By Amy Mascott of Teach Mama
Moms love lots of sparkle, but not every mom can get the real thing. By taking the time to turn everyday rocks into precious, glittery gems and jewels, kids can show just how much they care. In just a few steps, children will use their creativity to transform something ordinary into something fancy for a person they love.
Materials:
- rocks
- soapy water, clean water
- child-safe, washable craft paint
- paint brushes
- glitter glue (or glue and glitter)
- embellishments: sequins, small beads, ribbon
- empty water bottles or yogurt cups
- tissue paper
- construction paper
- markers
Instructions
- Go on a rock hunt around the neighborhood, collecting rocks of all shapes and sizes.
- Find rocks!
- Clean the rocks. First soak the rocks in warm water so the dirt and grime dissolves. Then scrub the rocks with soapy water so they're squeaky clean and Mom-worthy. Use old toothbrushes or sponges to really get them shining. Place them on a towel and allow them to dry completely.
- Use the child-safe paint to cover every inch of the rocks. Blend colors and create patterns, and don't be afraid to get a little messy. Let the paint dry completely. There's no going wrong here, since the next step is embellishing!
- Paint the rocks.
- Jazz and decorate! Use glitter glue and sequins to add some pizzazz to the rocks. The more, the better here—layer and use glitter glue to secure sequins and/or beads.
- "jewel" holders. While the "jewels" are drying, cut the water bottle about 3 inches from the bottom to create a small container for the rocks. Cut tissue paper in a square just large enough to cover it, and tie ribbon around the paper to secure it to the bottle. Layering different-colored tissue paper makes the gift more exciting, and using unique combinations of ribbon will add flair.
- Create the
- Make a "Mom Rocks!" card. All you need is a simple message on folded construction paper to tell Mom she's awesome. And it doesn't have to stop with Mom: your kids can make "Grandma Rocks" or "Aunt Mary Rocks" jewels and cards for the amazing mother figures in their lives.
Amy shares the many ways she makes learning fun at teach mama. Head over and find more ways to build a solid foundation of learning for the little guys in your life.