks

Sketching a design onto the stone is an important first step of rock painting. I can always improve my drawing skills. How about you?

Pencil Drawing by Gene Franks

I discovered these wonderful books on my second excursion to the used book store. Learn what drew me to them.

Books discovered on my second visit to the used book store

Better Homes and Gardens Easy Bazaar Crafts by Joan Cravens

This classic from 1981 drew my attention because of a quilt pattern featuring cats in various poses.
 

Better Homes and Gardens Easy Bazaar Crafts by Joan Cravens

Hearts - The Art of Making Gifts of Love and Affection by Juliet Bawden

When I find a heart-shaped rock, I prefer to take advantage of the shape and paint a heart design. This colorful page drew my attention to this book about making heart gifts.

Hearts - The Art of Making Gifts of Love and Affection by Juliet Bawden

Painting Wild Life Textures Step by Step by Rod Lawrence

This is, by far, the best book I've "snagged" at the used book store - a step-by- step guide for painting fur, feathers, scales, eyes, ears, bills, muzzles, tails, feet, antlers, and horns.

Painting Wild Life Textures Step by Step by Rod Lawrence

Talk about being in the right place at the right time! While I was sitting on the floor, looking through the Arts & Crafts section, the clerk shelving the newly-arrived books asked if I'd be interested in this one.


Tips

• Wear comfortable clothing. I often sit on the floor while I flip through my possible book selections
• Visit shelves for the subjects you enjoy painting not just the arts and crafts section
• The subject areas (or shelves) where I have the most luck are:
• Animals
• Art & Artists 
• Arts & Crafts
• Childrens
• Gardening
• Get the most bang for your buck. Try to find books with several ideas you can adapt to rock painting
• How-to-draw and how-to-paint books are always a great resource
• Check with the staff. They may have seen something come in that has not been shelved yet 

(All of the titles featured in this post are available online if you can't find it at a used book store and you'd like to have a copy.)

DISCLAIMER: I may receive revenues from any product recommendations or ads on this site.  

Paintbrush Storage Idea Using a Universal Storage Block

I recently purchased a knife set (on clearance) which included a universal storage block. I threw the knives in a drawer and the storage block in a closet. Then I had an "aha moment."

My new knife set with universal storage block

Perhaps the storage block would hold my paintbrushes?

This is how my paintbrushes were being stored. It was working fine except sometimes the plastic jar tipped and other times I had to search through the brushes to find the one I wanted to use.

How I previously stored my paintbrushes

The knife set's universal storage block consisted of a blue, plastic cup and a removable "rod" insert.

Universal storage block with removable insert

I decided to use the insert and cup as separate pieces. The rod insert could hold my smaller, thinner brushes and the blue cup would be used for the taller paintbrushes and those I liked to keep in their packaging. (If space is limited the rod insert could be used inside the cup, the way it was intended.)

My paintbrush holders using the knife set's universal storage block

Here's a closeup of the "rod" insert.

"Rod" insert closeup

For now the rod insert is holding it's shape. However, if it starts to spread, I'll just put it back inside the cup and the large brushes will just have to go back into their old container.

 © 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

Paint a Pink Porker that Rocks to Celebrate National Pig Day

Pink is the color of the day as the U.S. celebrates National Pig Day on March 1, 2013.

National Pig Day is an event held annually on March 1 in the United States to celebrate the pig. The holiday celebration was started in 1972 by sisters Ellen Stanley, a teacher in Lubbock, Texas, and Mary Lynne Rave of Beaufort, North Carolina. According to Rave the purpose of National Pig Day is "to accord the pig its rightful, though generally unrecognized, place as one of man's most intellectual and domesticated animals." The holiday is most often celebrated in the Midwest. Read more about National Pig Day.

Here's an idea for celebrating National Pig Day: Paint pig rocks using this free, how-to tutorial:

How to Paint a Baby Pig on Rocks

Watch to Farmer Hogget Sing to Babe - it will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.


More craft ideas for celebrating National Pig Day.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Painted Rock Nativity Sets - Ready for Spring

The joy of Spring and Easter is in the air and I was drawn to the yummy, pastel acrylic hues of "Basil Green" and "Summer Peach" for my latest unique nativity sets painted on rocks.

"Basil Green" and "Summer Peach" Acrylic Paint Purchased at Hobby Lobby

I was anxious to try these beautiful colors, so I primed some stones and went to work painting them.

Primed stones awaiting pastel paint

Here are my two latest nativity set creations using "lightweight" colors rather than the blues and browns I normally paint with.

Painted Rock Nativity Scene Figures Ready for Spring

Painted Stone Nativity Scene Figures in Spring Attire

Remember, painted rock nativity sets aren't just for Christmas. They can be displayed in unique ways year round as a piece of art.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Free Rock Painting Projects - Love Bugs, Cactus, Stone Tablet, Pansies

This week's free rock painting lessons and tutorials are brought to you courtesy of  the Creativity Portal together with Ernestina Gallina.

The Creativity Portal is a great website for inspiring creativity. All types of arts and crafts are featured on the site including rock painting ideas and inspiration.

Ernestina Gallina (featured on my blog in an earlier post) has shared these additional lessons on the Creativity Portal website.

These free, how-to rock painting guides include:

• Supplies you'll need
• Illustrated step-by-step instructions for creating your very own painted rocks

Valentine Love Bugs

Valentine Love Bugs I painted on rocks using a free how-to lesson

These little, painted Love Bug stones make really cute Valentine's Day gifts. I took the idea a little further by arranging the painted Love Bug rocks in a Valentine basket and also found a valentine handkerchief to use as padding. Of course, Love Bug rocks aren't just for holidays. You can also show that special someone how much you love them by hand painting a Love Bug for them.

Stone Cactus Project

A stone cactus I made using this free, how-to lesson

My friend said my cactus looked like a pickle. Her daughter loved it and wanted it for her own. I definitely need more practice painting rock cacti but that's the beauty of trying out rock painting using free tutorials.

I modified Ernestina's project with my own ideas. I did not feel comfortable using moulding powder (plaster of Paris) due to the safety precaution warnings. Instead I made my own version using flour and water. It was very messy and next time I will just anchor the painted rock in a pot with pea gravel or small pebbles instead of permanently anchoring it.

As a finishing touch, I glued pea gravel to the top of the pot instead of colored sand as suggested in the project.

Written in Stone

My painted rock using the Written in Stone tutorial

This project was a little more challenging and I have only painted one rock using this free how-to guide. I chose one of my favorite scripture verses: "A happy heart makes the face cheerful" from Proverbs 15:13. It's a clever idea for painting all those favorite quotes, sayings, and personalized messages on rocks for those special people in your life.

Painting a Basket of Pansies

My pansies in a basket from this free tutorial

Of these four, free, how-to lessons, I think this pansy tutorial is the most challenging. However, the end product is just beautiful and once you have the pattern, you can vary the colors of the pansies. (This project was on my rock painting "to do" list and I finally painted it in June 2017.)


Thank you Creativity Portal and Ernestina Gallina for giving us more rock painting inspiration and nudging our creativity.



The free projects mentioned in this post along with their links were viewable on the date of this post. I cannot guarantee how long the projects will remain free and available online.


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

How to Paint Flying Bugs, Pigs, and Fish on Rocks Using Free Tutorials

Today's FREE lessons are provided by Ernestina Gallina.

I would categorize Ernestina's how-to guides as intermediate skill level. My feeling is "practice makes perfect" and even if you're a beginner rock painter, you can improve your skills by trying these free, rock painting projects.

These free tutorials (in PDF format) include:

• A list of the materials you'll need
• Guidance on the type of rocks suitable for the project
• Detailed step-by-step instructions and illustrations for painting cute flying bug rocks, baby pig rocks, and little Nemo rocks

Flying Bugs

Here's my first attempt at using the flying bug rocks tutorial

Once you learn a technique for painting rocks, you can change up the colors and add your own special touch and creative ideas to differentiate your painted rocks from those of other artists.

I altered this project by using metallic acrylic paint for the flying bugs in the photo below.

Metallic flying bugs painted rocks

Baby Pig

Two pigs I painted using the free Baby Pig tutorial

I learned the importance of choosing smooth rocks when I painted these two baby pigs. Smooth rocks allow paint to be applied and lines to be drawn easily. Pitted rocks are definitely more challenging to paint. Doesn't my little piggy look like he's been in a barnyard fight or just escaped the meat grinder? 

Little Nemo

Little Nemo I painted using this free tutorial

I had the perfect rock for painting a Little Nemo. By varying the acrylic paint colors, it's possible to create an aquarium full of unique, painted fish rocks. One of Ernestina's clever ideas for this project was to add gold glitter paint to "simulate sparkling scales on the body."

Thank you, Ernestina Gallina, for generously sharing your creative, rock painting how-to-guides.


The free projects mentioned in this post along with their links were viewable on the date of this post. I cannot guarantee how long the projects will remain free and available online. 


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks 

An Alphabet Rock Painting Project for Kids

Summer vacation is just around the corner and to brighten up their summer days, read about a fun, simple, educational rock painting project for your kids posted by Jodi Kahn on May, 2, 2012 at dashrecipes.com.

Some additional ideas inspired by Jodi's post for this alphabet painted rocks project are:

• Children can paint the alphabet freehand or get a little help with stencils or stickers.


• Ask the children to search for and collect 26 small, smooth stones while they're at the playground, grandma's, in the backyard, etc. but don't tell them why they're collecting the stones. Once they have enough rocks for each letter of the alphabet, bring out the paint, explain the project, and let them get creative

If you or the kids need additional inspiration, I recommend Lettering in Crazy, Cool, Quirky Style. 

Not only is this book useful for painting alphabet rocks during the summer, but when school starts again, your child can give their reports a distinctive appearance using the tools and ideas in this lettering kit. This book also includes: 5 plastic stencil pages, 8 colored pencils with double-points (16 colors!), 4 marker pens, 1 mechanical pencil, 50 sheets of practice paper, 2 sheets of sticker paper, pencil sharpener, an eraser, and a reusable pencil pouch.

Summertime is for fun and learning can be fun when combined with art and nature.

Color Inspiration for Hand Painted Rocks

I recently came across this wonderful book containing more than 3,000 innovative color palettes including a CD with 3,286 downloadable swatch files. It's called "Color Inspirations."

Color theory is explained but what I found much more helpful were palettes for red, red-orange, orange, orange-yellow, yellow, yellow-green, green, green-blue, blue, blue-violet, violet, violet-red, pink, brown and grey.

Each page features 18 palettes for the color harmonies (monochromatic, analogous, triadic, split-complementary, complementary and other) of each color mentioned above, along with the CMYK, RGB, and HEX code to recreate the palette.

Here's a sample of what I'm talking about featuring the color green (in honor of St. Patrick's Day) and 6 palettes from each page:

Green - Monochromatic

Green - Analogous

Green - Triadic

Green - Split Complementary

Green - Complementary

Green - Other

When I'm having a difficult time choosing colors for painting my rocks, I refer to "Color Inspirations" and discover color combinations I'd never thought of using before.

Since I love bright colors, just thumbing through the book brings me joy and delight and sparks my creativity.