summercraft: picnic weights
Jun 27, 2011 
This project is so simple I actually debated whether to post it. But this is Lazy Summer, people. These projects should require the barest of instruction and fuss. But it doesn’t mean you have to forgo style.
I was percolating this project when I came across my girl AB Chao’s roundup of neutral and neon and decided to emblaze the rocks with gold and neon pink. The neon didn’t read as retina-blinding as I hoped, but as my Dad says, them's the brakes, kid.
We used these this weekend to hold down tablecloths and napkins when the breeze picked up and tested our commitment to eating outside. Take that, nature.
You can of course just paint the rocks plain and call it a day. Or you can up the ante ever-so-slightly and make stripes or polka dots. A sheet of hole punch reinforcement stickers from the office supply store makes creating perfect dots so easy that my five-year old niece didn’t get frustrated once.
You’ll Need:
Rocks
Paint (I used acrylic)
Paint brushes
Masking or painter’s tape and scissors, if making stripes
Sticker reinforcement labels for hole-punched paper, if making dots
How To:
For plain rocks:
1. Paint entire rock and let dry (duh).
For polka dots:
1. Paint entire rock if you want a background color, and let dry.
2. Once dry, apply sticker labels and paint inside the holes. Let dry and peel away stickers.
For stripes:
1. Cut strips of painter’s or masking tape into strips.
2. Apply strips to rock depending on thickness of striped desired.
3. Paint between tape, let dry and then remove tape.
painted rocks, picnic weights in make
Reader Comments (9)
Hi Kelly! Those are so simple and cute! I love the yellow stripes.
It was so nice getting to know you at the Michaels Event. I wanted to email you, but I can't find it here. I have a question I'd love to ask you.
My email: kami@nobiggie.net
Love this post! Painting a rock - just my summer speed. And I have to confess my love of ABChao... her recent post about spider plants had me rolling on the ground.
freelance writer
Hi Kelly
are you still crafting for the Washington Post? havent seen any of your cool ideas there in awhile. I made the umbrella and loved it.
Carol
These are great and remind me of the pet rocks I made as a kid. Will have to do this with my own kiddos!
OMG, using those little office stickers for that?! Pure genius!
what a perfect little Zen project
I'm so glad you posted these! What a great way to entertain the kids and they're beautiful! I'll be linking.
Great post! I love your ideas here and will have to incorporate some of them into my own rock painting project. Thanks for sharing!
My family is doing a fun community art rock painting project called Renton Rocks on Facebook that you can check out here:
http://www.facebook.com/RentonRocks