Are you ready to tackle some creative do-it-yourself projects over the summer? We have a few interesting ideas for DIY jobs you can take on with your kids.

Make DIY Personalized Knapsacks

1. Start with a plain backpack or an old one that is still structurally sound but needs refreshing.
2. Head to your local craft store to find fabric paint, press-on glitter, materials for a zipper pull, or anything else that reflects your child’s personality.
3. Guide your child in designing the backpack and create it together.

If your kid is musical, the backpack can have a painted musical score and notes. Feathers, glitter and bright colors will make a luscious backpack for your little diva. Whether the look you’re going for is artsy, sporty or clever, this open-ended project will bring out the creativity in both of you.

Mix Your Own Laundry Detergent

1. Get together one bar of Fels-Naptha laundry soap, a cup of washing soda and a cup of Borax.
2. Grate the bar of soap by hand; then mix it in the blender along with the washing soap.
3. Add the blended mixture to the Borax in a large bowl.
4. Use a heavy mixing spoon to stir together and mash any big lumps.

That’s really all there is to it! This homemade detergent mixture will clean your clothing for pennies. You can also add dry fabric softener and Oxy-Clean, but this is the basic mixture.

Build a Water Balloon Launcher

1. Cut two six-foot sections of heavy rubber tubing.
2. Punch or drill two .5 inch holes in each wide side of a large, heavy-duty rubber funnel.
3. Create two holes that go straight through the narrow part of the funnel.
4. Use the holes in the narrow funnel tube to attach a pull rope.
5. Thread each piece of tubing through one side hole, tying it off a couple of inches from the hole.
6. Attach the other ends of the tubing to a porch rail, swing set bar or another sturdy base.
7. Pull the launcher’s rope handle back as far as you can with a water balloon cupped in the funnel; then let it fly!

This is a safe and fun active outdoor toy for kids and they enjoy drilling and cutting, with adult supervision.

Make a Custom Superhero Lamp

1. Buy or find an inexpensive lamp and gather several small action hero figures.
2. Use permanent glue to attach the figures to the base of the lamp.
3. Spray paint the lamp all one color, including the action figures.

You and your kid can make a cool action figure lamp for a few dollars that would cost a lot more in the store. One option is to use matte gray or black for the lamp and leave the original colors on the figures.

Design a Bird Feeder

1. Cut a cardboard egg carton in half and remove the bottom part.
2. Carefully make four holes in the corners with a pair of scissors.
3. Tie two 1.5-foot lengths of heavy string diagonally across the two pairs of holes.
4. Fill each depression with bird seed and hang from a tree.

This is an easy and simple design that’s a great DIY project to do with small children. It can also be used as a planter with soil and seedlings instead of bird seed.

DIY Cooking with Kids