January 14, 2009

Paint chip bookmarks

Looks like I'm on a bookmark kick. We had extra paint swatches lying around because, lo and behold, we painted our guest room orange over the Christmas break. (I'll show you after we get some stuff on the walls.) These paint chips were begging to be spared from the trash. Trim them to a size you like, paste two colors back-to-back with some rubber cement, attach a string or ribbon, and you're golden. They're especially sturdy because the paper stock they're printed on is very tough. Now I have no excuse for using a Kleenex or an extra book as a bookmark.

57 comments:

  1. Grandma GJanuary 14, 2009 at 2:15 PM

    Well, I always tried to teach you not to waste things. I guess it worked. Very practical.

    And just plain funny. :-)

    Mum

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  2. melodicartistryJanuary 14, 2009 at 2:39 PM

    this reminds me of how my grandma would save the dividers in boxes of tetley tea bags and then give them to me in big stacks to draw on and make bookmarks... i like this idea!

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  3. Kim @ NewlyWoodwardsJanuary 14, 2009 at 3:01 PM

    I love this! Thanks for sharing. So simple and cute!

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  4. HannitaJanuary 14, 2009 at 3:34 PM

    You know, I have lots of nice bookmarks around. Except that they're put away or something and so I still use kleenex. =)

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  5. Live a Colorful LifeJanuary 14, 2009 at 3:39 PM

    I love paint chips. Never thought of turning them into a bookmark. That is now on my list. Oh, one time I mounted a bunch of them in a shadow-box type frame with little foam "risers" under some of them for a 3-D look. Kind of cool-looking modern art...and free, especially if you have a spare frame hanging around somewhere.

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  6. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 3:42 PM

    Oh that is so funny. I saved my paint chips (because I like them and wanted to keep the colors we didn't choose as well as the ones we did) My husband looked at me like I was nuts but I knew there was a use for them!

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  7. cjmJanuary 14, 2009 at 4:10 PM

    Wait, did you repaint that awesome brown room? I love me some orange, but say it ain't so...

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  8. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 4:20 PM

    These would also make great luggage tags -- you know, something hanging off the handle to help differentiate one black suitcase with wheels from the next as they spin through baggage claim.

    Thanks for the inspiration.

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  9. UnknownJanuary 14, 2009 at 4:20 PM

    What a cool idea! Paint swatches lend themselves to so many crafty applications... I need an excuse to get some myself.

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  10. CindraJanuary 14, 2009 at 4:29 PM

    It's so good to know other people use Kleenex to bookmark. What a great idea. I must go to Lowes!

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  11. Jessica JonesJanuary 14, 2009 at 4:31 PM

    Yep, bye bye purplish brown. Hello orange.

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 4:34 PM

    To cute! I love the simple things in life. :)

    Jo

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  13. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 4:43 PM

    Oh how cute! I love the photo with them all piled up-so colorful! I'll be linking.

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  14. amyJanuary 14, 2009 at 5:03 PM

    What a nifty idea! And I do hope you'll be posting a pic of your new orange room - I'd love to see how it turned out.

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  15. jeannieoJanuary 14, 2009 at 5:16 PM

    Perhaps instead of a kleenex, you could use part of the kleenex BOX to make a bookmark...maybe with a coordinating paint swatch on the other side?

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  16. Grandma GJanuary 14, 2009 at 5:21 PM

    Gee, and now paint store owners all over the world will get all excited because they'll think everybody's choosing colors and planning to buy their paint, when all people want is their free CHIPS! And it'll be all your fault, Jess. I hope nobody tells on you!!

    ;-)

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  17. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 6:48 PM

    Love these! Thanks for sharing the idea.

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  18. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 6:59 PM

    Cute!

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  19. Tina in BostonJanuary 14, 2009 at 6:59 PM

    I have been saving paint chips to make some sort of wall art. I didn't think of this, though! thanks for the idea. I love the luggage tag idea mentioned in an earlier post, too.

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  20. LivJanuary 14, 2009 at 7:58 PM

    cute! that's actually a really smart idea. I'll have to try it out...

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  21. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 7:59 PM

    I love that idea! Laminating them would be an idea too.

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  22. CaseyJanuary 14, 2009 at 9:41 PM

    What a fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing.

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  23. Busy VeeJanuary 14, 2009 at 10:42 PM

    Holy crap that's an awesome idea! i'm going to give them as valentine's day gift and they are so cute that no one will realize that they are FREE!!! I'm so thankful that you shared!

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  24. SunshineJanuary 15, 2009 at 4:02 AM

    Clever! Thank you.

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  25. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:12 AM

    So cute and reusing something so it doesn't get trashed...How very environmental of you!

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  26. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:36 AM

    I used to do something like this growing up! Except I used wallpaper samples...you know when wallpaper was all the rage :P

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  27. Jessica JonesJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:37 AM

    Hey, wallpaper is making a come back! Get ready!

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  28. Content in a CottageJanuary 15, 2009 at 9:24 AM

    Fabulous idea!

    ♥Rosemary

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  29. TranquilityKnotsJanuary 15, 2009 at 9:30 AM

    That's a great idea. I actually have lots of them in my house. I used the bigger ones for scrapbooking or carkmaking. They are very colorful, you can write or stamp on it and stick it to you pages or cards with double sided tape. They look great!

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  30. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    Great idea! Love checking out your Blog Daily.

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  31. Randi~Dukes and DuchessesJanuary 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM

    I love paint swatches and the bookmarks are great. I've used paint swatches to make birthday cards as well ... they're perfect for anything.

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  32. KellyJanuary 15, 2009 at 2:25 PM

    i'm so glad i'm not the only one that uses kleenex for a bookmark...

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  33. JuneJanuary 15, 2009 at 2:31 PM

    I like this idea! I've got some of my own to do something with!

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  34. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2009 at 2:34 PM

    True confession: When I was in elementary school, before I knew I would become a graphic designer, I would walk around the corner to the hardware store and browse the paint chip collection. Then take my favorites home. After I become a designer I couldn't believe that my ole paint chips became a PMS book...happy day! I can't wait to make these!

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  35. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2009 at 2:46 PM

    p.s. If you are an illustrator--which I'm not--you can even draw (doodle?) on your paint chip bookmarks:

    http://deefarnsworth.blogspot.com/2006/11/drawings.html

    very inspirational!

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  36. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2009 at 6:36 AM

    That is so cool! I have been using paint strips in scrapbooking pages, chopped them up to make affordable algebra tiles for hubby's students in an innercity math class, but darn this is just fun!

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  37. RebeccaJanuary 16, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    SO cute!

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  38. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2009 at 1:01 PM

    Sigh. You had me at 'rounded corners'.

    These are ingeniously simple, or maybe simply ingenious. Either way, such a cool, clever idea. Thanks for sharing.

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  39. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2009 at 5:23 PM

    With all of the paint chips that I have, this is a great idea! What a way to re-purpose. This is also a nice gift for that someone who needs a little encouragement to paint!

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  40. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2009 at 9:31 AM

    We painted our guest room orange last year -- we even used one of the colors you have displayed! We did the whole room in Orange Burst, which we renamed Expletive Orange, and put stripes on one wall with a redder orange -- Maybe Vienna Sunset or something like that? Sounds gawd awful but looks wonderful!

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  41. Laura Kirste CampbellJanuary 17, 2009 at 1:50 PM

    Clever and colorful! The perfect personal touch would be adding a cute stamp design (in orange ink of course)!

    I just released my newest stamp designs! Please come visit, and stop by my blog where I'm sharing one Valentine each day until Valentine's Day!I may even have an orange one!

    Have a citrus colored day!

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  42. deeJanuary 18, 2009 at 10:10 AM

    That's an adorable idea. Love it. You could even make a mobile out of them, as well! I'm excited to see photos of the finished room.

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  43. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2009 at 11:29 PM

    Brilliant. I'm loving it.

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  44. Teresa @ good-graceJanuary 20, 2009 at 6:30 PM

    THESE are so CUTE!

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  45. KayJanuary 21, 2009 at 5:34 PM

    Clever. I was going to jump on you for being one of those people who help themselves to paint chips for craft projects, without thinking that
    SOMEONE pays for them (later customers probably in the form of higher prices). But you're not one;instead you made good use of something otherwise wasted.
    good for you.

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  46. MaryJanuary 31, 2009 at 1:28 AM

    You're so funny but I really like your idea for these paint chip papers. Could also stamp words on them glue embellishments on them.. think of all the possibilities. This is so me I luv it.

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  47. AnonymousJanuary 31, 2009 at 11:47 PM

    which paint color did you choose?

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  48. Jessica JonesFebruary 2, 2009 at 10:08 AM

    Poppy Glow. I'll do a blog post about it soon!

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  49. paint color guyApril 19, 2009 at 8:26 PM

    I love those color combination you have.. Very nice idea.

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  50. KrissiApril 20, 2009 at 10:36 PM

    FAB-U-LOUS idea!

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  51. KateriJanuary 6, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    Love your bookmarks. I hope you don't mind but I did a post of your book mark ideas on my blog
    http://www.bearbahoochie.co.uk/2011/01/04/bookmark-inspirations/

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  52. dm designsApril 13, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    :) Hello! I just featured your lovely bookmarks in my latest blog post :)
    http://danimariedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-to-do-with-paint-chips.html

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  53. Jenna, SAS InteriorsApril 22, 2011 at 6:41 AM

    I know this post was written awhile back, but I'm so glad to have found it. How creative!!! I always have a slew of paint chips laying around and never want to throw them away. I just featured this project and another from your blog. Check it out ~ http://www.sasinteriors.net/2011/04/paint-chips/

    ~Jenna, SAS Interiors

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  54. liannallamaMay 28, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    clever and cute! thanks for the idea!

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  55. pink and green mama MaryLeaJuly 31, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    Love it and I usually have a square of toilet paper folded in half or one of those pull out magazine post cards as my book mark -- this is much prettier and right up my alley!! Thanks for sharing, planning to make some today! : )

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  56. Boni LadyAugust 22, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Just read this... lots of great ideas running through my brain now! Thanks for sharing- I linked your post in my blog for today:
    www.bonibunch.blogspot.com

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  57. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2012 at 11:42 AM

    Beautiful ideass... :)

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