The toy industry is enormous and has a wide range to offer, but unfortunately cheap toys are often ugly and beautiful toys are usually expensive. So the solution is to DIY.

1. Bookshelf/Cardboard Dollhouse

This beauty is super tall so your child can grow into it and has building plans for the power tool proficient.

This doll house is an imaginative IKEA hack, which is great for those of us are more like power tool challenged.

This doll house is tiny and precious. The devil's really in the details on this one. There aren't any plans, but it looks fairly straight forward.

And for a quick, collapsible alternative: try this cardboard castle. Instructions in the link.

2. Wooden Swing

With only a little sewing, you too can make this super stylish baby swing! Instructions in the link.

For a more sturdy (but still flexible) option, try this wooden swing. No instructions, but the concept is fairly straight forward: get large beads, drill holes in the planks, and string the rope through.

For a more elegant look, try this chair swing. No instructions, but any carpenter could figure out a variation of this.

For older kids and adults, string together this flexible tree swing. Instructions in the link.

3. DIY Playhouse

Bonus: to accompany your playhouse, make a cardboard laundry machine and teach your tyke how to help you with chores early on!

All this one takes is some cardboard, a bottle of mod podge, and a little ingenuity.

Similar concept here. I can't get over how precious these are. Kudos to these lucky kids' parents.

If you want something more permanent, you can go the construction route.

If you prefer a door and a more traditional look, give this one a go.

For a relative jungle gym and if you're feeling really brave, venture over here for the plans.

4. DIY Fabric Tipi/Tent

For a no-sew hideaway, make this simple A-frame tent. Instructions in the link.

If you're feeling brave and you want something a little more "chic," try this teepee.

Or this one.

Or this one. (This is my favorite! Mostly, I think, because of the wallpaper. And the mini teepee.)

5. Printable Paper Dolls

What could be quicker and easier? Perfect for a road trip.

6. Printable Shadow Puppets & Cardboard Stage

For a creative and interactive project, make a shadow puppet stage and put on some shows!

7. Homemade Bath Paints

All that's needed here is Johnson's (which we all have anyway), food coloring, and a few household ingredients. And then comes the harmless, endless fun.

8. Wooden Stroller/Shopping Cart

Most wooden shopping carts are upwards of $80 and the really good looking ones are even more, but this is straight forward and my father said that it looked super easy.

Precious baby doll stroller. Lord knows little ones really love to push stuff around.

9. DIY Sandbox

For some healthy, outdoor fun, try your hand at this hideaway sandbox.

Or this sailboat version for more imaginative play.

10. Lego Table Ikea Hack

To make a better workspace and help contain the clutter, try making this Lego Table.

And if you want to go the extra mile, add this Lego figurine display wall.

11. Wooden Latchboards/Busy Boards

This one is really great for babies especially and most of the store bought ones are so tacky.