Transform smooth stones from your backyard into colorful insects! You will learn how to use a primer for bright colors and use household items as stamps to create bug patterns.

Tools

• paintbrushes
• pencil with eraser
• black permanent marker (1)

Materials

• smooth round rocks (3-5)
• white acrylic paint (2 oz)
• red acrylic paint (2 oz)
• black acrylic paint (2 oz)
• googly eyes (6)
• glue stick (1)
• dirt (1 cup)
• dried moss (1 handful)

Safety

• Adult supervision recommended when using paint and glue.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling dirt and rocks.
• Googly eyes are small and can be a choking hazard for very young children.
• Small parts pose a choking hazard. Supervise young children.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Go outside and collect smooth, round rocks that are the shape of the bugs you want to make.
2. Paint the entire surface of each rock with white paint. Let this dry completely; this acts as a primer to make your colors look bright and shiny.
3. Choose your bug color (such as red for a ladybug) and paint the entire rock. Let the paint dry completely.
4. Use a black permanent marker to draw a line around the smaller end of the rock to create the head, then color in that section completely.
5. Draw a straight line with the black marker from the head down the center of the rock to create the division between the two wings.
6. Dip the eraser end of a pencil into black paint and stamp small circles onto the wings to create bug spots.
7. Apply a small amount of glue from the glue stick to the back of two googly eyes and press them onto the black head section.
8. Create a habitat for your bugs by pouring one cup of dirt onto a plate and decorating it with a handful of moss.
9. Place your finished rock bugs into their new dirt and moss home.