A rather unusual blog post title today, but bare with me. I think I’m on to something. I saw these gorgeous trays from Feinedinge on Pinterest today, and it made me think—how cool would it be to have a dinner party where every place was set with one of these trays, full of bowls of delicious bites? How gorgeous would that be? And then I thought that €220 was a little steep for one place setting, so what are other alternatives? (I would have posted photos of my collections but I’m currently in Atlanta, visiting family.)

Divided cafeteria trays are totally underrated. They are great for a kitschy dinner party or even a little craft party where all supplies are served on the tray. You can buy these gems on Moxie Thrift’s Etsy store.

Have you ever seen these amazing buffet plates from the 60s? Some call them luncheon plates. I have 2 sets of them where the little cup fits right in the plate, next to the ashtray. Yes, you heard right. Sign of the times. What should I serve in the ashtray at my party? For sale here.

{photo via}

What is it about clothelines that feel so romantic, ephemeral, and dreamy? I totally grew up with a dryer and living in Park Slope, Brooklyn, I can’t exactly string my clothes up to the adjacent building. But I crave those sweet little wooden pins, the cotton rope, the gauzy cotton flowing in the breeze…

I love the mix of 2D and 3D clothing on this line to decorate a girl’s bedroom. Found via Studio Tout Petit.

A clothesline comes in handy when you need to erect a tent. Via P-olaroids.

Clotheslines work as perfect inspiration boards because they are so changeable. Found via Pinterest.

I love everything about this little artistic collage of stitching, fabric, embroidery hoops, and a clothesline. By Stephanie Kelly Clark, via Hiving Out.

Ordinary Parent featured this super adorable way to mark your child’s month-age.

Give me a wooden ladder, a chalkboard, tags, a rusted metal urn and a clothesline and you had me at hello. Via Style Me Pretty.

Ok, it’s February 13th and you know what that means. Procrastination must turn to action—now! Valentine’s Day is just minutes away and it’s time to get resourceful and use what you have. You’re at work with no craft supplies you say? Fear not—these last-minute Valentines can all be made from “borrowed” office supplies from your desk drawer.

Grab some Post-it notes and after your love falls asleep, arrange them in a heart-shape on the wall of your bedroom or living room. If you really want points, write all the reasons you love him on the the backs. It’s okay if you don’t have a gorgeous array of colors like these from The House that Lars Built. See below…the effect is still totally presh.

Post-it note heart from Desire to Inspire.

This is a Blik wall decal, but can easily be replicated with Post-it notes! Via Brooklyn Bride.

You probably don’t have heart stickers laying among your legal pads, but just grab a marker and draw a heart or write I LOVE YOU on some Avery mailing labels. Easy peasy. These cute stickers are from Inspire Lovely on Etsy.

Ok, no Post-it notes or plain labels on hand? Tacks, cardboard, and binder clips make cute little frames for your kids’ artwork. Via Martha Stewart.

You’re welcome.

As I’m working on my craft book, I’m trying to summon craft ideas from my youth and give them a modern spin (no pun intended; read on). I came across these spirograph gift tags on Pinterest today (via Nadel & Gabel) and spiraled down a little memory lane trip. I am clearly not the first person to have found the spirograph images inspiring and super modern!

These lovely pillows are a mix between spirographs, doilies, and sunflowers. Via The Design Files.

An entire wedding decor was inspired by the spirograph. Check out this post on Design*Sponge to see how they didn’t miss a single detail.

This hand-stitched bag makes my head spin. Via Pinterest.

Spirograph flower notecards. Of course! For sale at Mimosa Cards on Etsy.

I love everything going on in this photo. I want those plates, and if you speak Dutch, will you tell me where I can buy them? Via Style Cookie.

A perfect marriage of two awesome 80’s crafts…spirographs and shrinky dinks! Via Clean & Scentsible.

{Ed Ruscha business card featured on Flavor Wire.}

The topic of business cards keeps coming up in my life these these days, and yet practically, they seem so antiquated. I mean, I can bump my phone to another and exchange contact info, so why spend the time and money to craft or print a little card that possibly ends up creased at the bottom of your purse?

Well, when you see a good business card, it makes a lasting impression, and it can really identify your brand in a big, creative way. Plus, no one would dare throw it away. If you dismiss business cards as an analog, dated form of social networking, think again.

If you’re of the crafty sort, study this photo within an inch of your life. These are business cards that The Proper Pinwheel collected at Alt Summit. I’ll need to start planning mine now for the summer event in NYC.

Peal back the painters tape to reveal the contact info for a stand-out paint service company.

An interior designer should only have fabric business cards like Francesca Pasini’s.

Dilly Dally is a toy store. ‘Nuff said.