Now that I have a toddler, I am starting to experience the “everything-is-a-toy/playspace” concept. Shoeboxes, bubble wrap, paper towel tubes…all viable objects to play with. We spent a week with friends in New Hampshire over the holidays and the space under the dining room table became an ant home. So the kids (and adults) cozied up with pillows down there (as all ants do, naturally). That empty space has so much potential, as exhibited by these amazing ideas…

I don’t even know where to begin with this amazing table by Dennis Drouet. Children can hide under the table and pull the strings, which creates a moving pattern on the table’s surface above. Found via Inhabitat.

This is beyond the beyond! Who wouldn’t love a little R&R time in an under-the-table DIY hammock? Found via Handimania, by Joyful Abode.

I saw this DIY idea in Country Living years ago, and it has stayed with me since. Decorate some cheap roller shades with windows and doors and install them underneath your table. If your table has a lip that over 2″ tall, it will hide the rollers nicely. It’s an instant play house, and a retractable one at that! (I can no longer find the CL link, but here it is on Pinterest.)

No, these aren’t made from melted crayons. They are literal 3-dimensional representations of your child’s artwork. Send an image to Crayon Creatures and you will get a resin figurine in return.

Now you can uncover that lovely stainless steel fridge!

Found via Design Mom.

I always feel like I’m behind the 8-ball when it comes to Valentine’s Day. I guess I find myself in a craft coma post-holiday and Valentine’s Day creeps up on me. So this year, I vow to plan ahead to share something sweet.

I love this free download from Sweet Muffin Suite because it suits boths kids and adults. For an added treat, you could switch out the pencil for a pixie stick.

One of the best gifts I ever gave my husband was custom-made match boxes. Here’s a quick way to get a little flirty when you light candles for a romantic dinner. Download and print at Camille Styles.

The talented Corinne Gill made these snowflake valentines for my Parents mag Valentine story this year. Here’s a video (of yours truly) of how to make them.

This origami XO garland pretty much blew my mind when I spotted it on How About Orange.

On the gift-giving spectrum of “easy-peasy” to “deep thinking”, my husband leans heavily to the “deep thinking” side of the scale. Basically, this means that walking into a retail store is virtually impossible (unless it’s Kiosk) when I need to get him a present.

This past Hanukkah, I had this amazing illustrated family portrait made by the uber-talented (old college friend of mine) Alessandra Olanow. I emailed her a bunch of photos of the four of us, and she interpreted them (with a few back and forth questions) into singular portraits. I absolutely love the way it came out!

(In case you are wondering, “watermelon” is something Michael and I used to say to each other in our early dating days. I wanted the drawing to feel like a gift from me to him, so I had Alessandra add the talk bubble.) Here is Alessandra’s portfolio site in case you want to see more of her work.

Stairs used to be just a means to an end. No longer. The staircase is a real blank slate for design-lovers to go wild. Here are a few of my faves…

For the true artist, this ombre technique is so gorgeous. I really don’t think I’d ever tire of living here. Via Martha Stewart.

I love this use of coordinating wallpapers. Via Serena & Lily.

I saw a ton of striped stairs in doing this search, but I love the simplicity of this image. It reminds me of the vintage grain sacks that make great pillows. Via Faded Plains.

I’m not the hugest fan of the word steps, but if you’re going to do it, write something in a foreign language. Oh, and do it as a mosaic while you’re at it. Via Blog Deco Maison.