Here's a fun activity that's perfect for your next summer cookout or family reunion: an outdoor search for special homemade rocks that you crack open to reveal pretty jewels and trinkets.
| Prep Time: Afternoon or Evening | |
| What you need: | |
| Plastic jewels and small trinkets
Glitter or sequins Tissue paper Aluminum foil Plaster of Paris Pisposable container Plastic spoon Waxed paper Acrylic paints Paintbrushes Pair of plastic gloves | |
| Seasons: Summer | |
| Materials: clay , foil, food items, paints, paper | |
| Instructions: | |
| 1. | To make each rock, tightly wrap a jewel and glitter or sequins in a small piece of tissue paper, then tightly wrap the whole thing in aluminum foil. Repeat with the remaining treasures. |
| 2. | Prepare the plaster of Paris in the disposable container according to the package directions. When the plaster is ready (it should be about as thick as a milkshake), one at a time, drop in a foil packet, swirl it with the plastic spoon until it is evenly coated, then spoon it onto a sheet of waxed paper and allow it to dry. To clean up any leftover plaster, let it harden in the container, then dispose of it in the trash. |
| 3. | When the rocks have dried (about a half hour), coat each one with acrylic paint. (Tip: Wear plastic gloves so you can handle the rocks as you paint them.) For a particularly realistic effect, apply a darker shade first, then dab on a lighter color with a paper towel or cotton ball. |
| 4. |  Once the paint has dried, hide the treasures around the
yard, then invite your kids to come snoop them out. After they've
collected them all, show the gang how to crack the stones
(squeezing or tapping them on the ground should do it) and remove
the plaster, foil, and paper layers to discover what's
inside. |
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