How to Make a Pet Marker

Memorialize your pet with a hand-painted marker.

A pet marker sits on top of an animal's grave and memorializes the animal's life. They serve to remind the pet's owners of their beloved companion and the times they shared. Making your pet's grave marker can help you come to to terms with your loss and also allows you to craft a personal monument to your pet.

Things You'll Need

• Large flat river rock
• Nylon brush
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Spray varnish

Instructions

1. Clean a large flat river rock by scrubbing it with a nylon brush under running water. Let the rock dry thoroughly.

2. Paint the rock a solid dark color using acrylic paint. Cover the rock with paint by painting one side at a time. Allow the paint to dry completely.

3. Paint the pet's name and its birth and death dates on the rock using a finely tipped paintbrush and a pale paint color. Allow the paint to dry completely.

4. Spray the rock with spray varnish. Spray varnish protects the paint from the elements. Allow the varnish to dry completely.

5. Press the marker into the earth at the grave site, writing side up.

Tips & Warnings

• Sketch faint pencil lines on the rock to guide your lettering.

References

• Art Made Easy: Painting Rocks with Acrylic
• All Free Crafts; Learn How to Paint Animals on Rocks; Jen Longshaw