Build a recycled robot
Use recycled materials to make a GISMO 5 remote-controlled robot.
How To Do It
Make a Water Drop Microscope
With just a few common items from around the house, you can make a simple microscope that's straight out of history.
How to make a wooden periscope
Building a periscope is easier than you might think. Here are plans for a wooden periscope that is perfect for secret agent work.
Make a Leather Flag for Your Patrol or Den
Show off your knot-tying skills with this flag for your patrol, den, pack or troop.
How to Make Wooden Stilts
Stand taller with stilts. After an afternoon’s work, you’ll be able to walk around at least 12 inches taller than you are now. That’s a pretty fast growth spurt!
How to build a worm bed to start a small worm farm
Do you wish you could dig money out of the ground? Raising worms in a worm bed can be a lucrative business.
Make a cathedral box
Build a handy place to keep your keys, coins and other small stuff.
How to Make a Balloon-Powered Hovercraft
Make a fun flying vehicle with stuff found around your house.
How to Build a Ship in a Bottle
Something about a ship in a bottle doesn’t seem to fit. Oh, that’s it — the ship! Learn the secret to create your own ship in a bottle.
Make a pulp-and-bottle shelf
This project is a creative way to recycle materials and have an interesting and functional shelf.
How to build a wooden yo-yo
Build this classic toy and become a yo-yo expert.
How to Make Your Own Hiking Stick
Walking sticks make hiking more fun. Next time you go hiking, step out with a personal walking stick that you made yourself.
Make your own weather instruments
Learn more about weather and meteorology by completing these weather-related projects.
Make a can lantern
Put a used coffee or food can to good use by making this rustic lantern.
6 Homemade Father’s Day Gift Ideas
Show your dad he's the best on Father's Day, with a handmade gift. Here are 6 great homemade gift ideas to try.
Make a ring toss game
This ring toss game is perfect for a picnic, Scout meeting or just while hanging out with friends and family.
Make a flashlight holster for your belt
Don't be left in the dark. This leather holster keeps your flashlight handy.
Make a Solar Hot Dog Cooker
If you curve some aluminum foil just right, you can cook hot dogs with the sun's heat.
Make Your Own Minnow Trap Using a 2-Liter Bottle
Don't waste money buying bait. Gather your own! It's simple with this easy-to-make trap.
6 Handmade Mother’s Day Gifts
Show your mom she's the best with a handmade Mother's Day gift.
Make 3 simple-but-fun nail games
With some nails and plywood, make three different games and puzzles.
How to Make a ‘Fossil’ in One Hour
Turn a leaf into a treasure with this simple cement casting project. Display the "fossil" in your room or use it as a stepping-stone in the garden.
How to Make Ice-Fishing Tip-Ups
With these ice-fishing tip-ups, you'll always know when you have a bite when fishing on a frozen lake.
How to build a bird feeder
Step-by-step guide to building a bird feeder to help keep wintering and migrating birds well fed.
DIY Wooden Blinds
Step-by-step instructions to build DIY wooden blinds that look great.
How to make a camera-phone stabilizer
To take great smartphone photos, you need to hold your phone steady. This simple, easy-to-build smartphone stabilizer is one way to make sure your cellphone photos and videos will be shake-free.
How to Build a Lemon-Powered Clock
Power a digital clock by making a battery out of lemons.
How to Build a Pingpong Ball Launcher
Make this cool pingpong ball launcher for target-shooting fun.
Build your own fitness equipment
Build the strength and endurance to take part in all your adventures.
Build a Rustic Clothes Rack
Gather some branches, make a simple frame and create this handy clothes rack.
Use Thanksgiving Leftovers to Make a Turkey Yelper or Necklace
Native Americans used turkey bones to craft turkey calls and necklaces. Put your Thanksgiving leftovers to good use with these fun DIY projects.
Build a Mailbox
Show off your carpentry skills and help out your family.
Build a Display Table
Show off your Scouting mementos.
Build a magnetic lock and key for a storage box
Use magnets to make your own lock and key for your footlocker or other storage box.
Make Your Own Leather Drawstring Pouch
Keep your loose change or other small stuff safe inside this handy leather pouch.
Make a compost tumbler
Here's how to tumble your way to rich compost for your garden and plants.
How to Build a Pet-Bowl Stand
Try these step-by-step directions for building a raised pet-bowl stand to provide a comfortable place for your dog or cat to eat and drink.
How to make a pallet planter
You can make this rustic planter out of split pallet slats and a five-gallon bucket.
Build a solar food dehydrator
Use this solar food dehydrator to make dried healthy snacks for your next camping or hiking trip.
Make a Paracord Watchband or Bracelet
A paracord watchband makes a great gift or can be used as a survival tool. Unraveled, it provides about 10 feet of handy paracord for fixing tent lines or tying together broken gear.
How to stencil custom shirts
Create T-shirts or flags for your pack or troop with this easy and fun stencil project.
Three fun electronics projects
Make a doorknob touch detector, a quick-draw game and a super-sensitive current detector with parts you can get a local stores.
How to Make a Ventriloquist’s Puppet
Build this goofy-looking ventriloquist's figure, then put on a show using ventriloquism (making it talk without moving your mouth).
A peek at BL Workshop projects from decades past
To close out our 100th birthday year, here's a glimpse of some BL projects from decades past.
Primitive Rope with a Twist
American Indians made rope and twine (cordage) using natural fibers from trees, plants and animals. You can make cordage using common materials found around the house or at the hobby store. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Build a Custom Desk
Build your own desk with a tray for your computer keyboard, shelves and even a secret drawer.
Build your own skate longboard
Todd Davis, author of "Handy Dad," offers step-by-step instructions for creating your own skate longboard. With a little work, you can be carving back and forth across the blacktop in no time.
Make the ultimate raingutter regatta racer
A winning raingutter racer stays on an even keel, moves in a straight line, keeps the bow above water and does not drag. If your boat does all this, it finishes ahead of any boat that can't. Here's how to build your winner.
How to build a bug board
They might annoy us or amaze us, but there's no question about it: Bugs are an essential part of the natural order of things. Here's how to make your own nature museum to display them.
How to build a rain barrel for collecting rainwater
Conserve water by collecting rainwater and using it for your garden or lawn.