By Candie Cooper (See more from Candie on her blog, Candie Cooper's Journal)

With the weather getting chilly, these little guys are looking for a place to hide out! How about on your craft table under the work lamp?

I've looked at these reptile surfaces a thousand times in the wood section of the craft store. The cracks and crevices kept me away (and they were lizards and snakes after all). But! I know how much fun little boys and girls would have painting these creatures so I took stab (with a paint brush). Pick your favorite Apple Barrel and Folk Art paint colors and base coat, keeping a little water on your brush so the color seeps into the cracks.

Use a sponge to add a textured second color of green to the top or....

head outdoors to experiment painting with an old toothbrush. I flicked, brushed and splotched paint onto the lizard. It was messy, but so fun! Get really crazy and use a few colors.

The lizard came with a faux leather back piece, but I replaced it with colorful tie dyed felt. You can add more painted details and then outline them with a permanent marker so they show up. 

The snake got more painted stripes and dots with a felt tongue. Thick craft glue was used to hold the felt embellishments. Snakes usually give me the "willies," but not this one! He's too cute.

Friends forever. I ended up loving this craft so much. Now, I've got my sights set on the plain wooden car surfaces with moving parts. Stay tuned.

*If you want your creatures to be shiny, use a spray varnish before adding felt embellishments.