Field manual
How to send a rock around the world
everything we know, from 8,000 rocks' worth of mistakes01
Take its code first
Start on Pebbly before you pick up a brush. No photo needed: tap “Save as a sketch — take the code now” and its short code and QR sticker are yours at once. The code starts working when you publish. Painted it already? Add a photo and publish in one go instead.
a code painted on by hand never peels off02
Paint something you'd want to find
Smooth river rocks take acrylics best; paint pens for detail. Faces, patterns, tiny worlds — the finds that get photographed have personality. Put the code on the back, painted or as the QR sticker, then two coats of outdoor varnish over everything, sticker included.
a peeled sticker is a rock with amnesia03
Hide it kindly, then publish
Visible enough to be found, tucked enough to be a surprise. Benches, trailheads, windowsills, library shelves. Mark the spot in the app — the pin lands only roughly, so the hunt stays a hunt — and publish: the code goes live, and a published rock can't be edited or deleted.
Please skip: protected nature reserves, private property, anywhere a mower lives.
chest height beats ground level. finders are lazy. lovingly.learn it your way — watch it, tap through it, then do it for real
See it in motion · 47 sec
Watch a rock come to life
The app tour runs itself the first time you sign in.
What you need
$20–35 covers your first batchSmooth rocks$0–8
Acrylic paint set$8–15
Brush set$4–8
Clear sealant$6–10
Paint markersoptional$5–12
Sticker paper / labelsoptional$6–10
craft storesonlinedollar storeoutside · rocks are free
Questions
Frequently asked
grouped by topic, so you can skip what you already knowPainting & sealing
Smooth, flat river rocks or beach stones work best. They have a nice surface for painting and are easy to find. Look for rocks that are at least 3-4 inches in diameter so there's enough space for your design and tracking code.
Acrylic paint is the best choice for rock painting. It's water-based, dries quickly, adheres well to rock surfaces, and is affordable. For outdoor rocks, make sure to seal with a waterproof coating after painting.
After your paint is completely dry, apply 2-3 coats of clear waterproof sealant. Popular options include Mod Podge Outdoor, clear polyurethane spray, or outdoor varnish. Let each coat dry completely before applying the next.
You can buy waterproof sticker paper for home printers online, or use regular sticker paper and laminate or seal it with clear packing tape. Alternatively, many print shops offer waterproof sticker printing services. The QR code downloads as a PNG file that's ready to print at any size.
Absolutely! Rock painting is a wonderful family activity. Kids love creating their own designs and tracking their rocks' journeys. Just supervise younger children with paints and sealants, and make sure designs are age-appropriate. Many families make this a regular weekend tradition!
Hiding & travel
Popular locations include public parks, hiking trails, playgrounds, shopping areas, and tourist attractions. Choose places with good foot traffic but where rocks won't be disturbed by maintenance crews. Avoid private property, protected natural areas, and spots where rocks might be a safety hazard.
It varies greatly! Some rocks are found within days and travel hundreds of miles in weeks. Others might sit for months before being discovered. Rocks placed in high-traffic tourist areas tend to travel farther and faster. The journey is unpredictable - that's part of the magic!
Not everyone who finds a rock will log it - that's okay! Many rocks travel through multiple hands before someone logs a find. Some people might keep it as a treasure, others might re-hide it without logging. Focus on the joy of creating and sharing, and celebrate each logged find as a bonus!
Be patient! Some rocks take weeks or months to be discovered. If it's been a long time, you could: 1) Create more rocks and place them in higher-traffic areas, 2) Try different placement strategies, 3) Share hints on social media, or 4) Consider moving the rock to a new location. Remember, the anticipation is part of the fun!
Awesome! Scan the QR code or enter the short code on our website, then log where you found it with a photo of the spot — every find needs one — and a note for the painter if you like. The painter confirms the find. Then you can keep it, re-hide it for someone else to find, or take it on your travels to help it journey further!
Yes! Many rocks have traveled across countries and continents. Tourist destinations are hotspots for international travel. Some rocks have been found thousands of miles from where they started. The global community of rock painters makes this possible!
Codes & accounts
That's why we provide both a QR code AND a short code! If the QR code becomes unreadable, finders can still use the short code by typing "pebbly.art/[CODE]" in their browser. To prevent damage, seal QR code stickers with clear coating.
Yes, you need an account to create and register rocks. However, finding and logging someone else's rock can be done without an account - we just capture the basic find information. Creating an account lets you track all your rocks in one place and receive notifications.
Yes. An account, creating and publishing rocks, logging finds, badges and the map cost nothing — and finders don't even need an account.
Yes — it's the safest bet. Every Pebbly rock gets both a QR sticker and a short code, so stick the sticker on and write or paint the code beside it: if one wears off, the other still works. That pair is all a rock needs — Pebbly doesn't use NFC tags.