Life is too chaotic to be organized all the time, but little steps in the right direction make things easier overall. File folders keep paperwork from spiraling out of control. Spice jars take the clutter out of cabinets. Storage totes keep basements neat and tidy. But to find what you're looking for faster, you need a label maker.
Fireworks are the best part about the Fourth of July and other celebrations, but they can easily cause accidental injuries. It's both safer and more fun to set them off remotely, so we'll hack some standard fireworks with nichrome wire, a relay, and an Arduino to ignite remotely over Wi-Fi using any smartphone or computer.
Why do we still need to plug in our phones to charge them? Wireless charging exists, and has for quite some time, but most manufacturers don't include it in their devices. When it comes to the Samsung Galaxy S4, you can buy a QI-compatible wireless charging kit, but between the charging pad and the battery cover, you're looking at around $90 or more.
Drilling holes in wall tiles is a fairly easy skill to master once you know how. Follow these simple steps on how to drill a hole in a tiled wall for a hassle free experience.
The worst thing about running shoes is that they're expensive, but you're supposed to abuse them. Even if you're not a runner, everyday wear and tear takes its toll. No matter how well you take care of them, if you use them enough, they're eventually going to wind up looking like this: And it's not just running shoes. I have a pair of Vans that I've worn for almost four years, and the heels are just about ripped all the way through.
Do you guys remember those things you hold with your fingers to write stuff down? I think they're called pens, or something like that...
The first alarm clock in recorded history can be traced back to ancient Greek philosopher Plato, known for laying the foundations of Western philosophy and science. Plato was said to possess a very large water clock with an alarm signal similar to that of a water organ.
Not many people fly kites anymore. Most of us don't have the patience or attention span because, let's face it, we're used to smartphones and other gadgets that have games and apps galore to entertain us. Heck, you can even fly a kite on them if you really want.
Need to add some spooky ambient fog to your super-scary Halloween party? Rather than shelling out money for a fog machine you'll probably only use once a year, make a trip to the nearest drug store and pick up a bottle of glycerin, a gallon of distilled water, a 2-liter bottle of cola, a disposable mini-pie tin, and a big candle in a jar.
Love chess, but hate having to stop in the middle of a game when you don't have time to finish? This DIY vertical chess set made by Redditor pigthunder will ensure you never have to abandon a game again. It hangs on the wall, so you can pick up where you left off anytime. Here's how to make your own.
RFID cards are becoming a fairly common way to purchase goods, but they're already widely used to pay fares on buses, trains, subways, and trolleys across various cities. TAP cards are quick and reliable, but it can be a real pain to remember to bring them with you, especially if you weren't planning on using public transportation that day. Luckily, an intrepid tinkerer at Adafruit has managed to find a way to embed an RFID card into her phone, something you're far less likely to leave at home.
Watch this video tutorial from the Polish Guy to see how to polish a chrome faucet fixture. In this demonstration we use a Faucet & Fixture Care Kit that includes Simichrome and Flitz Faucet & Fixture Wax to polish a chrome bath tub faucet spout.
The newest trend in couture? It's called 'trashion' - high fashion using trashy things. And we mean trashy! This tutorial shows you how to make a ball gown using trash bags, duct tape and newspapers. You'll also want a dressmaker's dummy to construct your dress around - or at least a model who's okay with standing still for a long period of time. Use the trash bags to form the dress, and then attack the newspapers over it layer by layer. You're ready for your debut!
Looking for something unique to do for your wedding? Hate the idea of going from store to store, looking for the perfect bridal dress? What if you could make your own wedding dress... out of newspapers? This tutorial shows you how to make a bridal gown with a mermaid silhouette (fitted bodice and upper skirt, flaring out at the bottom) using nothing more than a few stacks of newspapers and some clear tape. You'll need a few bridesmaids to help you out, but it's guaranteed to fit!
If you're looking to create something cool for less than $2, check out this video and see how to make a Ke$sha inspired garbage bag dress. This dress is similar to the one Ke$ha wore this year to the MVA show, turning the fashion world on its head and showing everyone that you don't have to spend a million dollars to turn heads. For this project you'll need a trash bag, some scissors, some tape and a stapler. For your own flair, grab sparkles, streamers or whatever else you can think of to ma...
Bored in your cubicle all day? It's time for helicopter wars! This video shows you how to make a fun and simple helicopter out of some basic office supplies. The materials you will need are: a big paper clip, a smaller paper clip, a large aluminum can (such as from Rockstar or Monster energy drinks), a ruler, Scotch tape, a rubber band, a pair of pliers (if you have a Leatherman multitool, those will work just fine), a pen you can take apart for the long tube, a pair of scissors, and some pla...
Wilderness survival requires smarts, know how and a well equiped emergecy kit to make sure you stay dry, warm and fed. This excellent video tells you what you need to know to put together the essential items of your personal emergency/survival kit. The items include:
While the holiday season offers a lot of festive joy in putting up holiday decor, shopping for Christmas presents, and baking cookies, it also offers up a lot of opportunites to spend money. So that means that by the time you've purchased the presents, wrapped them in tissue paper and wrapping paper, and send them off in a box, your wallet is probably shedding a tear.
You will need: rubber glove, paper towels, liquid latex, paint, and newspaper. First, fill the glove with newspaper, then secure the fingers with electrical tape to make only 3 fingers. Then, mix up the liquid latex with black paint and apply it to the fingers. Then, place the paper towels over this in coats and shape them so they are pointy. Add in some texture using paper towel strips and cotton balls. Continue to paint over with the liquid latex/paint until you have made your desired textu...
If you have a Canon digital camera and plan on shooting video with it using a camera rig, then you'll want a good way to control your recordings with a start/stop button. A remote control is the way to go, but don't spend all that money— make your own! The remote in the video is hardwire into the camera and onto the rig for easy handling. You'll need your Canon 5D MK II HD DSLR (but it will work on other Canon models, too), a Canon RC-6 Remote Control (or generic brand), fiber optics cable, w...
So you've got hours and hours of footage for your home video, and now you want to make it into a usable product that you can put up on YouTube! Or, you know, onto a tape that you can bore your family with (heh heh heh). But you need to at least edit them down a little so that way you can get the point of your story across. In this video you will learn how to use the editing tools in Adobe Premiere.
In order to make a monster hoodie, you will need the following: a hoodie, black felt, white felt, fabric glue, scissors, pencil, and tape measurer.
Homer Simpson would have an absolute fit over this delicious-looking kawaii donut pillow. Embellished with a thick layer of strawberry frosting and then topped lightly with candy-colored sprinkles, this pretty donut looks almost good enough to eat.
We know those big exercise machines at the gym can be intimidating, but the next time you hit the gym you should consider making friends with one of them because they offer a resistance (often adjustable) that you can't get with workout tapes at home.
They say that it's the inside that counts, not the outside. But not when you're a sumo wrestler. In fact, when you live and die by how much belly fat you can throw onto your opponent's face to make him see stars like the foolish coyote chasing the rabbit in classic cartoons, your outside is your most precious commodity.
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to create a tessellation. The materials required for this project are: index cards, scissors, pencil, large paper and coloring utensils. Begin by preparing a shape. Cut the index paper to a desired shape. Then place it on the right side of the large paper and tape it. Now trace the shape onto the large paper and continue transferring the shape until the page is filled. The shapes should fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. This video will benefit those ...
In order to make a striped dress out of t-shirts, you will need the following: t-shirt dress, measuring tape or a ruler, pins, scissors, thread, needles, and sequins.
The XBox 360 runs hot. Really hot. And that is never a good thing for a computer. In fact, it is responsible for the infamous Red Ring of Death that has become synonymous with the XBox 360's poor build quality. This video is here to help solve the problem. It will teach you how to make the fan in your XBox 360 run at 12 volts instead of 5, which means that it will spin much faster and cool your console more efficiently.
In this clip, learn how to make a fast, cheap and super easy mount for your your bicycle to display safety lights. Wearing bike lights at night will help you stay safe in the dark and if you want to avoid the cost of getting lights custom fitted, this hack is perfect for you. All you will need is some PVC pipe and some grip tape (like the kind used for tennis rackets). Follow along and get started. This mount is flexible and fits most standard lights or flashlights.
A Christmas present is not the only thing you can get crafty with. Why not put that mix tape into a homemade origami box for a truly personal touch?
Looking to add specimens to your paper menagerie? Make a butterfly with origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. This free origami video lesson presents complete instructions for making your own butterflies from a sheet of folded paper. These are great for taping to greeting cards or adding to letters. This shape is a bit advanced so be sure to practice on simpler shapes first. For more information, and to get started making paper butterflies yourself, take a look!
In this video, we learn easy cake decorating tips and ideas. To make a pastry cone, you just need parchment paper! First grab a square of parchment paper then fold into a large triangle. Now, open the square up and cut where the line is in the middle. Grab one of the triangles you just cut and wrap it into a cone shape, taping the tip so it will keep shape. You can now add icing and will be able to pipe and write words with ease. Cut a small hole depending on what type of piping you want to d...
John White, Dona Ana County Extension Agent, Teddi Peters, Master Gardener, and Southwest Yard and Garden demonstrate how to make a Christmas tree from a tomato plant cage for the holidays. The cage will already have a tree like form. Attach electrical tape around the prongs. Then, starting at the top, twist green holiday garland around the cage. Soon you will have something that looks like a tree. Add ornaments and Christmas lights to decorate your tree. You can use your new tree inside or t...
This three part tutorial shows you how to pait a EVH Kramer 5150. You'll paint and design, doing it all for less than $350.00. It covers all the steps from primer, taping, painting, clearing coating, and assembly. After watching this you'll have your very own Van Halen replica electric guitar to jam out with.
This how-to video is a vibrant and animated tutorial on how to paint children’s furniture: in particular, a little girl’s tea table and chairs. It’s fast paced yet easy to follow. The video couple takes you from the taping and preparation of the table and chairs to the completed and professional quality finished product, which would thrill any little girl. Their method of communicating the most important steps is to race to the camera and speak to the audience, in an amusing sort of wink, whi...
This video shows Melvin the Nerd explaining how to do a moving ollie on a skate board. With his taped together sunglass and nerdy voice, he explains that a moving ollie is basically the same as a non-moving ollie. When standing on the skate board you use your back foot to push down on the board as hard as possible. This will force the front of the board into the air while the back will "bounce" off the ground up into the air. Melvin the Nerd explains that the only way to learn is by practicing.
Tutorial of how to quickly make and Origami Magic Ball! Get a piece of 20x40cm paper. Fold along side in 32 equal parts, by repeatedly folding the paper in half - using genderless folds. Fold the short side in 8 equal parts- using valley folds. Turn the sheet over and start diagonal folds - using valley folds into 32 parts. Roll paper out flat, and fold it zigzag following previously made genderless folds. At corner of paper, create a "water bomb" by pressing together previously made folds fo...
Training to be a deadly assassin? Why not practice on something a little less dangerous, and make a homemade paper blowgun to begin with? In this two-part video tutorial, learn how to make a sturdy paper blowgun that shoots steel-top darts, and can shoot up to fifty feet. To make this paper weaponry, you will need: An old school notebook, scissors, tape, a hot glue gun, a soda bottle, and 2 paper clips.
Forget about spending too much money at a retail store for a new bookbag when you can make your own! Go back to school in style - your own personalized style - by making your very own purse to carry your books in. Use fabrics & accessories to customize your book bag to fit your style. Materials you will need to complete this bookbag include:
If you need to paint the screw heads you can do it without making a mess. If you try to hold them in your fingers and paint them you will get paint all over your fingers. Now you don't have to do that. Take a plastic shopping bag and cut the bottom off of it. Take that bottom piece of bag and stretch it over a can like a drum. Tape the bag tightly to the can so that the bag is stretched tight. Take the screws and screw them into the plastic on top of the can so that they are standing up. Now ...
