Rock Crafts

With just a few supplies -- paint, glue, and clay -- children can transform the stones they stumble across into animals, people, or toys.

Both tempera and acrylic paints work well for rock craft projects; tempera looks chalkier but washes off easily, making it the best choice for kids. Acrylic paint has a glossy finish. Before painting, kids should sketch out their plan: It's easier to envision what the finished project will look like if they draw it first with pencil on paper.

The stones pictured here are as distinctive as people. One is slender; another, dappled and rotund. Family members can paint their initials on the rocks that suit them and turn them into refrigerator magnets.

Smooth flat stones aren't just for skipping -- they're perfect for game pieces, too. For a set of dominoes, all you need is 28 stones and a white paint pen to draw lines and dots. Begin by drawing a line across the center of each. Then on either side of the line, mark with two sets of dots in every combination from zero to six.

Attached with cement glue, flat disks are perfect for making pig-shaped magnets.

Oblong and misshapen rocks can be turned into shiny circus seals.

This contented duck family has secure beaks, painted on or attached with glue.

A portly lop-eared rabbit is the perfect weight for a bookend.

Ladybugs who lunch (on leaves) are elegantly attired in polka-dots.

This lumbering turtle would be happy on a log.

This panda pair sits calmly by its paper bamboo shoots.

When a mouse's tail begins to uncurl, that means he's tired; put him to bed in a fabric-covered matchbox.

Tip: To make a tail, just glue a piece of black cord to the base of a rock.

This friendly spotted stone dachshund guards your child's bedroom -- by propping its door open.

These frogs are up to no good. They're trying to look nonchalant, but as anyone can see, their heavy-lidded eyes are ready to pop open at the prospect of a fly lunch.

Yikes! Painting a jagged rock has brought to life a hungry shark.

Glue rocks together before painting them, attaching small stone features such as eyes, feet, or beaks to body parts before joining larger parts; attach whiskers and tails after painting. Cement glue makes the strongest bond but should be used only by parents working in a well-ventilated area. (Kid-friendly glues are less durable and are best for rock crafts that will sit on shelves.)

Kids can design a project by arranging rocks until the figure looks right. Use little cushions of nondrying clay to support parts while the glue sets; bread clay works especially well. For example, the alligator's hungry mouth is partly supported by his pink tongue.