Valley View is a great pattern for beginners. It is made in the woven crochet technique.
To make one placemat, you only need a small amount of each colour, so it is a great stash buster. The piece is worked flat, in rows of half double crochets separated by a chain. It is quick and fun to make and as an added bonus, you do not have to weave in loose ends, as they will just become part of the fringe.
You can also make matching coasters basically following the same pattern, but with fewer stitches and rows.