Our Girl Scout troop (5th grade) made message pads that you could hang on a refrigerator. We took small wooden plagues (bought at Michaels), decorated them however they wanted to, then glued a small pad to it and glued a magnet to the back. We also attached a clothes pin on the front so you could clip the message on it. (Hope that makes sense.) Kids can buy them as gifts for their parents.
Also recipe holders with a block of wood for the base, then a dowel glued to that with a clothes pin glued to the top.
Can't come up with much for boys except maybe pencil holder. Decorate a small can with a weight (rock) glued in it to weigh it down.
I'll have to ask my daughter for ideas, she teaches 6th grade.