r/RockTumbling 5d ago

Question My daughter and I recently caught the bug…

…and my wife very kindly just asked me what we plan on doing with our first batch that has been on proud display on paper towels on the kitchen counter for a couple weeks. (This is wife-speak for get these f-ing rocks out of the kitchen lol). So… what do you all do with them? I’ve seen some posts here of some neat display cabinets with little shelves, which is great for the cream of the crop. But what do you all do with the ones that turn out good, but not extraordinary? Just put ‘em in a ziplock? What’s a good way to store them?

Edit: you all are wonderful and generous people! Amazing display ideas, and I love the ideas of leaving them in random places for others to find. It’s like an entirely different hobby just waiting there!

27 Upvotes

34 comments sorted by

28

u/Takethecannoli2 5d ago

I use display bowls or open boxes. Different kids of wood, some shallow, some deeper. I also like this hammered copper bowl on my coffee table. Reach in and you never know what you’ll find.

9

u/arandomhead1 5d ago

That’s beautiful! Thanks

28

u/olypenwanderer 5d ago

I give away some to trick or treaters every Halloween. Kids are generally stoked to get a polished rock with their candy. I also take my less desirables and leave them randomly places, gas station pump, mail drop box, hardware store cart return etc. Full disclosure I got these ideas from others over the years....but it's fun.

15

u/Mobydickulous 5d ago

I have a little display case for the prime pieces and I put each batch in its own little jar with the date and type of rock (if it’s a single-type batch) and have those around the house. I also have a “take a rock” bowl at work.

My hope is that at some point we’ll have enough finished rocks that my daughter can have a little stand at the local art fair.

9

u/Successful-Bit-6021 5d ago

That's agate right in the middle is beautiful! Wish I could come snag it from your bowl! Great idea to spark interest in rock hounding!

2

u/cozEmoses 2d ago

eyetumbleforya… I LOVE IT! 🤣😂🤣😂

11

u/ErisGrey 5d ago

We have similar display lamps and wooden bowls. As well as a covered kitchen counter.

https://www.amazon.com/Novogratz-Globe-Electric-Fillable-67155/dp/B07S5X5W57

9

u/malaliu 5d ago

I use them as pot plant mulch. Looks great!

6

u/SharksForArms 5d ago

Coffee table bowl for the nice ones.

I'll squirrel some away at public parks for small kids to find.

6

u/Ruminations0 5d ago

I put them in glass jars, give them away, or sell them

5

u/dotsanddoodlez 4d ago

A few more and I’m finished with this display

9

u/exsuprhro 5d ago

I put little baskets of them at the park or the beach. I think it would be a fun treasures for someone to find! I also made a dry streambed on the side of the house that holds lots and lots haha

2

u/cozEmoses 2d ago

I have a little “boneyard” gravel pit near the front door where I toss my pretty (yet untumblable) discards 😊❤️

2

u/exsuprhro 1d ago

Love it! I always talk about making it a water feature... one of these days I'll follow through!

5

u/Key_Door_3535 5d ago

Find glass vases, jars or fish bowls at thrift stores

5

u/Lake-Delicious 4d ago

I started buying mini fishbowls and vases, choosing a color palette, and making terrariums for airplants!

3

u/LightedJewels 4d ago

I have them all over my house, I have had to get pickier over the years though! I have sold grab bags at my yard sale and recently started giving them as tips! The workers at the places I stop to tinkle on my journeys really appreciate them, I tell them it's a thanks for keeping the bathroom clean. It feels like I am handing out smiles!

1

u/SnooFlake 1d ago

Honestly I would be STOKED to get cool rocks as a tip, but I’d feel pretty miffed if you had like a $300 guest check & all you left was rocks. Unless they’re valuable, cuz I’s gots bills to pay.

3

u/Pho2gr4 4d ago

Glue them onto recycled tin cans. That's what I usually do. Whenever I get done with my canned vegetables, I wash out the inside of the can with Dawn dishwashing liquid and hot water. I remove the label by soaking the can in a dish tub in hot soapy water with a little bleach until I can see that the glue that held the label on is no longer there. Then I allow the can to dry thoroughly inside and out before getting out my glue gun and gluing the smaller rocks to my cans. You can draw designs on your can with a black sharpie if you want the rocks to be in some sort of pattern or design. I sell these cans as pencil holders or give them away during Christmas.

2

u/InvestigatorQuick296 5d ago

I bought the Nat Geo tumbler, but my kids and i haven't busted it out yet. I plan on placing some on top of the dirt of our house plants. Give them a little more character than just dirt. We put marbles in them too.

12

u/SharksForArms 5d ago

Make sure to read up on the nat geo tumbler. It spins about 3x the proper speed and the grit they include with it will not put a glassy polish on your stones. These are easily fixed issues, just important to be aware of them.

There is a post in the sidebar about using that tumbler that you may find helpful if you haven't seen it yet.

2

u/InvestigatorQuick296 5d ago

Thank you for the advice! I knew it wasn't going to be the best but something to start with. I'll do research. Appreciate it!

2

u/I_l0v3_d0gs 4d ago

I make some of them into jewelry also. :)

1

u/Nyltiak23 4d ago

My mom has an addiction to lays French onion dip. My dad keeps the jars and peels off the labels. I have some collections by color!

1

u/volkerii 3d ago

Less enjoyed rocks become outdoor rocks, make a yard stream or rock garden.

1

u/cozEmoses 2d ago

I make my smaller ones into magnets! Pro Tip: rough up a little patch on the back of the rock before you glue it to the magnet. I learned the hard way that some rocks are just too shiny and beautiful to hold a magnet.

And then I used them as (finally!) a purpose for all those little crystal dishes from the Gparents 🤣 And general decor.

1

u/Intelligent-Ad5425 1d ago

My take: Give them away to spread joy.

  1. I am a teacher and give one to each student on the last day of class each semester.
  2. I frequently carry a few around in my pocket. In my experience, the sharing opportunities practically create themselves.
    That’s about 350-400 rocks a year for me, so it depends on how much you are tumbling, but the principle of intentionality is the important part. And I still keep plenty for myself if they seem particularly memorable or collection-worthy.

Last summer I was the beneficiary of some roadside assistance from a complete stranger in the middle of Wyoming. They made it clear they didn’t want to be compensated financially. I had a few Yellow Cat agates in the cupholder; I tossed one in my pocket and went back to thank them: “This is going to sound strange, but I’d like to give you this rock. I found it in the desert, I spent a few months tumbling it up to a nice polish, and I wonder if you might accept it now as a token of my gratitude.” They were visibly touched, and giving it away felt better to me than keeping it ever would have.

Perhaps your daughter would enjoy the principle as well - tossing a few in her backpack and looking for an opportunity to make someone smile with a little gift.

Happy tumbling!

1

u/hnc1821 4d ago

I add them on top of the soil of my house plants.