By CATHIE FILIAN, Scripps Howard News Service

Give a boring dresser a quick new look by sticking your favorite vintage-style poster right on the front. This design idea can be completed in an afternoon and the results are amazing. One of my favorite things about this project is that you can truly alter a piece of furniture to your personal style and taste.

I'm getting crafty with this delicious dessert that is bursting with pudding, blooms and cookies. This groundbreaking treat will bring a little spring into your home and yummy to your belly. Kids will love joining in the fun, and since this is a non-bake dessert, it is easy for them to help with all the steps.

This classic American sock monkey is affordable, easy to make and a ton of fun for crafters of all ages. You can use the traditional Rockford Red Heel socks or make one with bright colorful socks.

The stitching process is simple and perfect for a beginner. This is a great project for an adult and child to work on together.

Handmade lotion bars are a perfect gift for a crafter, gardener or anyone with dry hands. They feel amazing on chapped hands and help heal those little cracks, dry spots and rough edges.

Gold-leafed chocolates are all the rage at fancy chocolate shops and gourmet food boutiques. The gold leafing adds a soft sheen to chocolate, making it elegant and luxurious.

The leafing process easily can be done at home. The leaf looks stunning on chocolate, and elegant on fruits.

Decorating with chalkboards is all the rage. You can find them featured in everything from interior-design magazines to top design blogs. Many retailers have decorator-style chalkboards for sale at pretty steep prices.

Over the past few years, my grandmothers have died and their trinkets, photos and small mementos were passed on to grandchildren and other relatives. We each received items that were personal to us.

I received sewing scissors, thimbles, jars of old buttons and wooden spools of thread. All very cherished items that are near and dear to my heart.

This beach-towel roll-up is the perfect beginner-sewing project, and you will only need a few supplies to get started. This design boasts a hidden compartment perfect for stowing valuables.

To get started, you will need to gather two beach towels, sewing pins, sewing machine, thread, sew-on hook and loop tape, two 30-inch lengths of ribbon and some polyester stuffing.

Dollar stores and discount bins are loaded with items begging for a makeover. One of my favorite items to make over is a spiral-bound notebook journal. Many times, the journal covers are simple in design or feature an image I am not interested in. Usually the pages inside the journals are good. Some come with lines and some are blank.

Artful canvases that have been collaged and altered with paints and bits of paper are all the rage at art festivals, handcraft shows and boutiques. They can be pocket-sized or large enough to hang over a sofa. Prices vary depending on artist and city.