How to Make Ladybug Rocks

Along with butterflies and bumble bees, ladybugs are a symbol of summer. If you want to spread summer joy all year long, try your hand at a simple craft project and make ladybug rocks as garden decorations, paperweights or door stoppers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Smooth, oval rocks
• Dish soap
• Red and black acrylic or latex paint
• Various paintbrushes
• Masking tape

1. Choose smooth, oval-shaped rocks to make your ladybugs. The size you choose depends on the intended use, for example, a medium-sized rock that fits in your palm makes a good paperweight, while garden decor requires a larger rock.
2. Clean and scrub your rock with warm water and dish dish soap to remove dirt and debris. Allow it to dry completely before you begin.
3. Paint your rock red with acrylic or latex paint and allow it to dry for several hours or even overnight. Add a second coat if needed.
4. Place a piece of masking tape around the width of the rock, about one-third of the way from the top to create your ladybug's head. Use black paint to fill in the upper one-third above the tape and allow to dry completely before you remove the tape.
5. Use masking tape once again to create a black stripe down the ladybug's back, dividing the wings. Place 2 pieces of tape side by side with a 1/8-inch wide space between them. Paint the stripe black and leave the tape in place until completely dry.
6. Finish your ladybug rock by adding 3 or 4 black dots on each wing to mimic the ladybug spots.