| How to Make a Time Out Stool Posted: 16 Jun 2021 05:00 PM PDT If you're a parent or caregiver, a special time out chair might be a positive addition to your home or workplace. You can create your own makeshift hourglass chair with some wooden circles, dowels, large soda bottles, and sand or salt to serve as a timer. With a few basic tools and some woodworking skills, you can craft a pretty and functional time out stool in a few hours. [Edit]Cutting the Stool's Base - Sketch 2 identical circles on a thick plank. Arrange a large, thick slab of wood on a flat work surface. Attach a pencil to a compass, then arrange the device in the center of the wood. Rotate the compass in a complete circle so a circular sketch is visible on the wood's surface. Before you continue, use the compass to draw a second, separate circle.[1]
- These circles will serve as the top and bottom of your hourglass.
- Plywood is a great option for this part of the project.[2]
- Ideally, use a plank that's at least long and wide.
- Cut out both circles using a jigsaw to form the bases of the stool. Position about ⅓ of the plank off of your flat workspace, so you can cut out the circles. Place the edge of this plank in between a vise, then tighten the clamp into place. Next, use a jigsaw to cut around the circular sketch in the wood. Once you've successfully cut out 1 circle, reposition the plank so you can cut out the second shape. Clamp the wood into place again, then cut out the second circle with the jigsaw.[3]
- Don't worry if your cutting job isn't exact. You can always make adjustments later!
- If you don't have hardware tools on hand, try purchasing 2 pre-cut, wide wooden circles from a hardware or home improvement store.[4]
- Smooth away any splinters or imperfections with coarse sandpaper. Take a coarse, 40- or 60-grit piece of sandpaper and work around the curved edges of each base piece. If you notice any rough or uneven edges, focus on those areas first. Continue sanding around both wooden circles until they're both free of splinters and rough spots.[5]
- If you don't need to do any extensive sanding to your wooden pieces, try using a smoother, higher-grit sandpaper instead.
[Edit]Building the Hourglass - Cut 2 soda bottles in half lengthwise to serve as the hourglass. Draw circular lines around the middle of two bottles. Next, use a pair of scissors to cut around this line, dividing both bottles in half. Once you're finished cutting, set aside the 2 spout pieces, as these are what you'll use to make your stool.[6]
- Consider rinsing out and air-drying the bottles before using them to make a stool.
- Hot glue the tops of 2 bottle caps together to connect the soda bottles. Locate both of the caps that were used for the old soda bottles. To connect the 2 caps together, apply a small ring of hot glue on the outer surface of 1 cap. Next, press the other cap onto the hot glue for several seconds. Once you stop pressing both items together, hold the caps in 1 hand to ensure that the glue is dry.[7]
- These caps will help connect and support the center of the "hourglass."
- Hot glue dries within a few seconds, so be sure to apply and use it quickly.
- Drill a ¼ in (0.6 cm) wide hole through the bottle caps. Attach a thin drill bit into your electric tool to create a smaller hole, which allows the sand or salt to travel smoothly between both halves of the hourglass. Next, drill in the center of these glued caps, applying enough pressure so the drill bit creates a hole through the center of the plastic.[8]
- You don't want the hole to be too big, or else the sand will pour too quickly.
- Wear safety glasses and a face mask as a precaution whenever you work with power tools.
- Screw the bottle-nosed halves of the cut bottles onto the glued caps. First, arrange the narrow end of each bottle onto the connector by rotating each bottle-nose clockwise. Once the soda bottles are connected, double-check the spouts to ensure that they're tightly attached.[9]
- If the soda bottles are too loose, then the sand might not flow through them correctly.
- Make sure that the hot glue is dry before you drill into the caps.
- Sketch 2 wooden circles that fit snugly into the soda bottle base. Take a thinner, ½ in (1.2 cm) plank of wood and clamp it to your work area with a table vise. Arrange the wider end of your soda bottle spout on the plank, then sketch around it in pencil. After drawing 2 circles onto the wood surface, use a jigsaw to cut out the shapes.[10]
- Plywood is a good option for this.
- Be sure to trace the wider end of the bottle instead of the spout.
- Sand the edges of the smaller circles with medium-grit sandpaper. Use a piece, block, or circle of sandpaper to work away any splinters or uneven edges from the outer rims of each circle. As you sand, arrange the wide end of your bottle spout over the circle to ensure that it fits snugly. Continue sanding both circles with short, even motions until the edges are completely smooth.[11]
- The wood needs to fit inside the wider end of the bottle.
- This part of the process ensures that the hourglass will be sturdy once it's attached to the larger bases.
- Attach 1 circle to the center of each wooden base with wood glue. Before glueing anything into place, arrange each circle in the middle of a larger wooden base. Once you've centered the circle, extend a tape measure from the outer rim of the base circle to the edge of the small, central circle. Perform this measurement from all edges of the base to make sure that the wooden circle is centered. Next, apply a circle of wood glue around this central area, then press the smaller wooden circle into place for several seconds.[12]
- Both wooden pieces need to be centered for the stool to function correctly.
- Read the glue's label to see how much time it needs to fully dry.
[Edit]Decorating and Assembling the Finished Product - Saw 3 dowels to provide structure for your stool. Use a tape measure to calculate the approximate height of your plastic hourglass. Keeping this measurement in mind, trim the height of your 3 dowels to match your bottle hourglass. Since the dowels aren't especially thick, you can use a handsaw for this part of the process.[13]
- Use 1 hand or a table clamp to hold the dowels in place while using your opposite hand to maneuver the handsaw.
- Spray paint 1 side of the circles and dowels in the color of your choice. Arrange a piece of newspaper or drop cloths in an outdoor or well-ventilated area. Place your 2 wooden circles and 3 wooden, 1⅛ in (2.9 cm) thick dowels on this surface. Spray an even coat of paint over all 5 wooden pieces until they're all completely covered.[14]
- Before you start painting, slide on a face mask or respirator to prevent you from inhaling any paint particles.
- Wait for the wooden pieces to dry completely. Read the instructions on the spray can to see how much time your paint needs to dry completely. Wait several hours, or whatever amount of time is specified in the directions. During this time, don't touch or move the wooden dowels or circles.[15]
- You won't be able to paint all sides of the wooden pieces. Instead, you'll have to wait for them to dry fully.
- Paint the opposite, unpainted sides of the wooden items. Flip or rotate the wooden pieces so you can spray paint the opposite sides of the circles and dowels. As you work, apply a thick, even coat of paint over the dowels and circles. Let these wooden pieces dry completely before moving them to your workspace.[16]
- Make sure there's no rain in the forecast if you plan on spray painting your items outside.
- Glue the hourglass to the base wooden piece. Apply a thin stream of wood glue around the border of the small, central circle. Next, arrange 1 end of the spout over the ring of wood glue. To secure this half of the hourglass, hold it in place for several seconds.[17]
- Don't glue the other half of the hourglass into place yet.
- The wide, cut end of the plastic bottle needs to fit snugly around the small wooden circle.
- Pre-drill 3 holes into the circular wooden base. Measure around the large, wooden base to find suitable placements for your wooden dowels. Lightly mark where each dowel will go, checking that all 3 points are equidistant from one another. Next, drill into these marked areas, so you can keep track of where the dowels are supposed to go.[18]
- You'll be using both screws and glue to secure the dowels in place on the stool.
- Use wood glue to attach the dowels to the base. Squeeze out a bead of glue on the bottom of your dowel. Next, arrange the dowel over 1 of the drill holes, then press it into place for several seconds. Repeat this glueing and pressing process with the other 2 dowels.[19]
- About half of your stool should be constructed at this point.
- Funnel in ½ cup (150 g) of salt into the spout. Pour at least ½ cup (150 g) of white salt or sand (191 g) through a funnel into the bottom section of your hourglass. Note that every ½ cup of sand or salt is equal to 1 minute of time in the physical hourglass.[20]
- If you don't have sand or salt on hand, you can purchase it at a craft or grocery store, respectively.
- Salt can provide a lighter contrast to the bright paint color of your stool.
- When interacting with young children, try to keep the minutes of timeout equal to their age. For instance, if you're dealing with in a 2-year-old, consider adding 1 cup (300 g) of salt into the stool, which will take 2 minutes to funnel through the hourglass.
- Secure the top wooden base to the dowels and hourglass with wood glue. Squeeze another dot of glue onto the center of each dowel. Additionally, add a thin ring of glue around the small wooden circle attached to the base. After applying the glue, position the base over the dowels and open hourglass spout, then press it into place for several seconds.[21]
- The glue provides an extra layer of stability to your stool.
- This only applies to the top portion of the stool.
- Screw 6 screws into the base of each dowel after the glue dries. Read the instructions on the wood glue to see how long the product takes to air-dry. Once the adhesive has hardened, drill 1 screw into the base of each dowel. After the screws are in place, you can use your timeout stool whenever you'd like![22]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - thick wood panel
- ½ in (1.2 cm) thick wood panel
- 3 wood dowels, 1⅛ in (2.9 cm) thick
- Table with vise or clamp
- Compass
- Wood glue
- Pencil
- 2 large soda bottles,
- Sand
- Jigsaw
- Medium-grit sandpaper
- Salt
- Spray paint
- Face mask
[Edit]References |
| How to Cut Tennis Balls Posted: 16 Jun 2021 09:00 AM PDT Tennis balls can be used for more that just playing games. When they're cut open, you can slide them onto furniture legs or walkers to protect your floors and move them around easier. If you cut a tennis ball in half, you can use the halves as massagers to help alleviate foot and back pain.[1] Cutting a tennis ball is an easy process as long as you're careful not to cut yourself! [Edit]Cutting Tennis Balls for Furniture - Hold the tennis ball firmly against a solid surface. Set the tennis ball on a surface that's knife-safe, such as a cutting board. Grip the tennis ball in your non-dominant hand so the rounded edge of the seam faces up. Use your ring finger and pinky to support the back of the ball so it doesn't roll away.[2]
- If you don't feel comfortable holding the ball while you cut it, secure the ball in a vise grip.
- Poke the blade of a utility knife through the middle of the ball. Hold the knife with your dominant hand so your index finger is along the top edge and pointing toward the blade. Carefully poke the end of your knife in between the seams until it breaks into the center of the ball.[3]
- Make sure the blade isn't pointed toward your fingers or you could accidentally cut yourself if the knife slips.
- You may also use a craft knife, but it may not be as strong as a utility knife.
- Cut a slit in the ball. Move your blade up and down to saw through the ball's rubber. Make a straight horizontal cut parallel to the seams that's about long. When you're finished with the cut, pull your knife out of the ball.[4]
- Don't make your slit any longer or else it could easily fall off of furniture legs.
- Rotate the ball by 90 degrees and make another slit. Turn the ball so the slit you cut is vertical when you look at it. Press the tip of the knife to the left of the first slit near its midpoint. Make a horizontal cut that crosses the first slit so it forms an X-shape. Once your second slit is long, take your knife out.[5] perpendicular cut. Then, rotate the ball 180 degrees and make another cut that lines up with the other.}}
- Leave the ball near a window or well-ventilated area for 1 day to dry any moisture. Sometimes, tennis balls have a small amount of moisture inside them that could damage furniture legs. Set the ball on a windowsill so the cut faces down. Let the ball dry out for about 1 day before putting it on anything.[6]
- Once the ball doesn't have an odor, it's ready to use.
[Edit]Halving a Tennis Ball - Trace a line around the circumference of the ball. Hold the ball steady on your work surface with your non-dominant hand. Draw a straight line in the direction you want to cut on top of the ball with a pen. Rotate the ball when you need to continue your line around its surface. Make sure the ends of your line meet so you know it's straight.
- If a pen doesn't work on your tennis ball, use a marker. The marker line will be noticeable when you finish your cut.
- Hold the ball from above against a hard surface. Set the ball on a cutting board or another surface where you can easily use a knife. Hold the ball with your non-dominant hand so all of your fingers are gripping it. Keep 3 fingers on the front of the ball, and support the back side with your pinky and thumb. Make sure your cut line is between your front and back fingers.[7]
- Imagine your hand is a claw so you're only grabbing the ball with the ends of your fingers.
- Start your cut with a serrated knife. Feed the blade of your knife underneath your hand so it's between your front and back fingers. Use firm pressure as you saw back and forth along the cut line. Continue cutting until you're halfway through the ball before removing your knife.[8]
- Stay attentive while you make your cut so you don't accidentally hurt yourself.
- Rotate the ball to finish making your cut. Turn the ball by 90 degrees along the line you drew and hold it firmly again. Stick the blade of your knife into the cut you started and continue working along the line you drew. Keep rotating the ball by 90 degrees and cutting until it's halved.[9]
- Turning the ball makes it easier to cut and helps ensure you're halves are the same size.
- Finished.
[Edit]Warnings - Never cut toward your fingers or else you may hurt yourself.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Cutting Tennis Balls for Furniture - Cutting board
- Utility knife
[Edit]Halving a Tennis Ball - Pen
- Cutting board
- Serrated knife
[Edit]References |
| How to Wrap Silverware in Paper Napkins Posted: 16 Jun 2021 01:00 AM PDT Whether you're preparing for a special event or just want to add some flair to a dinner at home, wrapping silverware in a paper napkin adds a nice touch to any table. You can roll your silverware securely in the napkin, or fold it into a decorative pouch. Add your choice of color and finishing touches to make your silverware presentation amazing! [Edit]Creating a Simple Silverware Roll - Obtain cutlery and a square paper napkin. You can use any silverware or paper napkins you like. You can choose to use napkins that are all white, solid colored, or patterned. Just make sure they are square shaped and large enough to hold your silverware.[1]
- Make sure your paper napkins are high quality and durable. You do not want them to rip while folding.
- Avoid cocktail napkins that are only square. Use lunch or dinner napkins, which are typically square, and large enough to hold standard size silverware.[2]
- Place the knife on the napkin diagonally. To begin, put your napkin flat on the table. Then, place your knife on the napkin so that it lies diagonally. The point of the knife should be just slightly past the corner point, about .[3]
- Where you place your knife is very important, as this how far your cutlery will stick out of the napkin roll when you're finished. Make sure the knife doesn't stick out too far, or your silverware may fall out of the napkin.
- Stack the spoon and fork on top of the knife. Once your knife is in place, set the fork directly on top of it, and then stack the spoon on the fork. They should fit in a neat stack, with the bottoms of their handles even with eachother. Hold the silverware in place so it doesn't fall over as you move on to the next step.[4]
- Fold the bottom corner over the ends of the silverware. While holding the cutlery stack in place, grab the bottom corner of the napkin with your other hand and fold it over the ends of the silverware. Make sure your silverware stays in place while you do this, because you don't want them to fall over.[5]
- If the bottom corner does not fold over, move your silverware stack up slightly.
- Bring a side corner over the silverware and roll the silverware in the napkin. Grab a side corner of the napkin and fold it over the handles of the silverware towards the opposite corner. Fold it so that the silverware is snug in the napkin, but don't hold it too tight. You don't want the napkin to tear. Now that your silverware is wrapped snugly in the napkin fold, roll it over until your silverware holder is complete.[6]
- Use a napkin band to hold the silverware in place. If you're worried about your silverware roll unraveling, hold it in place with a paper napkin band. You can find napkin bands in a variety of colors online or in stores. Most are self-adhesive, so all you need to do is place it tightly around the completed napkin roll and secure it in place.[7]
- If you're using napkin rolls for a wedding or other special event, you can find some online stores that allow you to customize your napkin bands.
- Tie a string or ribbon around the napkin for added decoration. Add your personal style to the napkin roll by tying a ribbon or string around it. You can tie the ribbon or string in a simple knot, or make a bow, depending on your personal preference. If you used a napkin band to hold the napkin in place, you can tie the string or ribbon around the center of the band.[8]
- Match your silverware display to the current season or occasion. For example, for a graduation party, wrap silverware in a white napkin and a red ribbon to look like a rolled diploma.
- You can place all of your rolled silverware in a basket for a nice silverware display at a buffet.
[Edit]Making a Decorative Silverware Pouch - Get a square napkin with your choice of colors and patterns. If you want to create a decorative napkin pouch for your silverware, opt for a napkin style with a decorative pattern or picture instead of just plain white. This will give your table a fun and stylish look. There are many different patterns to choose from, especially during the holidays.
- Some decorative paper napkins have the colors and patterns on the outside but are blank on the inside. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully to ensure your pattern is showing when your silverware pouch is completed.
- The napkins you choose can be any size, but make sure they are square-shaped.
- Unfold the napkin and place it face-up on the table. Paper napkins will come already folded. To begin your pouch, completely unfold the napkin and place it on the table face-up so the color side is showing. This is important so that, when your pouch is finished, the pattern you chose will be showing with your silverware.[9]
- Fold the napkin in half to make a rectangle. With the napkin lying face-up on the table, grab the bottom corners and fold along the crease so you have a rectangle. The corners nearest to you should perfectly align with the corners farthest from you. When you fold it like this, the back of the napkin should be showing. In other words, the colored pattern is facing inward.[10]
- Fold the napkin again so you have a square. Next, fold the napkin one more time by bringing the right side over to the left, being careful to align the corners. Now, you should have a square the same size as the one you began with, before you unfolded the napkin. At this point, however, the napkin pattern should be hidden. The back of the napkin is on the outside of the square now, and the fold should be on the right side.[11]
- Make sure you fold along the crease so the square is even and straight.
- Fold the top-most layer of the napkin in half diagonally. Now that you have your square with the fold on the right side, bring the top-most layer of the left napkin corner over to the bottom right corner. This will create a diagonal fold going from the top right corner to the bottom left corner. Then, press it down to make a crease. This fold will expose your napkin pattern again.[12]
- Turn the napkin over and fold the right and left sides inward. Now, lift the left side of the napkin and turn it over to the other side. Fold the right side toward the center of the napkin about 1/3 of the way across its width. Then, do the same thing on the left side by folding it over the right side about 1/3 of the way. Press your folds down to make a defined crease. You should now have a thin rectangle with two folds, one overlapping the other.[13]
- Insert the left-side corner fold into the right-side corner. Open the left fold slightly, and you should see a small diagonal pouch in the corner of the napkin. Take the corner of the top fold and insert it into the corresponding corner pouch. This will keep your silverware in place.[14]
- Flip the napkin over and insert utensils in the pouch. Now, turn over your napkin and you should see a snug pouch. You can put your utensils in the napkin side by side in any order you choose. Then you're finished![15]
- Be careful not to tear the paper napkin when inserting your utensils.
- You can decorate your finished napkin pouch by tying a colored string or ribbon around it. But keep in mind, this type of napkin pouch works well without any extra embellishments; especially when the napkin already has a decorative pattern.
[Edit]Warnings - To avoid damaging the napkins, always touch the napkins with clean, dry hands.
[Edit]Watch These Related Videos [Edit]References |
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