Spring Cleaning

Only 5 months to go until we host my mother's post-graduation party (2:1 from the OU - hooray!), so no time to lose.
After a mere year of painting squares on walls we have finally found the right blue for our bedroom, though it would now be easier, cheaper and greener to use up the rest of the tester pots and go for the patchwork look. Because there are so many, I have scribbled identifying notes in pencil next to the squares - without considering how I was going to explain to Small that it's fine for me to scribble on walls but she has to stick to scribble paper. I had to resort to the truth, but I don't think she was convinced.
Does anyone have a suggestion for anything more constructive than recycling for 10-odd years of New Scientists and Private Eyes?