[KeyKid]

Shari Carroll was featured on the Simon Says Stamp Blog on June 16. There is a video within the blog post. After watching, I said, "I need some rocks!"

I was heading to shop in a neighboring county yesterday and did some searching for landscaping places and found one that was on the way. I stopped there, got out of the car with my fabric shopping bag and a guy met me. I said I'm interested in some river rock about this big and made a 3"ish oval with my hands. He pointed to a HUGE outdoor bin and said there they are. He asked what I was going to do with them. I said I was going to paint them with alcohol inks and then probably give them away. I noticed another HUGE bin a couple away that had smaller river rock. I asked if I could mix and match from both of the bins. He nodded and looked like he was thinking, "Crazy lady." He said to get what I wanted and come into the office. I brought the bag to the office and pulled up the picture from the blog post on my phone to show him. He nodded and said, "Tell you what. You bring me a painted rock and you can have what's in the bag." Really?? I will bring you a painted rock! I weighed the bag when I got home just because I was curious. I had 12 pounds.

I washed them yesterday and let them dry overnight. I painted them all with white acrylic paint today. I should have let those dry overnight but I was antsy so I did a large and a small rock. After drying at least overnight, I'll spray with a polyurethane coating.

[KeyKid]

I turned both of them for another view. I also have a little corner next to the house that is more sheltered and I can't get anything to grow. I've filled that area with much smaller, colorful river rock but may add some to that spot as well.

[Cat woman]

Those are really pretty! I love that he bartered with you, too

[timeforbed]

I was just going to paint some rocks for a 5-year-old son of a neice who is coming to visit his grandparents in mid-July. He loves to swim around the edge of our lake front. I wanted to spray them with the polyurethane and then, after they dry, throw one each day into the shallow water. Yours are gorgeous and I want to try my hand at them.

Where did you order/buy the alcohol paints and blending solution? I've got plenty of rocks around here (Maine) and have painted a few just for fun.

[KeyKid]

I know Hobby Lobby carries the inks and blending solution in the paper-crafting section. Those are all Ranger products. I’m not sure if JoAnn’s still has them in-store; perhaps the larger stores, but they do have them online (and on sale at the moment). Also available on Amazon. There are other brands of alcohol inks but I have not used them. The air blower tool - search for photographic dust blower and it will be half the price.

Edited: Scrapbook.com also has them and on sale right now.

[timeforbed]

I went outside and found six small rocks. Four of them are now painted white and are waiting for their first ever alcohol paints spa day. I just have to go buy some.

I tried painting a fish on another rock I had that I painted blue. It looked like an orange worm when I was done, so it got another bath of blue. I'm really not very good at this hobby. Maybe the alcohol inks one will work better.

[KeyKid]

I might be able to handle a stick figure for something specific. I may work on the last batch I’ve prepped with white tomorrow - well, today.

Can’t wait to see your results!

[KeyKid]

If you have a Hobby Lobby in your region, Tim Holtz products (alcohol inks, blending solution) are 40% off through Sat, July 11. They are in the papercrafting area.