INSIDE: How to make FREE and easy DIY beach art using paint chips from hardware store. DIY coastal art for home decorating.
I’m a beach lover. Period. So even though I’ve spent the past dozen years living among all things cactus, year round sunscreen use and lots of fast-moving desert creatures, the sand and sea is my happy place.
If you walked into my family room right now, you’d see that I’m in the process of putting together a beach-inspired gallery wall. It’s only taken me about two years to tackle this home project but here I am. Deep in the throws of finalizing this statement wall.
Lucky for me, my husband went “picking” one day and brought me home a box of random goodies. At the bottom of this box were two small gold, vintage frames. They were perfect for this currently empty wall.
Here’s how I created beach art for these thrift store frames. Using paint chips. For FREE…
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How to Make Fun Beach Art with Paint Chips
On a recent run through the hardware store, I stopped the race car shopping cart my boys insist on to snag a few paint chip strips. Here’s how I put together some small beach art in about 10 minutes.
Supplies:
– Paint chips
– Glue stick
– Sturdy cardstock paper
– Craft scissors
– Small picture frames
how to make 10 minute diy beach art
Step #1:
Cut out a piece of cardstock to fit the inside of the picture frame.
This beach art was going to be a simple sand and sea view. I started by ripping a strip of tan paint chip. My objective was that the art reflect that I was using paint chips so I kept the white dividers between the colors AND the color names.
Step #2:
I repeated the same steps but with different shades of blue.
Step #3:
Determine the layout you like best. Use the kids glue stick to secure them to the cardstock.
Cut off any excess paint chip. Insert the finished art into the photo frame.
How to Make Fast Beach Art with Paint Chips
Have you ever created and crafted with paint chips?
Where’s your “happy place”? Let me know in the comments.
Other Vintage-Inspired Home Decor Ideas You May Enjoy:
- Turn a vintage vanity stool into a desk perfect for a child’s desk
- Create a garden planter with a thrift store candelabra
- Turn a clearance section tray into a frame for a vintage photograph
- Upcycle a $10 vintage suitcase into wall art
- Grandma’s antique napkins turned into a NO SEW table runner
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Such a clever and easy decor project. I love your frames! Can’t wait to see your new gallery wall.
Thanks Shirley!
Brilliant! I love free art, and this idea is genius! Those tiny frames are so cute!
Such a creative way to use paint chips! Love how the colors look against the frames!
I love the beach too. I live in the Midwest right now. At least you are in a warm place. LOL! Paint chips made into beach scenes? Who’d thunk? I love them. They are just right in the frames and totally free. Tearing them created the perfect “horizon” too.
Thanks Michelle! I was pleasantly surprised that the idea in my mind actually worked in reality! LOL
I would never have thought to use paint cardstock papers like this! I LOVE the effect it gives! Great idea 🙂
Thanks Medina!
These are lovely, i’ve seen then evolve on instagram this week. What a sweet idea. I’m pinning as a card making idea as I think they would make sweet greeting cards too.
These are so cute and clever!
I love having original artwork in my house so this project caught my eye. It is simple and unique. Plus a great way to use the paint chips I seem to collect.
How clever! These would be great in an ultra-modern frame too — it would feel very abstract/modern art.
I love what you’ve created and there are so many possibilities with using paint chip samples. I can’t wait to see your beach inspired gallery wall too. Great job. Pinning.
So creative, Victoria! Who would have thought some paint chips could recreate a beach scene!
This is one of the best uses of paint chip samples I’ve seen. Such a unique way to make some fun art.
LOL, thanks Erlene!
Super cute! I live at the beach and love anything coastal inspired.
Oh my gosh this is so creative! I never would have thought to use paint chips to make art!
Thanks Amanda! And thank you for putting together this great monthly challenge.
So clever! I love anything beach related!
These pics are adorable and how clever are you! I have a thing for ripped edges on paper. Love it!
Kim
My sister lives in Tucson and I’ve visited a few times so I know of these things, it’s hot and there’s sand but no beachy breeze to cool you off. I love how you used the paint swatches to create cute little art for those frames. The beachy scenes are beautiful and I bet you can’t help but stare at them.
Thanks Toni! These little prints just happen to be in my line of vision from my computer so I do probably stare at them instead of focusing on the (blog) work at hand.
I love you created your own artwork with simple supplies.
Thanks so much for the DIY inspiration!
What a creative project. Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party. We love having you.
Very cool. I love the contrast between the contemporary feel of the art and the ‘old world’ style of the frames.
Thanks Linda! I love these old detailed frames so it’s fun to pair them with something more contemporary.
Super cute idea. I love that you paired your beach art with ornate frames. Really fun. Thank you for sharing your beach art at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!
These are lovely. I too am a beach girl living in the Mid-West and have rooms dedicated to my love of the sand and sea. I love your free art! Very creative use of the paint chips and love the colors. Thank you for joining TADA! Thursdays.
What you did with a few thorn paint chips is just amazing, thank you so much for sharing it at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned!
Thanks for sharing at the Pleasures of the NW DIY party
What a creative way to use paint chips! Love it! Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
It’s great idea, my friend! I love all the seas in Crete, Greece!!!
So pretty ~ I love beachy hues! Thanks for sharing @Vintage Charm!
Thats really cute!! We are getting ready to paint so I have lots of paint chip cards right now trying to find the right color!!
I love how your reused your old paint chips. I have hundreds of them and never can think what to do with them all. Those gold frames are a great find. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Such a creative, easy and summery project! Thanks for sharing at Sew It Cook It Craft It. You’re one of my features today.
Great idea! We’re currently traveling full-time in our RV, and I’m always looking for simple crafts for rainy days.
This is a fun little piece of artwork. Very ingenious idea.
Clever idea to use paint chips and love those little frames
This is so cute, Victoria! What a creative idea! Pinning.
Super cute idea! Kid friendly too. I always have paint chips around.
What a great idea!
Clever! I always tried to think of what I could do with paint chips, and now I know! Inexpensive and adorable – thanks for the idea.
Clever idea. We used to only get very small paint chip strips here in the UK, it’s like the DIY stores didn’t realise we want them for crafting! But now a lot of companies are making these larger ones which is excellent news 🙂
I’ve seen a lot of paint chip crafts in my day, but these seriously might be a fave. What a clever way to use them and the rips look just like waves. I also adore how you put them in those baroque gold frames.
Thanks Jennifer! The frames are my fave too. BTW, I’m a big fan of your fun, colorful projects!
This was so cute! I pinned it!
Maria
What a cute idea for paint chips!
Thanks Meg!