What to Do With Tumbled Rocks: DIY Jewel Boxes

By Lauren Rose Correa, July 10, 2025

I have always loved the colors and textures of tumbled rocks. It all started in my childhood, when my family would vacation in New Hampshire every summer. The gift shops always had a huge display filled with these gorgeous little stones. You could fill a bag with your favorites for just a few dollars. Today, the nostalgia that these tumbled rocks carry is equal to their beauty. You may wonder what to do with tumbled rocks, especially if you have a collection of them. I have an idea for you!

What to Do With Tumbled Rocks: Supplies

This craft is so simple and easy to do, but it’s beautiful. All you need are tumbled stones, small boxes, some gold paint, a paintbrush and E6000 super glue or Gorilla hot glue. I got these small round boxes in a six pack from Hobby Lobby. The smaller purple stones are from Amazon, while the larger ones were a thrift store find.

What to Do With Tumbled Rocks: Uses for These Jewel Boxes

Two small boxes with colorful rocks on top

These beautiful boxes are great for use as trinket boxes in your own home. They would also make a great container for a small gift, like jewelry or candy.

Supplies

Tumbled Rocks
Paper Mache Boxes
Liquid Leaf Gold Paint
Paintbrush
E6000 Glue

Directions

To start, paint the lids of the boxes gold (or paint the whole box if you prefer). This should dry pretty quickly. Allow to dry completely before the next step.
Arrange your stones in the pattern you would like on the boxes. Then glue them into place. I used E6000 and then allowed the rocks to set for 24 hours.