Rock Fish Pond

Create a fish pond filled with beautifully textured rock fish!

Materials

• Rocks (clean, unpolished, uncoated)
• Acrylic paint
• Netting/ mesh (from veggie bags etc.)
• Paint brushes
• Small beads
• Glue (white craft glue) or glue gun*
• Thick paper
• Elastics or a baggie clip
• Scissors

*Low-temp, only for older children with direct adult supervision/ assistance

Fish Pond

• Container
• Glass gems
• Rocks
• Craft foam

We always find these items helpful too:

• Smock
• Craft tray

Directions

Fish 

• Don your smock.  Put your rock into your mesh baggie.  Close it with an elastic or bag clip on both ends.
• Paint over your mesh (we made Koi fish, but go with whatever type of fish you may like) and your paint your thick paper allowing it to dry overnight.
• Once dry, cut the elastic bands off carefully and remove the mesh which will leave a scale like appearance.
• Glue your eyes onto your fish.
• Cut out a tail and fins out of paper and the mesh that you used for painting your rock.  Glue them onto your fish.

Pond

• Line your container (we used a pie plate) with your water gems.
• You could make lily pads out of craft foam or use green gems for them.
• Line your pond with rocks.
• Play with your pond!

Pin it for later:

Looking for a few more rock decorating ideas?  Check them out here:

From top left to right:

• Mice Rocks (Fireflies & Mud Pies for I Heart Crafty Things): http://iheartcraftythings.com/easy-painted-mouse-rocks.html
• Garden Markers (Adventures in a Box):  http://www.adventure-in-a-box.com/how-to-make-garden-markers-by-painting-stones-art-tuesday/
• Flamingo Puzzle (hello, Wonderful): http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/MAKE-A-FLAMINGO-ROCK-PUZZLE
• Rock Painting Techniques (Color Made Happy): https://colormadehappy.com/2017/07/diy-galaxy-painted-rocks/
• Tea Cakes (Craft Train): https://www.thecrafttrain.com/rock-cakes-for-pretend-play/
• Funny Face Rocks (Craft Train): https://www.thecrafttrain.com/funny-face-rock-puzzle/
• People Rocks (Craft Train): https://www.thecrafttrain.com/fluffy-pet-rocks/
• Photo Holders (Buggy & Buddy): http://buggyandbuddy.com/painted-rock-photo-holder-craft-kids/

• Minions (Non-Toy Gifts): http://nontoygifts.com/minions-jail-craft-painted-rocks/
• Rock Clock (Danya Banya): https://www.danyabanya.com/hickory-dickory-dock-rock-clock-nursery-rhyme-kids-activity/
  
• Rock Cacti (The Best Ideas for Kids): https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/pet-cactus-rocks/
• Kandinsky Inspired Rocks (Arty Crafty Kids): http://www.artycraftykids.com/art/kandinsky-inspired-rock-art/
• Rock Balancing (Rhythms of Play): http://rhythmsofplay.com/rock-balancing-stone-stacking-art-steam-activity/
• Sticker Rocks (Fireflies & Mud Pies): http://www.firefliesandmudpies.com/mess-free-sticker-rocks/
• Rock Rings (Red Ted Art): http://www.redtedart.com/diy-stone-ring/
• Campfire (Ideas in a Box): https://boxofideas.uk/easy-miniature-campfire-craft-for-kids-using-rocks-and-sticks/
• Rock Snails (Kids Craft Room): http://kidscraftroom.com/shake-painting-cute-snail-rock-craft/

Purpose

• Using different materials to paint with and give the appearance of texture.
• Re-purposing items for creating with.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors and a glue gun with care and direct, adult supervision.  (We recommend a low temp glue gun only for older children.)
• Small items such as beads and gems can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.