All over our neighborhood, folks are hanging hearts in their windows. These are supposed to symbolize hugs for people who need one. Here in Atlanta, we are thinking just as much about our CDC workers as we are all of the essential personnel. If you happen to be one of those folks - thank you so much. I hope this project brings you a virtual hug.
You need:
rocks
acrylic paint
permanent marker
polyurethane sealant
The sealant is to help make the paint more permanent, as we planned to leave them outside. Let’s get started!
We started by cleaning the rocks. This is an optional step, but also a great practical skill! We used a bucket of soapy water and an old scrub brush, but really, anything would be fine. While the rocks were drying, June had plenty of time to stack them up, line them up, explore texture, and whatever else struck her. It is great to allow open exploration whenever there are new materials that you plan to give instructions about. Meanwhile, I set up acrylic paint in an old ice cube tray. Our house rules for painting are to keep the paint on the mat and put it where it’s supposed to go. Don’t be afraid to pause (for minutes or days!) if your child is stressing you out with this part. Remember, with littles, it’s best to think process over product. Unless you can stand a big mess.
When the paint dried, I drew a heart on each one with a permanent marker. Then I slapped on a coat of polyurethane. That whole process took less than ten minutes. This sealant is considered craft non-toxic but not food non-toxic. Have that in mind as you decide if sealing will be a kid job or an adult job. Then, we let them dry and moved them out to the curb. Our neighborhood is active and we know that these rocks will bring smiles and might even find new homes. You could also leave them on your porch or put them in a garden to enjoy.
I hope you feel inspired! Remember that we are better together, and this too shall pass. How are your neighbors there for each other right now? Leave it in the comments! xo