How to Build Things With Different Sets of LEGOs

Disassemble the sets. You might find it helpful to separate out the various bricks and paraphernalia into organized piles or bins.

Decide what you want to build and how you want it to look. Choose what colors you will use and how large you want your creation. Sketch out your plan, providing a basic model from which to work. This step might not be necessary if you are a "discovery builder," who likes to build without knowing what the finished project will look like.

Ensure you have the right pieces for your vision. Your new model might call for sweeping archways, for instance, but if you only have square bricks and the occasional pirate sword, you'll need to either find a new source of materials or change your plan a bit.

Build your model according to your planned design. Work in a location that provides enough space to create your grand vision, and build on something that will not shift around as you create. A waterbed, for instance, is far less suitable than a sturdy kitchen table.

Use your imagination. The other side of the coin is that a design is not the end-all be-all. If you find your design lacking as you construct your new model, feel free to go off on a tangent. Build a turbo-laser onto your sea-faring clipper ship, or put a room full of armed skeletons into that bakery you were planning.