Kid’s Crafts – Handpainted River Rocks and Seashells for Valentine’s Day

Looking for a few easy to make Valentine’s Day kid’s craft projects? If so, we’ve got two for you today. These projects utilize items that are found in nature and acrylic paints. We’ve made these projects with children ages 4 years to 12 years of age. The little ones can make these too with a little bit of adult supervision. One of the best things is…these projects don’t cost a fortune to make!

You’ll want to head outside for a nature walk to collect smooth river rocks and/or clam seashells. Once collected you need to prep them for painting. I recommend washing them in warm, soapy water (I like to use Dawn Dish Soap) and rinse clean. If needed, you can use an old toothbrush to losen up dirt and debris. Let them air dry for 2-3 days. They need to be completely DRY before painting on them.

Valentine’s Day Handpainted River Rocks

Select river rocks that are smooth to the touch. They shouldn’t have any jagged edges. Have children base coat the rock in the desired color. We generally have to give each one 2-3 coats of paint to get good coverage. Let completely dry.

Kids can use acrylic paint and paint brushes to add the design or if you want to keep things more “mess-free” give them acrylic paint pens to “paint-on” the design. My granddaughter used a semi-heart shaped rock and made a simple, but beautiful design using paint pens.

Valentine’s Day Handpainted Clam Seashells

When working with clam seashells you want to select shells that are at least 4″ wide. You will need 2-3 coats of acrylic paint for the base coat. Let dry for 2 hours. It’s now ready to be decorated. The one shown in the photograph has 2 coats of white acrylic craft paint as the base coat. Acrylic paint pens were used to add the polka dot boarder, name and the pink heart. Let dry for 2 hours.

Finishing: You always want to spray the finished item with 1-2 light coats of clear acrylic spray sealer. The sealer will protect the painted finish from chipping, fading, cracking, and crazing. Your beautiful items will last for years…and can be displayed indoors or outdoors.

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