Pennies are the one coin we seem to have more than we know what to do with. If you’ve rounded up a jar of pennies and want ideas that go beyond throwing them into a fountain for good luck read on for three fun penny activities.

1. Dig up those old rusty pennies and watch science in action with this activity from the Exploratorium. Soak those pennies in magic concoction of a little vinegar and salt and watch those pennies “turn over a new leaf” as they become shiny all over again. Head over to Exploratorium.edu for the full tutorial.

2. It’s always nice to make people smile, so why not bring a round of good luck to others at the same time? We’re loving this idea by crafts blog Glued to My Crafts, which teaches little ones about giving back on an affordable scale. Following the old saying, “Find a penny pick it up; all day long you’ll have good luck,” Glued to My Crafts‘s project ensures that whoever finds your penny craft will find a penny heads-up (the sign of good luck). It’s little things like this that could make someone’s day! Click here to get the details on the give-back craft.

3. Build a birdhouse and line the roof with pennies. Birds are an omen of good fortune, so why not build them a nice place to rest right in your backyard? You can find cheap wooden birdhouses at Target or Walmart, and glue all the pennies you can find to roof the house like shingles.

4. Create a lucky picture frame with those extra pennies. It’s easy as 1-2-3. Depending on the width of your frame, you can cover the frame completely or line the pennies in a straight row down the center. Just remember to glue them heads up!

What kind of crafts have you done with pennies? Let us know in the Comments below!

photo: .matter. via flickr