We have spent our quarantine updating our yard and planting new additions. We have a variety of new additions, from fruit trees to our blueberry patch. All these plants have given me an idea to have a painted rock garden.

The newest addition is our full raised garden bed. This will be our first fall harvest, so we are praying for success!

We also have quite a few containers of peppers and tomatoes which we have fully enjoyed their abundance of produce. These are the two easiest plants to grow.

It is nice to send my daughter out in the yard to pick something fresh to use as an ingredient in our dinner that same day. This feeling keeps us motivated to grow and expand our garden to more varieties of fruit and vegetables.

Rock Painting Supplies

Since our fruit tree collection has expanded and I am not the expert on identifying the different types like my husband can. I decided it would be a fun craft day with my daughter to paint some rocks. My daughter loves crafts and especially something messy like paint. I have let her paint random items around the house, so I thought it would be a good idea to paint something useful that I could use.

I already had leftover acrylic paint from a kids birthday party. I had to start by googling “What kind of paint to use on rocks?” I wanted to make sure I could use the acrylic and did not have to go out and buy new stuff. I also wanted to double check the paint would hold and I wouldn’t have to repaint and fix my labels every couple of years.

The acrylic paint does hold, so we gathered together the paints, brushes and paint trays, all items we already had, outside. I set up my “child proof” station with cardboard and towels for extra spill proctection.

How to paint on large rocks for outdoor use

The key to rock painting is the size of the rock. I had my daughter pick out long flat rocks. The length of the rock determined if I could write either lime or eggplant on it.

I also learned, painting letters is also a practiced art. Don’t get Impatient! I got better the more rocks I did. This was also the part where a skimmy tipped paint brush worked the best.

Painted Rock Garden by Color

I let me daughter pick the initial colors and start painting her heart out. She just went crazy and fast! After the first couple rocks, I began to envision the big blue one should be for the blueberry patch than the red rock was for the tomatoes. I started to match colors and crops. They are not perfect, because I didn’t at the time have a pink fruit to match my daughters choice of a pink rock.

In the end, I finished all the labels and they came out nicely. They each had a plant and home in the yard to go to.

It was a nice family craft that my daughter loved and was useful to us. I would suggest adding one last step. My husband suggested to use a spray paint selaer on each of the rocks. He wants to ensure they will last longer. Next time, I am at the store I will pick this product up and add this final touch. (It just made my free project into the cost of a spray can, oo well!)

We are still adding plants to our yard. We will be enjoying this craft again for our next painted rock garden.