Bug Pebble Painting – A Colourful Children’s Craft Activity
Looking for a fun and creative children’s craft activity that’s perfect come rain or shine?
Our bug pebble painting for kids is a brilliant way to combine nature, imagination and colour. Whether you're after indoor activities for kids or something unique for a rainy afternoon, this cheerful craft ticks all the right boxes.
We began by heading outdoors to collect smooth, flat pebbles, ideal for painting. After a quick wash and dry, the real fun started! With brushes and bright paints in hand, we brought our bug creations to life: a buzzing bee, a red and black ladybird, a shiny green beetle, and some fabulous rainbow bugs full of personality.

This is one of our favourite arts and crafts for kids, blending outdoor exploration with calm, creative time indoors. Pebble painting for kids is simple, satisfying and encourages a love for both crafting and nature.
What You Need
To get started with your own bug pebble creations, here’s what you’ll need:
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Acrylic paint – this gives the best coverage and colour, but it can be messy and doesn’t wash out of clothes, so make sure little ones aren’t wearing their best outfits!
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Paint brushes – a few different sizes work best for details and pebbles surface painting.
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Paint tray or palette – great for mixing colours.
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Jar of water – for rinsing brushes between colours.
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Tea towel – for drying off your collected pebbles before painting.
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Smooth pebbles – collected from the garden, beach or park (just make sure they’re clean and dry).
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Old cardboard box – a great way to protect your table while painting.

How To: Bug Pebble Painting Step-by-Step
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Wash the pebbles
Give your pebbles a good scrub in warm water with a little washing-up liquid. This helps the paint stick better and removes any dirt or sand. -
Dry thoroughly
Use a tea towel to dry each pebble, then leave them to air dry fully before painting. -
Set up your painting area
Acrylic paint can stain, so we recommend using an old cardboard box or a plastic sheet to protect your table. -
Get inspired
Chat with your child about all the different kinds of bugs , what colours they are, where they live, and what they do. Maybe look at a picture of a real bug together to spark ideas. -
Choose your colours
Let your child pick their favourite colours. Pop a small amount of each colour into a paint tray, we just used an old food container! -
Start painting
Now the fun really begins! Help your child turn each pebble into a little bug friend. We painted a bee, a ladybird, a green beetle, and even a rainbow bug. -
Invent your own bug
A lovely way to finish is to let your child paint a bug they imagine. Ours created a magical rainbow bug that could jump and fly! -
Let them dry
Leave your finished bugs to dry completely – this shouldn’t take too long, but overnight is safest. -
Take your bugs exploring
Once dry, take your pebble bugs into the garden or the park. Where would they live? What would they eat? This is a brilliant way to stretch the activity and encourage storytelling and outdoor play.

So if you're looking for craft ideas for kids that blend creativity, learning and fun, give bug pebble painting for kids a try. It’s one of those brilliant crafts for kids that turns a simple stone into a world of imagination.
If you loved this kids crafting activity, check out our Egg Box Caterpillars crafting idea.