# I have to decorate 150 rocks
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** arts-crafts
**Created:** [February 2, 2024, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002 "2024-02-02T02:11:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/1 "2024-02-02T02:11:59Z")
I have to decorate rocks with a fairy theme. The front should have a picture of a fairy and the back will say West Coast Womynsfest 2024.
I am hoping I can go to some crafting store and buy something like some sort of paper or sticker and then I can mod podge them on to the rocks. I know I can’t paint 150 fairy stones! For the back I thought I could maybe get a stamp made and just stamp it on?
Anybody have any ideas?
I can buy bulk river rocks for painting.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/2 "2024-02-02T02:16:02Z")
Why not just get a stamp for the front as well as the back?
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/3 "2024-02-02T02:16:18Z")
They will look better and mod podge better if you tear out paper prints. Maybe just find some pics you like online and have them printed several to a page at your local print shop? Assuming these are giveaways and not things you will sell. Otherwise, be careful where you get the pics.
How big will they be?
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/4 "2024-02-02T02:17:42Z")
What conditions do they have to withstand? Weather? Any other water or moisture? Excessive handling?
I’d probably try to get napkins with pictures on them, maybe cut out the picture, put it on the stone, and paint it with a glue/water mixture. But that’ll completely fall apart if it gets wet. Modge podge doesn’t stand up very well to water, either. Polyurethane might.
Alternate idea, of course, is to get in touch with the art teacher at a local school and get several dozen “volunteers” to do it as a project.
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### Author:  [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/5 "2024-02-02T02:22:07Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> Why not just get a stamp for the front as well as the back?
I’m assuming they want the back to all say the same thing, but the front to feature a variety of different images.
But, that’s just my assumption. Can the O.P. weigh in on whether a stamp - or I guess, maybe a few of them - would work for the front fairy image, too?
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/6 "2024-02-02T02:22:21Z")
Rub on transfers are much better lasting than stickers. IMO.
I feel sure you’ll find fairy themed ones.
Stamp the lettering with the right ink. Apply fixative after.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/7 "2024-02-02T02:22:33Z")
Oh, and what’s your time constraint?
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### Author:  [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/8 "2024-02-02T02:27:11Z")
Cut stencils, maybe on a Cricut or similar, and then just spray paint the rocks?
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/9 "2024-02-02T02:33:49Z")
How small are the rocks?
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### Author:  [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/10 "2024-02-02T02:48:51Z")
As always, beware of Disney images. Their minions are everywhere, and live to cause trouble for small businesses.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/11 "2024-02-02T03:22:02Z")
Why not use an AI imaging site to design 150 unique fairy images, print them out on a color printer, modge podge and Bob’s your uncle.
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### Author:  [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/12 "2024-02-02T03:25:22Z")
They will be for free for people to take. They have to be ready by June. They will be outside for a couple of days sitting on a table for people to take as they walk by. There are so many great ideas here. I’m so glad I asked. The rocks will be about 2-3 inches.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/13 "2024-02-02T03:30:22Z")
> [@echoreply](#):
>
> Cut stencils, maybe on a Cricut or similar, and then just spray paint the rocks?
Googling, you can buy ready-made stencils, even ones with a fairy theme. The only trick is finding ones that are small enough to fit on a two or three inch rock.
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### Author:  [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/14 "2024-02-02T03:31:42Z")
Ok I see you can buy multi coloured ink pads. I bet I could find some fairy stamps and stick them on the rocks. Maybe spray paint the rocks first so the ink will show up better?
I also like the idea of finding paper napkins with a print I like then cutting up/sticking it on.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/15 "2024-02-02T05:14:46Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#):
>
> I have to decorate rocks with a fairy theme.
What were you arrested for?
😁
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### Author:  [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/16 "2024-02-02T14:36:26Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#):
>
> There are so many great ideas here.
You don’t hafta go with just one. Maybe do some rocks with paints, some with modge-podge napkins, a few with { _some other awesome idea_ } and then you don’t get burned out on one single technique AND the walk-by folks get a wider variety from which to select?
(“Oooh, this is cute!”
"Yeah, but I like this one better … ")
ETA: also, if you’re inclined, I’d love to see pictures of what you wind up eventually making. 🙂
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/17 "2024-02-02T15:18:21Z")
I’m half speaking out of my ass here, but could you maybe borrow someone’s cricut and basically make stencils of what you’re looking to put on the rocks, and then just assembly-line spray-paint them, and then follow up with a coat of polyurethane for durability?
Something like that might be faster and more durable than mod-podging or inking, etc…
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/18 "2024-02-02T15:32:48Z")
If I had until June to do it, I might hand paint each one. Come on, it sounds like fun!
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/19 "2024-02-02T16:35:06Z")
stencil with poly was my first thought. small fairy stencils are easy to find.
for the back i would go with clear sticker with poly.
there are really good poly sprays out there.
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### Author:  [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2024, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-decorate-150-rocks/997002/20 "2024-02-03T04:58:45Z")
I had to google what poly was. And for those of you saying how much time I have, keep in mind I’ve known I had to do this since _last_ June!
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