Beat boredom on those rainy days with these kid-friendly projects.

Materials:

• Solid-colored umbrella
• Fabric pens
• Acrylic paint and brushes

1. Cover a large area of the floor with newspaper. Open the umbrella and decorate each section with fabric paints and/or pens.
2. Allow the umbrella to dry for about one day before closing (or taking out into the rain).

Materials:

• Plastic pipe elbow, 1/2" in diameter, and matching plastic nut (ask at your local hardware store)
• Two 5 1/2" x 8" Styrofoam food trays
• Balloon
• Rubber band

1. Thread the nut on the plastic pipe elbow. Then cut a hole in the bottom of one of the trays and push through the elbow's non-threaded end.
2. Stretch the balloon over the threaded end. Then secure the elbow underneath the tray with the rubber band, wrapping it around several times.
3. Cut a rudder from the other tray, and insert it through a slit cut in the stern of the boat.
4. To operate the vessel, inflate the balloon by blowing into the elbow. Block the end of the pipe with your finger as you set the boat in the water, then release it and watch the boat zip away.