I collected a very large bucket full and when I got them home I washed them in a bucket of MelaMagic and Tough and Tender, then rinsed them and put them on brown craft paper to dry thoroughly.

When they were fully dry, I painted  a base color on both sides and when dry I decided on what to transform them into. My first was my little yellow fish, followed by a couple of pink fish.  After painting a few more fish, I tried my hand at a butterfly, some ladybugs, a couple of frogs and owls.

For painting the base painting and larger details I used an acrylic craft paint. I found that the Elmer’s Paint Markers are excellent for painting smaller details. When they are completely dry I sealed them with Mod Podge.

They are all so cute and look great on a desk as a paperweight, in flower pots, on windowsills, in decorative bowls or just about anywhere you want some color and character.  My little guys even started painting some of their own and it was so precious.  If you are looking for a great activity the whole family can get involved in, try painting river rocks.

Let me know if you try this.