Category: Around the house

Emergency Toilet Overflow Situation Help

via reddit “If you’re at home/work/party or GOD forbid your girlfriend’s house and the toilet starts to overflow, take the lid off the back reservoir part and lift the long handle as far up as it will go. The water will stop rising and then you can quietly mutter curses at it till it goes back down (which it does, more often than not…)

Jet Engine Balloon

Materials you will need:

• Scotch Tape
• Drinking Straw
• A Balloon (preferably long)
• Nylon String at least 10 feet long
• Trees, Poles or chairs (to tie the string to)

Steps:

1.  Take one end of the string and tie it to a tree or a post.
2.  Take the straw and thread it onto the other end of the string.
3.  Tie the other end of sting to the second tree or post.
4.  Make sure that the string is tight.
5.  Move the straw to one end of the string
6.  Blow up the balloon and hold the opening so that the air does not escape.
7.  Place the mouth of the balloon so that it is pointing toward the closest tree or post.
8.  Make sure that the balloon is parallel to the string/straw.  Place two pieces of tape over the straw and balloon making sure that the balloon is attached securely.
9.  Release the balloon.

The balloon and straw take off across the string until the balloon is completely deflated.  When the balloon is released the compressed air rushes out into space and the reaction is to drive the balloon forward like a rocket.

Sir Isaac Newton’s Third Law, “For every action (force), there is an equal and opposite re-action.

This is a good outside experiment. Also would be great to set up 2 or more and race!. via

Fabric Flower

Great way to use up those fabric scraps!

What you will need:

  • Fabric  This is a project where you can use up some of those scraps.
  • Glue  I really like using Tacky Glue.  It is much better than regular school glue and it really is… well… tacky.  I also use the glue bottle to form the petals.
  • Floral wire  I use the 18 gauge, white fabric wrapped floral wire.  In my area, it seems that Hobby Lobby is the only place that sells this exact kind but Wal-Mart does carry the wire too.  Just not the 18 gauge.
  • Rounded tool  This could be just about anything as long as it’s smaller than your glue bottle.  I’m partial to my wooden spoon because the handle gives a great shape.  You’ll see why soon.
  • Floral tape  You can find this at the Dollar store, Wal-Mart or any craft store with a floral department.
  • Wire cutters
  • Felt balls  I like to use 18mm in various yellow shades. 

    CLICK HERE for step by step instructions with fab photos!