Fun & Easy Bee Painted Rocks
Bees are the most popular insects on the planet. Naturally, bee craft ideas abound for kids and adults. This project is a lot of fun for all ages and can be used to teach some great honey bee facts. Bee painted rocks can be used to decorate your bee garden or given as gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas gifts and more!
Crafts that make use of some natural materials are especially meaningful to many of us. This project fits that description to a “T”.
Yes, you can make your stone bee craft as elaborate as you wish. But, you can also use the most basic paint and designs.
This step by step guide on how to make painted bee rocks will get you started. Then, let your creative juices flow and have fun with the project.
Materials Needed for Bee Rocks
Small flat river rocks are best for this project. If you have access to river stones, gather a few small ones that are smooth and oval shaped.
For those of you who do not live in an area with natural river rock (or are forbidden to collect them), check out a local yard materials business. Mulch yards often carry decorative stone too!
Another option, purchase small craft stone from a local hobby supply or order them online. Craft stone will be clean and ready to use.
If you gather rock from a river or supply yard, wash it with clean water before you start.
Rock painting can be a lot of fun. A little preparation and water based paint makes clean up a breeze.
DIY Painted Bee Rocks
Create cute painted bee rocks to use for decoration in your garden. They also make great gifts and are a creative way to introduce the subject of bees to kids.
Materials
- 6 small river rocks - or any smooth porous stone
- acrylic paints ( yellow, black, white)
- paint marker - black
- acrylic gloss/matter sealer spray
Tools
- craft paint brushes for acrylics - 1 small , 1 medium
Instructions
- Painting the Base Color for Bee Body - Use yellow acrylic paint to paint a base color on each stone. Paint the top and bottom allowing it to dry. Then add a second coat of yellow for best results.
- Give Your Bee Craft Some Eyes- Use a small craft brush to paint a pair of small white circles on the top of each stone.
After the white paint has dried for a few minutes, add a dot of black paint to each. These represent eyes but real bees have 5 eyes! And, when bees sleep, they do not close their eyes! - Adding Black Stripes to Your Bee Rock - Not every honey bee has vivid stripes - however this is the classic markings associated with bees.
Use your medium sized brush to paint 2 or 3 wide black stripes on the top side of each bee rock. I suggest leaving the bottom of the bee solid yellow. - Paint on the Wings - Rather than purchase another paint - I mixed a few drops of white and black paint together to create a custom gray.
Using a small brush create a pair of wings on the top side of each bee. Real honey bees actually have 4 wings - but for our project a representation of wings will do.
You can add a few black dashes of color on the wings to simulated the veining that gives real wings their strength.
For years, researchers could not understand how bees fly. The body of the honey bee seems too large for their wing size. Bees didn't know this of course - so they flew anyway! - (Optional) Positive Message - This step is optional. You might want to use a black paint marker to create a short message on the bottom of your bee rock.
Keep it short - so the writing will be easy to read. You can choose any message you wish. - Spray Your Finished Bee Rock With Sealer - Use a clear, acrylic sealer spray to coat both sides of your bee craft. Let each side dry well before flipping it over to spray the other side.
This is protect the paint and allow your craft to look nicer for a long time.
How to Use Your Painted Bee Rock Craft
Now that you have a group of cute bees, what can you do with them? They make great decorations in and around the house. And, they can be used outside in your garden space too!
- place painted bee rocks near bee friendly flowers in your garden
- give them as gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or even Christmas
- bee rocks make great thank you gifts for beekeepers or other bee lovers
- create games to play with small children (hide and seek) etc
- paint positive messages on your bees and leave them in different locations around town
Conclusion:
These are only a few of the many ways you can get involved in the effort to save bees.
Information and education on the importance of bees and other pollinators leads to conservation.
This fun bee craft is one way to get people “thinking bee”.
Beekeeper Charlotte
What do Bees Eat? – You May Be Surprised
