Painting rocks is not a new concept, but with the addition of a quest it has become an activity the whole family can enjoy. Have I stumped you? Don’t worry that is easily taken care of… the new trend is to paint rocks, hide them, give clues online, and others find them. Easy enough!
Where has this idea come from? The original idea of finding hidden object sounds familiar enough, right? This seems like the child of an Easter Egg Hunt and Hide ‘N Seek, but the idea of combining these two activities originated with a couple that lost their daughters in an auto accident. To help them overcome their grief they started creating rocks with fabric hearts on them and hiding them around their neighborhood. The idea originally came from an project from the couple’s 2011 wedding. Susan, her soon to be mother-in-law, and two girls soon to be sisters created one of a kind hearts for a wedding that would unite two families. The two girls were sisters before the vows spoken by their parents. They loved each other, fought with each other, shared, giggled, and danced. They lived a “love drenched live” according to their mother Susan. If you would like to read more about this project go to the following link.
https://love-drenched-life.com/love-rocks/
How to decorate your rocks with fabric hearts:
Materials (from Love Drenched Life):
Supplies Needed: mod podge, small rocks, fabric, scissors and paint brush.
Steps to complete your fabric heart rock:
- Cut fabric hearts 2. Paint mod podge onto top of rock. 3. Place heart on rock and paint mod podge over entire top of rock including fabric 4. Write or mod podge a tag (found at the bottom of this page) on the back with love-rocks.org so people know they found a Love Rock 5. Share Love and Joy!
The original rocks were made with fabric hearts but with new Rocks! Projects popping up across the country these rocks can be decorated in many ways.
There some rules that most sites ask you to follow:
Lawns or anywhere that a mower can run over it.
Leaving rocks in state or national parks are not allowed.
Anywhere that a person has to climb to get the rock.
In the middle of pathways where people can trip on them.
Businesses that don’t give you permission before “hiding” them there.
Anyone’s private property.
A good basic rule is if you are unsure than ask. Remember to be polite even when someone doesn’t give you permission to leave your rock.
Thank you Montana Happy for the great list above. She has a really great blog dedicated to painting rocks to hide. Make sure to go to her blog page for how to paint rocks, place them, and find them.
http://montanahappy.com/rock-painting-how-to-get-started/
There are tons of sites on Facebook about this new craft and uplifting trend.It is not hard to find a group in your area. If you don’t find a group it is as easy as painting your own rocks, hiding them, and starting your own FaceBook group so you can post hints where others can find the rocks you placed.
So where can you find rocks? One place to look is the map on The Kindness Rocks Project. The link for that map is here:
http://thekindnessrocksproject.com/find-rocks
Links to info on rock hiding across the country:
http://www.wral.com/paint-a-rock-hide-it-raleigh-rocks-offers-new-search-find-fun/16599995/
https://www.facebook.com/lovedrenched
https://www.facebook.com/search/str/paint+rock+and+hide+them/keywords_blended_posts
Finding “Love” rocks started about two years ago but the trend is on fire this summer. There are new groups popping up everywhere. It is easy to see why this craze has caught on. It is a community art project, family activity, free unless you decided to buy supplies to paint your own rocks, and gets people outside. Of all things to catch on this is a good one to be ignited.
Make sure to comment below if you liked this article. I will be happy to find more awesome craft ideas that bring a great message.