How to Make Origami Paint Swatch Balls

Audra Lowe: You’ve probably check out a couple of those free paint swatches while you’re browsing at a home improvement store but did you know that those same swatches can be turned into a great craft project. Well, the editors of Ready Made Magazine show us a creative way to add a little bit of color around the home.

Amy Palanjian: I’m Amy Palanjian, Deputy Editor of Ready Made Magazine and we are here today behind the scenes of our October-November issue. We’re going to show you how to turn free paint swatches into colorful decorations to use it on your house.

This project comes from reader Michel Spa who loves getting creative with under appreciative supplies. Pick up a giant whole punch at your craft store and punch about 20 circles at assorted paint swatches, the bigger your circles the bigger are final product we’ll be. Cut yourself a triangle template to fit with the inside bit constraints of you circle, trace a triangle within each circle. Score each triangle line using an X-Acto knife and ruler as your guide. Fold the paper along these lines to create flats.

To form the ball you’ll need to make a top half and a bottom half, use a glue stick to adhere a side flop of the first circle to a side flop of the second circle. Make sure that the edges meet and that you press firmly together. Continue with three more circles to build your half dome.

Make sure that your edges meet and that you press them firmly together. Continue with three more circles to form a dome shape. Roll out your ball using five more circles and repeat to make the bottom half of the ball. Adhere both sides together to complete your ball shape, try grouping a few together in a bowl, scatter some on a coffee table or use a whole punch of string to hang them around your house.

Audra Lowe: All the kids would love making those things a lot, Amy and if you guys would like to try these and other crafty ways to decorate the home you can pick a copy of Ready Made Magazine, which is in stores now.