I saw the cutest rock in a garden the other day and I would like to duplicate a few for xmas gifts.  I can figure out the rock part, the paint, etc., but frankly my handwriting is awful.  Can I buy some kind of stencil or something?  Or maybe "borrow" a friend with a nice hand??

And how do you get the picture on there if you don't freehand well?  

Any way for a klutz like me to do these nicely, but on the cheap?  Liz 

I'd suggest trying your hand on paper first, and create a few designs you like, then work on the more difficult rocks.  If the rocks are going to be placed outside, choose craft paints that are for outside use.  You can also make your own stencils.  Get a sheet of Mylar, or even use a sheet of plastic cut from a milk jug, plastic lid, etc., and find some "clip-art" on-line or in books and print it off, copy it onto the plastic, and cut it out.  ~Gingerbread

Good ideas, Gingerbread, thanks.  Dd also suggested some foamies, either pre-cut or make my own and use them as stamps, another idea.  I know the craft stores have tons of stuff for this, but I need to do it as cheaply as I can.  Liz 

You can also make stamps out of potatoes. Just cut in half, cut out your design, dip in paint and stamp away.

One thing to keep in mind. Sometimes the most simplest of ideas end up being the prettiest and well loved. My DD made a wall hanging in preschool. It was completely simple, of course directed by the teacher, but just a stick, a few wooden shapes, painted, a couple of strips of fabric, some twine. Tie the string on the ends to make it hang, drill holes on your wooden shapes, then tie string on and add to the stick, then tie the fabric strips on and you have a beautiful wall hanging. Simple, cheap and I totally loved it.

Hi, kabin.  I don't know if I could even design a potato . I'm soooo craft-challenged, lol!  I'm going to ask one of my friends if she has some stamps or stencils I could borrow and give that a try, I think.  I only want their name on it, like "Bea's garden" or "Linda's roses" or such and maybe a small flower or two up on the edge.  Sounds simple, but it's like Monet to me...I'm determined to at least try it, tho.  I'm hoping to find an appropriate rock or two - I'll be hanged if I have to admit on DS that I bought a rock!  Liz

TizzyLizzy:

I'm hoping to find an appropriate rock or two - I'll be hanged if I have to admit on DS that I bought a rock!  Liz

Do you have a river nearby? When we had aquarium we used to pick up some beautiful river rocks to put in them. The nice thing about river rock is that they are usually smooth. I wish you the best on your projects. By the way, you can cut your own stnecils out of newspaper, brown paper, anything you have in hand. All you need is something to trace. Cool, huh?

Oh, I just thought of something else you could do. Do you have Microsoft Word? You could go through all of the type and decide which style you like best. Then size, then type it, print it, and cut it out. Then you would have a stencil. Also, for flowers take a look around on the internet. There are lots of images and you could copy a basic shape to either free hand or make another stencil out of.

Best Wishes! Kathy