Perfect for a Valentines Day party or a birthday party — or just everyday wear — this simple upgrade to an inexpensive paper party hat is just the thing to add a little sophistication to any event! More

Blame it on the artist in me, but I've always had a thing for fancy paper and pretty pens. And whether you're strapped for cash or just looking to get some extra bonus points from your loved one — I don't know how anybody could conceivably go wrong with a love letter. Here are a few cute kits, books and tips to help you express your feelings in a meaningful way this Valentine's Day. It's sure to be a gift that will be cherished by the special one in your life for years to come. More

It's almost the start of Chinese New Year and, come February 10th, it will officially be the Year of the Snake. Celebrate this festive holiday with activities that will make your kid light up like a firecracker. More

This relatively plain bathroom got a major face lift with something that looks as good as wallpaper, but is actually impeccably painted, DIYed stencil handiwork. While that has a huge impact on the space, there are a few other east improvements that A Pumpkin and a Princess implemented that helped transform the room — can you spot them? More

Part of the fun of being a kid with a budding fashion sense is picking out your outfit for the day (or the hour!) What's not so fun is when mom has to lift you up to see your options and help you get them down from the closet — so a dressing room style clothing rack is the perfect solution! More

Michele's son had outgrown his room's decor, and everyone was sick of the orange, purple and red color scheme. It took a couple of weeks to re-do it completely, using a lot of what they already owned, plus adding a few new things to the mix. The goal was to keep it affordable and simple.
More

One of the most interesting things about interviewing makers is learning how the folks who create some of our favorite products got started. Take Andy Johnson, the man behind Ample and today's featured maker. Although he studied mechanical engineering at Princeton, he's a self taught furniture designer and woodworker who is inspired by functional problems around the home. More

A laptop sleeve may not feel like an essential tech accessory, but having one wrapped around your little baby will help keep it protected from dirt, drops and other disasters. If you have a Macbook there's no shortage of sleeves out there on the market (3 of which I've rounded up here). But if, like me, you're working on a bigger, older PC laptop, perhaps a DIY is in your future. Fortunately, I've rounded up 3 of those as well. More

After discovering and writing about Milimbo last week, I became a little obsessed with cardboard. Turns out pretty much anything can be made from this readily available material. Anything. Of all the examples, I was particularly impressed with \Estéfi Machado, a particularly crafty mom and photographer who makes toys out of leftover party supplies, and any other disposable cardboard she has lying around. The camera above is one of her latest, but the others are worth a look as well. (The Michael Jackson album is particularly rad.) More

You may recognize the piece shown above. It's called The Butler and it has appeared here on Apartment Therapy many times over the years, as we are fans of its modern design and organic aesthetic. The Butler's designer, Curtis Micklish, recently sat down to chat about his history, inspirations and advice in our Meet the Maker series.

More