So I’ve decided that this will be the winter of DIY.

I don’t know what’s got into me since arriving in Jasper, but a switch has flipped and suddenly I would rather spend money on power tools and craft supplies than clothes.

Now, I used to be crafty. When I was a kid, every year I would get a table at the Christmas craft fair in my hometown and sell random arts and crafts I had created, like dogs made out of golf balls and fabric flower arrangements – you know, all the things that everyone wants to give as Christmas presents.

Anyway, somewhere along the line, I stopped putting energy into being creative, and I’ve decided now is the perfect time to start again.

And I have. Or least I’m trying to.

I completed my first project last week. I bought four chalk boards from the flea market at the United Church a few weeks back, for no real reason or purpose, just because I thought they were neat.

But upon bringing them home, I decided they weren’t quite right, so I painted them.

I know. I know. Big project, right? But I figure it was a way to wean myself back into my old artsy-fartsy self.

From there, I made my Halloween costume, which I have to say is basically the coolest thing ever. I was a crocodile. Although that alone should tell you how awesome this costume was, I’ll go on.

It all started when I found a foam crocodile head at the Dollarama in Hinton last weekend. It was too brilliant to leave behind, so I walked it right up to the cash register and paid a whole dollar for it.

From there, I bought a sushi mat, painted it yellow, and sewed it onto a green shirt.

And for the tail, I found a ribbed green tea towel that I sewed into the appropriate crocodile shape.  Then I cut abrasive green pot scrubbers into triangles and sewed them on in strips. 

Here’s where the true brilliance comes in. I sewed the top of the tail around a belt, so I don’t have to worry about it falling off all night.

Now top all of that off with some bright green tights and shorts and you have yourself a crocodile.

Awesome, right?

So with those gateway projects behind me, I think I’m ready to move on to something bigger and better.

Since I just moved here, I don’t yet have a lot of stuff, so I’ve been scouring the Jasper Buy, Sell and Trade page on Facebook for cheap furniture. It’s actually been going pretty well. All I really need now is a couch. (If you have one to spare, you know where to find me.)

Anyway, my first purchase was an old wooden dresser. I have to say it’s butt ugly, but that will soon change with the help of my first ever power tool – a palm sander – and some paint.

I’m hopeful this will go well. I have all the necessary gear and I’ve read all the how-to articles online. 

How hard can it be? A little bit of sanding, a little bit of painting and then, finis!

I must say, I can’t wait for the feeling of victory I’ll get from turning something heinous into something gorgeous.

And so starts the winter of DIY.

DISCLAIMER: The Last Word is an opinion column, it is meant to provoke thought and debate. As such, any opinions written here are the writer’s own and do not reflect the viewpoint of any other Fitzhugh staff member or the directors of the Jasper Media Group Inc.