3 upcycled paint palette ideas

paint.
it's a magical substance that can easily and inexpensively change everything it touches.

want a dark room to seem more light and spacious? paint it a light hue.
want a damaged piece of stained wood furniture to look fresh and new? paint it.
want to create stunning decor in a room without spending a lot? paint a mural or wallpaper effect.

i've been painting things all of my life, and along the way, i've learned a few things...
like supplies for painting & crafting don't have to be new and from the art supply store.
just like in diy home decor, it's easy to upcycle / repurpose household items!

continue reading for my top three ideas for paint palettes...

plastic disposable plates

when i'm working on a small project that doesn't require a lot of paint,
these clear dessert-sized and dinner-sized disposable plastic plates are a perfect solution.
unlike paper plates, the water/paint don't soak in and raise paper fibers that stick to my brushes.

i segregate warm colors on one plate, cool on another, neutrals on another.

i use the same ones until the layers get very thick!

and then i use them for other things... 

if these look familiar, it's because you saw them in my last post! 
i used them to create painterly PUMPKINS!

plastic disposable tray

i came across this one by chance... 

... while fixing appetizers for happy hour one afternoon!
after taking the pastry puffs (SO GOOD! from Trader Joes) out of the box and tray,

i was about to toss the tray when i realized it would hold a good amount of many colors of paint.

which is exactly what it does, perfect for medium-sized projects.
i am using these allllll the time now -
and thinking of how to turn them into decor at some point!

plastic sectioned serving tray

in another lifetime, when i was painting murals on walls and ceilings,

this kind of container was my go-to palette. it holds a LOT of paint.
it also holds a cup or cottage cheese-size container of rinse water in the center and has a LID -

which comes in handy to keep paint from drying out during breaks or overnight.
(take the water container out, tho ;) ) 

recognize it?  it's a Tupperware 'relish tray'!

heavy-duty plastic, easy to hold, and it scrubs clean with steel wool.

(plus, Tupperware lasts forever)

you can also use covered deli trays in this way - but they are kind of flimsy, so double them up.

i use disposable plastic cups as my rinse water containers.
a swipe with steel wool cleans them out, and i can use them for a very long time.
i get mine at the Dollar Tree.
i have an idea for how to re-use them, but haven't tried it yet!


links to previous posts mentioned above:

'painterly pumpkins' made from up-cycled paint palettes

click here for links to all of my painting tutorials and projects

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crafts, crafting, hobbies, paint palettes, paint containers, thrifty craft supplies,
use what you have, thrifty home decor, Tupperware, Trader Joes, craft supplies
Dollar Tree