What better activity for colder winter months than building the ultimate indoor fort. I love the idea of creating a kit to keep in a closet to be able to pull out at a minute's notice, transforming a room instantly to become a spot of open play, architectural creation, and to let imaginations run wild. More

In our opinion, there's probably nothing that Kate from Kate's Creative Space can't invent. For Christmas this year, she built this amazingly detailed hardware store for her son Harry. More

This is a pearl of wisdom that I received years ago and wanted to bring back right now. When in need of a really simple, nice, natural material desk, use IKEA butcherblock countertop (which is cuttable, sandable, stainable and paintable) and some cool legs (like the Vika Inge style seen here, which has been replaced with Vika Runtorp). I've been building them in all of our offices and for clients, and I thought they'd be great to bring back out during our January CURE as folks dig into their homes and make them better than ever. More

Play stores are great, but often not practical if you live in a small home. Jill devised a small, but no less fun, version of a play store for her daughters this Christmas. She started with a wood flower box and ended up with… More

Start the new year off right: get your kids to love doing laundry! We've seen some wooden toy washing machines that are quite beautiful, but this DIY cardboard one is easy, inexpensive, and quick to whip up. More

I claimed I was content just ogling my neighbors' pretty holiday decorations, but as the winter has progressed, I've longed for some wintry festooning of my own. A bit of swag, if you will… More

Perhaps Santa was kind enough to bring you your first DSLR or prosumer point and shoot this holidays. Or maybe you're dusting off the ole collection of lenses and hoping to get restarted on a most satisfying of hobbies for 2013. Regardless of skills, our resident "Photo Magician" and regular house tour contributor, Leela Cyd Ross knows her way around a camera and has plenty of helpful insight to make your next photo your best one yet.

• Setting Up a Photo Studio on the Cheap
• Photographing Food: Part 1 of 3
• The Perks of Shooting Tethered
• Prepping for a Shoot: 3 Basics to Keep in Mind
• More Tips for Photographing People
• 5 Tips for Photography While Traveling
• Using Movement to Add Life to an Image
• 5 Tips for Using a Wide Angle Lens
• The Difference a Lens Makes
• Bethany Nauert's 5 Tips for Photographing Interiors More

By now, you've probably opened all your new gifts, perhaps some of them tech devices. We hope Santa was kind. If you have already started shopping for new phone cases, laptop sleeves, and charging stations, then think about saving yourself the cash and go for one of these DIY options instead.

• DIY Stitched Leather iPad Case
• How To Make a Book Cover Disguise For Your Wireless Router
• The DIY Glitter Charger: Over the Top Tech Accessory
• Belinda's DIY Office Corkboard
• DIY Spandex Movie Screen
• Customized Camera Straps for Every Style
• $1 Constellation iPad Case
• Make your own Bokeh Filters
• Deck out your TV Tray
• How to Make a $1 Neoprene Sleeve for Your Nexus 7 Tablet More

Today's One Minute Tip is brought to you by Krystle Desantos, Media Campaign Manager for Apartment Therapy. (Many thanks to Martha Stewart and Canadian House & Home for inspiring the original idea!) More

Blocks are often the most simplistic children's toy in your home and not only do they captivate and provide hours of imaginative and open play, they are easy on the eyes and ears of parents as well. While available for purchase at many stores, you can also create them yourself from 2x4 scrapes you probably have in your garage with just a chop saw and some sand paper. But did you ever think to add an additional step by making your wooden blocks into a canvas? More