Here is a picture of a large rock I created using a daffodil stencil...
Daffodils Rock by nancymaggielee (To see my painted rocks please go to my Instagram page)
Many different craft stores carry a good selection of stencils, but there is probably a better selection available online and at different stenciling websites.
Here is a picture of just one of many daffodil stencils online through Amazon...
Stencil Kingdom has an enormous variety of stencils that come in all shapes and sizes...
This daffodil stencil is from Stencil Kingdom (link highlighted in paragraph above)
Stencils are simply pieces of plastic with a design cut in it for outlining.
Using the above picture as a reference, the colors shown (yellow, green, and orange in this case) would be openings cut into the plastic.
You will fill them in using a form of painting which is called stenciling, which is using a special brush with a tapping motion. You can learn more about exactly how to stencil by watching the videos below on this page.
The rock you would need for the daffodils pictured above would probably need to be quite wide as well as tall to fit these beautiful spring flowersonto it so keep that in mind when making your selection.
The hosta flowers pictured below would need a similarly shaped rock...
Hosta Flower Stencil
In the hosta flower example above the openings would be the violets and greens, respectively. This picture is just showing the end result.
If you choose to paint a rock using the stencil method outlined on this page, here is the list of supplies you will need (all are affiliate links which only means I will make a small commission if you buy through this link at no cost to you):
Remember that one of the most important things to learn about getting a great result from stenciling is that the stencil brush should be relatively dry and drip-free as shown in the video directly above.
Here is my video from a few years back explaining how to stencil forget-me-nots:
A stencil is a great tool to use for many reasons. Stencils come in so many different designs and sizes, the sky is the limit as to what you can paint or draw using a stencil.
Theorem stencils (non-affiliate link toJean Hansen Publications) are stencils that come in multiple layers having different openings in each one. This will give your design a realistic effect.
If you decide to purchase a theorem stencil, the instructions for how to use it will be included on the package. You may want to purchase the exact colors the company recommends using with the theorem stencil you choose.
Jean Hansen Publications has a wide assortment of theorem stencils like the one pictured below...
CrafTreat Stencils like the pansies and roses pictured below are also available on Amazon and offer a wide variety of multi-layered stencils which is another way of saying they are theorem stencils...
Thank you for joining me for this rock painting tutorial which I call my "Daisy Fairy Rock"!I hope that you will find it fun and informative. I hope it inspires you to create a rock of your own.
Even if you are someone who thinks"But I can't paint"don't worry, you can! I promise that if you follow the DIRECTIONS outlined below, you will be able tocreate a rockjust like the one pictured here...
Thank you for joining me for this rock painting tutorial which I call my "Daisy Fairy Rock"!I hope that you will find it fun and informative. I hope it inspires you to create a rock of your own.
Daisy Fairy Rock by nancymaggielee
Pre-Steps
(Do these steps before you begin the DIRECTIONS below)
1.Find a rockyou want to paint, making sure it's the right size and shape for your image. Wash and dry your rock. If you need help on where to find rocks to paint, click this link.
3. Select a picture you would like on your rock, download it to a word processing document and resize it in WP to fit your rock. Read the blog post below to get more detailed instructions for doing this...
or if you prefer, you can watch the video below...
"How to Find an Image, Resize and Download it to Print"
Please note: The picture being downloaded (in the above video) for transfer to another surface is not specifically for this tutorial, "Daisy Fairy Rock", however, the process will be the same and you will search for a term in PINTEREST like "daisy flower fairy"in the search box to make a rock like the one in this tutorial.
4. After your image has been copy and pasted into the WP document (refer to STEP 3 above), place your mouse over the image and click on the image to get the black outline around the image. Using the 'Format Picture' keysat the top of the WP page, flip your image horizontally as you will be drying your image face down onto your rock's surface.
5. Once it's flipped horizontally, print your image out onto a regular piece of computer paper using your print commands. Also, please make sure to select 'Best' for the quality of the print because you want the most ink on the paper.
6. Throughout this tutorial you will see underlined terms. By clicking on any of these links, it will bring you to further information about the item, video or article. As a disclaimer, if you click through to an affiliate link, yes, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you so thank you in advance if you do this.
You may want to read the articles or watch the videos I have linked directly below this picture before you start your project. This may be very helpful to give you a general overview of this process before you begin...
REFERENCE VIDEOS & ARTICLES
The following videos and articles in this section may be helpful to watch or read before you begin also.
You may find some of the same videos and articles linked throughout in the STEPS, but I just wanted to group them together as a reference point for you...
Now that you have your picture printed on computer paper, you are ready to begin the DIRECTIONS below. So, if you have completed some or all of the steps above you are ready to begin!
Are you ready to paint a beautiful fairy rock???Let’s go! …
DIRECTIONS
STEP #1:
Transfer the image you are going to use
Transferring the image to your rock is a very easy process.It does require a few steps within this step, but once the image is on the rock, you will be able to embellish it, design it and color it anyway you like to make it your own unique rock painting.
"How to Use White Acrylic Paint to Prepare the Rock for Transfer"
Please note: The picture being used in the video above for transfer to another surface is not the one used for this tutorial, "Daisy Fairy Rock", however, the process is the same. The steps that you need to follow (Parts 2, 3 and 4) after this video (Part 1) will be linked in the Description Box of the above video and they will also be linked in the STEPS below.
First, you will need to find an image you want to transfer. See the article linked directly below this paragraph for instruction on how to find a picture and download it to a word processing document. (This is also mentioned in the preliminary steps above, but I just wanted to place it here too since someone might have skipped those steps).
I found this image in PINTEREST by typing "flower fairies" in the Search bar. The image shown above has already been flipped horizontally in my WP document as you can see the letters are reversed at the bottom of the image. Remember to flip your image horizontally before printing.
Printing your image and transferring the picture to your rock
From word processing, print the image out onto the computer paper, let it dry for at least about two or three minutes.
Paint your rock’s surface with two coats of white acrylic paint, allowing each coat to dry in between.
Next, paint another coat of white acrylic paint onto your rock surface. However, do NOT let this coat dry before the next step (more about this in Step #3 below).
STEP #3:
Place the printed paper image onto rock’s surface to dry
Place another coat of white acrylic paint directly onto your picture's surface (inked side). I know this may seem wrong, as if you were covering up the picture, but trust me.
Now as in Step #2 above, the rock's surface is pre-painted and dried with two coats of white acrylic paint and now a third coat of white paint has been applied and left wet.
While both the rock’s surface and the picture's surface are wet with their respective coats of white paint, turn the image upside down to position the inked side (which is currently wet with the white paint) onto the rock’s surface (which is currently wet with white paint).
Try not to move the paper at all because this will smudge the ink.Once it is in place, secure the paper to the rock using Scotch tape to hold it steady so that it won’t slip.Rub the back side of the paper gently with your fingertips and smooth out the paper.Make sure every part of the inked surface of the picture is touching the rock’s surface.
Watch the two videos below if you would like more details and to see it visually... (please note the pictures in the videos below are different from the one being used in this tutorial but the process is the same).
"Applying the Paint to the Image and to the Rock to Dry"
"Placing the Image to Dry into the Paint"
Please note: The picture being used in the above videos, are not the one being
used for this tutorial, "Daisy Fairy Rock", however, the process is the same.
Let your image dry overnight into the white paint.
After it is dry, take a spray bottle of water and spray the back of the image while it is on the rock. Let it dry.
Do this step of wetting the image and letting it dry over and over again at least 7 times, but preferrably 10.
(The reason the above is in large print is because this is a very important step to this process, and it does require some patience. However, I must stress that you need to do this step thoroughly to get the best possible transfer of ink to the surface).
After about seven times of wetting and drying, you should start to see the paper start to pill up, or roll up, into little wet paper balls.
You can now VERY GENTLY roll the wet balls off with your finger tip. You will see more about this in the video in STEP #4 below.
Now you are ready to move on to STEP #4...
STEP #4:
Rolling off the paper and revealing the image
Watch the following video to learn how to do this...
"How to Remove the Paper from the Image Transferred to the Rock"
You can also use flower stencils to add flowers to the background of your rock painting. Sometimes there are empty spaces on the surface after the transfer is complete, and a simple stencil like this butterfly is a great way to add other elements to your rock to give it depth and color.
The great part about using a stencil is that you can just use a black pen or a pencil to trace the outline of the stencil image onto the rock.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you have fun painting rocks using the methods here. You can sell these rocks on eBay or Etsy, give it away to someone special, or keep it for your own enjoyment. These rocks look so pretty in a garden setting but make sure you seal it well if you use it outside.
And just remember that it's always great to...
“Be creative & Be happy”
SUPPLIES: (not all will be needed for this project)
Supplies Side note:Not all of the above products will be needed for this particular tutorial. I have linked to some supplies that I use in my rock paintings so that you can have access to some of my favorite products, but you can find most of these in your local craft store.
Some of my PINTEREST boards that may interest my crafty friends:
, respectively. This picture is just showing the end result.
(the link here is to small rocks) or slate
