Here’s a quick recap of a few small projects and updates we knocked out in under ten minutes each. Think of it as a “tapas” post—bite-sized projects that add up to a lot of fun. Best of all, these actually went as planned, which is always a pleasant surprise when small tasks sometimes balloon into multi-hour ordeals.
First up: wooden tattoos. I had picked up two temporary tattoos—one that reads “breathe” and another that says “delight”—from a local holiday craft fair. They’d been sitting on my desk for a while when I found two old cedar blocks in the back of a closet and decided to try transferring the tattoos to wood. I peeled off the protective plastic, positioned each tattoo face down on a block, and dampened them according to the application instructions. To my delight, they adhered beautifully.
The “breathe” block dried nicely and now sits with a couple of other small “wisdom cards” I keep on my desk. They’re great little reminders to get up and move—sometimes I glance over, take a break from my computer, and play with Clara for a few minutes (so John can take his turn at the desk, naturally).
My takeaway: temporary tattoos work surprisingly well on non-skin surfaces. Try them on an old tile, a ceramic planter, or a wooden block. If you want the design to last, a spray sealer or a coat of Mod Podge should do the trick. The results are simple, charming, and fast—perfect for adding personality to small objects around the house.
Project two was adding a timer to Clara’s play kitchen. This little timer was a sweet hand-me-down from friends who’d added something similar to their son’s play kitchen. The timer detaches from its backing via a small screw and a magnetic plate that mounts to the backsplash. Once the plate was secured, the timer snaps back on and looks right at home.
Clara loves setting the timer and pretending to cook potatoes and eggs; it’s a delightful interactive detail that makes playtime a little more imaginative. It’s the kind of small addition that brings extra joy and keeps a child’s play space feeling lively.
For project three I framed a metal newspaper plate and added it to our hallway gallery wall. This piece is actually a genuine metal printing plate from a local paper that we received after a book signing. It features an illustration of us and even a tiny burger in the artist’s rendering—so it felt like the perfect quirky keepsake to display.
I trimmed the plate down to fit an existing frame using metal snips, backed it with a slightly larger mat board, and slipped it into the frame. The end result is a little pop of blue and texture on the wall that always sparks conversation. Guests often ask about the printing process, and it’s fun to explain how newspaper printing plates actually work.
The fourth update is less of a project and more of a small rearrangement: moving a book project into the dining room on an old bar cart we refurbished. The cart was repainted a deep teal and the top coated with chalkboard paint so we can label bowls of snacks or write a quick note for guests. It’s lightweight, practical, and looks great tucked into the corner. I’ve used the cart as a display surface, and it’s been handy for corralling books, decor, and the occasional pillow when we’re low on tabletop space.
So that’s a roundup of four little “tapas” updates—simple, quick projects that add character and function to our home. Small efforts like these are an easy way to refresh a space without a major commitment. What little tweaks have you made around your place lately?