The orioles are back in my Wisconsin backyard, so it reminded me of an old project I did one year with my kids. We turned our old Legos into an oriole bird feeder!

When it comes to duplicating this project, there really is no right or wrong way. We used large Legos that my kids had when they were around 2. We held them together with a strong glue, adding it to each piece and then let it sit overnight so it was good and dry. If you do this project yourself, be sure to give it it a good test…just gently wiggle the pieces to make sure they are all secured.

Once your feeder is complete, you can attach a hook or screws to hang it! Don’t forget to add your bird food at the end. Here, we added oranges for the orioles, but if you create the right kind of design, you could put seed or suet for the birds, too.

Just a note about usling Legos in the backyard…have fun with them. Half the fun is building your design and trying different things. You could create a tray feeder or even a garden planter, too. So don’ be afraid to try a few things before you settle in on one style. And then make your last step the gluing.

We love old vinyl record album covers. You can pick them up for next to nothing at garage sales, thrift stores or in someone’s basement (make sure you know them first, though). This is an easy project, and it makes a perfect gift. We recently made a Kenny Rogers journal for a friend of ours who loves the song, The Gambler. We found the album for 50 cents and picked up a notebook at our craft store in the .99 bin. Here’s how we did it. Good luck making your own!

SUPPLIES 

• Album cover 
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Notebook
• Glue (we used hot glue)
• Ribbon

First off, you’ll want to trace the notebook shape onto the backside of the album with a pencil. Repeat for the back and also for the spine of the book if it has one.

Next, Cut out the shapes. Then glue all the pieces directly onto the notebook. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect! Once it’s glued down, use ribbon to decorate the edges and hide any imperfections. We used ribbon here, but you could also use sequens, feathers or anything else to dress it up.

All done! You just made a lovely gift for less than a couple bucks! Have fun searching for cool vintage albums.

This mosaic handprint is made from colorful dried beans.

This makes a perfect gift…birthday, Mother’s Day or a “just because” present. It’s really simple, just about any age can do it and it makes a great keepsake. This project can also be found in our new book by Falcon Guides, The Kids’ Outdoor Adventure Book: 448 Great Things to Do in Nature Before You Grow Up. Check it out! Here’s what you need for this project:

Supplies

• Wooden plate or other strong material you can glue onto (empty picture frames work great, too)
• A glue that dries clear
• A mosaic material like dried beans, rocks, seeds, buttons, etc.
• Pencil for tracing your hand

1. First of all, find a plate or platter. You might already have one you can use. Otherwise, hit up Goodwill. We like using wood because it’s easy to apply glue to, and it adds some natural character. You could paint your plate or platter, but we really liked the natural wood in this case. After you find what you want to use, gently trace your child’s hand with a pencil.

Step 1: Trace hand.

2. Use a glue that smears easy with little fingers and dries clear. We like Mod Podge. Smear it out onto your surface and place your mosaic pieces, one by one. Let the whole think dry for several hours.

Step 2: Apply mosaic.

3. Once your plate is dry, gently feel the mosaic pieces to make sure they’re completely stuck on. If any are loose, glue again. Once you’re done, you can add a little picture hanger to the back (pick one up at your local craft store). If you’re already using an old picture frame, it’ll have the hanger on already. Then give your new artwork to a special friend. (Don’t forget to sign the front or back.)

Step 3: Check for loose beans, and then enjoy!

You could win this stationary set for your favorite teacher!

Here are two different projects you can do to preserve your memories from a nature walk or hike. Thanks to Diane from Vortex Crafts on Etsy for these ideas. She’s donating a personalized teacher stationary set in this month’s handmade holidays giveaway. Thanks for Diane for the donation and for these great ideas for preserving memories.

Frame Those Memories

Take an unfinished wooden frame, acrylic paints, a brush, small collected treasures and a picture. Frame a picture of an outing with you and your kids inside an unfinished wooden frame. After the frame is painted, embellish with a few “treasures” they collected during that outing. It’s so easy to adhere shells, rocks to the frame. Leaves can also be dried and preserved before adding. These will bring back a lot of wonderful memories. Don’t forget to add a bit of information such as the date, where the outing took place.

Box Up Those Memories

Take an unfinished wooden box, acrylic paints, a brush, collected treasures and a picture or collage of an outing/activity (a paper copy works well). Paint the wooden box. When paint is dry, adhere on top of the lid your picture. Seal the box with glossy decoupage medium. Inside you can store the found treasures.

Create a pencil holder out of a tree branch.

I adore Little House in the Suburbs. These ladies are the real deal with loads of projects and ideas on their website (they have a book, too). If you appreciate creativity and handmade, then you should definitely check out their website on a regular basis. They encourage me to try to live a more sustainable, simple life without being preachy or making me feel bad.

Here’s one of my favorite projects from their website—making pencil holders by drilling holes into old logs. I’ve seen this project modified to hold tea lights as well. Either way, it’s a perfect present for anyone who loves trees. And come on, who doesn’t love trees? No one wants to be pegged as a tree hater, do they?