Thing 1 and Thing 2 - Personalized Barstools

I wanted to add a little whimsy to the kitchen.  Nothing major; just a little something fun.

When we first moved in, back in March of this year, I added two black barstools (from Target) to the kitchen counter for better FUNctionality.  It's not really a bar, but I added the barstools nonetheless.  No one in the family uses them more than my 2 kids.  With them in mind, I decided to play a little game I learned from Dr. Seuss' good friend, The Cat in the Hat.   It's called fun-in-a-box.  Enter Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Here's a before pic of the barstools.

This was an easy-peasy project.  I used a stencil to add a number "1" and "2" to personalize these stools for my little peeps.  The only problem was that I didn't have a number stencil, so I worked with an alphabet stencil to achieve the look.  I turned an "L" upside down to create a number "1".  I taped the stencil down with frog tape.  Then I used sand paper to lightly sand the surface inside the stencil.  

Then I applied the same white paint I used on the kitchen cabinets with a small paint brush.  I applied the paint by lightly dabbing it on.  After it was semi-dry, I removed the stencil to reveal this.

To create Thing 2's barstool I first turned a "J" on it's side.

I again used frog tape to secure the stencil in the right position.  Then sanded inside the stencil and applied the paint.  

Then I used part of an "L" to turn this slanted "J" into a "2". 

Then 3 coats of polycrylic, and this game of fun in box was over (or maybe just beginning).  

This was a super quick and easy project.  Apart from the drying time, it only took about 10 minutes.  Here's the new look.

Not a major change, but certainly one that Thing 1 and Thing 2 appreciate.  For more info about the kitchen check here. 

Have you made any fun little changes to your kitchen lately? 

I'm linking up to The DIY Showoff  and Cottage Instincts- go check out all the great DIY projects!