This week’s first project for my self-imposed “Dude Get On That Already” challenge is small, and — surprise — not animal-related. It started with a fifty-cent wooden box I found at Goodwill a few months ago and then tucked into the playroom, where it promptly vanished. I did take one early photo when I briefly considered blue spray paint, then changed my mind.
The gray you see in the next picture is just primer — I didn’t stick with gray either.
In the end I painted it yellow.
I had leftover paint from a previous horse head bookend makeover, and the bright yellow felt like a tiny burst of sunshine — perfect for a small catch-all.
I bought the box with a purpose: each evening when I flop onto the sofa I take off my watch, earrings, and whatever jewelry I’ve been wearing so I can relax, write, or watch TV without fuss. Until now those items ended up scattered on books, the ottoman, or the arm of the sofa — or worse, lost in couch cushions. I hoped a pretty little box would give those everyday pieces a consistent spot so I’d stop hunting for them.
Now I have a cheerful jewelry drop box that lives on the ottoman (and sometimes migrates to the console table).
It’s not a long-term storage solution — I keep a proper jewelry tray in the bedroom — but it’s perfect for whatever I wore that day. If I want to wear something again the next morning, I know exactly where to look.
My other “Dude Get On That Already” project does involve an animal. I found this small wooden animal at Goodwill last fall for ten cents. It originally had orange paint with brown spots. A while back I primed it white and then it ended up in the growing playroom pile of odds and ends.
Deciding to clear out and finish a few lingering projects, I painted the little guy with metallic craft paint in Antique Gold. It was an inexpensive update but it made a big visual difference.
He’s a hit — I like him, and Clara does too. He spends most of his time on the desk in the living room where I can see him from the sofa. Clara plays with him sometimes, but when bedtime comes he’s too dapper to end up in the toy bin, so back on the desk he goes. I half-expect him to come alive and mingle with his animal friends after we turn out the lights, Toy Story-style.
Step by step — animal by animal and thing by thing — we’re clearing out the playroom so we can actually enjoy the pieces we’ve collected and inch toward another empty room to tackle. Small, inexpensive upgrades like a fresh coat of paint or a cheerful catch-all can really brighten a corner, like the desk area in the living room. Admittedly, it’s making my fondness for tiny thrifted animals worse; now I want one on every surface.
It could be worse — I’m not buying cars or expensive shoes, just cheap thrift-store animals and spray paint. Well, maybe also puns. What about you? Have you tackled any small projects lately? Did you gild anything, or play with your kid’s toys once they were asleep? I’d love to hear about your little creative wins.