Author(s): Howard Clements

DIY

From tugboats and tractors to windmills and wagons, these nostalgic moving toys make great Christmas ornaments as well as keepsake gifts for family and friends. And these simple projects don't take a lot of time, wood or tools to make.

They're a great way to reuse and repurpose scrap wood, and require only minimal painting. All you need is a scroll saw, a drill and some glue to create memorable family heirlooms.

You can create them assembly-line style and fill a tree--or make a lot of gifts--with just an afternoon's work. Better yet, get a youngster or two involved in the cutting, painting and assembling.