Adventures in Color-Picking

I don’t think it comes as a surprise to any of you that I LOVE COLOR. Love it, love to attack it, smush it, roll it around with hugs. This undying love for color has made wedding planning a wee bit difficult, because I’ve realized that I need some sort of basic palette. I can’t just say “I want every color possible” and expect to keep my sanity.

That is why I developed this little project to help! I like to call it…

Why? Because I like how it sounds, and it was totally and completely 100% free. Hah, take that world! You can have your color, and play with it too.

STEP 1: Go to your favorite big box. Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Walmart. I chose Home Depot.

{ source, source, source }

STEP 2: Nonchalantly go over to the paint chip section.

STEP 3: GO APE-SHIT.

Get all of the colors that you think you might want or need for your color-palette-testing extravaganza. I was with JP on this adventure, and we were planning to pretend that we were picking out paint colors for our “new house” if anyone asked. No one gave three toots what we were doing. Paint chips are 100% free.

STEP 4: Leave whatever big box you’re in, wave to the check-out ladies, “Bye! Thanks!” and go on your merry way.

STEP 5: Return home and assess your bounty.

Pretty sweet spread, no? I was as giddy as a schoolgirl at that point.

STEP 6: Gather your supplies.

I just used things I already had around.

1. PAINT CHIPS
2. Olfa box cutter (I prefer Olfa boxcutters to X-acto knives. I get more precision results with said box-cutters. My professors were always stunned by this. Plus, it makes me feel like a BAMF).
3. Scale (You can just use a ruler. I only have scales around the apartment. My giant metal rulers were AWOL, aka I left them at my studio. Anyway, I digress).
4. 6H Pencil (You can use the hardest-lead pencil you have. I used 6H because it would produce the least amount of graphite dust, and it is very light. If all you have is standard 2B, no big).
5. Scissors (HA!)
6. Handy-dandy cutting mat (If you don’t have this, you can just use a piece of cardboard, chipboard, or an old magazine).

In truth, you can use just scissors. I just like to be all weird about what tools I use.

STEP 7: Proceed to cut down all of your paint chips to the same size.

Choose a size that minimizes the amount of wording on the front. I messed up a few, so the paint names are still on there, but it’s slight. Measure and draw and cut ON THE BACK of the paint chips, not the front. That way if your lines aren’t totally correct, the fronts won’t be boogered up. The reason you’re doing this step is so that you don’t get biased or confused because some colors are larger than others. Trust me, it will happen. (Or at least it does for me!)

STEP 8: After they’re all the same size, move to a different location and assess your spread. Bring along some white paper or poster-board if your surface isn’t white.

1. Fabric swatches
2. Lovely paint chips that are all beautified
3. Plain paper

Oooh, pretty. (That is  glue on my table, btw. Not food or gross stuff. I swear).

STEP 9: Lay out your colors on the white paper and PLAY!!!

Let your fabric swatches play too.

Mmmm, grays!

Play until your little heart is content.

You’re finished! Or at least with the work part. I just stack mine up when I’m done and stick them in a clear zippy bag. Once you have YOUR COLORS, I strongly suggest you take those guys and attach them to your planning folder, binder, kitchen-wall, any-and-everywhere.

Who else is a paint-chip lover? Have they helped you in organizing your color thoughts?