Painted Turtle Rocks

Painted Turtle Rocks - Easy Outdoor Craft for Kids

Painted rocks are an awesome craft for easy outdoor fun, and these little turtles are practically begging to be your new garden friend! We've experimented with a bunch of different materials for coloring them - paint pens, sharpies, and acrylic paints all work great. The best rocks for painting are smooth, water-worn rocks typically found by rivers, lakes, or the ocean. These charming turtle rocks make perfect garden decorations and are a wonderful way to combine nature exploration with creative crafting!

15-45 minutes Ages 3-12

About This Project

A 15–45 minutes craft for ages 3–12, using supplies you likely already have — Sharpie Markers, Googly Eyes, and White Glue.

GlueStick supports kids from setup to cleanup. After they choose a project, we guide them through gathering the supplies, making it, and cleaning up when they're done. We'll even help them share it safely with trusted family and friends.

Ad-free and kid-safe library — designed by a mom who wants kids to explore and create independently.

This project is perfect for:
Project Tags
turtle rock painting garden beach zoo found materials nature craft outdoor art garden decor fine motor skills indoor outdoor solo project group project summer spring nature animals budget friendly lake river reptile painting
  1. 1

    Find Supplies

    Do you have everything you need?
    Create a free GlueStick account to track supplies and see if you have what you need at a glance. Leave your kids tips about where supplies are stored in your household so they can set up and clean up their creative spaces independently.
    00:00
    A cartoon of Sharpie Markers
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Googly Eyes
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of White Glue
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Rocks
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Decoupage Medium
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Paint Pens
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Paint Brushes
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Acrylic Paint
    You have: unknown
  2. 2

    Make Painted Turtle Rocks

    Your creative buddy says:
    "Let's stick together and make this one!"

    Step 1: Wash your rocks

    Always wash and dry your rocks before you begin to paint. Rocks that you find outside will have pesky dirt on them that will keep the paint from sticking properly. Rocks bought at the store may be coated in wax to make them look shiny.

    Step 2: Paint your rocks

    Design and paint your turtle! We used four small rocks for feet, one medium rock for a head, and a large rock for the body. Mix and match colors for the body and shell. Have fun with it and make the turtle your own!

    Step 3: Seal your rocks

    After the paint dries, use a paint brush to cover your rocks in 2-3 coats of clear decoupage medium (such as Mod Podge). This will keep them safe from wind, rain, and sun. Let them dry thoroughly.

    Step 4: Glue Together

    Glue your smaller rocks to the larger rock. Glue on two googly eyes. We used white glue, but it took a long time to dry. Hot glue or super glue may be a better choice if you have adult supervision.
  3. 3

    Clean up

    Put things away so your space is tidy for next time.

    Tidy up our space

    Put away our supplies

    Check off each supply when it is put away — and any clean-up tips underneath are done too. You might find a fun surprise!

    • A cartoon of Sharpie Markers
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Googly Eyes
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of White Glue
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Close glue lids.
    • A cartoon of Rocks
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Decoupage Medium
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Close the Mod Podge (or similar medium) lid tightly.
    • A cartoon of Paint Pens
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Replace paint marker caps. You'll know they're on tight if you hear them click!
    • A cartoon of Acrylic Paint
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Make sure all paint bottle lids are shut tight.
    • A cartoon of Paint Brushes
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Rinse all the paint out of your paint brushes.

    Update what we have left

    Did we run out of anything while making this project? Update our supply cupboard so that we know exactly what we have for next time.
    Create a free account to manage your cupboard

    This project could unlock 2 creative buddies. Sign in to unlock them.

  4. 4

    Save

    Your creative buddy says:
    "What a fabulous project!"

    Create a free account to save your digital masterpiece to the Art Gallery.

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About the Author

STL Motherhood

I’m a boy mom, crafter and former reporter who loves taking my kids to superhero movies. Join me for a mix of traditional kid crafts, STEM fun and 3D printing.

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