Are you looking for more fun activities to add to your kid’s to-do list? Rock painting is a fantastic idea for killing the summer boredom. It is an ingenious way of keeping little ones and their older siblings engaged for long hours as you attend to other chores. Adults can join in too for a perfect family bonding time.
In fact, rock painting is not age-specific. It is a relaxing and meditative activity for older folks, and can also be therapeutic for people with certain conditions.
Before reaching out for any stone from your backyard and some watercolor to get creative juices flowing, it is important to note that not just any type of rock or paint can get the job done.
The best rock for the craft is smooth, devoid of jagged edges, preferably light-colored, though you can always paint a white background, and not too heavy. River rocks certainly fit the description.
You are probably also wondering, what is the best paint for rock painting? What about the best rock painting kits? The best paint for rock painting is acrylic paint. It holds up exceptionally well to stone surfaces and is nontoxic and UV resistant. The best rock painting kit will offer a variety of acrylic paint colors as well as a collection of rocks and paint brushes. A good rock painting kit will come with everything you need to get started immediately after opening the box.
Do not worry about having to search high and low for these rock painting supplies. It wouldn’t be fair that we propose a super exciting idea only to leave you hanging. That is why we already did the heavy lifting for you by finding the 5 best rock painting kits and reviewing them so you don’t have to!
The 5 Best Kits For Rock Painting – Reviewed
Here, we recommend and review the best rock painting kits in the market to get you and the kids started. Let’s go!
| Rank | Rock Painting Kit | Types of Rocks Included |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Artistro Holiday Season Rock Painting Kit | 10 smooth mixed-sized rocks |
| 2. | Creative Kids Rock Painting Kit | 10 glossy white river rocks |
| 3. | Bokin Rock Painting Set | 10 hand-picked river rocks |
| 4. | Jar Melo Rock Painting Kit | 10 smooth river stones |
| 5. | Dan & Darci Rock Painting Kit | 10 white smooth river rocks |
1. Artistro Holiday Season Rock Painting Kit
This is a one-stop kit for everything you will ever need for painting rocks. There are 10 smooth mixed-sized rocks, 12 color paint pots, and 2 sheets of transfer stickers.
However, what really stood out are the extras that you will not find in other low priced sets. You might have to buy them separately and end up spending more than what you would pay for this kit.
You receive four brushes: two rounded and two flat ones. There’s a paint sponge too for a grainy finish.
Also included is a palette for color mixing and a rock holder to ensure you do not smudge your designs; stuff you wouldn’t find in basic kits. The deal sweetener is the white and black paint pen with fine tips for those intricate details and outlines.
The comprehensive, easy-to-follow tutorial booklet inside is an excellent source of motivation and ensures you enjoy painting and succeed at it.
Clearly, Artistro has artistic minds at heart, and this is the best rock painting kit overall.
We’d like to point out that the kit comes in a Christmas themed package, which is not actually a downside. You can still enjoy the contents at any time of the year.
2. Creative Kids Rock Painting Kit
Following closely behind is this rock decoration kit from creative kids.
You will fall in love with the 10 glossy white river rocks inside the box, eliminating the need to paint a white background first.
The sizes are mixed, so you get a large one or two, some mediums, and small stones. Nothing kids can’t handle themselves.
There are also 12 pots with high-quality, vibrant pigmented acrylic paint that will dry permanent and not be damaged by moisture.
The kit comes with two brushes for double the fun: one thin and the other thick. A paint sponge is included for creating a dramatic textured effect. Kids will enjoy making creatures with the googly eyes and 35 regular black sticker decals plus 4 in dazzling gold.
Enclosed is an instruction manual with a step-by-step guide on how to use the kit with ease and is quite inspirational.
3. Bokin Rock Painting Set
Smooth, paintable rocks are hard to come by. You will be thrilled that this kit has 10 of them.
They also threw in two 4mm and 4.5mm diameter wood slices for more creative crafting opportunities.
The kit has a bold color collection in 12 small pots and an additional black fine point acrylic paint pen for those detailed illustrations.
There are a color mixing tray and three paintbrushes with varied thickness. We love that the stickers are colorful as opposed to regular black ones. A set of googly eyes is included too.
You can follow the easy tutorial manual for tons of design ideas.
For the color to pop, the rocks need a white background. However, this may be impractical with the provided paint. There’s one single white pot and it is very small.
This is a good rock painting kit but could do better with more quantity of colors.
4. Jar Melo Rock Painting Kit
If you need all the basics for decorating rocks without spending a fortune, Jar Melo is the starter rock painting kit for you.
There are 12 colors of very thick paint, so a little goes a long way. You also get ten rocks with an amazingly flat, smooth, paintable surface.
Accessories are the bare minimum: one transfer sticker sheet, 2 paintbrushes, and a booklet for guidance.
Still, for the price plus the quality of rocks and paint you get, it is a great buy as a starter rock painting kit. You might need better paintbrushes though to work with the consistency of the paint.
5. Dan & Darci Rock Painting Kit
This kit has got to be the glitz and glam gospel and is one of the best rock painting kits for kids. Any child will absolutely adore it.
Inside are ten smooth rocks, six primary colors, six metallic colors, googly eyes, glitter glue, shiny gems, cool transfer stickers, and two paintbrushes.
A common complaint about this kit is the size of the rocks. Up to 3 are medium-sized, but the rest are so small.
That isn’t so bad for a child’s kit, considering the price and the exciting shimmery accessories that accompany the kit to grab kids’ attention and spark a lasting interest in the activity.
It is highly giftable and little ones will be ecstatic to open it.
What To Look For In A Rock Painting Kit
When choosing a rock painting kit, especially for kids or beginners, you need to consider three things: the size, safety, and price.
1. Size
Ensure the supplies are child-sized and easy for them to handle. The stones, for example, should ideally measure between 1.75mm and 4mm in diameter, be lightweight and smooth.
The amount of paint and the number of accessories also matter. Kits generally have little amounts of paint meant for kids. You may want a kit with several brushes for a family or group of kids.
2. Safety
Water-based acrylic paint is the best paint for kids to paint rocks because it is less toxic. Still, you need to look out for the standard nontoxic certifications for kids’ toys.
3. Price
You don’t want to spend a fortune on a kit for tiny tots. They may be impatient and even lose interest in the stuff quickly. Nonetheless, the price will often reflect quality. So for anyone who is genuinely passionate about rock painting, you can splurge a little more to get the quality you expect.
All the kits in our review conform to these considerations. They are certified non-toxic and safe for children to participate in.
They come with a decent amount of paint and rocks in varying sizes. There’s something for every budget too.
These kits are excellent for kids and those trying for the first time to get their foot in the door with this kind of hobby. Advanced rock painters will definitely need to look for better alternatives.
Related Questions
Will rock paint wash off hands and clothes?
Rock paint will wash off hands with water and a little help from soap. The earlier you clean up, the easier it will be to get it off.
Once fully dry, it may be difficult to clean the paint off some surfaces and even clothes because acrylic paint turns to a solid hard coat.
A rule of thumb is to cover and protect your surfaces, wear gloves, and don an apron when coloring rocks. Alternatively, if you can find your own stones, consider acrylic paint pens for a mess-free time.
Do you need to prep the rocks before painting?
Some kits come with the rocks ready for paint. However, if instructed to, or using your own collection of stones from the beach, riverside, or backyard, then you will have to prep them for painting. Simply wash and dry them in the sun to get rid of all wetness, then apply a primer.
Can you leave your painted rocks outside?
It depends on the type of paint applied. If the package indicates that the paint is waterproof, fade-resistant, or outdoor paint (which is typical of acrylic paint once fully dry), you can.
Part of the fun is leaving them outside for others to find or decorate your outdoor space.
To enhance longevity, especially if using them as garden decor, or selling them as artwork, always seal your painted rocks with a clear, brush-on or spray sealer, and you won’t have to worry about UV rays, moisture from dew or the rain ruining them.
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