paint chip shamrocks!

it's finally MARCH!
so now i can divulge the second decor project that i came up with
after creating my 'painted paint chip' paper <<< click for tutorial
(this project was actually the REASON i came up with that alternative to using actual paint chips)

inspired by my own pink 'paint chip hearts' shared back in February, 
i tweaked that process to make shamrocks to decorate with, in honor of St. Patricks' Day - 
and it's SO easy, even your kids can do this!

continue reading for an easy-peasy spring decor craft that your little leprechauns will love...

yes, you can use actual paint chip cards for this project...
but remember, i'm not telling you to go raid the paint chips at your local DIY center.
ASK them for old, out of date paint chips. BUY a paint fan. 
or take just a FEW cards... like - 3 or 4. please don't empty the display.

OR, follow my easy tutorial and make your own sheet of paper that looks like paint chips!

i used the 'painted paint chip paper' method...

i cut it into strips (lengthwise). some are narrow, some are wider.
due to the size of the paper i painted, my strips ended up being 9" long.

then i cut each of those long strips in half (across the middle) - they were each 4 1/2 inches long.
it took me one half to make a heart - i made three.

HEARTS:
fold in half. (paint side in OR out - they both work!)
take the two open ends and curl them inward to create a heart shape, 
then glue or staple those ends together.

the fourth half was folded in half (across) again, to make the stem of the shamrock.
(it took me two 9" long strips to make one shamrock)

now, let's assemble those pieces into a shamrock:

glue the end of the stem to the side of one heart. (heart on left)
glue the second heart on the other side of the stem. (heart in middle)
glue the third heart to the opposite side of the second heart, and to the stem. (heart on right)

after the glue dries, wrap the end of the stem around a pencil - and release quickly.
that will create a curve in the stem

notice that in this photo, one shamrock has the paint on the OUTSIDE edge,
and the other has the paint on the INSIDE edge. both ways work!

okay... i ALSO made some 'four leaf clover' versions:

i assembled these differently: made longer hearts and stapled the four folded ends (points) together,
then wrapped a piece of paper lengthwise around that to create the stems.
honestly, i don't like them as much as the '3 leaf' ones. 
i may have to play around with another assembly method.
then again, i may just use the two i made and call it good! 
 
i also used a shamrock cookie cutter to trace then cut out flat four-leaf shamrocks from the paper:

i like them just scattered on the table runner on our table, 
paired with the 3D ones tucked into white milk glass containers filled with green yarn.
kind of looks mossy, doesn't it?!

.what other things can you think of to create using your own painted paint chip paper?
of course, you can also use cute printed gift wrapping paper for projects like this!
leave a comment and share your ideas!

shared online

funky junk interiors | diy salvaged junk projects #516

creatively beth | creative crafts linky party #30