Sometimes colorful design inspiration is right in front of you. Like at your kid’s elementary school, for example. Seriously, have you seen some of the art projects that come out of fourth grade? Simple. Colorful. Whipped out with fearless abandon.

Or the cooperative creations auctioned off for school fundraisers? Splashy quilts of scanned watercolors, storage chests bedecked in original hand-painted tiles. Yummy.

Children are amazing, and elementary school teachers are geniuses. My files are packed with ideas from kids crafts.

When I saw the prismatic, tissue-decoupaged plates that Ms. Laura and Ms. Julie’s class made for this year’s Holiday Market, I knew I would try something similar.

My interpretation is these festive tissue-paper decoupaged candy dishes, just in time to fill with chocolate kisses and bring to the neighbors. A fun pop of color for the countertop.

Simply done with clear glass bowls, Mod-Podge and bits of bright papers.

I made an effort to leave perfection in the other room and just have fun! It helped that a real kid worked alongside me; my 9 year-old produced the one with the floral tissue. Love it!

So this week’s Challenge is to design and make something for your home, using a kid’s craft or art project as your inspiration.

It could be something your child or your grandkid made that sparks your idea, or just something you once saw in a family magazine.

And Woo-Hoo! A random Challenge entrant will win the packed idea book: FamilyFun Crafts: 500 Creative Activities for You and Your Kids.

How great is that?

I know you’ll make something wonderful for your home. And you have my permission to get messy, color outside of the lines and get glue stuck to your fingertips. Have a blast!