swatch and see

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i don't consider myself to be a super girly girl. yes, i like to shop and paint my nails, but i also like to get dirty. i like to have adventures. i like to kick things and break sticks and go exploring. my go-to uniform is a pair of gym shorts and a tee.

however, the moment i step into a lowe's hardware, i feel like a total girl. i become completely overwhelmed and totally vulnerable. why are there 17 different kinds of ladders? i feel like very question i ask sounds like this: "hello, kind sir. nails? do you have any?"

there are so many aisles. so many power tools. so many things with nuts and bolts and extension cords. i wonder if this is how guys feel when they walk into a homegoods. instant panic and the feeling of suffocation? ah good, we're even then.

i recently saw a craft project demonstrating how to make a banner out of paint sample swatches. i don't know where to find many things in lowes, but i know exactly where to find paint sample swatches. i pride myself a little bit in this.

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sometimes it's the most simple ideas that blow my mind. i'm sure every mom in america has had this idea, but when i saw it, my mouth dropped open. i think the lady who thought of this should be given a nice pat on the back, an ice cold lemonade, and then sent on her merry way to think of more craft ideas for the rest of us to copy.

i didn't particularly want to make a banner, but i wanted to use the same idea to make some art for a bulletin board we have in our kitchen. a lonely bulletin board that we hung directly above our trashcan. i'm positive that breaks one of the top ten universal decorating dont's.

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give it up for free paint swatches! this idea is so fun, easy, colorful, and cheap. i'm planning to take the same idea and make frameable art. i'll use smaller letter stencils, pretty paper, and cheap thrift store frames to make a happy little collection. goodwill, here i come.

what's that? you haven't had enough of paint swatches? you want more ideas? i thought you might. you readers are so predictable. here's a few images to get your right brain whirring.

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paint swatch gift tags 

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pretty (cheap) chandelier

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holiday garland

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 it's hip to be a square art 

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if you have no life and unlimited time, knock yourself out and make this dress.

you made it to the end of this post. you deserve a little something for your time. here's a special treat. 

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bulletin board and trashcan. best friends.