We think we finally understand what They Might Be Giants meant. Take a look at these charming birdhouses in the Etsy shop of Reclaimed Wood Goods--handmade by Dal Carstens.

Dal lives in New Orleans, and after Katrina, he could see large amounts of weather-hardy wood like Cypress and Cedar being thrown in the garbage--what a shame to let that good wood go to waste! So he reclaimed the wood and built lodging for the neighborhood birds. It's inspiring to see something beautiful built from disaster.

We should note: these birdhouses have all the extras. Including screens on windows. For reals.

How cute are these? You can make them for your next party (or just for your child's cherished trinkets) by buying the template for $4 from A Little Hut. This series is called "Let's Go," but she also sells a Spring set with a daisy, bunny, egg, and butterfly and a Gift Box series with a heart, flower, bird, and circle. See pictures of all of them here.

Forget those boring genealogy charts. Nowadays, smart do-it-yourselfers are creating modern takes on family trees. Here's a round-up of our favorites...

"I treasure old photographs of my family. Most were kept in a box, and I really wanted to showcase them and was inspired by the inspiration boards that I saw on Design for Mankind, Poppytalk, and other design blogs. I created this display over my bedroom dresser and it was so sweet to see these happy family memories everyday." -- Emilia Jane from San Diego.

"My inspiration was a family tree that my mom had filled out when I was little. I thought art would be better appreciated than something in a book that nobody ever sees." -- Coren from Texas (who sells customizable family trees with up to seven names).

"This family tree is from The Small Object. The instruction sheet says, "Fill it with her biggest fans," so we fill in the blanks with her grandparents and great-grandparents." -- Elly from Boulder, Colorado.

"Inspired by a fellow flickr member, this project was fun and frustrating all at once. I love working with fabric and paper, but wood is a whole other animal. You should have seen me out there routing and drilling. After making the tree with pine, a jigsaw, a router, small dowels, wooden beads, and acrylic paint, I gave it to my parents as a gift." -- Amanda from Lancaster, Texas.

Not up for a big project? British shop Famille Summerbelle will create a hand-cut family tree print with your loved ones' photographs.

"When my daughter was small, I loved carrying her with me, instead of strapping her into a stroller. It was easier to browse through shops and flea markets, and we loved exploring the world together." -- Jean, Naples, Florida.

We agree--and the cutest slings we've seen recently are these numbers from etsy shop BronwenHandcrafted. Made with designer knits (think Missoni, Marimekko and Vera Wang), they're available in five sizes and many colors. Ridiculously cute baby, not included.

Sometimes mamas need time to slow down, reflect and write in a journal. (And if that time is spent in a lavender-inflused bubble bath with a bottle of Champs, all the better.) Either way, these illustrated Moleskine journals offer an inspiring place to record grown-up thoughts and dreams. It's just too bad they're not waterproof.

Easter is creeping up on us, and we love this little Martha Stewart Crafts Egg Dress-Up Kit, part of her line at Michaels. Perfect if you want to skip the dyeing route.

Speaking of Michaels, the craft superstore has just introduced The Knack. The program will consist of in-store events and online project ideas geared toward families. And if you're thinking of things to do this weekend, the Knack's inaugural event (sponsored by Crayola) is this Saturday in Michaels stores.

We thought babies couldn't get any cuter, but it turns out they can. Imagine your little dude in one of these BabyRocksMohawks hats--from bunny ears to swirls to mohawks. They also take custom orders for extra-special requests. We're thinking an 80's perm?

These were just too funny not to share. In this season of football playoffs, it's time to rethink the beer cozy. Etsy seller Aorta makes great ones with 1970's barkcloth on the outside and blue felt lining. Unlike the foam monstrosities emblazoned with Tigers, Falcons, or other ferocious animals, it will not only class up your Super Bowl spread but also fold flat and fit nicely in a drawer when it's all over.

And, because we know you're wondering, yes...they do fit tall boys.

Isn't it amazing how a string of sparkling lights (or, say, an enormous batch of sugar cookies) can instantly make a house feel festive? As you gather together decorations, check out the handmade wares from Swiss letterpress studio Letteria. The red-and-white combo is so chic, and we love those kissing reindeer!

We love this Etsy gem for two reasons: 1) It's equal parts candy and sculpture, and 2) It forces you to eat sweets in small portions as you have to wait for the jellybeans to Plinko their way down the chute. And if you're wrapped up in the anti-plastic toy movement, the seller, stumppondtoy, has a smattering of other great wooden pieces for kids.

When we were little, we loved pop-up birthday cards. Well, times have gotten even better: Kolya from Australia hand-carves intricate city skylines from thick white cards. He spends hours with a surgical scalpel to complete each mini-sculpture. A thousand times cooler than your standard pop-up card, these will enchant and inspire--and teach kids to be veeery gentle. (Cookie Tip: Until November 15th, a set of four cards is $45; after that, prices rise to $60.)

This rocking bench, beautifully handmade from ash wood, just caught our eye on Etsy. A little bit Scandinavian, a little bit rock 'n roll--the kids will love it.

If you're looking for your next conversation piece, Etsy retailer recycledtime has an impressive collection of clocks made out of found objects--everything from this cake pan to railroad-crossing lights to, er, a vintage bed pan.