Smart Idea Search Results

How To: Play "18 and Life" by Skid Row on electric guitar

There are few projects that are so simple, and so immediately rewarding, as learning to play a favorite song on the guitar. Not only is it a wonderful way to pass the time but, by learning to play your favorite songs and riffs, you'll be better able to articulate (and otherwise translate) your musical ideas into great-sounding songs. In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play "18 and Life" by Skid Row. While this tutorial is geared towards intermediate players, guitarists of all skill le...

How To: Play more advanced fingerpicking rhythms on the banjo

This two part how to video is an informal banjo lesson showing ideas for syncopation and other rhythmic techniques you can use to make a tune your own. The tune "Julianne Johnson" is used as an example of more advanced fingerpicking. This video is aimed at intermediate players who are comfortable with drop-thumbing and plucks. Watch this two part tutorial and you can jazz up your banjo playing with different fingerpicking techniques.

How To: Use masking tape and watercolor paints in scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is all about using a variety of materials to create different effects. This idea just uses simple household masking tape and watercolor paints. Masking tape can be stuck onto a glass surface or anything else where it can be easily removed, and then painted with watercolor paints. The end result is a really great finish. Watch this video scrapbooking tutorial and learn how to use masking tape and watercolor paints to create a unique look for any scrapbooking project.

How To: Build outdoor rooms with plants

One landscape idea that's getting a lot of attention these days is outdoor rooms. More and more people are starting to enjoy the practical benefits of dividing their yards into discrete spaces. There are many reasons to create outdoor rooms. You might want to entertain in one area and sit and contemplate in another. One area might be for the kids or even pets, while the other is for cooking. See how to use hedges and other plants to create rooms with this how to video.

How To: Prune hydrangea plants

Hydrangea is a garden favorite. It has lovely blooms and can become a good sized plant. Many ask when should it be pruned or cut back. A good rule of thumb is to understand that Hydrangeas bloom on old wood. As soon as the flowers are spent, as soon as they start to turn brown it is a good idea to prune. This allows a maximum time for the branch to grow, set new wood which will then turn into old wood and produce more flowers.

How To: Carve a watermelon basket

Using food as a platter or bowl to serve food in is a genius idea. Because once you're done digging into the fruit salad inside this watermelon, you can then eat the "bowl"! Well, maybe not the rind. But you get the point.

How To: Monitor the Battery Levels of All Your iPhone Bluetooth Accessories with Just a Swipe

The battery icon in your iPhone's status bar gives you a visual idea of how much power is left, and there's a battery percentage option you can switch to or view in the Control Center, depending on your model. But what you may not know is that there's a way to view the battery percentage of every device connected to your iPhone, from AirPods to Bluetooth speakers and your Apple Watch.

News: Personal Computing Is Dead, Long Live Collaborative Computing

Those of us who are actively developing for the HoloLens, and for the other augmented and mixed reality devices and platforms that currently exist, are constantly looking for the next bit of news or press conference about the space. Our one hope is to find any information about the road ahead, to know that the hours we spend slaving away above our keyboards, with the weight of a head-mounted display on our neck, will lead to something as amazing as we picture it.

How To: Make an Unusual Birthday Map Card

This tutorial is for a great card that is ideal for any men out there, or for a travel/ Bon Voyage etc. I must admit I had great difficulty with part of this one! as you'll see when you watch it.. but stick in there as its a fab demonstration for a good idea! plus it goes to show that I can waffle when under stress.... enjoy. Step 1: Items Used

How To: Tune a Guitar to Drop D in 10 Seconds!

Hey everyone! This is a video tutorial for how to tune your guitar to Drop D in 10 seconds or less! Many guitarists, especially beginners ones, cringe at the idea of taking the time to tune their guitar out of standard. I know, because I was one of them! This tutorial will help change that assumption! In this video guitar tutorial I break down a few very basic and simple to understand steps to get your guitar tuned to Drop D in mere seconds! Hope this video helps you out!

How To: 7 Delicious Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Throw Away Stale Bagels

Confession: I love bagels. I love to make them, but above all, I love to eat them. In college I ran a mini-bagel business from my kitchen, and on bagel-making day, it wasn't uncommon for me to eat the circular goodies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Yet even with my obsession I can't always eat bagels fast enough to keep them from going stale. That's why I started learning ways to use bagels even when they're a day or three past their prime. As it turns out, there are a million and one thin...

Weird Ingredient Wednesday: Cook with Lapsang Souchong Tea

Like cigars and whiskey, Lapsang Souchong tea is an acquired taste. Some people never get over the pungent, tarry flavor and intense smell of the beverage, but using it as a rub, marinade, or other seasoning is totally smart. The tea adds a smoky yet not overwhelming flavor to dishes of all kinds. With it, you can easily get barbecue-like results for meats and vegetables, all without breaking out the grill. Lapsang Souchong tea smells like a dry campfire and tastes like a smoked sausage cooke...

How To: 5 Weird & Easy Ways to Water Your Christmas Tree

Christmas trees, once decorated and brightly lit, are the penultimate holiday decoration, but authentic pines lose their brilliance fast without any nourishment. Plus, they are major fire hazards without regular hydration. But watering one requires a lot of sliding around on the floor, and it can be hard to tell how much water is in the bowl beneath the dark, prickly branches. These five hacks can help!

How To: Booby Trap a Clip Board at School or the Office!

Work and School can be boring at times, that's why we do what we can to keep ourselves entertained. So I decided to come up with this funny prank so you can make school or work fun again. You will need a water balloon and someone's clipboard which contains important documents! This is a very mean prank and can definitely get you in trouble so make sure you know what you're doing. Watch the video tutorial provided to get an idea of how to pull this off.

News: Whitestar Complete

Whitestar "Blank" Map. 255x255x255 meter build ready to be used for other ideas. Coming up next, a Skyblock variation and a Wool-Battle version. In 2015 - the spheres will be populated with 4 biomes / themes and assorted redstone gadgets and features for PVP or adventure. Total time for this phase, just under 11 months and 3 weeks. Project started Oct 23 2013. Time-lapse can be viewed at : http://youtu.be/gGwTbZYFDa8