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Paint Swatch Whiteboards

February 06, 2014

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Paint swatch whiteboard crafts are a great way to use those old samples to create a cute and useful project.



Kids have a way of making the best out of any situation. At least my kids do...case in point, every one of our endless trips to home improvement stores over the last decade.

We dragged our kids to virtually every box store, lumber yard and garden center within a twenty five mile radius of our home, as we renovated every square inch of the property.

They never complained.

They would make a game out of the trips and collect souvenirs along the way.

Stores that had paint samples, especially the ones shaped like Mickey Mouse, were their favorites.

They'd come home with a few color cards, since we were in the middle of painting everything, and we encouraged them to pick out their own room colors.

They would spend the next several days cutting and pasting, enjoying the cast offs in their collection.

Recently, one of my girls developed a renewed interest in paint swatches. She saw a few white board calendars on Pinterest and decided she wanted to make one.

Dad took her to the craft store, armed with 40% off coupons, and picked up a large picture frame.

She layered the cardboard backing with craft paper and paint swatches, which created the boxes for each day of the month.

When she was done, she took an old plastic bin and covered it with scrapbook paper and some rhinestone roping to store her makers and a rag.

When she showed it to me, I was really impressed. I am constantly in awe of how little my children seem to need me lately.

That's a big change.

Well, except when it comes to laundry, Or rides.

Or money.


Anyway...turns out the creativity didn't stop there.

About a week later, I walked into her room and noticed that her sparkly picture frame had also been turned into a whiteboard, as well.

She even hung a necklace on it to add a little embellishment and camouflage a brand marking on the swatch .

When I asked her about it and she told me that she had a few samples left, one fit perfectly in the empty frame and, "Mom, you know how I like to write things."

She did indeed. And now she has plenty of places to do so.


I have to hand it to her, it looks amazing, it's functional and it cost absolutely nothing to make.

It's exquisitely unremarkable and I'm really impressed.


How about you?

Do you know any crafty kids?


Kim Signature


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  1. Unique! A great way to use up those paint chip cards; sweet idea!

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    1. I agreed, she did a great job with this one! :)

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  2. She's so creative, just like you! Love this simple and FREE idea!!!!

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    1. Thanks Vel! Now if she were this thrifty when it comes to clothes shopping! :) Ha!

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  3. This is awesome! Such a creative idea! xoxo Jen

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    1. Thanks Jen! I wish I could take credit, but it was all her idea!

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  4. Pretty and practical!! Hmm. Wonder where she got all this cute craftiness from...let's see...maybe sitting on her mother's knee, since she was a wee baby??!! Probably!!

    Poppy

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    1. Haha! Perhaps Poppy, perhaps! I think it may be genetic...we come from a long line of crafty ladies! :)

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  5. Very cool! I think it is critical to introduce children to crafts and anything that awakens and lets them use their creativity. She is fortunate to have creative parents.
    Patty at Home and Lifestyle Design

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    1. I totally agree, Patty. We used to do so many crafts in school growing up, today it's a shame, with all the new standards, so much of the creative time has been phased out. I am glad that she has an outlet at home!

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  6. Oh, she's so creative. Just like her mom. And what a supportive father she has. I'm so glad you shared this, Kim. It just makes me smile. <3

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  7. Oh how I remember the days of dragging our kids to the home improvement stores. :) Now we send them to pick up stuff for us. ;) Your daughter did a wonderful job on this project! Very creative indeed!

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    1. Thanks so much, Lisa! I will pass on the compliment to her, she will be thrilled! :)

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  8. How fun!! I need to make one of those too!!
    It sounds like you taught your kids to be creative on all kinds of levels. You are both blessed.
    Maybe we'll be seeing more of your daughter's projects?

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    1. I hope so Diane! She really is very creative, there is always a project in the works!

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  9. We kind of know where all that craftiness comes from :) Love what she did! You put a smile on my face because that's exactly what my kids grabbed when they used to come with us to the home centers: Paint samples, of course they also preferred the Mickey Mouse ones :D

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    1. Thanks so much, Cristina! All those bright colors, standing out among the lumber are hard to resist when you are small, I guess! At least it kept everyone happy in the store! :)

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  10. So fun...you gotta love all those paint colors...they do inspire. However, but I'd say she's inherited her creativity. Thanks for sharing! Blessings, D@TheShadyPorch

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    1. Thanks, D! All those pretty colors are inspirational and yes, I am sure a little creative DNA helps, too! :)

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  11. What a cute idea! How fun that you are your daughter share a love of crafting!

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    1. Thanks Sharon! It is nice to have kids that share your interests! It gives us another fun outlet to spend time together! :)

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  12. She takes after you! I love both ideas. The wipe board is really neat.

    My daughter is the same way. In my library there is a glass table. I took photos when it was clean!

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  13. Haha! That's the key isn't it? Waiting for the rooms to be clean enough to take the photos! ;) I have to peek at your table. I forgot to look when I was admiring your cozy bed and bunny earlier today!

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  14. You've taught her to be creative, Kim, by example. My mom & I never did stuff like that together. We did other things I was interested in at the time.

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    1. Thanks Florence. I think kids either like DIY and crafts or they don't. I'm just lucky that mine do! ;)

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