This week’s first project for my self-imposed “Dude Get On That Already” challenge is small, and—surprise—it’s not animal-related. I found a fifty-cent wooden box at Goodwill a few months ago, then tucked it away in the playroom until now. Here’s the only before picture I took, showing a quick splash of blue spray paint before I changed my mind.
I didn’t stick with gray either — that was just primer.
In the end, I painted it yellow.
I had some leftover yellow from a previous project, a horse head bookend makeover, and thought a bright little box would be a cheerful accent.
I bought this box with a purpose. Every night I flop onto the sofa and take off my watch, earrings, and any other jewelry so I can relax, write, or watch TV. I kept losing those items — on a stack of books, on the arm of the sofa, on the ottoman — so I wanted a pretty, visible place to drop them. Now they have a little zone I can check before Clara gets to them and hides them under the sofa cushions (which has definitely happened).
Now I have a cheerful little jewelry drop box that lives on the ottoman or the console table — it gets around.
It’s not for long-term storage — I use a jewelry tray in the bedroom for that — but it’s perfect for daily pieces I want to find quickly the next day.
This next small Dude Get On That Already project is animal-related — of course it is. I found a tiny wooden animal at Goodwill last fall for ten cents. It was orange with brown spots, and I thought it would be fun for Clara (and me). A while back I sprayed it with white primer, then forgot about it and it ended up in the playroom’s growing animal pile.
Since this mini challenge is evidently a nudge to finish small tasks, I embraced the impulse and painted him gold. I used a $2 craft paint in Antique Gold from Michael’s and gilded the little guy.
I like him. Clara likes him too. He’s currently on the desk in our living room where I can see him from the sofa. Sometimes he comes down to play with Clara, but he’s too dapper to get squashed into her toy bin at bedtime, so he goes back on the desk. And of course, I half-expect him to come alive and hang out with his animal friends at night, Toy Story–style.
So, animal by animal—and small object by small object—we’re clearing the playroom so we can actually enjoy the things we have. Each little update makes spaces like the desk area in the living room feel nicer, though it’s not helping my tendency to collect thrift-store animals (now I want one on every surface).
It could be worse: I could be addicted to buying cars or expensive shoes. Thrift-store animals are a relatively harmless vice. Spray paint might actually be the real addiction. Or puns. Definitely puns. What’s your little vice? Have you refreshed anything recently? Do you play with your kid’s toys? I’d love to hear what small projects you’ve been tackling.