Thrifty Thursday

As promised, here is the first installment of my new "how to" series. My first pick is a very versatile vessel of vicissitude. I'm thinking about flanking my apartment door with two of them in hopes that people will always feel welcomed into my home. So, here are the instructions on

how to...

paint your own garden gnome.

Step 1. If you're feeling particularly precocious, you may fashion your own gnome body out of ceramic or even papier macher. If you're feeling Semi-Homemade, then go buy a starter gnome, making sure he has not yet been painted. There are many, many, MANY websites to do this. More than you may have been expecting. My favorite just might be this one.

Step 2. Decide what kind of gnome this is. Is he a bastion for peace and welcome? Is he a voodoo gnome? Is he going to be the centerpiece at your next major event? Is he going to stand guard in front of the Matterhorn (see above picture... it's real.)? The answer to these questions will determine your decorating scheme. After all, we wouldn't want a bastion of peace to leer at our visitors, now would we?

Step 3. Paint and let dry.Step 4. Put in place of prominence so all can enjoy.