Gather smooth round rocks, paint them to look like Easter eggs and design your very own Easter Rock Hunt. Let’s get creative!

What you need:

• Flat, smooth, small rocks

• White, yellow, green, blue and red paint
  (choose acrylic for indoors or acrylic patio paint if you want the colours to last longer)

• Paintbrushes (one fat and one thin)

• Small paint pots or a paint pallet

• Jar of water

• Sealer/Mod Podge (optional)

Gift your rock eggs to friends with special messages written on their underside, hide your eggs in local parks for others to enjoy OR try this fun Easter Egg Rock Hunt idea…

What to do:

1. Gather smooth, small, round rocks.
   Why not make it a family outing, or go rock hunting with a friend?

2. Wash the rocks.
   If they are very dirty use an old toothbrush and warm soapy water to scrub them clean.

3. Leave the rocks out to dry in the sun.

4. To make the pastel colours, mix some white paint with a drop of each of the paint colours in the pots, or on the pallet. 

5. Paint your rocks on one side and leave them paint-side-up to dry.
   Once they are dry you can paint the other side, starting with the edges, while you hold the centre.
   Leave them to dry. Add another coat of paint if desired.

6. To add shading to your rock, use a ‘dry brushing technique’ with your vivid colours. Tip: Dip your brush in the paint and then wipe it on some paper a few times to get rid of excess paint. Now you can ‘scuffle’ your brush to work shading onto your rock from the edges.

7. When your rocks are dry you can paint an Easter egg pattern on them in white.
   Tip: Add your vivid paint colour along the white lines to really make your design stand out!

8. OPTIONAL: When your eggs are completely dry you can cover them with a sealer. Be sure that the paint is completely dry before you apply it.
   Don’t worry that some sealer goes on white, it dries clear!
   Sealer should only be applied with adult supervision.

The Easter Rock Hunt…

Hide your rocks and write clues for finding each one. Pop a clue under the rock that leads to the next one!

You could also write messages on the underside of the rocks to make your egg hunters smile! Egg-citing! The last clue could even lead to a special treat!

Did you give it a go?

Send us a photo of your Easter Egg Rocks and you might find your creation featured on the Upstart website or in a future issue of Upstart magazine… AND win a prize!