Searching for something to do with the little ones on yet another of our summer days of indoor ennui, I saw one of our paint decks sitting on the counter. Perfect. “Let’s cut this up!” I said. It was the big boy who thought we should glue things to sticks (to make flyswatters) and he also suggested that we use chopsticks. That was the birth of these Color-Chip Flowerstix. I must say that his originals were covered with bling. Kids can’t get enough of the bling, can they? Pink and green rhinestone flowers…googly eyes…anything that sparkles and moves. We adults are so sedate by comparison. But I opted out of the bling for this tutorial, favoring the pure color and shapes of these expressive little things. So here’s how you do it: 1. Choose your color chip for the flower center. Cut it into an oblong shape. 2. Choose another color for the petals. Cut little fingernail shapes- varying the widths of each one. 3. Use a glue stick or paste to glue the petals to the back of the flower center. 4. Then choose another color to use to make decorative seeds or shapes on the center.

(I tried to use as much of the little printing and words on the color swatches as possible because that way it is obvious that they are paint swatches. And, well, I just love little words.)

5. Glue the flower head to the big, flat end of take-out bamboo chopsticks. You can reinforce with tape. 6. Cut out some leaf shapes for the stalks.

Et, voila! You can arrange them in a vase or decorate a birthday cake or give them as gifts. You could make boats or birds or letters or faces or anything. read more