Alright, so I’ve been meaning to share this little project of mine. For ages, I wanted a proper Pillsbury Doughboy cookie jar. Not one of those flimsy plastic things, but a real, hefty, ceramic one. You know, the kind that feels like it’s actually going to protect your cookies from, well, me mostly.
The Hunt Begins
First off, finding one was a mission. I scoured the internet, hit up a few flea markets – the whole nine yards. Some were chipped, some were crazily overpriced. I even saw one that looked like it had been used as a doorstop. Seriously. It’s amazing what people try to sell. I wasn’t looking for a museum piece, just something decent that wouldn’t require a second mortgage.
I eventually stumbled upon one online. The pictures looked okay, a bit dusty, maybe a tiny scuff mark, but the price was right. So, I took the plunge and bought it. Waiting for it to arrive was like being a kid waiting for Christmas, if Christmas involved a potentially slightly damaged kitchen icon.
Getting My Hands Dirty
When it finally got here, I unboxed it like it was a fragile artifact. It wasn’t too bad, actually! A bit grubbier than I hoped, and yeah, a couple of small paint flakes were missing from his little chef’s hat. Nothing major, but it needed some TLC.
So, the first thing I did was give him a good, gentle wash. Soap, warm water, old toothbrush for the nooks and crannies. You’d be surprised how much grime can build up over the years. He already looked ten times better after that.
Then came the paint. This was the part I was nervous about. I’m no artist, let me tell you. I went to the craft store and tried to match the white and that specific blue of his scarf. It was a bit of a guessing game. Here’s what I ended up using:
- Some acrylic craft paints (just the little bottles).
- A set of tiny brushes – the kind you think you’ll never use, but then you do.
- A lot of patience. And good lighting.
I started with the white on his hat. Small dabs, trying to blend it in. It took a couple of tries to get the consistency right so it wasn’t too thick or too watery. That was a learning curve. Then I tackled the blue. Luckily, the spots were small. I just carefully touched them up.
The Final Polish
After the paint dried – and I resisted the urge to poke it every five minutes – he looked pretty darn good. I gave him one final wipe-down. Stepped back and admired my handiwork. He wasn’t ‘brand new perfect’, but he was ‘perfectly mine’, if that makes sense. He had character.
Now, he sits on my kitchen counter. Filled with cookies, of course. It’s kind of satisfying, looking at him. Knowing I put a bit of effort into bringing him back to his full glory. It wasn’t a huge, complicated project, but it was a nice little thing to do. And every time I reach for a cookie, I get a little kick out of it. Definitely worth the bit of fuss.
