How To Make Painted Pet Rocks

Looking for a fun and easy kids craft that sparks creativity and keeps the mess to a minimum? Meet your new favorite idea: pet rocks!

This classic DIY activity is a hit with kids of all ages—and for good reason. With just a few supplies like paint, googly eyes, and imagination, your kids can create their very own rock pets to play with, collect, or gift.

Whether you’re filling a slow afternoon, planning a playdate activity, or just want a break from screens, making pet rocks is the perfect low-stress craft. Plus, it’s budget-friendly and full of silly, creative possibilities.

This is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy. It’s perfect for toddlers all the way to tweens. And, if your teen is artistic, you might even be able to convince them to try out this project too!

Let’s get painting!

Rock Painting Supplies 

Here’s a complete list of supplies to use when painting pet rocks:

• Rocks – Ideally, you’ll want smooth rocks, not jagged and rough ones. Also, avoid super big rocks that kids may be prone to dropping on their siblings’ toes. 😉
• Acrylic Paint (in desired colors) – I found an acrylic paint kit with a variety of colors at Walmart for just $12, but you can also find an acrylic paint set on Amazon. From personal experience, I recommend avoiding craft stores because they can be expensive, especially when it comes to acrylic paints.
• Glitter or metallic paint is also nice if you want to add a little sparkle!
• Acrylic paint pens may also work better for details. We just use paint and brushes, but I can see how the paint pens would be helpful!
• Paint Brushes – all-purpose paintbrushes in varying sizes are great for this project.
• Paper Towels or Cardboard – To contain the paint mess, of course!
• Googly Eyes** – optional but fun
• Superglue – for the googly eyes

**A small warning – Be aware of the googly eyes with small children who may put things in their mouths. The glue gel does a good job of keeping the eyes stuck on, but we’ve still had a couple stubborn googlies pop off.

How To Make Pet Rocks

The process of making painted pet rocks really is simple. I’m breaking it down and adding some helpful tips to reduce the mess.

1. Set up your children’s work area by putting down cardboard or paper towels to protect the table from paint spills.

2. Give them some paint (I don’t recommend giving them the entire tube!) and a paintbrush, and let them paint their rocks!

3. Let the rocks sit out for 1-2 hours to ensure they’re fully dry before adding a pattern on top of the base coat.

4. Wait another hour or so, then attach the googly eyes with superglue.

Helpful Tips

• Acrylic paint can be removed by scrubbing with water, but it’s much harder to clean up than regular watercolor paints.
• I also recommend having your children (especially younger ages) wear old clothes that you won’t mind getting ruined with paint. Or, use a smock if you have one.
• I personally like using cardboard to cover my kids’ workstations. Something even as simple as a broken-down cereal box works really well!
• For smaller children, limit the amount of supplies and colors they get to help keep things somewhat neat.
• Give each child their own paintbrush and rinsing cup. You may even want to give each child their own paper plate with paint to avoid those sibling squabbles! 😉

Pet Rock Ideas

Not sure what to paint? Here are some ideas to get you started:

• 🐞 Ladybug – Red with black spots and googly eyes
• 🌈 Rainbow Rock – Bright, cheerful stripes or ombré colors
• 😊 Classic Smiley Face – Yellow paint with a big happy grin
• 👾 Minion – Blue overalls, yellow body, and a single goggle eye
• ⚡️ Pokémon Characters – Pikachu, Jigglypuff, or Eevee-inspired designs
• 🧟 Monster Rock – Silly faces, horns, or mismatched eyes
• 🐸 Frog or Toad – Green body with big bulgy eyes
• 🧚 Fairy or Unicorn – Glittery paint, wings, or rainbow accents
• 🐠 Fish or Ocean Creatures – Use blues, scales, and shell details
• 🧙‍♂️ Wizard Rock – Add a painted cloak, hat, and even a little wand!
• 🐕 Puppy or Kitten – Painted ears, tail, and paw prints
• 🌵 Cactus Rock – Green with white prickles and a cute face
• 🎃 Holiday Themes – Pumpkins, snowmen, or Easter bunnies
• 👽 Alien Rock – Neon green with three eyes or antennas
• 👑 Royal Rock – Crowned king or queen with a sparkly robe

Now, let me show you what my own kids made to give you even more ideas!

I decided to let my kids have at it with this project and see what they came up with. I squirted a small amount of paint onto their cardboard pieces, and they started painting.

One of the benefits of this activity is that painting is a great way for younger children to practice fine motor skills. My 5-year-old, Joshua, has struggled with holding his pencil properly. Thanks to his awesome kindergarten teachers, he is doing much better now.

See how he’s practicing his skills without even realizing it?

Luke just went to town and started painting his rock. He did a great job!

Emily (she’s 8) knew exactly what she wanted to paint – a turtle and a butterfly. She had so many great pet rock ideas that she went on to make pet rocks for everyone in the family! 

Nathan is the artist in our family, and at age 12, he came up with some pretty amazing pet rock ideas. His first creation was a rainbow rock. 

His next creation was a bumblebee and a Minion!

Emily loved the idea and made two of her own minions. I think they both did an awesome job, especially considering they didn’t copy a picture. This was all from memory!

I explained to the kids how their pet rock paintings would turn out better if they waited for the paint to dry between layers or different colors. But kids don’t like to wait, so some of the colors ran together a little.

This project was a lesson in patience, too! 😁

What To Do With Painted Pet Rocks

Ok, so your kids made pet rocks. What can they do with them once they’re done? Here are some ideas:

• DIY Gift – Pet rocks can be a great homemade gift from your children! Think about Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, or even just an everyday I-love-you gift for Grandma.
• Give Pet Rocks A Bath – If your kiddos hate bath time, use the excuse that their pet rock needs a bath too! You’ll end up with a clean kid and a clean rock. I call that a win-win! Just make sure to seal the rock before dunking it in the bath, or you risk the color running.
• Make A Home For Your Pet Rocks – The kids could do this inside or outside and use whatever materials are on hand: a shoebox, straw, grass clippings, sticks, etc.
• Use As Paperweights – Pet rocks make the best paperweights ever! They’re fun, colorful, personalized, and made by your kids. I can’t think of anything more special – or useful!
• Lawn Decor – Every yard needs a little splash of color! Use pet rocks to add some personality and color to the backyard or garden. They’re especially noticeable when you don’t have any flowers blooming.
• Create a rock library – You’ve probably heard of free little libraries…so why not a free little rock library? It doesn’t have to be fancy – just set a few by your sidewalk with a sign that encourages people to take one!

FAQs

Here are a few questions that I’ve seen readers ask about making pet rocks.

Do you need to prime rocks before painting?

Generally, I say primer is not necessary, but you can use it if you want to. However, it adds another step and makes the kids wait longer. We didn’t use primer and didn’t feel the need for it.

Primer is useful for making your paint stick to the rocks and helps create bold paint colors without needing to paint multiple layers.

Will acrylic paint wash off rocks?

Acrylic paint can wash off rocks since it’s water-based. However, while it likely won’t happen in just a few rainstorms, it will happen eventually.

If you want your painted pet rocks to stay like they are the day you make them, use self-sealing (outdoor) acrylic paint or spray your dried rocks with a spray sealant.

Can you seal painted rocks with clear nail polish?

Yes, you can! However, depending on the size of your rocks, the process will take much longer than simply spraying the rocks down with a sealant.

Can I use markers instead of paint?

Yes! Permanent markers like Sharpies work great on smooth rocks. They’re an easy, low-mess option—just skip the sealing step unless you want to preserve the art longer.

Try Making Pet Rocks Yourself

Pet rocks are so much fun because, just like with homemade playdough, the possibilities are limited only by you and your kids’ imaginations!

You can start by simply painting a rock all one color and then supergluing a couple of googly eyes on it. Or, get artistic and paint an animal or a favorite character, like the Minions.

I surprised myself by enjoying this fun activity just as much as my kids did! I made a couple of pet rocks, and later, my sister joined us and painted a hamster. So much fun!

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• Edible Finger Paint
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Pin the image below to save the pet rock idea for later.