"I'm bored." It's day three of summer and you've already heard it four times before lunch. Here are twelve simple creative projects you can actually pull off with the kids in your life — no Pinterest-perfect supply closet required.

There's something about making things outside that hits different. The light's better, the mess is forgivable, and you can let a paint cup spill without losing sleep. Six outdoor-friendly projects that work on a porch, patio, or even a tiny balcony.

There's a corner in my craft room I avoid looking at. The half-knit sweater, the quilt that needs binding, the watercolor pad with one painting in it. If you have one too, here's my pitch: stop starting another giant project and finish something small instead.