So I've read that spore's creature creator can export in a COLLADA format. Has anyone tried using it to make spring models?

Any models made using spores creature creator would have problems.

Spores creatures are one continuous mesh. The mesh is not static either, hence why it deforms at runtime, go red up on it.

So you can expect a body, with additional pieces of geometry for stuff like feathers and head dresses.

you can use blender to save it as 3ds max or something like that, and use upspring to convert it to a spring related format. No idea about textures, though.. That might be a bit harder.
Plus that UV mapping would be quite a task.

Spring could reaaallly use some proper mesh deformation support, plus an IK bone system.

Also, it would be cool if Spring could run DSD 128v128 on an EEEPC and make coffee.

And toast.

and b..........read