how to create cactus painted rocks

When we first moved into our house four years ago, I had one of the neighbors leave me a painted rock in my flower bed. She painted it to look like an owl because I had owl statues all over the place. I thought this was the neatest thing. I didn’t know that this was actually something that a lot of people do. They paint rocks, a lot of times with positive messages and leave them for people to find.

I loved the idea of spreading a little bit of happiness to someone with something as simple as words painted on a rock. I haven’t done this a lot, but the few places I have traveled I have made sure to take some rocks with me. I have left my rocks at the beach, farmers markets and even grocery stores.

I have used Pinterest for inspiration and saw these adorable rocks that were painted to look like cacti. I thought that idea was too cute not to share.

This is a really easy DIY project for kids, but is perfect for adults as well.

I used mexican pond stones because they are flat, but you can use any rock of your choosing. Make sure to wash it first and let it dry completely. You don’t want any dirt or dust on the rock before you paint it.

I like to draw out on a piece of paper what I am going to paint first, that way I have a reference to look at. I used acrylic paints, and then use a sealer on top of it to ensure that the rocks don’t get damaged when they are outside.

You want to find rocks that look like a cactus. I used a long ones and short ones, but you can use any combination you want. You can also use any color that you want. I used some green, a pale tan color and this really pretty almost rose gold color. Be creative! There isn’t any wrong or right way to paint these. You will want to let the base coat dry completely before you add the finishing touches. I usually let them sit overnight but however long it takes to dry will work.

You can leave these as is, or get a little jar (I have used little clear pots, or even a wine glass) add some dirt and rocks and make a cute cactus garden. The best part about these is that you can’t kill them, so they are perfect for those with a black thumb!

Have you ever painted rocks or found them in your neighborhood? I would love to hear all about it. Comment below or tag me on social media - #unlockedcolors.