Painting a room or a piece of furniture is always exciting. It's like giving new life and new personality to something with one relatively simple process. And the possibilities are endless. You can choose a color (or several) that reflect your unique personality and sense of style.
But if you're a creatively minded and visual person, there's a particular challenge that comes with picking out your colors.
When you walk into the paint section, you're confronted with a wall of paint samples, or chips, in what seems like every color conceivable, and it's easy to get distracted. They're all so lovely!
And soon, you're walking around with a stack of about a hundred paint samples, none of which would match anything in your house. (Just me? OK.)
So what can you do with all these delightful pieces of color once you get home? Well, with a little imagination, quite a lot!
We've seen how to make adorable handmade Christmas cards out of paint samples, but there's a lot more you can do!
Check out some of the things crafters from around the internet have come up with, and you might find yourself headed for the paint store… without a painting project in mind.
[H/T: ViralNova]
Ah, paint chips. The possibilities are endless. Sometimes, if you're trying to focus on just one color, they even seem a little too endless!
But luckily, there are so many things you can do with paint samples, these colors don't have to go to waste!
One of the simplest things to do with paint samples is to trim them down, punch a hole, and tie on some string.
They make great gift tags and add a pop of color to any package. Try them with a plain wrapping paper to make them really stand out.
If you like origami, try your hand at making these cute little gift boxes, perfect for little presents. No wrapping paper required!
Check out the tutorial here.
And they work for larger presents, too. One blogger taped multiple paint sample squares together to create a colorful alternative to wrapping paper.
Paint chips can do other party duties, too. These cutouts attached to toothpicks and string are great for adding a touch of color to food and drinks.
By using different colors, you can also use paint chips as drink tags so everyone knows which beverage is theirs.
The long, rectangular shape of most paint samples means they make natural bookmarks.
If you're feeling fancy, you can always spruce them up a little by rounding the edges and adding a tassel, as seen here, or you can just leave them as is and stick them right in a book.
If you like to stay organized the analogue way, paint chips are a great way to divide up and categorize a desktop Rolodex or file cabinet like this.
Paint chips are also great for calendars. Using a picture frame, some paint swatches, and a dry-erase marker, you can set up a calendar that can be used year-round simply by wiping off and re-writing the dates.
This version is larger and meant to hang on a wall.
And if you're looking for something smaller, you can make a desktop version, too.
A paint sample folded around some paper makes a perfect little notebook, too. Take one on the go to jot down important notes and reminders.
Then again, sometimes you just want to appreciate the colors, and that's what makes paint chips so great for making some original artwork.
This crafter used beautiful sunset colors to create this simple but effective abstract image.
Paint chips are also great for making something with the popular "ombre" look, where colors fade from light to dark. (It's actually called a gradient, but ombre sounds fancier.)
This example uses circles and cool turquoises for a beachy feel, but of course you can play with any shapes and colors you like!
And if you're feeling really creative, you can simply let your imagination run wild with all the colors of the rainbow!
And if you're a fan of 3D art, one blogger shows how to create this beautifully modern and elegant wreath using leaves cut from paint samples.
And paint chips can be used for more than decorating your home. You can also decorate yourself with one of these bold necklaces created from reused samples.
A great, practical way to put paint chips to use is to turn them into something functional, like coasters.
These paint chips were glued to sample tiles (available at hardware and tiling stores) and sealed with a protective acrylic layer. They're a great way to add some color to your table!
And with some clever folding, you can also make a colorful window ornament.
These would also look adorable hanging from a Christmas tree. You could leave them rainbow-colored, or use wintry colors for a seasonal look.
You can even make some stand-up animal pals by cutting out animal body and leg shapes, and fitting them together. No glue needed!
Thanks to their endless array of colors, paint chips also make great, inexpensive holiday decor.
This rainbow of spring colors is perfect for an Easter garland.
And reds and greens make for great Christmas versions! Of course, you can still get your rainbow on in December by creating a garland that looks like a string of lights!
There are countless other possibilities out there when it comes to these rainbow-hued little cards (cards are one of them!). Have you ever come up with a clever reuse for paint samples? Tell us about it!
And SHARE these great ideas with your crafty friends who just can't get enough color!
