I love this time of year when you can start working on Christmas crafts with your kids!  Rainbow Chalk wanted bloggers to suggest an activity you could do as a family as part of their Christmas campaign.

We enjoy rock painting and hiding them for people to find.  Now its nearing Christmas you can keep to a theme!  This is your chance to decorate rocks with Father Christmas, Elves, Snowmen, Christmas puddings or Penguins!  You have ample choice and its your chance to make some cute designs that you know children will be excited to find.  They really will add to the build up to Christmas.

Pick Out Some Rocks

First things first you need to find some rocks.  Think about the size and shape of the rocks you are planning on using.  I find it easier to have a flatter rock.  But sometimes an interesting shape can be incorporated into your design!  So, don’t overlook the more interesting shaped rocks.  Look how the rock in the picture ended up making a perfect vehicle!  The shape works so much better than if it had been a flat rock.

Afterwards give them a thorough clean.  Wait for them to completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Get Your Materials Ready

You don’t need much for this Christmas activity.  Rainbow Chalk Liquid chalk pens do not fade so they are a good option for decorating your rocks.  If you have a fine nib it will be easier to do the little details on your rock.  You can choose to use a stencil if you are not very confident at drawing freehand.  But the more you practice the better your designs will become.  If you are feeling ambitious you could even add more details like a pompom for your snowman’s hat.  Start simple and as you become more confident develop your vision.  I have seen rocks with googly eyes and they do look more fun!

Don’t forget to varnish them

You will need to spray them afterwards with varnish so they can be hidden outdoors.  Don’t skip that stage as they won’t be weather resistant otherwise.  You don’t want the rain to wash off your beautiful design.

Add a label

If your hoping to see where your rock goes on its travels make sure you label the bottom of the rock with a Facebook group.  Many areas have their own rock hunting page where people will post a picture of the rock they found.  It’s a lovely feeling seeing who found your rock and how much they liked it!

If you love your design don’t feel like you have to hide it you can always keep it as a Christmas decoration.