A DIY Easier Than Carrying Rocks in Your Luggage

Seven years ago my parents visited New Zealand and Australia. On the very first stop of their three week adventure, my mom found a rock doormat and trivet she just had to have. Surely my dad rolled his eyes when my mom said they’d take them, but ever the trooper he loaded them into the bottom of his suitcase. When bellmen at each hotel asked what do you have – rocks – in this bag? They had to answer a bit embarrassingly yes.

We have all long admired my mom’s New Zealand treasure. Though rock mats have become a bit more common since their trip, we have yet to find them quite as nice. Because we don’t have a trip down under planned (and my husband may not be as generous a schlepper as my Dad) – I decided to DIY my own rock runner.

the inspiration. door mat from New Zealand with (heavy) love

the inspiration. trivet from new zealand.

Rock Runner

Materials:
- Many river rocks. It took us (LTM & her affiliates) two beach visits to gather the right rocks. The flatter and thinner the better. Try to match their thickness. 
- a doormat. the thinner, but still firm the better. i like the charcoal grey. ($6 at Ocean State Joblot)
- glue (Elmer’s Ultimate stone glue worked great)
- exacto knife – unless you plan on filling the whole mat in which case you need many, many rocks.

Step 1: Gather your materials.
Step 2: Cut your doormat to desired shape/size. I wanted a runner so I used a little less than half the mat. You can also do a half moon, make trivets, anything you like. My husband helped with this step and suggests marking your desired cuts and then cutting on the back/rubber side. Measure twice, cut once – his grandfather always said.
Step 3: I arranged the rocks to get an idea of how they laid out. The closer together the rocks, the better.
Step 4: Glue. Dry. Be impressed with yourself.