Christmas Rock Painting Ideas

These rock painting ideas for Christmas are easy enough for kids to do but look adorable and can be customized however you like! We have step by step directions so even a beginner can do these easy rock painting ideas!

 

Rock painting has become more and more popular in recent years and is a really fun craft for kids and adults alike. You can decorate with them, add them to potted plants or even hide them as kindness rocks! No matter what you do with the finished rocks, you are sure to enjoy the process of creating them!

 

Christmas Rock Painting Ideas

My kids LOVE easy rock painting ideas for beginners so these Christmas rock painting ideas are made with that in mind. Kids can easily do them and you can even modify them to make them even easier for younger kids. These rocks are a ton of fun to create and we are incorporating these into our Christmas craft ideas for the kids this year.

 

Rock Painting Supplies

To make these Christmas painted rocks you’ll need the following supplies:

• Rocks (see tips below on where to find or buy your rocks)
• Pencil with eraser
• Paint pens (we suggest the Posca, Artistro, and Tooli-Art brands)
• Paint (acrylic paint)
• Paint brushes
• Sealant (I like Krylon UV Resistant Sealer)
• Glue
• Any fun decor that you’re gluing

 

Rock Painting Tips

• Rocks can be found outside but should not be taken from protected natural areas.
• If you are having trouble finding rocks, you can always purchase them on Amazon, a local garden center, or at a local landscaping company. They will usually sell them by the bucket-full. 
• We do not recommend purchasing the smooth stones/river rocks from craft stores. They come with a coating on them and your paint/pen will not stick very well. 
• Make sure your rocks are clean and free of debris before starting your art.
• If you need, you can lightly trace your design with a pencil first.
• If you plan on painting, acrylic paint works best. 
• If you plan on using a pen for your art, you can use paint markers (we suggest the Posca, Artistro, and Tooli-Art brands), artist pens, gelly roll pens, markers, highlighters, etc. 
• If you’d like to glue anything to your rocks, we recommend the E6000 brand. (Note: it is important to seal your rock with sealant prior to gluing items!)
• We also recommend sealing your rocks after you’ve finished decorating them. You can use whatever finish you’d like (glossy, matte, etc). These can be found online or in your local craft stores. Our suggestions: Rust-oleum and Krylon brands.
• Rock art is relaxing and fun. Let your imagination run wild!

 

How To Paint Rocks

Now let’s get to the fun part! You can use paint pens or paint to acrylic paint your rocks. We have step by step directions below for four different easy rock painting ideas for beginners that are Christmas themed.

 

Christmas Gift Rock Painting

Here are the step by step directions to paint the Christmas gift. Scroll down to see all of the step by step photos.

1. Make sure your rock is clean and free of debris.
2. With a pencil, trace out a square. Add diagonal lines starting at the corners of the box to make it look more realistic. Add lines to make the “ribbon” on the box.
3. Color the background in red.
4. Color the background of the box in green. 
5. Color the ribbon in blue.
6. On the top of the present, add two big loops to make a bow and two ties at the bottom of the bow. Color them in blue.
7. Outline the details with black.
8. Spray with sealant to complete the rock.

 

Christmas Tree Rock Painting

Here are the step by step directions to paint the Christmas tree. Scroll down to see all of the step by step photos.

1. Make sure your rock is clean and free of debris.
2. With a pencil, draw the outline of the tree. Draw the trunk of the tree underneath.
3. Color the tree in green and the trunk in brown.
4. Color the background in blue and add small white dots for snowflakes.
5. Outline the details of the tree in black.
6. Add a yellow star at the top.
7. Color several different colored circles for the ornaments.
8. Spray with sealant to complete the rock.

 

 

Santa Rock Painting

Here are the step by step directions to paint the Santa. Scroll down to see all of the step by step photos.

1. Make sure your rock is clean and free of debris.
2. With a pencil, draw the outline of the beard, face, nose, mustache, and hat.
3. Color in the beard with white.
4. Color in the face with a flesh color.
5. Color in the brim of the hat and the hat-snowball with white. Color the rest of the hat with red.
6. Color in the nose with pink. Outline the details with black. Color in the mustache with white. 
7. Color the background in green.
8. Spray with sealant to complete the rock.

 

Reindeer Rock Painting

Here are the step by step directions to paint the reindeer. Scroll down to see all of the step by step photos.

1. Make sure your rock is clean and free of debris.
2. With a pencil, draw an oval shape for the reindeer’s head. Add a smaller circle near the bottom for his mouth/snout area. Add a circle for his nose and lines for his eyes and mouth. Draw two ears on the sides. On top of the head, draw antlers. These can be as simple or as intricate as you’d like.
3. Color in the antlers with dark brown, the face and ears with medium brown, and the snout with a lighter brown or flesh color.
4. Color in the insides of the ears with pink. Color the nose with red.
5. Outline the details in black.
6. Color the background in red.
7. Spray with a sealant to complete the rock.

 

Step by Step Rock Painting

 

For all of the Christmas rocks you will begin by tracing an outline in pencil on the rock.

 

 

Begin painting rocks one color at a time and allow to dry before moving on to another color. By painting all of them at once it will give time for the others to dry while you keep rotating the rocks you are working on.

 

 

Keep working your way around all of the rocks, adding in colors and coloring the outside of the design next.

 

 

Finally, add the black outline to each design. Once you finish you can seal with a spray-on sealer and then if you desire you may add any glued-on elements.

 

Now it is time to decide what you want to do with your rocks! Surprise someone with them, decorate with them, add a name and adorn a gift with it or even hide them as part of the Kindness Rocks project!