Crafts Using Rocks and Minerals

Craft: Driftwood and Rock Art

ann

May 29, 2012

I love using natural objects for crafts. They look great on a table in a cottage or your home.

Approximate Time: 2 hours approximately

Supplies:

• a small smooth rock
• an interesting piece of driftwood
• acrylic paint, brushes, and varnish
• hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Enjoy a day at a lake, beachcombing for interesting driftwood pieces and nice smooth rocks that will fit nicely onto the driftwood.
2. Find or take your own photo of an animal, bird, or flower that you like.
3. Prepare your rock: wash, let dry, and then paint it with 2 coats of black acrylic paint (or whatever colour you like). You can buy acrylic paint at most dollar stores or in the craft area of department stores.
4. Following your photo, paint the animal/bird you like on it. (I use white tracing paper I purchased at a craft store to apply my pattern onto the rock.)
5. When you have finished painting, seal the rock with varnish (3 coats).
6. Clean the sand and debris off the driftwood. You can wash it, but let it dry for a couple of days in the sun, or you can use an old paintbrush to brush the dirt off.
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7. Varnish the driftwood (3 coats, letting it dry well in between coats).
8. Decide on a place on the driftwood where the rock will sit upright and then hot glue it to the driftwood.
9. This is a beautiful cottage or home decor craft project using natural materials. It is also a great conversation piece to put on display. You can help kids with this craft providing them with photos of simple objects to paint (a basic flower, a smiley face, etc.)

By ann from Goulais River, Ontario

Green Hesperus Necklace

stephanie

November 23, 2012

This is a necklace I made, shown hanging in a spruce tree outside our home. The necklace and tree matched so well, that I decided to pair them up.