These pretend paint pallets take a bit of time to prepare, but they were really fun to make, and your little ones will love playing with them.
I was inspired to make these last weekend, when I was looking an old set of kids’ watercolours that we have. The paints came in a black plastic pallet which is now pretty much empty, and I was thinking that if I cleaned the pallet right out and washed it up, it would make for some fun pretend-painting.
Then I had a “lightbulb moment”, and decided it might be better to make several pretend paint pallets so the Hooligans could paint together, each holding their own pallet.
I traced the plastic pallet onto some medium weight cardboard, and then used the bottom of a small spice jar to trace 8 circles on each pallet.
With acrylic craft paint, I filled in the circles. Now, you could use markers for this too, but I wanted our pretend paint to look like oil paint, so I actually went with some old, thick and goopy colours that I knew were pretty much ready for the trash. I plopped the paint into the circles and swirled it around, using a paint brush to muck it around and “lift” the paint up a bit to give it a puffy look.
Then I set the pallets out on the deck for the afternoon to dry in the sun. Today, I presented them to the Hooligans. 
I think you can probably tell by the pictures that they were a pretty big hit. 
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Ah! I loved it..sucha great idea!
Thanks! Glad you liked them, Mumsphere!
Now here is something new for our pretend play area. Love it and appears your budding artists did too! Pinning!
Okay – this is a super cute idea!! Going to have to make me a set right away!
Take the use of this color pallet a step further. When the children are finished painting take them on a nature walk to find something in nature that is the same color or shade as the “paint” on the pallet.
That’s a great idea, Sally! Thank you!
forgot to say, tape or glue it item to the pallet of course size matters with this part!
Such a great idea, Sally! I like the way you think.
I’ve been trying to figure out what I could make for each of the 10 kids in my toddler class for Christmas…. and I think something like this would be perfect!!
Great idea, Monique! I’ll bet these would be perfect for your little ones!
I have to say, your little “hooligans” are the most beautiful hooligans I have ever seen! Came here from Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bonniejean1967/
Aw, thank you, Bonnie-Jean! I have to agree. They are pretty darn cute. Just checked out your pinboards! WOW! You’re a seasoned pinner. Your boards are beautiful. I see you’re from Canada too, and is the 1967 your birth year? Same as mine!
Yes I am from NB, Canada and I pin because I’m bored, at the moment. Trying to get some good ideas for diy/crafts to make for our new home we’re moving into next month. 1967 seemed to be a good year, my momma added twins to an already busy household! Good woman she was, I don’t know how she did it and kept it together! LOL Times were different in the good ole 60s! Love you blog, have one too but have no idea what to put on it, so it’s just there, hanging in cyberspace til I learn how-to. Until then, I have Pinterest.
Keep up the great work, love your posts!
*your blog. My BIGGEST pet peeve, I am so anal about typos….lol