Here’s a short recap of a few tiny projects and updates we knocked out in under ten minutes each. Think of this as a “tapas” post—small, satisfying, and quick. Best of all, each one actually worked (unlike the occasional “this should be quick” task that turns into a day-long ordeal).
First up: wooden tattoos. I picked up two temporary tattoos that read “breathe” and “delight” at a local holiday craft fair mentioned in a previous post. The artist, Suzanne, had told me these decals can be applied to surfaces beyond skin, so when I found two old cedar blocks while cleaning out a closet, I decided to give it a try.
I removed the clear plastic backing, placed each tattoo face down on a block, and wetted them according to the instructions. The result was exactly what I hoped for: the transfer adhered cleanly to the wood and dried with good coverage and crisp edges.
Here they are right after application—the “breathe” block was still damp in this shot. A quick dry and they looked like little wooden plaques with thoughtful messages. They now sit on my desk alongside a couple of other “wisdom cards” I bought from the same artist. They’re a nice, subtle reminder to get up, move around, and play with Clara instead of staying glued to the computer.
The takeaway: temporary tattoo transfers can work beautifully on wood and likely on other surfaces, too—think ceramic planters, tiles, or painted objects. You could also seal them later with a spray sealer or a coat of Mod Podge for extra durability.
Project two was adding a functional timer to Clara’s play kitchen. This little timer was a gift from friends who had added one to their son’s play set and loved it. It has a removable back plate with a small screw and a magnetic plate that mounts to the kitchen backsplash. Once mounted, the timer snaps onto the magnet and is ready for play.
Clara loves setting the timer to “cook” potatoes and eggs, and it’s a charming interactive detail that adds a lot of play value. We’re grateful to Lauren and Steve for passing it along—simple additions like this make a big difference.
Project three: framing a metal newspaper printing plate for our hallway gallery wall. The Tacoma News Tribune gave us this plate after doing a short write-up about us; it even included an illustrated rendering. Since the plate was slightly larger than an existing frame, I used metal snips to trim it down to size and then slipped it into a frame with a piece of white mat board behind it for contrast.
It adds a cool, unexpected metallic pop to the frame wall, and it’s a fun conversation piece—people are often surprised to learn that newspapers use metal plates in their printing process.
The fourth and final update was simply bringing a book project into the dining room. We repurposed an old $10 bar cart with a fresh coat of deep teal paint and added chalkboard paint to the top so it can be labeled during parties for bowls of candy, nuts, or other treats. A few readers asked to see the full cart after spotting its legs in a crown-molding post, so here it is in full. Don’t mind the pillow on the tray—no drinks were harmed, but we’re due for a restock before our next party.
Those are four quick, low-effort updates—small projects that still add personality and functionality around the house. What little tweaks have you been making at home lately?