Friday, October 3, 2008

Paint Sample Notebook Tutorial

These wee notebooks are super easy to make & you'll want to make, like, a million of them because they're so cute!!
I recently received an awesome package of these mini notepads from the president of my Eastern Washington Etsy Street Team, Randi- a.k.a. Ragnazidnar. They're part of a swap our team has organized to promote each other's shops. As our orders go out, the little freebies get tucked inside each package. To see Randi's version of these notebooks, see the last photo in this post.


The SUPPLIES you need are: various sized paint sample cards (found at Home Depot, Walmart, Lowe's, etc.), stapler, ruler, computer paper, scissors or paper cutter.

The first thing you'll want to do is fold & crease one end. You don't have to be exact here. Just fold it up about 3/4" or so.
Then , take the top edge & catch it under that little flap on the bottom to form your little matchbook-style notebook.

Measure your book to see how big you need to cut your papers. I just cut the papers about 1/4" smaller than the actual book.

Cut your papers. I got this paper cutter about a year & a half ago. And MAN! It makes life so much easier. I really couldn't believe I'd lived without one. If you don't have a paper cutter--go treat yourself! You'll thank me & think I'm so awesome for recommending it.

I used 20 pieces of paper inside the books.

Tuck the bundle of papers inside your paint sample card...

...& staple the bottom flap to the papers inside. Fold the top flap down & tuck it under--like a matchbook. If the cover is too long & won't tuck nicely under, just slice a little off & try to tuck it under again.

Use all sorts of stickers, brads, jewels & bits to decorate your notepads.

Randi stamped all her pads with her shop & email info. Great little business promos! Thanks Randi for the inspiration!

46 comments:

  1. that is such a great idea I totally love it, thanks so much for sharing, I hope you had an amazing time in Texas
    xox

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  2. This is such a great idea! I'm always collecting paint samples when I go to the hardware store. Now I have something fun to make with them. I'll be linking to this great project!

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  3. Yeah! What a lovely ghost post from a gal who isn't even around!
    ;)

    I can't wait to try it out.

    truly,
    Sylvia C.
    ps- hope you're having a great time!

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  4. What a cute idea! My girls would love to try this!

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  5. and what a great use for those paint card samples - so cute and fun!

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  6. So, So cute. I love paint samples, but never really found a project that was up my alley till now!! Thank you! I will be making these for my artsy nieces for Christmas! Great idea!!

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  7. Okay-these are just too cool. My mother has about a million of these paint cards. I'm going to do this with her-she'll love it. She already saves paper and cuts them in squares and staples them together. It can be kind of a recycle idea. Half the time I print something off of the printer a second page may print that has "one" word on it and you hate to throw it away. This will be a good way to put those pages to use. Thanks!

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  8. What a nifty idea! I think you've just given me inspiration for little add-ins on my handmade gift packages this year! My friends will love these.

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  9. I saw these on the craft table at convention. They were so cute. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Were you at the MOPS Convention? I was there. I noticed the previous comment said something about the craft table at convention.

    I found your site through One Pretty Thing.

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  11. Wow -- thanks for the great idea! These will make fun little-somethings to send to nieces and nephews and friends...

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  12. Yeah, very cool!
    We in Germany get them by "Obi, Bauhaus, Hornbach,..." I want to doooooo it :D

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  13. Great idea & congrats on all the press! Glad to hear you are home safe & sound!

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  14. These are so cute! Thanks for sharing!

    (I found your blog through Bon Bon Boutique.)

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  15. Great Idea! Going to blog about it and link to it today.

    Thanks!

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  16. so fabulous!! thanks for the tutorial!! I hope you have a fabulous day!! xo Britt :-)

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  17. Super dee duper cute!

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  18. What a wonderful idea. I love it. Gonna see how far I can take it.

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  19. I love this idea! Everyone can always use a tiny notebook. I've got paint chips on my desk right now.

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  20. Wow! What a fab idea. They are so cute and thanks so much for the tutorial. I might have to go to my local DIY store and get some colour sample sheets!

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  21. cool .. polypraktiko kai xrisimo ayto to mikro pragmataki:)

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  22. This is an unbelievably incredible idea that I've found just in time. For fundraising for Project Grad, my friends and I are going to get a booth at our school's annual craft fair. And we were thinking of ideas. One of them were making comp notebooks. This is such a good idea too! Thank you so much!

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  23. What a great idea. Love the match books.

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  24. I really love this idea!
    And thcha-daaaa....

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/costurices/3735750380/in/set-72157618371994184/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/costurices/3735751046/in/set-72157618371994184/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/costurices/3734955335/in/set-72157618371994184/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/costurices/3734956683/in/set-72157618371994184/

    Tks a lot!
    XOXO

    Tatty Soares- From Brasil!!!!
    lol

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  25. I love this!! I made them as stocking stuffers for my girlfriends and aunts/grandmas/etc. this year. I'm giving them as purse notes -- adorable. My daughters love them too!

    Great for little lunch box notes and secret note passing on the bus : )

    I posted my projects and linked to your blog today!

    Here's a link:
    http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2009/11/homemade-christmas-gifts-paint-sample.html

    Fondly,
    pink and green mama
    MaryLea

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  26. Thanks so much for this tutorial! Made a wee notebook earlier today and it's so cute! :)

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  27. Just wanted to share my interpretation! Enjoy!
    http://genevieve-celebratetoday.blogspot.com/2010/03/paint-palalette-pads.html

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  28. These are too cute!!

    I am having a crafty competition using Paint Samples that I would love to have you enter this in!

    Check it out here: http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2010/08/iron-crafter-round-4-paint-samples.html

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  29. Hi! I discovered your blog today, and I'm so happy about that!

    I saw this post while I was preparing my Back to School: notebooks post on my blog... and I decided to feature your tutorial. It's here: http://unvagalume.blogspot.com/2010/09/setembro-e-volta-ao-cole.html

    I will follow your steps! :)

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  30. This is such a creative way to use leftover paint chips! I loved it so much that I shared it with my readers in today's post. I'd love for you to check it out ~ http://www.sasinteriors.net/2011/04/paint-chips/

    ~Jenna, SAS Interiors

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  31. Hi! I work for the St. Charles Parish Library in Destrehan, Louisiana. We will be doing this craft for a teen upcycling program in July. I was wondering if I could use an image from this post for a flyer. I will definitely add photo credit with a link to this blog, and I can send you the completed flyer! Let me know! Thanks!

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  33. Hi Layla!
    That would be great!!
    Thanks for asking!!
    (I lived in Luling from the age of 7-12!)

    whimsy-girl [at] hotmail [dot] com

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  34. This is so cute! Great idea, love it! I did a mini photo album similar to this a few years ago for myself and a few friends with matchbooks and used the index prints that came with my photo orders. The small albums fit right into my wallet.

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  35. Okay, these make me want to hop in the car, drive to Home-Depot and get a million paint samples. Just sayin'. :)

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    Replies
    1. MEEE TOO!!! Thats exactly what I was thinking when I seen these!! :D

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  36. Hi! I featured this project on Fun Friday Finds. I hope you will stop by and check it out.
    http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2011/08/fun-friday-finds-paint-chips.html

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  37. Brilliant idea - will be making some of these for sure!

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  38. These are so cute and I'll just HAVE to get to making some soon!! Maybe in Christmas colors, even! Thanks so much!

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  39. Here it is 2012 and a good idea never gets old. I never heard of this but I love it. I'll be making them with my granddaughter and passing them out.

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  40. These are so adorable!

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  41. Here am I am years after you posted this and Im loving this and your entire blog! Thanks so much for sharing this. I think I'm doing some of these and adding magnets to the back to use as a handy-dandy, quick-note pad I'll keep on my frig. Love it!!!!!!

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  42. I WAS searching for DIY Christmas Tree Ornaments to do with my 6 year old. I read an article about 20 easy DIY Christmas Ornaments, Decorations, and Gifts. This was in there. I am SOOOO making one of these to use as a SERVER PAD! I wait tables and one of these would be PERFECT to go in my apron to write orders on!! They're SO CUTE, very stylish, and I can make a few different designs so I can switch it up when I run out of one! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!!

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