Fun Ideas for Paint Chip Art

Paint chip art has become a popular pastime for home renovators and crafters that have a ton of extra paint samples. Even if you don't have extras around the house, it's easy enough to pick out some free paint swatches of your favorite colors at a local paint supplier.

We decided to include a variety of paint chip ideas to get your creative juices flowing. To be included in this round-up, the DIYs had to use paint samples as the main element of the project.

If you want to recreate one of these paint chip projects or make one your own, we suggest heading to a craft store and picking up some craft shape punches to cut down on manual cutting and give you more versatility and precise lines.

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Add Words to a Paint Chip Project

A Beautiful Mess

The great thing about paint chip art is that the end result can look very modern and timeless so long as you pick a color palette that works in your home. The team over at A Beautiful Mess decided to pair a simple, clean font with brightly colored squares, and they both work very well together. You could use any font, but choices with thicker letters are easier to cut out. Head on over to their tutorial for detailed instructions and more progress photos.

Modern Wall Art with Paint Swatches from A Beautiful Mess
02 of 12

Leave Negative Space Between Shapes

Rita Shehan

This paint chip art project is easy to complete and highlights how important negative space can be when creating a piece of art. If the entire canvas was filled with small, purple triangles, the art would look too busy. This tutorial breaks down the project into easy steps and includes a pattern that you can print out and follow.

Make Geometric Wall Art Using Paint Samples from The Spruce
03 of 12

Cut Out Hearts for a Festive Garland

Lovely Indeed

Chelsea from Lovely Indeed figured out a clever way to use old paint chips for a romantic heart garland. Garlands are a staple for people who like to decorate for each season. You could hang the garland in your office, on a mantel, or wherever you want to add a pop of color. You could also change out the shape to fit with other seasons, like four-leaf clovers for St. Patrick's Day. Head over to the tutorial to find out how to put it all together.

DIY Paint Chip Valentine Garland from Lovely Indeed
04 of 12

Make Geometric Wall Art With Paint Chips

How About Orange

If you want an easy paint chip art project, stick to one geometric shape in one size. Jessica from How About Orange has several paint chip tutorials on her blog that you should check out. This particular paint chip idea completely transforms the swatches into something new and unrecognizable. Visit her site for a step-by-step guide, so you can make some geometric wall art, too.

How to Make Easy Paint Chip Wall Art from How About Orange

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05 of 12

Turn Paint Chips into Bookmarks

Mama Miss

Melissa from Mama Miss decided to upcycle her extra paint chips by turning them into bookmarks. To complete this project, head to your local home improvement store and pick up some paint narrow paint swatches. Then, head over to Mama Miss for the complete tutorial.

Paint Chip Bookmarks from Mama Miss
06 of 12

Use Hexagons to Create This Piece of Art

A Charming Project

Many paint chip art projects involve geometric shapes. If you have craft tools that will punch out shapes, this project will be easier to complete. Otherwise, you could use a stencil and cut all the shapes out by hand. Find out how Enid from A Charming Project decided to complete this art project on her blog.

DIY Hexagon Framed Art from A Charming Project
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Give a Paint Chip Banner a Scalloped Edge

Cherished Bliss

There are a variety of ways you can use paint chips to make banners and garlands for decorating. Ashley from Cherished Bliss opted to keep the paint chips in a recognizable shape and added a fun scalloped edge. Find out where she put the banner and how the whole project came together on her blog.

Paint Chip Banner from Cherished Bliss
08 of 12

Make Some Paint Sample Jewelry

Thinking Closet

Paint samples work well for funky jewelry pieces because the card stock is usually thick enough to withstand basic wear and tear. To learn how to make some jewelry using paint chips, head over to the Thinking Closet and follow along with Lauren's step-by-step tutorial.

Ombre Paint Chip Earrings from Thinking Closet

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09 of 12

Create Paint Chip Art for a Child's Room

The Homes I Have Made

There are some paint chip projects that use dozens of punched out circles to create mosaic shapes. If you don't want to attempt a shape, keep it simple by lining the circles up to look like fish scales. However, the addition of the owl shape is charming and perfect for a child's room. Head over to the tutorial on The Homes I Have Made for a simple, easy-to-follow pattern that even your kids can complete.

Owl Paint Chip Art from The Homes I Have Made
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Put Together a Mini Album Using Paint Swatches

Maggie Holmes Design

It's easy to create a mini notebook using paint chips. One option is to punch holes in the top of each swatch and use a key ring to bind them together. Maggie Holmes Design takes this project one step further by adding an eclectic mix of scrapbooking elements. Head over to her page for more photos and inspiration that you can use when you make one for yourself.

Paint Swatch Mini Album from Maggie Holmes Design
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Craft an Educational Color Matching Game

One Little Project

There are dozens of children's games that you can make at home and save yourself a ton of money in the process. The most popular options are both fun and educational like this color matching game from One Little Project. All you need to get started are some paint swatches and clothespins. Visit the tutorial to find out how to put it all together.

Paint Swatch Clothes Pin Matching Game from One Little Project
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Store Your Needles in a Paint Chip

Sew Many Ways

This paint chip idea is for all the avid sewers out there. On first glance, it looks like this project is a match case, but this envelope has a more craft-related use. Karen from Sew Many Ways came up with this innovative way to store her needles. To find out how to customize a case for your sewing needles, check out her step-by-step tutorial.

Paint Chip Needle Case from Sew Many Ways