Decorative Pebbles

How lovely to take something from nature and make it even more beautiful! This arty activity invites people to turn smooth pebbles from the seaside into colourful works of art with acrylic paint. You might gather the pebbles on a lovely day out, or task friends and family to collect them for you. What are you waiting for? Let’s roll up our sleeves and get creative!

You can finish this activity in one session, but it might be better to do it over 2 to give the paint more time to dry.

You’ll need

1. A collection of large, smooth pebbles (approximately 8cm x 6cm)
2. Acrylic paints in various colours
3. Clear nail varnish
4. Paintbrushes
5. Pot of water
6. Table covering
7. Pencils and paper
8. Some images or photos to inspire people

The Activity

1. Cover the table to protect it
2. Layout the pebbles in the middle
3. Ask each person to look at the pebbles, pick them up and feel them to decide which they’d like to paint
4. Paint the whole pebble or just one half one colour and let it dry
5. Spend some time thinking about what people would like to paint on their pebble. E.g. a flower, wavy lines, birds or other patterns
6. Use the pencils to sketch onto the paper before they begin, if they wish
7. Once the first coat of paint is dry, encourage people to choose the colours they’ll use for their pebble
8. Paint the pebbles and let them dry
9. Paint a layer of nail varnish over the top to give them a lovely shine