These cactus painted rocks are so colorful and fun for kids to make! Using simple shapes to draw the cactus and paint pens to draw in the details really helps to make this a great painting idea for older kids and tweens.
Kids can choose the type of cactus they want to paint, the colors of the flowers on the cactus, and the face they want to draw in. Each rock will be unique!
If you are looking for more rock painting ideas check out my collection of creative rock painting for kids!
Cactus art projects are always a hit with kids. Take a look at this simple cactus painting project for another fun idea.
Create your own cactus painted rocks
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Supplies
- River rocks
- Acrylic paint
- Paint pens
- Paintbrushes
- Paint palette and water dish
- Pencil
- Mod Podge
Instructions for your rock painting
1. You want to start with clean, dry rocks. If you collected your rocks outside, you may need to wash them and let them dry first.
Paint your rock with two coats of light blue, letting each coat dry in between. I added some white paint to my blue to get a lighter shade.
2. Once your rock is completely dry, use a pencil to draw one line straight across the bottom for the flower pot. Draw another thin line above it.
Finally draw a simple cactus shape like in the photo above. Press lightly with your pencil so you can erase if needed.
3. Paint your cactus with two coats of green acrylic paint, letting each coat dry in between. If you have a medium-point green paint pen, you can also use that to color your cactus shape in.
Using a small brush for this step will help make it easier for kids. Let the cactus dry before moving on.
4. Using a brown paint pen or brown paint, paint in the bottom of the rock to make the flower pot. I needed to color in two coats of brown for this step.
With paint pens, it’s important to let each coat dry really well in between.
5. Use a fine point black paint pen to draw in a face on your cactus. Draw two thin lines at the bottom to finish the flower pot detail.
6. Use a white paint pen to add the cactus prickles to your painting.
7. Finally, draw in the colorful flowers on your cactus. You can use one color or follow along with my example and add two colors for each flower.
Start with a purple paint pen to draw in the flower and let it dry completely. Draw in the pink part of the flower at the bottom to finish it off. Kids can choose whatever colors they like for their flowers, even making each flower a different color combination.
8. To finish off your painted rocks, paint on two layers of a sealer like Mod Podge to protect them. If you are going to be placing your rocks outside, you can use an outdoor Mod Podge.
These cactus painted rocks are so colorful and fun to make. Place them in your garden, hide them for others to find, give them away as gifts or keep them for fun room decor. Painting rocks is always a huge hit with kids!
More summer art projects kids will love
The Cutest Watermelon Painted Rocks for Kids to Make
Easy Painted Fairy Houses for the Garden
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Adorable Cactus Painted Rocks for Kids to Make
These cactus painted rocks are a fun and easy art project kids will love! A great craft idea for older kids and tweens.
Materials
- River rocks
- Acrylic paint
- Paint pens
- Pencil
- Mod Podge
Tools
- Paintbrushes
- Paint palette and water dish
Instructions
- Make sure your rocks are clean and dry before you begin. Paint your rock with two coats of a light blue color letting each coat dry in between.
- Draw a line across the bottom of your rock for the flower pot with a pencil. Draw another thin line above that for the pot detail.
Look at the examples above and draw a simple cactus shape. Remind kids to press lightly with their pencil so they can erase if needed. - Paint the cactus shape with bright or light green acrylic paint. You may need two or three coats of green depending on the type of paint that you use.
Let the paint dry completely. - Color in the flower pot with a brown paint pen. Let the paint dry completely before coloring in a second coat. You can also use brown acrylic paint for this step if you like.
- Use a black paint pen (fine point) to draw in the face of the cactus and add the two lines of detail to the flower pot.
- Use a white paint pen to add the prickle details to your cactus.
- Choose two colors for the flowers. Start with the darker color and draw the flowers on your cactus. Let this dry completely. Draw in the second color of the flower at the bottom to finish it off.
I used purple and pink and yellow and orange color combinations, but kids can choose whatever colors they like for the flowers. - Finally, paint on two layers of a sealer like Mod Podge to protect your rocks. If you are going to be placing your rocks outside, you can use an outdoor Mod Podge.
The post Adorable Cactus Painted Rocks for Kids to Make appeared first on Projects with Kids.
