Rock Spiders Craft: Be Kind to Spiders Week 2026
As I slow down on this week’s festivities, let’s bring the family together with a garden decor craft making rock spiders!
When plotting out my original selection of posts, I knew I wanted to do one activity that my littles could make alongside me. Knowing this year’s theme was a garden vibe, I thought it would be fun to make something to decorate the garden with. But what? All the initial ideas I had felt like they could be done without incorporating a spider at all, which, we could do, but that wasn’t quite what I had in mind.
Things felt too complicated or too simple until my husband said, “What about making spiders out of rocks?”. And that clicked. People often decorate their gardens with themed painted rocks, why not build off of that?
Materials & Tools
I wanted this to be a simple craft that didn’t require much. Bonus for it mostly being things we already had. However, I recognize that not everyone has these kinds of crafts just laying around. I’ve tried to link what I can that might be considered unusual.
▸ Assorted sized smooth surfaced rocks
Some may be able to just find these out in their yards. We picked up a bag from Lowe’s. You get a lot more rocks for your money versus getting a smaller one from a craft store. But if space is limited and you don’t have rocks in your yard, but hardware stores and craft stores carry rocks in assorted size bags to suit your needs.
▸ Acrylic paint with brushes or acrylic paint markers
I have these acrylic paint markers from October that I am still obsessing over. They’re fast drying and so much less mess than paint with brushes. I originally purchased a set of 30, but for illustrating my book, I upgraded to the 72 pack in February. I find them extremely affordable with the set of 30 only costing me $8. However, if you don’t want to add more to your craft storage, regular acrylic paint works just as well.
▸ 26 gauge floral wire wrapped with green paper and brown paper
I went with a larger gauge number (thinner wire) so my little ones could bend it easily. If you want your rock spiders to be held up off the ground, you can go with a smaller number for a thicker wire. I liked the look of these paper-wrapped wires and they were very inexpensive for a lot of length. Plus I appreciated that I could cut it with scissors instead of needing to rely on a wire-cutter.
▸ Scissors or wire cutters
Needed to cut the wire. If you do thicker than a 26 gauge wire, I suggest breaking out your wire cutters. Thicker wires will damage your scissors.
▸ Puffy paints, beads or small colorful stones (optional)
Not needed, but you can use textured paints, beads or stones to decorate your rock spider craft, if you so desire. I tried using some beads for eyes on one of my spiders, but it wasn’t exactly my favorite. My daughter used pearlescent puff paints on one of hers and it turned out super pretty. Do what calls to you.
You can use any super glue of your preference, but I really like this Loctite gel glue best. It dries quickly, and really holds on. You can skip the super glue if you don’t have it on hand or want to work with it, but I find it much more dependable than hot glue if you plan to keep these rick spiders outside.
▸ Hot glue gun & glue sticks (optional if using super glue)
I LOVE my cordless hot glue gun, but any old hot glue gun will work. I used this to hold the legs in place while wrapping around the spider. This is not a necessary step, but can come in handy.
▸ Outdoor modge podge or outdoor sealant (optional)
If you plan to keep your rock spiders outside, some sort of sealant is recommended. Acrylic paints (both brushed on and marker) will last alright on their own. However, a sealant will make your garden decor last much longer.
Rock Spiders Craft Assembly
With all of your items gathered, it’s time to make this rock spider craft!
▸ Step 1: Select and wash your rocks
I strongly recommend you clean your rocks before you decorate or glue them together. There is often dirt or little bits of sand stuck to the rock and the paint will not stick as well if you skip this step. Be sure to wipe dry with a towel.
▸ Steps 2 & 3: Glue rocks together then decorate OR Decorate rocks then glue together
These two steps are interchangeable. I tried doing both with great success either way. Keep in mind that if you glue the rocks together first, it might be harder to color in the little crevice where the two rocks meet. If using super glue to attach rocks together, I suggest letting them dry for at least 30 minutes before moving on to the next step, regardless of it being decorating the rocks or moving on to step 4.
▸ Step 4: (optional) Weatherproof with sealant
If you plan to display your rock spiders craft in your garden, I strongly encourage you to apply some sort of sealant to protect your decorating from the elements. If your spiders will be inside, you can skip this step.
▸ Step 5: Attach wire for legs
Once you’ve let your creation dry enough for handling, it is time to add the legs. Cut the wire into four pieces. These will act as your legs. It is better to cut them too long instead of too short. Wrap the wire around where the two rocks connect. I added a dab of hot glue to help keep them in place. If working with children on this craft, I suggest going back later with the super glue since hot glue may melt when out in the sun. Once the legs are wrapped around, pose them as desired. If legs are too long, trim to desired length.
▸ Step 6: Place in your garden
After posing your rock spider’s legs, you can place them wherever you want in your garden, potted plant, or even on your window sill. Finally, enjoy!
Rock Spiders Craft Results
All in all, I love how these rock spiders turned out! They’re even more special because my little ones made them. You can bet that I am itching to make even more of them too. We still have a whole bag of rocks left, so I plan to!
Would you give this craft a try with your little ones? Are you looking forward to adding your own rock spiders to your greenery? Let me know down in the comments!
