Easter Painted Rocks

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Christian Themed Easter Rock Painting DIY

Painting rocks is a popular trend that you can easily find some great examples and supplies for. Over the past few years there has been a rise in its popularity and now there are even rock painting groups on Facebook. There’s likely one in your local area right now. 

Today I am sharing these fun Easter Painted rocks. I’m sure you will love this idea and you can enjoy making your own set of Easter stones. Be sure to check out these Religious Easter Notebooking printables too!

What Kind of Rocks Should I Paint On?

People get a real kick out of using nice, smooth rocks and turning them into little miniature canvases. The possibilities are endless, really. 

The best rocks to paint are smooth stones so look for round smooth stones that have a good surface for painting.

Where Do I Get Stones for Painting?

You can buy painting rocks online from Amazon or visit a local garden centre. You can find stones and rocks naturally in the garden or out in the environment. Just make sure you have permission to take any rocks that don’t come from your own property.

Tips for These Easter Rock Stones

So here are some tips for painting these Easter themed painted rocks, along with ideas and suggestions for making a set of Christian themed ones of your own.

These would be great to do with a youth group or kids class, even an adult class would find this relaxing and fun and then you can go out and hide them, maybe in your community as an outreach. You may want to try this activity with your kids.

If you’re a Christian Mother then you might also find this article on the best Christian Parenting Books useful. They are full of tips for parenting your kids and raising them in the way you would want.

Supplies for Painting Easter Rock Stones

Acrylic paints in various colors & a few with textures like metallic or glitter (Just buy the cheaper brands, no reason to go with the pricier ones)

Palette or paper plate, paintbrushes, pencil and paper towel for each person

Nice, smooth rocks you can find at your local garden store or online.

Spray paint for base coats if you are painting very many to save time and energy

Tips & Tricks For Your Easter Rock Painting

First of all, just buy the rocks from a garden shop or amazon and not the craft store. They come in a larger quantity and they are more suited for painting, believe it or not. The craft store ones have been treated and shined most of the time and the paint has a hard time sticking to them. Not to mention, they cost quite a bit more in the long run.

Washing Your Stones Before Painting.

Now you will need to wash them with water to rinse off any dirt or dust from the surface before you paint them, so do this a day or two ahead of time and give them plenty of time to dry. They won’t take long if you put them in the sun.

Painting Your Eatser Rock Stones

Now you’re ready to paint. First things first, you need to have an idea of your subjects and colors and paint the base coats on first. Give each person several rocks, at least 3 but I’d go with more like 5. Also give them a few size brushes, one about a ½” to cover the base and then two that are thinner, one tiny if you can for detailing.

If you have a rock that has some neat marbling or pattern on it, and you like the way it looks, don’t paint it – just do something simple over the top, like a word or an easily recognizable image like a heart. It looks great that way too.

Using Spray Paint on Your Painted Rocks

This is where the spray paint may come in to play: For me, I have taught a few classes to paint them, and the base coats with the acrylic take a couple of coats and in the meantime of letting those dry between, they have nothing to do.

This is why I decided to utilize the spray paint and pre-paint several for them in neutral colors.

No one seemed to mind the colors I chose and they easily came up with a subject for them.

I did white, black, teal, light blue and gold for different options over a few classes, but you can choose just one color and give everyone one or two rocks that are done when they arrive.

Have them check on each rock which side it sits best on. Some will sit much more flat and solid on one side than the other.

Paint the Bases of Your Rock Stones

Then, they can pick their own color to paint on the bases of the rest and while those coats are drying, they can start on the subjects of the other ones.

The key to making this go well and moving it along is to be painting each rock at the same time, taking turns between different layers. For example, on my empty tomb rock, I used a black base, which had to dry, and then on the crown of thorns one I used a tan base.

That tan is the same tan that went on the tomb as the second layer to create the rocks. The black was also used on the Jesus one as the base layer to the letters to give it a shadow.

 It’s all a matter of knowing what colors you want and using them on multiple rocks if you can, switching them around as you go.

Painting Your Easter Rock Stones

So, get your base layer on fully, making sure it is solid, especially where you know it will show the most and not be painted over by the subject, and take the paint down all the way to the bottom edge of the rock. You don’t need to paint the bottom surface, since it will likely chip off over time anyway.

Now choose which side or area on each rock makes the best front and center area and paint your subject there.

Easter Tomb Rock Painting

Try to use the rock shape to your advantage. I knew when I saw the larger one I had that it was perfect to make the empty tomb on because of its shape.

Choose more flat, smooth ones for wording, they work best and it is harder to paint a straight, thin line on one that has curves and bumps on it.

Painting a Crown of Thorns

Get your bottom layer of subject painted next. Layers are most important in making the rocks look more 3-D and not flat subjects, so choose two colors for things, like a dark and a light brown to create detailing and make the subject stand out.

The crown of thorns used dark brown, then light brown streaks to break up the wood, then dark again on top. The forgiven letters were painted in dark green first and then just to the side of that, light green so that they really pop.

Can You Use Glitter on Painted Rocks?

Use glitter to help jazz up ones that are more simple. I painted a blue glitter coat over the teal on the base of the Jesus one and then I used a similar color blue for the top layer of the letters to pull that color off the surface better. 

White can be used to create highlights and small details.

Adding Dots to Your Rock Stones

Use the back of the handle of the brush to make dots with. Just dip it straight into the paint quickly and then dot it on where you’d like it.

Use metallic to add shine and interest to dull subjects. The star of Bethlehem was painted in brown first, knowing that it would need a dark layer to show up well, but also that the gold metallic paint was a little see-through and that it would be used last to make the start shine.

Overall, the key to making your rocks stand out is thinking through the process a bit before you start the painting part. Sometimes improvising and following your creative gut plus a little planning can really be the difference in your art being stand out compared to others.

Making More Christian Themed Rock Stones

Now, have fun coming up with some great subjects – use words from the Bible like Grace, Patience, Joy. Paint a Bible itself, or the pieces of the Armor of God. Paint characters from the Bible if you’re feeling like a challenge.

Just go with it and you will come up with some amazing rock paintings that will bless other people.

You May Also Enjoy the Following Painted Rock Ideas!

Painted Whale Rock Stone

Gecko Painted Rock

Saint Patricks Day Painted Rock Leprechaun

The Snail and The Whale Painted Rock Stone

The Lion King Painted Rocks

M&M Painted Rocks

Minion Painted Rocks

Angela Milnes is a Qualified Early Years Teacher who has specialised in Preschool and Kindergarten teaching. She has a wealth of experience teaching young children and is passionate about kids crafts and having fun as a family. Angela has also taught cooking skills and loves to share both family recipes and easy crafts here on The Inspiration Edit. Follow her on Pinterest!

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