I recently found myself at the train station with no reading material, and I picked up the July issue of Martha Stewart Living in the news kiosk. As I leafed through it, the photography from an article about block printing sold me on the issue.

The best part of going through the article was learning that the beautiful prints were all accessible and affordable because they were made with household items. We're talking toy blocks, a potato masher, rope, plastic berry baskets, and more. The results don't look cheap or haphazard, though, because the crafters offer clever ways of arranging and combining objects.

Check out a full description of the projects, including directions and tips, at Martha Stewart Living. And really, as far as inspiration goes, the full spread in the print magazine is worth the dollars they're charging.

(Images: Ngoc Minh Ngo for Martha Stewart Living)