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The prize for the lowest maintenance pet undoubtedly goes to the 1975 fad pet created by California by salesman, Gary Dahl; the pet rock. Here; finally, was a pet that required no care and little upkeep but still gave its owner a few moments of pleasure. Yes; pet rocks are the perfect pet for bad economic times because you don’t have to spend money on food, vet visits, and toys.

Dahl’s original pet rocks were Rosarita beach stones from Rosarita Beach, Baja, Mexico and were selected by Dahl because they were smooth, rounded, largish, gray pebbles of uniform size. He packed them in excelsior in a gift box; shaped like a pet carrying case, accompanied by an instruction book entitled “Pet Rock Training Manual”. In short; this manual was a tongue-in-check, step-by-step guide to having a happy relationship with your geological pet and included such essential pet rock training instructions as; how to make it roll over and play dead and how to house train your newly arrived pet rock.

Here is how to make your very own pet rocks full of character, personality and fun. This craft project is ideal for ages 3 and above. For the older kids you can increase the amount of detail and features to be built into each pet rock and so keep them occupied and out of mischief. So let’s get to it.

Pet Rocks Project Materials:

• Rock(s) – As many smooth surfaced stones/rocks of varying size depending upon requirements and age of those undertaking this pet rock craft project.
• Soap
• Acrylic Craft Paint
• Acrylic Sealer Spray
• Textures and Markers
• Assorted Paint Brushes
• White Craft Glue (for decorations)
• Assorted Decorations: Beads, Buttons, Cotton Wool, Glitter, Glitter Glue, Markers, Pom-Poms, Sequins, Wiggle Eyes, Yarn, etc

Pet Rocks Project Instructions:

1. Rock Selection – Selecting as smooth a stone/rock as possible makes for a less complicated more streamlined pet rock craft project all around particularly for the very young. Because increasing the number and type of features with which you intend to decorate the pet rock candidates increases the degree of difficulty and length of time required to complete this pet rock craft project select your pet rock candidates with this and the age and capabilities of those participating in mind. Too complex and you will quickly loose the attention of the younger crafter while an overly simplified version will not be challenging enough to maintain interest of older more dexterous crafters.
2. Prepare Candidate Rocks – Start by washing your rock in warm soapy water. Use an old toothbrush to get all of the dirt out of any jags, nooks and crannies. Dry thoroughly with an old towel, dish cloth or paper towels.
3. Orientation – Before you begin decorating your pet rock candidates it is best to decide as to whether or not the finished pet rock will have eyes and if so select the location on the surface of the pet rock candidate for the eyes as this will define up and down and hence predetermine the location of other features such as hair, mouth, teeth, ears, antennae etc.
4. Pet Rock Decoration – You can “decorate” your rocks however you like using just about anything. For example; cotton wool works well for hair while; gluing on a number of 4cm (1½ inch) lengths of 8-ply wool, does make for great dreadlocks. When; cut to required length and glued on, pipe cleaners make for awesome antennae. You can even paint or dye them to any color or colored pattern desired.
5. Pet Rock Eyes – Eyes are one of the most important features (at least in the minds of humans) and you can endow your pet rock with enormous personality simply by adding eyes. To do this paint slightly out-of-shape circles on your candidate pet rock with white or pinkish-red paint. Let it dry before proceeding with the next step. With the white paint dry paint small black dots onto the eye base color with black paint and let this dry. You can use textures or felt marking pens to paint on eye lashes and eye brows if desired.
6. Pet Rock Mouth – The easiest way to give your pet rock emotion and additional character is through the careful placement and shaping of a mouth. For happy pet rock types paint a semicircle with the straight edge facing the eyes. Use black paint for this and let it dry before progressing to the next step. Use white paint to paint on some teeth and let dry. Finnish mouth by highlighting the black semicircle with red paint, textures or markers to simulate a lip line.
7. Pet Rock Noses – Noses can be of all shapes and sizes, in fact your pet rock need not even have a nose (ideal for the younger crafter) but a small button (usually red) glued with craft glue onto the pet rock in an appropriate location is about the easiest way to give your new pet rock a nose.
8. Pet Rock Hair – Cotton wool glued onto the pet rock with craft glue is about the simplest way of adding hair to your pet rock. You can even dye the cotton wool prior to gluing to give you pet rock whatever colored hair you fancy. Once the glue has set; the crafter can even give their pet rock a hair cut for style, just to add that extra “personal” touch.
9. Pet Rock Antennae – You can cut color and shape pipe cleaners as desired and then glue them onto your pet rock if so desired. Alternatively use a set of antennae recycled from another old or broken toy.
10. Acrylic Sealer Spray – When your pet rock’s paintwork and craft glue have dried/set completely, spray with acrylic sealer spray to add longevity and resilience to your pet rock.

Tips and Suggestions:

• Use your imagination; match your pet rock’s colors with those of your room or even in line with your school’s colors.
• Pet rocks are great for paperweights and in this capacity they make a great lighthearted functional addition to any desk or workstation.
• Try cutting ears and tongue out of felt and gluing them onto your pet rock along with the appropriate paint job in order to make a character laden floppy eared puppy dog.
• Pet rocks are great for paperweights, so these make a great addition to your homework desk.