Many many years ago, after I first got married, I bought a 6 ft. long 2x4.
I cut it into 6" long blocks (2 are still left as of today), and began a long, slow process of whitling them into a creche (nativity scene). My first figure was an angel. I use acrylic (water based) paints once the carving is done. The wood soaks up the paint, giving it an antiqued look. My artistry is not world class, but that makes it look all the better. The 3 Magi (wise men) and Joseph were the best ... Joseph has a staff, and is on one knee. The Frankincense king holds a swinging gold chain censor. That took the most time. Married nearly 36 years - so this is a long term, when-I-find-free-time-between "alltheotherstuffIdo" project.
Talk to her about something like that. Maybe a Dad-daughter project. We had three girls - I built a Barbie-scale 2 floor plus finished atttic (on wheels) Tudor style doll-house that they used for nearly 8 years.