Article Summary
This expert guide provides seven simple and creative mini-project ideas for using leftover acrylic paint from a kit. Discover how to create custom bookmarks, decorate small household objects, paint a series of miniature canvases, and craft personalized gift tags, turning leftover supplies into new, beautiful works of art.
There's a special satisfaction in placing that final brushstroke and completing your paint by numbers masterpiece. But then comes the common question: "What do I do with all these little pots of leftover paint?" Before you think of tossing them, consider this: that leftover paint isn't waste; it's an artist's bonus, a free palette for your next creative spark.
Here are seven simple, fun, and inspiring mini-projects to give every last drop of your paint a beautiful new purpose.
1. Create Custom Bookmarks
Cut a sturdy piece of cardstock or watercolour paper into a classic bookmark shape. Use your leftover paints to create simple abstract patterns, colourful stripes, or tiny floral designs. Punch a hole at the top, add a tassel, and you have a beautiful, handmade gift for the book lover in your life (or for yourself!).
2. Decorate Small Objects
Unleash your creativity on everyday items. A plain wooden trinket box, a smooth river stone for your garden, a terracotta pot, or even a basic phone case can be transformed into a unique piece of art with a few coats of your leftover acrylic paint.
3. Paint a Miniature Canvas Series
Small canvases (often found in 3x3 or 4x4 inch sizes) are perfect for using up leftover paint. You can create a series of three or four small abstract paintings using the same colour palette from your kit. Displayed together, they make a stunning and cohesive piece of modern wall art.
4. Craft Personalized Gift Tags
Elevate your gift-giving with a personal, artistic touch. Use simple cardstock tags and your leftover paint to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind gift tags for birthdays, holidays, or any special occasion. It's a small detail that shows immense thought and care, much like our Custom Paint by Numbers kits.
5. Enhance a Greeting Card
Turn a plain, store-bought greeting card into something special. Add a simple painted border, a small abstract design on the corner, or a tiny painted icon that relates to the occasion. It transforms a simple card into a keepsake.
6. Practice Abstract Techniques on Paper
Your leftover paint is the perfect, no-pressure medium for creative exploration. On a thick piece of paper, practice the blending and texturing techniques from our other guides. Experiment with how the colours interact without the worry of "messing up" a numbered canvas.
7. Touch-Up Household Items
Because our kits use high-quality, durable acrylic paint, the leftovers are perfect for small touch-up jobs around the house. A scuffed picture frame, a chipped ceramic gnome, or a faded spot on a piece of wooden decor can be brought back to life with a careful dab of a matching color.
Your Creativity is Limitless
By seeing your leftover supplies as a new beginning, you embrace the true spirit of a resourceful artist. Now that you're full of new ideas, it might be time to find your next major project.