1) Browse some random pages on Deviantart or similar sites, chances are you'll quickly find inspiration for something interesting to do.

2) Ever thought of 3d modeling? I find it to be much more fun and creative than working on 2d mediums. You could also try modding your favourite games, many popular engines (Unreal, Cry, Unity, Source) have some form of mod support nowadays.

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/does_anyone_here_do_any_sort_of_art_painting_drawing_sculpting_etc_in_their_spare_time/post69

You could make a birdhouse - not so complicated that the kids can't help, if it sucks it still makes a house for birds, and if it's ugly at least it won't have to sit inside your house.

Might lead to other ideas or at least get the kids interested in making different stuff.

Ideas are starting to come together. The subject I want is Spock & Sybok, the sons of Sarek. Haven't decided if I want to do it from a pic of the two together or to take one pic of each that I decide I like & put them together into one. But I definitely want the both of them on the same piece.

I like the idea of using an acetate sheet, I found this on eHow explaining to me in better detail how to do it. But what is a good thickness? I see 0.003 (food grade, whatever that means) through 0.1 on eBay. Whatever I end up making, I'd like to put in a simple (read: cheap) frame on my wall.

or you can just go to your local photocopy shop and get it done there - thats what I used to do. in fact, I think mailboxes.inc is a US company?!...

...and dont forget standard photocopiers do both red and black print (i sometimes used to split images into two layers to get more of an effect - can even do old school 3d that way with a little know how).

Make me search the forums again, whydoncha?
https://www.gog.com/forum/general/the_witcher_pixelart_compo/post73

Your avatar was different back then.

damn that was longer ago than I thought! O____o

same character though.

Would these be appropriate for the job? Going with the idea of tracing a pic onto the sheet, and then painting the rest with acrylics.

not too sure - as I said I've only done it with photocopies (at which point its an entirely different grade of acetate as its heatproofed).

A coloring book you wouldn't throw away:

The Enchanted Forest

My partner and I each bought copies (mine is in german!) and have been coloring them occasionally. I've never enjoyed coloring coloring books, just too dull, not intricate enough, etc. But this, this is something magical, check it out!

Though of course, it's nice to have 120 differently colored pencils to go along with it.
I loooooved making birdhouses as a kid. It was a yearly project my dad and I would do together, put them up around the house and take them to preserves or parks and ask if we can put them up there. Hmmm, I wonder if they still exist somewhere?

<-- Dohh, didn't see there was better suited answers already.. -->