Here’s a quick recap of a few small projects and updates we knocked out—each one took less than ten minutes. Think of this as a “tapas” post: bite-sized projects that were fast and actually worked (sometimes quick projects spiral into long ones, but not this time).
First up: wooden tattoos. I bought two temporary tattoos (they read “breathe” and “delight”) at a holiday craft fair mentioned in a past post. They were made by a local artist named Suzanne, who told me they can be applied to more than just skin. The tattoos sat on my desk until I cleaned out our closet and found two old cedar blocks that turned out to be the perfect size.
I peeled off the protective plastic, placed the tattoos face down on the blocks, and wetted them per the instructions.
Surprisingly, they worked.
Here they are right after application (the “breathe” block is still wet). This was before we painted the kitchen walls, so you can spot the older wall color in the photos.
Once dry, the “breathe” block joined two other small “wisdom cards” I keep on my desk, also from Suzanne’s stall at the craft fair. They’re a pleasant little reminder to take breaks—sometimes I glance over, hop away from the computer, and play with Clara for a bit so John can have a turn at his desk.
The takeaway: try temporary tattoos on nontraditional surfaces—wood, an old tile, a ceramic planter. They might adhere well, and you can probably seal them with spray sealer or Mod Podge if you want durability. People have even used similar decals on Easter eggs and other small objects.
Project two: adding a timer to Clara’s play kitchen. This came to us from our friends Lauren and Steve, who added a similar timer to their son’s kitchen and recommended it. The timer is adorable—probably an Anthropologie find—and adds a fun interactive element.
Installing it was simple: remove the small screw and magnetic plate from the back, attach the plate to the backsplash, and snap the timer onto the plate.
Clara loves setting the timer and pretending to cook potatoes and eggs. It’s an inexpensive way to boost imaginative play, and we’re grateful our friends passed it along.
Project three: framing a metal newspaper plate for our hallway gallery. The piece looks like a sheet of tin because it is one—a metal printing plate given to us by the Tacoma News Tribune after they ran a write-up about us. The plate even included an illustrated rendering of us (complete with a pocket-sized Burger), so we wanted to display it.
I used metal snips to trim the plate down to the size of an existing frame in our hallway. It only took a minute to cut and fit it.
Then I slid it into the frame with a slightly larger piece of white mat board behind it. It created a nice pop of blue on the wall, and guests always ask about the story behind it. Framing the plate was an easy way to preserve a unique memento and teach visitors a little about the newspaper process.
The fourth update is less of a build and more of a placement: moving a book project into the dining room. We repurposed an old $10 bar cart with a fresh coat of deep teal paint and chalkboard paint on the top so it can be labeled for parties. Some readers saw a glimpse of the cart legs in a previous crown molding post and asked for a full view, so here it is—complete with a random pillow on the serving tray because we weren’t serving drinks at the time. We’ll stock it before the next gathering.
So those are four little “tapas” updates we’ve enjoyed lately—small, quick projects that add personality and function. What tiny tweaks are you making around your casa these days?