Kid’s Crafts: Seashell and Rock Painting with Nail Polish

Last month I was going through my stash of nail polishes and was going to discard the ones that I no longer wanted. Then it dawned on me…don’t trash them…upcycle them! Upcycle them? Yes! They’re perfect for kids who enjoy painting designs on seashells and river rocks! Matter of fact, it’s less messy and easier than a paint brush and acrylic paints!

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I collected 17 bottles of nail polishes and placed them into a shoe box. The next time the kids were over for a play date they got them out and used them to paint seashells and river rocks! This project would be a great one to do with Seniors too. It helps them with their eye-to-hand coordination and gives them a creative outlet to explore.

Here’s a few tips to keep in mind:

– Some polishes have an odor. Make sure they’re painting in a well-ventilated area.

– Put newspaper or an old plastic table cloth down onto your work surface to protect it.

– Make sure your seashells and river rocks are clean and thoroughly dry.

– Shake bottles thoroughly to mix the color before using them.

– Clear polishes or tinted polishes with glitter make nice top coats over a painted design.

– Let one side completely dry before flipping it over to do the other side.

– If they want to make polka dots dip a cotton swab down into the bottle of polish and dot the design onto your surface.

– You can use the polishes to paint the background and use fine-tip Sharpie Markers to add more intricate details.

The grandchildren and 2 nieces had a great time painting their rocks and seashells. It was a great way to keep them busy for almost 2 hours and allowing them to be creative. Plus, it was a great way to use up some of that nail polish that I no longer wanted or used. Yeah! Win-Win for Me!

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