Last of the Steping Stones and Tip of the Day

This is the last of my stepping stones.  I was inspired to paint this one after a trip to Hawaii.  It has been outside for about three years and still has good color.  In fact, it even survived being run over by a riding lawn mower pulling a heavily laden cart.

Tip of the Day:  Many people enjoy painting on rocks rather than stepping stones.  If you should choose to use this paint on rocks, make sure you bring the rocks inside and let them dry out for a long time before painting them.  Moisture from rain or a stream can penetrate into crevices in the rock.  When  the painted rock is heated to bake the enamel, the moisture could turn to steam and cause the rock to explode.  It might be a good idea to have a toaster dedicated for craft projects if you choose to use this type of paint on rocks.  At least that way you won't risk wrecking the oven you need for cooking.  The risk can be avoided altogether by painting rocks with acrylic craft paints that do not need to be heat set and using a sealer recommended for use on stone.  However, that type of paint will fade faster if left in sunlight.

I have not tried using this type of paint on rocks, but I have had the experience of rocks with moisture in them exploding when they were used to surround a camp fire.  Rocks can be frighteningly explosive if they are heated after just being pulled from a stream.   So hopefully, a word to the wise will be sufficient.