A Fun Way to Spread Some Joy

A while ago, my sister introduced me to the fun of painting rocks. It's a small, relaxing art project that gives you something cute to put in your garden. I made a few simple designs using her acrylic paints and then never made any time to pursue the hobby.

Then one evening a few weeks ago, I started thinking about how subdued I felt. How since the pandemic started, I hadn't felt a lot of joy. I wondered if I'd feel better if I could spread some joy to others. I don't have much time to volunteer because I'm parenting full time and writing books, but maybe there was something I could do at home that might make someone smile? And that's when I had an 'aha' moment. I'd paint happy messages on rocks, then leave them around town for others to find.

Thus started my new obsession! I didn't want to have to set up and clean up paints every time, so I researched paint pens and bought some on Amazon. 

I found a great blog about rock painting that taught me everything I needed to know. https://colormadehappy.com/best-painting-rocks-supplies-guide/

I am not very artistic. But it doesn't take special talent to put a cute, happy message on a rock. Here are a few that I came up with in my first few days. 

Then a wildfire started in the mountains around Santa Cruz, my Northern California beach town. Over sixty thousand members of the larger Santa Cruz community had to evacuate their homes. The air was filled with thick smoke and hundreds of homes in the mountains burned down. Those of us living within city limits were told to get ready to evacuate if need be. It made for a tense week while our firefighters fought hard to get any kind of control of the fire. Rock painting became a way to calm my nerves, as well as a way to try to spread hope.

Now these rocks are set out near a popular path along the cliffs by the ocean, and hopefully they'll make whoever finds them feel a bit better about things. Or at least put a smile on their face! 


If you're looking for a cute, easy project that you can work on whenever you have a free moment, I highly recommend rock painting! And if you need an exciting read, you might want to check out my September Heartwarming book, Rescuing the Rancher, which takes place (in a strange coincidence) during a wildfire.

And just so you don't worry...

My city, Santa Cruz, is safe now. Firefighters came from all over the country to help our local heroes. Now they've got the fire over 20% contained. Some evacuees will even be able to return to their homes in the next few days. Things are looking up, but the fire isn't out yet, so please send a good wish or a prayer to these amazing firefighters, who are risking so much to fight this fire.

Thank you for reading my post! Here is a bit more about Rescuing the Rancher.

She’ll help protect his ranch… and heal his heart

Firefighter Jade Carson needs to get the local residents out of a wildfire’s path, but Aidan Bell isn’t moving. Still grieving a tragedy, the stubborn rancher plans to stay and save his animals. Jade and Aidan battle the blaze on his property, only to feel the spark of something unexpected. Secrets are shared, hope kindles…but can they leave the past’s ashes behind and let love grow?




Available September 1st at:


Harlequin     Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Kobo     iBooks     Target     Walmart     Indigo

Comments

  1. What a wonderful project, Claire, and your painted rocks are beautiful! Have any neighbors guessed your secret life? I think there's a nice hook for a book here....:) And congratulations on your September release, which I look forward to. Glad all are safe in your area now.

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    1. Thank you, Janice! My painted rock mission is top secret. People who read this blog and my family are the only ones who know that I'm the rock painter! ;-) Hmmm... maybe this will make it into a book one day.

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  2. I love this project. Thank you for sharing it! Looking forward to reading Rescuing the Rancher!

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    1. Thank you, Liz! I so appreciate you reading my post!

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  3. What a great idea--they're lovely. I do love Santa Cruz. I'm going to look for some paint pens. Seems like I could have some fun with those. Congratulations on your release!

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    1. Thank you! The pens are so nice, Virginia, because there is no clean up or set up, and you can put your project aside at any time and go back to it later.

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  4. What a positive and uplifting idea. A terrific random act of kindness when the world needs it. Love that the woman is the firefighter in the new book. Great cover!

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    1. I really enjoyed having her be the firefighter!

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  5. I love finding painted rocks. it's always an unexpected joy!

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    1. That's how I got the idea. I rarely see them around, but when I do they make me smile!

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  6. Great post and I love your cover! We have a group in the area that tucks painted rocks in every conceivable location. It's fun just to see them and watch children get excited. In a few cases there's a label on the back asking finders to post where it was located, and then to move it somewhere new.

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    1. How sweet! I thought about adding a note on the back asking the finder to move it somewhere new, but then I thought that if it meant something to them, they might just want to keep it...

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  7. what a great project! bebe and I love painting rocks, although we haven't done it in a while...we may have to put out our stockpile for a virtual-school-art-project!

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    1. It's so simple, it would be a great project! And it's very relaxing.

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  8. I love those rocks! They would certainly bring a smile to my face. I'm so glad the fire is partially contained. Stay strong!

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    1. Thank you, Beth. It's such a relief to have this fire more contained. We feel much more safe now and the air qualilty is getting better. But so many homes lost. Over 700 now, I think? Heartbreaking.

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  9. Those are beautiful! What a wonderful gift for others, too.

    denise

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    1. Thank you so much, Denise! It's very relaxing. Painting them is giving me these little moments of peace.

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  10. It's a great cover and book plot. The rocks are a great way to send a positive message.

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