How is it possible that every utilitarian object now has a design-y counterpart? Let’s take the drinking straw, for example. Never did I ever imagine that I’d utter the words “oh my, what a darling straw you have.” After researching for this post, I’m firmly dedicated to adding a straw craft to my book. (Floral straws from Emerald & Ella, amazing Birch-tree straws from Jazzy Apple Girl on Etsy, and Polka Dot straws from Shop Sweet Lulu.)

The straw flowers are really a dime a dozen, but these are really pretty gorge. By GCD Spa Stuff.

Alone, I think this straw garland by Crossing the Bugger-Dixon Line would feel pretty sad, but I love how she mixed it in with the dots. Super cute.

I know it’s a little early to be thinking Easter egg crafts, but seriously, come on. I could not resist sharing these precious dye-ving eggs, originally from Spoonful with you!

Tell me, if this jewerly by Creme de La Craft wasn’t pictured in a straw round-up, would you really know that the gold triangles were made from drinking straws?

When I saw these coasters in Country Living magazine last summer, I gasped when I learned they were made from woven plastic straws.

Straws make the perfect frame for kite crafts. Found these on Make and Takes.

Every year, I hear that I’m hard to buy for. Birthday, Hanukkah, Mother’s Day…I’m a challenge. You know what it’s like; we creative types that read a gazillion blogs, we have high standards. We know what’s out there, and if there’s nothing good, we just make it.

I’m pleased to say that I found me a husband that rises to the occasion. No matter how much I say “this year, I don’t want anything,” he knows that I do want a little attention. And for me, there is nothing better than the gift of creative thought.

This year, I’m all wrapped up in my craft book project and like most people, Pinterest is my best friend. So he created a private (uh-hem, how racey!) board called The Amanda Book Project, where he took vintage book covers and doctored the words or images to make them about me. I am sharing a few with you, the few that I can share (wink, wink).

Not only do I have a funny, creative, and expressive husband, but he’s damn good at photoshop.

(PS…Oliver is our 2 and a half year old son. Anyone with a toddler knows that you are just their pawns in the game of life.)

(PPS…For my newer readers, check out what the husband did a few years ago. It got linked to the Brooklyn Flea’s blog!)

This photograph makes me happy and sad at the same time. Happy because those first few moments after the turn of the machine’s nickel crank (am I aging myself?) are the most exciting, anticipatory seconds. Is red going to be cherry or strawberry? Will the blue turn my mouth blue? And sad, well, because they are scattered on the sidewalk, just waiting to be swept up and tossed in the trash. So today, I felt the need to honor the shiney, sugary everlasting gobstopper of my youth: the gumball. (Photo found via pinterest)

I totally get the urge to wear gumballs around my neck. Doesn’t everyone? Via Formal Fringe.

Why aren’t there more gumball machine toys? I love love love this wooden one that I found at A+R.

Gumballs have the potential to be turned into many things. Least of which—apples. By The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle.

…or chicks. Also by The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle.

And lastly, I found the artist Stefan Sagmeister on The Jealous Curator and was fascinated by this exhibition that he erected called The Happy Show. In this installation, he asks the viewer to rate her/his happiness on a scale of 1 to 10 by taking a gumball from the corresponding cylinder. It looks like 7 was winning that day which makes me feel pretty hopeful. What number would you be? Today I’d say I’m a solid 9. Pretty good for girl woman who’s turning 38 tomorrow.

I’ve always thought coasters to be a good gift for a few reasons.

1. They are useful. Drink rings = bad.
2. They are small. This means you can carry them in your purse to the party.
3. They are noncommittal. You can own 5 sets and swap them out depending on your mood.
4. They are a fun DIY. Enough said. Read on.

I always pick up birch wood slices when I’m at a craft store, wondering how I can use them. Well, here you go. Amazing coasters. Each one is a little work of art that sings underneath your wine glass.

These beautiful gems (above) are created with carbon paper (tracing paper works to) to transfer the cool design to the wood. From Design*Sponge.

Perfect conversation coasters just in time for Valentine’s Day from Kat Design on Etsy.

Nothing is simpler than these dipped-style coasters from And Your Bird Can Sing. Pick one color or four to make this very modern set of wooden coasters.

The possibilities are endless with these bold and clean word coasters. Find the how-to at Happy Serendipity.

How easy would these be? Just paint 4 dots on a round wood slice and call it a day. Found via This Next.

Craft note: With any painted or stamped wood coaster, you’ll need to finish them off with a waterproof sealant. What’s worse than drink rings? Runny painted coasters. Nightmare.

I know today’s topic is awfully specific, but honesty, I’m amazed how one little pen can make things look so fancy, delicate, and expensive. Check out what you can do with a gold sharpie pen! {UPDATE: After starting to embark upon my own gold-sharpie mug project, I learned that you need to use the Oil Based Paint Sharpies…not the regular markers! Now carry on…}

Draw your design and then bake in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes. Endless possibiities here! I may just have to head over to Fishs Eddy this weekend to experiment. Via My Home Lookbook.

I’ve seen the vintage-teacup-turned-candle quite a bit, but adding a little gold bling with words or edging can make all the difference. Here’s a perfect example of how the gold sharpie just kicks it up on the elegance scale. By Hey Gorgeous Events.

These gorgeous walls were stencilled with a gold sharpie. One word. Wow. By Rethink Design via Bazaar of Serendipity.

Embellish white ceramic drawer pulls so easily with a gold sharpie. Via Creature Comforts.

A ruler, white paper, and a gold sharpie = lovely wrapping paper. Via Paper Crave.