Bookends

• Bricks are heavy enough to hold books in place on a shelf. Kids can make one or more painted bookends. Make the bookends so that the biggest flat surface of the brick paver contains the design and faces outward. Cover the backside and bottom of a brick with felt to prevent it from scratching your shelving. Have the kids paint the exposed areas of the brick in one or more colors. Drizzle brightly colored paints on the brick to create a design. Kids can also paint their name, a sports logo or a super hero shield onto the brick front.
  
  

Shelf Sitter Critters

• Kids of all ages can create brick shelf "sitter critters" with a brick paver and a few craft items. They can work with a brick that stands up straight or rests on a side to make a person, animal or imaginary character. Provide acrylic paints for the kids to cover the entire brick with a base color. They can then paint facial and body features over the background color. Have them glue on felt or foam pieces, feathers and google eyes as they wish. To make legs that hang down from the shelf sitter, have the kids glue two or more lengths of ribbon onto the brick, then glue or tie foam feet onto the bottom end.
  
  

Doorstops

• Let the kids try a decoupage project to use for a doorstop. They can find pictures from magazines, wallpaper sample books or even personal photos. Show the kids how to spread glue onto a small area of brick and press the pictures onto the glue. When the entire brick is covered with pictures, let the glue dry. Spray the decoupaged doorstop with clear spray paint to seal and protect the project.
  
  

Garden Stones

• Create one garden stone or surround a garden spot with bricks the kids have decorated. Kids can glue jewels or beads in a pattern or arrange the items to spell their name on the flat surface of a brick. They can glue on small and medium-sized pebbles in a design they choose. Alternatively, have the kids glue plastic frogs, bugs or flowers onto the top flat surface for a mini garden scene. The bricks can lay flat or stand on one side in a garden.