Just saw this clever idea on Ohdeedoh. A spin on the old book-cover idea, Courtney of Two Straight Lines, covered her magazine holders in cute wrapping paper. See where she got her materials (hint: some of it is from IKEA) and how she did it here.

Forget those boring genealogy charts. Nowadays, smart do-it-yourselfers are creating modern takes on family trees. Here's a round-up of our favorites...

"I treasure old photographs of my family. Most were kept in a box, and I really wanted to showcase them and was inspired by the inspiration boards that I saw on Design for Mankind, Poppytalk, and other design blogs. I created this display over my bedroom dresser and it was so sweet to see these happy family memories everyday." -- Emilia Jane from San Diego.

"My inspiration was a family tree that my mom had filled out when I was little. I thought art would be better appreciated than something in a book that nobody ever sees." -- Coren from Texas (who sells customizable family trees with up to seven names).

"This family tree is from The Small Object. The instruction sheet says, "Fill it with her biggest fans," so we fill in the blanks with her grandparents and great-grandparents." -- Elly from Boulder, Colorado.

"Inspired by a fellow flickr member, this project was fun and frustrating all at once. I love working with fabric and paper, but wood is a whole other animal. You should have seen me out there routing and drilling. After making the tree with pine, a jigsaw, a router, small dowels, wooden beads, and acrylic paint, I gave it to my parents as a gift." -- Amanda from Lancaster, Texas.

Not up for a big project? British shop Famille Summerbelle will create a hand-cut family tree print with your loved ones' photographs.

You probably already know that one of the easiest ways to transform a dresser is by changing the hardware. This fantastic company, F is for Frank, has a completely adorable selection of handmade drawer pulls and doorknobs. We're partial to Bella, Albert, Lucy, and Sherman (above), but they have scores to choose from.

Dresser photograph by Steve Visneau

Strolling through Flickr (and inspired by our story), Junior Society found a smattering of some gorgeous DIY terrariums. Whether you have a yard or not, they're easy to create and a gorgeous accessory for any room. Click here to see the rest of their top 10 and check out a how-to video.

San-Francisco-based Cookie reader Jordan Ferney is something of a party-planning genius. For her church fete, she made everyone party hats, and for her husband's birthday party, she asked each guest to give a three-minute speech on the topic of their choice. (Topics ranged from "Commonly Held Myths about Boobcakes" to "How to Draw a Human.")

But the award for the Cutest Party Ever goes to the open house Jordan held for her son Moses. She made labels of Moses's face and stuck them to water bottles and signs. "We put out lots of little sandwiches and set up a panini grill so people could grill their own," she says. "It turned out cute." Yes, indeed.

To read more about Jordan's style, visit her blog, and, if you're feeling inspired, browse through our theme-party articles here.

Contributing editor Rory Evans saw an advance copy of Hello, Cupcake! (a book devoted entirely to clever cupcake-frosting ideas that is coming out later this month) in the office and then became obsessed with the corn-on-the-cob cupcake idea. Below, the story of how her cobcakes came to fruition:

"First, I had to track down Jelly Belly jellybeans in varying flavors of yellow, white, and cream. (Which is easier said than done: Those buy-by-the-pound candy places are oddly hard to come by in New York City!) With my pound of jelly beans in the cupboard, I just had to wait for an invitation to someone's house, ideally one with kids, for dinner. (I didn't trust myself to make a batch of cupcakes and then not just stand at the counter and eat my way through the stock.) So when Jenny Rosenstrach, Cookie's features director, invited me over for dinner with her husband and two girls, I knew exactly what to bring. And I started making the cupcakes:"

"I made the cupcakes from a mix. Then, I mixed up some buttercream frosting, tinted light yellow."

"The book calls for putting a lemon Starburst on top of each "ear"--and we tried that. But her kids were too eager to dig in, and ate the butter pat before we could take a picture."

Following Julie's instructions on Craftastica, Cookie assistant editor Mireille Hyde prepared for Easter Sunday by dying eggs naturally with onion skins--but you can also use tea, coffee, cabbage, etc. The verdict? Gorgeous and surprisingly easy. See Mireille's pics below.

The top 20 finalists of Design*Sponge's DIY contest were just posted. A scroll through might just give you the inspiration you need to start that project you've always wanted to do. One of our favorites is #19: Abigail's cork trivets and coasters made of stitched together pieces of wine bottle corks (above). Visit the blog to see all of the finalists and vote for your favorite!

Nesting reader Andrea (of For Me, For You fame) bought a lovely pair of Danish chairs last summer. But when she decided to create new cushions, she discovered that the local upholstery shop would charge $760. "I told them that I had to think about it," remembers Andrea, "but I was really thinking, 'I'm never coming back, I'd rather sit my butt on the hideous tweed they are now.'" Here, here!

Luckily, after a bit of research, Andrea found out that IKEA sold similarly sized pillows. A quick trip to the store elicited two yellow and two white pillows. "I'm quite pleased with the result," she says. But the best part? "The total was $160."
(See our previous chair makeover here.)

Our friends at Design*Sponge posted a fantastic idea for a nontraditional Valentine's Day gift. Using glass etching cream, they created a modern take on the ship in the bottle that would look fantastic on a bookshelf. (As a bonus, roll up a love letter and pop it inside.) Check out their full post for instructions.

In our March issue (making its way to mailboxes and newsstands right now), Cookie's market editor, Meryl Levin, describes how she made a dollhouse for her niece out of foam core board. She put graphic wrapping paper on the walls, cut clocks and pictures of out of catalogs and "framed" them with Sharpie, and her niece filled the rooms with her own toys. Not only is it almost as fun to personalize as to play with, it also stores flat, and can even travel with her to Grandma's house! If you want to try this yourself, here's how Meryl did it (use the diagram below as a reference):

1. Start with a piece of 20"x30" foam core board (a standard size at art-supply stores), and using a box cutter and a T-square or yardstick, cut 10 inches off of the longer end to make a 20"x20" square.

2. Cut the board horizontally right across the middle to create two 10"x20" rectangles.

3. Measure 10 inches across the bottom of one rectangle, and cut a notch 1/4-inch wide and 2 inches tall. At the top of the second rectangle, make a notch the same size.

4. At the bottom of both rectangles, measure 4 1/2 inches from both ends, and cut doorways 2 inches wide and 5 inches tall.

5. Slide the notches into each other to form the x-shaped house.

Cookie reader Nicole Hill from A Little Sussy takes photos of children (and sometimes, yawn, grown-ups) for a living. When she was decorating her nursery-themed photo studio, she stenciled apples and pears onto paper for this lovely artwork. What an easy project for kids--and the result is so fresh and beautiful, you can almost taste it.

Ikea's PS Pendant lamp is just $40, and the design is so simple, that you could come up with countless ways to customize. Here are two suggestions we dreamed up:

A great way to repurpose burnt-out light bulbs and perfect for an entryway or office.

Add fun flair with multi-colored balls, and hang it in a kids' room.

"I rescued this little Heywood Wakefield chair at an antique store. After a lot of sanding, a few coats of paint and some Amy Butler fabric, I've got myself a new chair. Total cost with the chair, paint, & fabric: $35! It will sit at my sewing desk, which unfortunately doesn't get as much use as it shoud." -- Angela Hardison, Mesa, Arizona

Readers, email us your furniture or room makeovers, and you may be featured on our website. We'd love to see your projects!

Here's one way to ensure that your kid's high chair will grow with him. Saw off the legs as he gets older. Designed by Maartje Steenkamp, the Droog High Chair comes 57" tall with equally spaced sawing guidelines and a small saw for you to change it as the years go by. Pretty straightforward, eh?

See our high-chair road test here.

Love this idea! A modern update on of the embroidered monogram, stitch your child's initials using 9-hole buttons from Charles & Marie. It's so easy, and any of the 26 letters are possible. (They would also be incredibly cute on backpacks or pillows.)

With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to think about those family photo christmas cards again. Sure, there are lots of websites that allow you to get a custom card printed in no time. If you're looking for something a little more creative and unique, we might have the solution: Erin Loechner over on Curbly created a step by step guide on How to make your very own pop-up photograph. Things you'll need: Several photos or several copies of the same photo that can be cut apart, scissors and a glue stick. Let the fun begin!

Thanksgiving is just two days away. Instead of driving yourself batty trying to spray-paint gourds or fashion a cornucopia, grab these items:

1. a vase (can be as ugly as you want)
2. flowers (these should be pretty)
3. two hardcover books
4. ribbon

Put the flowers in the vase, put the vase on the table, open the two books to form a square around it, tie a bow, and you're done! Let's eat.

"I loved the idea of painting your family's favorite recipes inside a cabinet door but have neither the patience or penmanship to do it myself. Do I need to hire someone?" --Kelly Sommers, St. Paul, Minn.

Never fear--there is always an easier way. For this particular project, we recommend letter transfers from Wonderful Graffiti. Started by a former copywriter for Hallmark, the company allows you to create custom decals that are easy to apply and remove. Pick the finished dimensions, choose whatever font and size you want, and type away.

Let your little one become the author of his first book with these Blank Board Book Kits. Completely empty, inside and out, they're waiting to be filled with stories, colors, and characters. Perfect for a first time author. Use the custom-designed digital templates or tell your story directly on the label using paint, markers, pencils, or crayons. A set of four books goes for $20.95, which includes a CD with design templates and sheets of adhesive labels.

Email your home photos and design questions here.

We are huge fans of the decorating genius Courtney Russell from Two Straight Lines. (Click here to see our home tour with her.) Her latest project is gorgeous and perfect for fall. Inspired by a British birdhouse, Courtney decided to make a natural, eco-friendly version. She created a gourd birdhouse decorated with non-toxic paint and an adorable twig perch. You can find gourds at your neighborhood market or, more simply, buy one pre-cleaned and drilled here.

"We have a wood across from our house that has a few nature trails," says Courtney. "I considered painting a bunch of them and hanging them over there." How lovely! The birds would be thrilled.

Email your home photos and design questions here.

Martin Graf is the force behind Edition8x8, a fantastic 'paper mechanics lab' based in Germany. We are enthralled with Edition8x8's DIY paper mobiles: The paper models come with all the necessary accessories, all you have to do is cut, glue and hang. We can only imagine how many rainy sunday afternoons have been saved with these gravity fighting paper inventions.

Choose "Happy Orbit" and travel with Captain Bratcovicz through space or, if you are into the deep-sea, go with Mister Pilipenko and his green submarine.

The paper mobile models are 5 Euro each and can be ordered via email at Edition8x8's site.

Email your photos and home-design questions here

We all might dream of owning a Murano glass chandelier, but don't deprive yourself until that day arrives. This chandelier was a $10 yard-sale purchase and had a fairly ordinary bronze finish. With just a little spray paint, the chandelier was turned into a whimsical piece that fit seamlessly into a cheery kitchen. The body was painted sky blue and the bulb stems were painted gray, to give a bit of contrast. While this piece doesn't say luxe quite like Italian hand-blown glass, it's a perfectly beautiful stand-in that can happily make its way to another yard sale when you finally find (or can afford) the chandelier of your dreams.

1. Clean the chandelier thoroughly to remove dirt and rust.

2. To eliminate a step (roughing up the smooth finish with sandpaper to allow paint to stick) consider using Krylon Fusion spray paint, which easily sticks to slick surfaces like metal.

3. Tape off any areas that you do not wish to paint with painter's tape.

4. In a well-ventilated area, hold the can about 12 inches from the chandelier and spray using long smooth strokes to avoid drips.

5. Let dry for about an hour. Then come back and add another coat. Repeat as necessary until you have desired coverage.

E-mail your home-design questions and photos here.

Looking for a unique way to decorate a wall in your kid's room? Creating your own piecemeal puzzle with any large piece of art is easier than you might think. (For more framing ideas, check out the full story here.)
1. Roll out the artwork on a cutting mat, piece of cardboard, or other work surface.

2. Take the glass or plexi from the square frames you're using. (Album frames are a perfect 12-inch square and easy to find.)

3. Shift the pieces of glass or plexi around on the artwork (being careful not to scratch the piece) to determine what your puzzle pieces will be. Play with several different arrangements, and remember, the more assymetrical, the better.

4. Once you have your pieces selected, use an Exacto knife to cut along the outside of each edge of each piece glass or plexi. This will give you perfectly sized, straight-edged pieces.

5. Pop the pieces into the frames, and hang them up with just an inch or two of space between. The task is much less daunting if you have a nifty laser level like this one from Ryobi.

TIP: If you're spatially-challenged, create kraft paper templates the exact size of your frames and tape them up on the wall before hanging. This way you'll be able to see how well the grid fits in your given space—before hammering any holes in the wall.

E-mail your home-design questions and photos here.

I love the chalkboard fridge idea from the Kid's Eye View: Kitchen story in your March/April '07 issue. How can I do this at home?
Follow these steps to convert a metal box into potential gallery space for your children:

1. Measure the refrigerator doors, making a note of handles or ice dispensers.

2. Have your home improvement center cut masonite panels following these dimensions.

3. Prime the panels and paint them with chalkboard paint. We like this brand.

4. Attach them to the outside of the doors. In most cases, magnetic tape should do the trick and will allow the panels to be easily removed once your kids have outgrown them.

But if all of this seems too committal, why not try one of these chalkboard decals?

E-mail your home-design questions and photos here.