Do you enjoy rock art like I do?
We used smooth rocks and fabric hearts, along with some Mod Podge, to create these heart rocks for Valentine’s Day.
This is such a simple and easy decoupage project for kids. And adults are sure to enjoy it as well!
How to Make Heart Rocks
MATERIALS
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Gather rocks
Arrange a pile of smooth dry rocks on the table. Be sure to wash and dry them before starting.
I scrub the rocks briefly, rinse them, and then spread them out on a cookie sheet in a hot oven for a few minutes to dry.
Note :: If you gather rocks from a wet area, such as a stream, do NOT put them in the oven as the moisture may make them explode.
2. Cut fabric
Do you have any leftover fabric from other sewing or craft projects? This is a great way to use it. Begin by cutting out small heart shapes from the fabric.
3. Decoupage
Finally, brush a layer of Mod Podge onto the rock. Then lay the fabric heart on it and brush another thin layer on the top of the fabric. Set aside to dry completely.
Heart rocks make fun valentines for kids or a nice decoration around the house.
Looking for another heart rocks projects to try? These glitter rock valentines are easy and so fun to make!
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50 Comments
karen
January 25, 2011 at 8:18 pmwhat kind of glue did you use?
Bonnie
January 25, 2011 at 8:50 pmSeriously, where do you get your smooth rocks? This a great art project. I need smooth rocks for another educational project and have not found source.
welcome to our wonderland
January 25, 2011 at 9:01 pmlove these one year instead of a sand box I bought a bunch of different bags of pebbles and rocks and they had a blast and we still play with it!
Julie Liddle, ART IN HAND
January 25, 2011 at 9:05 pmI find them at Michael’s Craft Store (they call them “river rocks” in the flower arragning section).
Julie Liddle, ART IN HAND
January 25, 2011 at 9:05 pmsooooo pretty. what a great idea. i just want to hold one.
Bonnie
January 25, 2011 at 9:14 pmThank you for your reply! I live 10 minutes from Michael’s Crafts!
karen
January 25, 2011 at 9:24 pmI found river rocks at Joanns…
Melissa
January 25, 2011 at 10:07 pmLovey Love Love LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
rae
January 25, 2011 at 10:43 pmi love them, jean! your pictures are gorgeous. :)
This Girl loves to talk
January 25, 2011 at 11:23 pmim in love with photo 3 and 5…. squee so cute!
Connie
January 26, 2011 at 1:01 amgreat idea. i love how it can potentially cost nothing to make, which fits into my budget perfectly. :)
Two Chicks and a Hen
January 25, 2011 at 9:09 pmOoh, I love it! I can think of so many variations on this. Great idea :).
Earthly Joyride
January 26, 2011 at 5:54 amThese are so beautiful. My head is spinning with all the possibilities for play and like Two Chicks and a Hen notes, so many variations. What a fabulous idea!
frivolitea
January 26, 2011 at 6:28 amThose are wonderful!
Carolina Berta
January 26, 2011 at 7:29 amso cute!
Rachel
January 26, 2011 at 7:34 amoh how fun! my boys will love anything that can go in a dump truck or make a “stone walkway” next to a tower!
where do you get your rocks?
Steph at Modern Parents Messy Kids
January 26, 2011 at 7:50 amThese are so sweet. Can you believe we’re already doing V-day crafts? Here’s mine – it’s a shaving cream valentine. Very sensory oriented and right up your alley :)
https://www.modernparentsmessykids.com/2011/01/tutorial-shaving-cream-valentine.html
Dawn Lange
January 26, 2011 at 9:43 amPretty! We’ve done a lot of these stones, but I like this idea and might have to do it on Asher’s “heart” day (the anniversary of his heart surgery). Usually we buy him a stone or wood heart, but I’d like to do this next year.
molly
January 26, 2011 at 9:57 amLove this (for my Gran the geologist especially) and might just make these as Valentine’s for the kids school friends. We did fabric hearts with glue on paper last year but I am loving this even more! I bet they would look pretty with tissue paper or even newsprint as well. Did you use regular Mod Podge or the outdoor stuff? I haven’t used the outdoor stuff before but this might be a good reason to try it!
Julia
January 26, 2011 at 11:08 amGreat idea. Would be fun to make it into a memory game for older children. (:
Darcy Troutman
January 26, 2011 at 11:21 amthese are just beautiful!
Love and Lollipops
January 26, 2011 at 2:25 pmThese are just lovely!! I will have to try source some really smooth rocks here in SA.
Georgia
catandboy
January 26, 2011 at 2:53 pmHi,
I just recently discovered your blog and I am super NON crafty. But I want to do art projects with my kid. What is mod podge and how do you use it?
Thanks.
catandboy
January 26, 2011 at 2:55 pmP.S. I love this blog and I’m going to try to organize a play date around your home made playdough recipe!
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 11:56 amMod Podge. https://www.acmoore.com/p-26749-mod-podge-matte-finish-16-ounce.aspx
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 11:58 amMy husband built a rock retaining wall in our backyard a while back and we have some smooth river rocks left over from that project that we had bought from a rock place. It sounds like you can get them at art supply stores as well (or maybe pick up a few on a nature walk…).
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 11:58 amOh, and I imagine a hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot might carry them by the bag.
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 11:59 amThanks, Rae!
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 12:04 pmMine too! :)
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 12:05 pmOh, I love those! We may have to give that a try (for valentine’s day or just for fun sometime)!
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 12:07 pmI think I got the idea from the story stones you’ve done. I like the idea of making or giving Asher a heart on his heart day!
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 12:08 pmI just used regular mod podge because that’s what I already had on hand. I didn’t even know they made special outdoor stuff! I like the idea of trying this with tissue paper or newsprint. Actually newspaper! That’s what I want to try!
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 12:08 pmOh, yeah! What a great idea!
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 12:08 pmThanks for all the rock love, everyone!
lubee
January 26, 2011 at 7:28 pmWow! I know what I’m doing this weekend. I found the rocks at the dollar tree last year and use them in my science center but I’m going to take some of them for this project. Thanks
ailikate
January 26, 2011 at 7:41 pmI love the rocks…but I’m dying to know the pattern for the knit heart. I just received a bag of pink and red and white yarn and need to knit some valentines!
Mod Podge Amy
January 26, 2011 at 9:48 pmThese are so cute!
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 8:24 pmI’ll ask the woman who knit the heart!
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 8:25 pmYay!
Jean Van't Hul
January 26, 2011 at 8:26 pmMod Podge is a kind of glue that you can buy at an arts and crafts store. Here’s a link so you can see a pic and details: https://www.acmoore.com/p-26749-mod-podge-matte-finish-16-ounce.aspx. You can use it for lots of different things — a lot of people use it for decoupage-type projects.
Emily O.
January 27, 2011 at 9:33 amWe do rocks for our yearly bereavement camp and have gotten them from a local landscape supply company that sell pavers, etc. But Michael’s sounds like a good source if you don’t need many. We heat up the stones in a crockpot or oven on low until they’re warm but not hot, and then the kids color on them with crayons. As they cool, the drawing sets.
Jessica Flowers
January 27, 2011 at 1:46 pmI love these! Are you giving them out as Valentines to friends this year?
Grace
January 27, 2011 at 5:09 pmI’ve been reading your blog for a little while now. I have a ten-month old daughter and am trying to incorporate art in our daily activities. I’m so glad I came across your blog – you are definitely an inspiration and a help! I love these rocks! What simple fun! I’ll tuck it away as an idea for the future. Thanks!
Katie
January 27, 2011 at 9:57 pmI think you could even be so bold as to say that these are “Hard Rock Valentines.” Yes? Yes? Haha. Okay, a bit cheesy, but I couldn’t help it. Such a fun project. I really want to make some now.
lubee
January 28, 2011 at 9:18 pmI just made a “batch” of these rocks and it was so fun. I also made a rock with fabric initials for each of my nieces. I think I’ll date the back and give it to them with their Valentine’s card. Thanks for the great idea. I’m thinking now that maybe I should make one for each of my students. ???? Did you spray your rocks when they were dry? The bottle suggest it.
Rachel
January 30, 2011 at 8:04 pmwe did a variation of this project today: thx for the inspiration! justin wanted to make them for his classmates. he drew hearts on fabric but didn’t like the way those turned out… so then he used a heart punch and punched out paper hearts, then wrote the name of a classmate and his name, then modge-podged them onto the rock. it was super fun!
Amber
March 10, 2011 at 8:38 pmWhat a neat idea! Thanks. They look like perfect counting manipulatives. Do they hold up well with little hands?
Sandrine de la Récré'ACtion
April 4, 2011 at 10:27 pmso cute!♥♥♥
Salls Gorham
January 27, 2013 at 11:37 amIt’s so adorable, Jean. Heart’s day is so near and I love to have that for myself. I’ll put it on our living room to add a good view. It’s very artistic.
Kincer Buxton
February 24, 2013 at 5:32 amVery nice artworks! I love it! Simple yet very interesting. I like these ideas.