How to Make Rock Wedding Favors

It's great to give your wedding guests a favor that will last and something they'll use and enjoy looking at. These little rocks can become useful and decorative paperweights--or add a magnet to the back so they can be used to hold papers to a refrigerator door or file cabinet.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Medium-size flat black river rocks
• Silver or gold ink marker, medium point
• Tiny plastic gemstones
• Tweezers
• Super glue
• Ceramic tile sealant or clear nail polish
• Small foam brush
• Small magnets (optional)

How to Make Rock Wedding Favors

1. Purchase flat, black river rocks by the bag in the craft aisle of department stores or at any craft supply store.
2. Practice on paper with the metallic marker until you get good control of the ink flow. If the line it draws is too wide, you can snip the end to a point with a very sharp pair of scissors.
3. Write an inspirational word on each rock, such as: Love, Hope, Dream, Laugh, Harmony, Peace, Beauty, Faith, Wisdom, Prosperity, Abundance, Serenity, Courage. You can use script handwriting, or block printing; be patient and write slowly. If you make a mistake, you can wipe the paint off, but it will leave a silver or gold film on the stone. Start with the smaller rocks and as you get better at them, work up to the larger stones. Let the stones dry completely.
4. Attach a tiny plastic gemstone to each rock with a very tiny drop of glue. You only need a drop of glue the side of the head of a pin. Use tweezers to hold the stones and lower them carefully into place. Let dry thoroughly.
5. Paint a coat of sealant over the writing. Work quickly if you use clear nail polish, so the solvent in the nail polish doesn't dissolve the metallic paint. Test on a small stone. Ceramic tile sealant, sold in home supply stores, will not dissolve the metallic ink. If you use the sealant, you can pour it into a shallow pan and dip each stone. Let dry thoroughly. If desired, glue a small magnet to the back of the smaller rocks.

Tips & Warnings

• Set up your rocks on a table that everyone at the reception will visit, such as the punch table, and encourage people to choose the rock they like.
• Always let paint dry before you move the stones.
• Lay the stones flat until the glue is dry, so the gemstones won't slide off.
• Be sure to use some type of sealant over the writing, or it will wear off pretty quickly.

Who Can Help:

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