How to easily paint your state to make a beautiful rock

Easily paint your state onto a rock with this quick tutorial. Step by step instructions and a video help you to master this rock painting idea.

Paint Your State

Being an Army wife, I’ve lived in several states. I love that I can make a rock for each state I’ve lived.

You can use this technique to give as a farewell gift idea, hide during a road trip, or just collect all of the places you live. Which state holds a special place in your heart?

Psst…this tutorial will also work for a country or territory!

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Supplies for painting a state onto a rock.

For this project, I used a couple of different sized paint pens. If you don’t have pens, I suggest using a small, square edged paint brush.

You’ll want both a fine and extra fine tipped black pen. Plus a red paint pen. You can get both of these in this bundle set.

You’ll also want to grab an X-Acto knife and some painters tape.

To create the outlines to paint your state, you’ll want to print a silhouette of the state. You can grab all of the states with this pack of graphics. She also sells each state individually. Or you can find several countries here.

Print out whichever state you want to make and use the X-Acto knife to cut out the shape. The knife will help you get all of the nooks and crannies out of the border.

Step by step instructions for state rocks

Use a rock that has a base coat on it. It will help the state pop!

Roll a small piece of painters tape and use it to tape down the silhouette of your state.

Going nice and slow, trace around the edge of the state. Keep your pen on the paper slightly, so that you get a nice edge to the line.

You want to have a good amount of pressure on each stroke so that you push the paper down slightly.

Use smaller lines to get around all of the curves of the state.

Give the outline a moment to dry, then pull the paper state off the state.

PR101 Tip: Grab your X-Acto knife underneath the paper to help limit any smudging.

Grab your extra fine tip pen and touch up any missed spots or lines that look too skinny.

Find where you want to place your heart. I like to place the heart near the city I lived in.

Use a red pen (or whichever color you choose) and paint the heart. If your placement is on the border, go ahead and paint right over the line of the state.

Finish up the heart with a simple black outline.

Because I didn’t give my entire rock a base coat, I added a quick black outline to my base.

How to paint a state or country on rocks!

If you create one of these rocks, please share it with us!!  Leave a picture in the comments of our Facebook Live!

Pin this stone painting tutorial to your favorite Pinterest board!