Rock Painting Ideas: Wild Animals

I have a new Pinterest inspiration board for painting wild animals on rocks which I'll be adding to regularly.

Ideas: Wild Animals Rocks

You can paint all types of wild animals on rocks, either realistically or cartoon-like. Many people have a favorite animal they like to collect and painted rocks are great, personalized gifts for any occasion! 

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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

DIY Stable for Nativity Sets Painted on Rocks

On a trip to my local craft store, I found an object in the unpainted wood department I used as a stable for a painted rock nativity. 

Supplies

• Unfinished wood key/letter caddy
• Glue
• Bark chips
• Moss
• Wooden star (optional)

Instructions

1. The unpainted, wooden letter/key caddy was rotated so that the arched back now became the stable's floor
2. Brown acrylic paint mixed with water was applied to the unfinished wood with a rag, followed by a coat of gloss sealer
3. Thin wood chips were glued along the front sides of the rotated caddy
4. Thicker wood chips were glued to the top of the rotated caddy to embellish the roof of the stable
5. A thin layer of glue was painted on the floor of the stable and natural moss was then attached
6. A large wooden star was painted silver; gold glitter paint was added for highlighting
7. The star was attached to a slim wooden stick and glued to the back of the stable

The before and after picture shows the finished stable. Note that the rounded back of the unpainted letter/key caddy became the floor for the stable.

For another variation of the DIY stable, I removed the star and used a Mother and Child painted rock.

This DIY stable was made using a small, wooden, letter/key caddy. The craft store also carried a larger caddy that would be suitable for displaying larger or additional nativity scene figures painted on rocks.

See more nativity set display ideas.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

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.

Painted Rocks & Stones: Before and After

I'd like to share some of my "before & after" photos so you can see for yourself how a little paint brings plain, ordinary rocks to life.

See More Rocks Transformed with Paint

Learn More About These Painted Rocks

 
 

How to Paint No-Fat Rock Candies

See More Critters Painted on Rocks and Stones

How to Paint a Santa Hat on Rocks and Stones

  

Identify Your Garden with an Address Painted on Stone

 

How to Paint a Nativity Set on Pavestones

Rocks and stones don't seem so plain and ordinary to me anymore now that I've discovered rock painting.

See more before and after painted rocks:

• Garden Critters
• The Beatles
• Furry Pets 
• Machines 
• Wild Animals 
• Things with Wings
• Christmas Holiday  

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Rock Painting Ideas: Hearts Painted on Stones

You can paint all types of heart designs on triangular and heart-shaped rocks and they make great gifts for any occasion!

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For ideas and inspiration to paint on heart-shaped and triangular rocks and stones, I've started a new Pinterest board - Ideas: Hearts Painted Rocks.

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Here's a fun heart idea you can paint on a rock right now.

Click to learn more about this painted heart rock project

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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

How to Make a No-Sew Bed for Painted Rock Pets

You can easily make a bed for your dogs and cats painted on stones and rocks without sewing a stitch!

Tips & Ideas

• A bag with a round or oval bottom works best
• The canvas bag used for these pet rock beds measures 4-1/2 inches in diameter by 7 inches tall and fits painted rock pets measuring up to 3 inches wide
• Remove the drawstring before folding the bag inward
• A thin, knit sock (men's or women's) can be used instead of the canvas bag

• Felt or fleece are cozy liners for the bed 

Keep your painted rock pets comfy in a cute, cozy bed.

Canvas bag - no-sew pet rock bed

Knit sock - no-sew pet rock beds

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

How to Make Painted Stones and Pine Cones Critters

Create cute, whimsical critters using pine cones and painted stones.

Pine Cones and Stones Painted Critters

For the little owl below, I painted two round, smooth stones with orange, white and black acrylic for eyes and attached them with white glue to the pine cone. I painted the pine cone scale yellow for his beak.

For the little bird below, I painted two round stones with yellow and black for eyes and a triangular stone orange for the beak and attached them with white glue to the pine cone. Adding wispy feathers over the painted stone eyes added that something extra to give the critter a whimsical appearance.

Tips

• ALWAYS keep small stones away from young children. They are a choking hazard!
• How to clean and preserve pine cones
• Test the stone placement on different sides of the pine cone. Some sides work better than others
• Lids from containers can be used as a base to keep the pine cone and stone critters upright

• Cut out felt or craft foam pieces for feathers, wings, feet, etc.
• Instead of painted rocks, use googly eyes from the craft store.
• Use a pipe cleaner for feet.

Start collecting pine cones and small stones to make your own cute critters - anything goes, not just birds. It's a fun project for both children and adults.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

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

Rock Painting Ideas: Food-Related Painted Rocks

Rocks painted to resemble food get laughs and look good enough to eat.

How to Paint No-Fat Rock Candies

Maybe these rock candies look too good!  

Always remember to keep food-related painted rocks away from small children.

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I have a new Pinterest board for food-related rock painting inspiration which I'll be adding to regularly - Ideas: Food Painted Rocks.

You can create all types of food with painted rocks and they make great gifts for any occasion!

Sushi Painted Rocks - Click to see more from the menu

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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

Do-Over Painted Rocks OR How To Re-Paint Rocks and Stones

Oops...the painted rocks shaving cream experiment did not turn out like I expected.

Shaving cream experiment gone wrong

The shape and texture of these rocks were too good to toss aside. 

Time for a do over!

I just covered the shaving cream rocks with solid white acrylic and re-painted them.

The Owl and the Pussycats

Send in the Clowns

Painted rocks are very forgiving. If you don't like something you've painted on a rock or stone, just cover with a few coats of white acrylic paint (or any other color) and start over.

Don't be afraid to experiment with rock painting!

Don't you think these are much better?

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks