Let's face it, pretty much everyone has an automatic dishwasher. They are super convenient and are becoming cheaper to allow the general public better access to them. With that being said, though, dishwashers are also becoming a lot smaller. My dishwasher is so small in fact, ...more
Another media player bites the dust. First, we saw the extinction of the phonograph and gramophone. Then came the fall of eight-track tapes. Even modern record players became more and more obsolete, with DJs switching over to the world of digital music. And today— the end of c ...more
A fake brick is a great movie prop for any action film. You can break through brick walls, smash a brick in two, or throw a brick at someone without being charged with murder. The majority of this fake brick is made of foam. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a fak ...more
Scrambled, sunny side up, hard-boiled, soft-boiled, over easy, and poached: there are only so many ways to cook an egg before you get bored and look for inspiration somewhere else. Don't Miss: 10 Egg Hacks That You Shouldn't Live Without Luckily, Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny P ...more
Store bought Nerf guns don't always achieve the velocity necessary for an effective assault. Zach Scott's solution: mod the toy. Known for his fantastic cat videos, Zach claims this hack increases trajectory by at least 25%! Every bit counts when you're in an all out foam war ...more
Jane from Afloral.com shows you how to make a floral arrangement using a monument flower saddle with this tutorial. A flower saddle is a device that seats flower foam with a flower arrangement. Watch this how to video and you will learn how to use a monument flower saddle for ...more
Tom Friedman. One of my very favorite contemporary artists. Friedman injects the wonder into the humdrum. He creates magic from the unsuspected with his incredible sculptures assembled from simple, everyday materials. His materials have included: toilet paper, drinking straws ...more
Looking to create the look of a blockbuster Sci-Fi epic, for the price of a student film? This Indy Mogul Backyard FX video will show you how to build incredible looking science fiction armor out of foam for about eighty dollars. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully ...more
The Dark Knight Rises. The Amazing Spider-Man. The Avengers. Halloween is a few weeks away and all we're going to see are these same ol' superhero costumes. It's like that every year, due to the immense popularity of comic book films by DC and Marvel. So, if you want to skip ...more
This is a complex process, but the guys at Graffiti Research Lab have armed you with detailed written instructions and this video on how to create a night writer. This is a more complicated version of their LED throwies that allows you to catch a tag in lights. You'll never ne ...more
Here are some examples of brickwork for dioramas or war game terrain. Create a fine grit coating for foam carvings using a mixture of white glue, paint and fine sand. Press in brick patterns into foam, or if working in smaller scale, you can coat cardboard with a thin coat of ...more
This year's biggest film certainly didn't come as a surprise: with another incredible comic book creation, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy wowed audiences more than any other movie. With its unique team of heroes, Guardians provided a set of ready-made Halloween costumes. Al ...more
The perfect glass of Guinness will have a foamy head a few inches thick on top, and will also have a shamrock traced into the foam. Here's how to perfectly pour your Guinness from a tap. You probably want to practice by pouring a couple! Pour the perfect Guinness on tap, compl ...more
There's still about eight months before the final chapter in the Mass Effect series comes out, but some trigger happy fans are already building replica costumes and prop weapons to celebrate the upcoming release. BioWare themselves recently commissioned some of these projects, ...more
Fixing your Aviso Carbon Fiber surfboard is just as easy as fixing your old poly surfboard. You can remove the drain plug. Dry it out completely. There is no foam to rot or wood to break. If fixed properly Aviso surfboards will keep all of there integrity. This addresses a pun ...more
This video discusses how to emboss using acrylic paints, like faux plastic. What you need is cardstock paper, acrylic paints of at least two colors, an embossing folder, embossing ink, foam brushes, plastic, and clear embossing powder. Place your white cardstock on the plastic ...more
Forget those boring evergreen wreaths with the thick red ribbon and the pine cones that everyone else has hanging in their homes. Make your own DIY upcycled wreath using newspaper, paper shopping bags, cardboard coffee cup sleeves, toilet paper tubes, or even that trashy paper ...more
Chef Gordon Ramsay will show you how to make a really terrific steak with out all the guess work. He will help you take your steak cooking skills from amateur to professional grade steak, or at least help improve your result with some professional tips. Choosing your steak R ...more
Since it's October and Halloween is fast approaching, it's time for a series of articles on how to make the coolest Steampunk Halloween decorations for your home! In this installment, we'll look at some jack-o'-lanterns, skulls, and a few other things that are easy to Steampun ...more
Not every camper is looking to totally "rough it" while they are in the woods. In this clip, learn how to make a comfy, folding camping seat out of cheap supplies for less than five bucks! This foam pad is far better than the ones you buy at those expensive camping stores and ...more
Watch this three part tutorial to build a miniature ziggurat. Use pink Styrospan high density foam. Assemble this model of a step sided pyramid with a ruler, some glue and an x-acto knife. The pink foam is easy to carve and can be repaired with glue if broken. Part 1 of 3 - Ho ...more
C For Chemistry delves into the chemistry of science experiments. This chemist knows what he's talking about. These chemistry experiments are not only fun, but very educational for all of those interested in scientific chemical reactions and properties. This video tutorial wi ...more
Say whatever you want, but Steampunk is primarily a maker culture. Consider that Steampunk has existed since the 1960s and yet more or less languished in obscurity until approximately 2005, which is when it made the leap to costuming. That costuming was what provided the leap ...more
Here's another fun summertime craft for your budding engineer - make a spinning paper pinwheel or fan! You'll need a C-battery, a toy motor, two soda caps, a popsicle stick, foil paper, copper wire, a small sheet of foam, a sharp pencil, a hot glue gun and some safety scissors.
Coffee is one of the world's most popular drinks, and its fans are also usually devoted to a certain method of brewing. Some love the Keurig, others the French press, and still others swear by cold brewing. However, one of the oldest and easiest ways to brew coffee is also one ...more
This makeup how-to video shows a fast way to do the classic smoky eye, but designed for Asian monolid eyes, or any eyes with small or undefined creases. The cosmetic products used to create this look are a Black Pencil eyeliner, L'Oreal in Lush Raven (MAC 217), NYX in Latte Fo ...more
Follow along with Dr Kreepy in this quick video tutorial on how to do cheap and easy tombstones for your home haunt. You will need a marker, a hobby knife or X-acto knife, a hacksaw, an electric rotary tool, black acrylic paint, black spray paint, white paint, a spray bottle f ...more
If you don't smoke, your car's ashtray is probably either unused or, if you're like me, full of loose change. And if your car is older, unless you've installed one, it probably doesn't have a place for you to plug in your phone. This quick hack by Jalopnik's Jason Torchinsky w ...more
A video about bushcraft skills is probably the last place you'd expect to find anything about men's grooming and shaving, but here we are. If you can use a cutthroat razor, you can master any blade. This video tutorial will show you not only how to shave but also how to sharp ...more
The garage is the largest uninsulated part of the home. Make your garage energy efficient and help cut heating and cooling bills with a little insulation. Watch this how to video and learn how easy it is to use reflective foil or foam core to keep the effects of the weather ou ...more
Wipe headlights clean. Double tape around the headlights. Use two layers of tape around the headlight lens to protect the paint. Insert the backing plate into the drill. Attach the foam interface pad. Use a spray bottle of water to lubricate and keep headlights clean while san ...more
Who doesn't enjoy sitting down to a nice dinner with a cocktail in hand? After a long day, a drink is a great way to unwind. Yet your favorite spirits can do more than just help you relax after work. By utilizing alcohol in the kitchen, you can enhance everything from how food ...more
A well-executed jack-o'-lantern can be pretty damn impressive, but some of us lack the carving skills necessary to pull it off and end up disappointed. Sometimes you just don't want to put in all the time required to cut open a pumpkin, gut it, and chisel an elaborate face or ...more
I have an absolutely wonderful time making projects and writing articles for all of you mad scientists! Today, I will bring you behind the scenes for a look at the workbench, tools, and software that make the Mad Science World possible. Above is my beautiful workbench! My who ...more
If you need a Halloween costume posthaste, you really can't go wrong with a LEGO man costume. And one made from cardboard that is fully functional, well, you'll probably win the "Best Costume" contest hands down. Not only will this mecha-esque costume wow everyone you meet, bu ...more
You can bet Thor costumes will be prominent among the superheroes seen this Oct. 31. Since the summer, there has been no shortage of coverage for Thor: Ragnarok, and the timing of its November release couldn't be better as a tie-in with the cosplaying holiday known as Hallowee ...more
In order to prepare Cappuccino with your home espresso machine, you will need the following: milk, coffee, an espresso machine. Fill steamed milk container 2/3 full of milk. Submerge the milk underneath the spinner, before you turn it on. Allow it to steam the milk, until it i ...more
Kylo Ren, conflicted villain of the new Star Wars trilogy, will surely be a major presence again this Halloween, with The Last Jedi fast approaching. His costume, all black and layered, complete with dark-side helmet and crossguard lightsaber, seems quite perfect for Oct. 31 — ...more
This is a video tutorial showing its audience how to make a New York City Skyline punctured paper lamp shade with ThreadBanger. The first step is to gather your supplies. You will need paper, puncturing tools, two wire rings, ribbon, tape, bull nose clips, tape, foam, and scis ...more
Summer is here, and temperatures are rising. Instead of shelling out for an expensive new air conditioning unit, why not build one yourself with a few bucks worth of old computer parts? There's a number of ways you can go about doing this (and some really fun ways to make you ...more
In this video, Stacy demonstrates how to get a curly hair style on short African-American ethnic hair. The results are beautiful, though it doesn't take long to do and requires only a few products. She has already relaxed her hair prior to recording, so her hair is straight an ...more
Nothing like a a little blood and gore to get in the Halloween spirit. Nicole Magne of Craftzine demonstrates how to make a convincingly grisly headless Marie Antoinette costume. Brush up on your basic sewing and sculpting skills before you get started. You Will Need Sewing ...more
The holidays are a wonderful time for people to get together and celebrate another year gone by. With all of these parties and gatherings being thrown, a "photobooth" is always a fun addition to the holiday festivities. Why not make some props to bring some extra life to your ...more
Check out this DIY video tutorial from Curbly, the best place to share pictures of your home, find design ideas, and get expert home-improvement advice. With the help of some 4-inch square ceramic tiles, turning decorative paper napkins into a set of very polished-looking coa ...more
To make roman columns, ideal to create space between door and living room. Materials required : Two 10 pound bags of kitty litter, Four small building forms with 8-inch diameter, one large building form with 10 inch diameter, insulation foam, Queen size bed sheet, duct tape, ...more
Follow along as Josh Gardner gives us step by step instructions on how to build a punching bag from trash. -First, cut out a foot of plywood (in a circle). -Attach the PVC pipe to the plywood. -Then begin to roll the PVC pipe with foam, and continue rolling until all of the f ...more
This is an instructional video on how to wrap your hands with wrapping tape in preparation for boxing. The instructor shows you how to use tape to wrap, and where to place the tape. You start by wrapping your wrists multiple times. Then you go over the base of the thumb and ba ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to put a deck over a concrete step. Steps: 1. Cut PVC trim boards to wrap around stoop using circular saw. 2. Counterbore holes in PVC trim with ½-inch-diameter spade bit. 3. Apply foam adhesive to back of trim. 4. Run bead of ...more
This two-part video demonstrates the ancient Chinese book binding technique called stab binding. If you do a lot of calligraphy, you can use this technique to put all of your sheets together into a really attractive and traditional book. Make sure you line the pages up correct ...more
Christmas is just around the corner, which means holiday wreaths are decorating many doors across the nation. While we're always fans of a practical DIY, we especially love the edible kind, which are great for last-minute decorations. We gathered the easiest, tastiest "recipe ...more
Now you too can build your own prop of eldritch horror! Guaranteed to induce a SAN check in anyone who sees it, this tutorial shows you how to build a set of flexible Cthulhu tentacles out of one inch furniture foam, half inch furniture foam, steel wire, pantyhose, one inch PV ...more
If you're a LARP maniac, or just a fan of LSD-themed (Latter-day Saint) games and activities, then this tutorial is just the ticket. Check this video out to learn how to make a foam-padded sword that is easy and inexpensive. This level two boffer sword will take care of your L ...more
Exterior door insulation is essential to keep out the elements. Tim Carter of AsktheBuilder.com walks you through the steps to ensure that your exterior door is insulated properly. Your exterior door will be sealed tight if you follow Tim's insulation tips about fiberglass ins ...more
First, find yourself a very large pot with a thick base that will distribute the heat evenly, preferably a stock pot. If the bottom is thin, consider some sort of diffuser. If you don't have one, buy one. They are cheap and you'll be glad you did. They even have them in the gr ...more
Check out this video to see how to make pneumatic power with stuff from your dumpster. Take one empty Tekapur (polyurethane foam) spray can, and one hand air pump, and watch the instructions. Soon, with a wee buit of time and effort, you'll have some cool pneumatic power at yo ...more
Learn how to recycle an old jeans into a earth friendly sandals with Gianny L! In order to make sandals out of a pair of blue jeans, you will need the following: scissors, cardboard, needle, thread, a sewing machine, a pair of jeans, a pair of flip-flops, chalk, and foam. Tr ...more
If you call yourself a hobbyist or a kid at heart, you know that remote-controlled vehicles are more than just fun. If you're a serious R/C man, you'll know all about doing everything to your model truck or car, like fixing wheels, vamping the pinion gears, waterproofing, trou ...more
Several years ago, I moved to Brooklyn, New York, just outside a Spanish neighborhood. It was here that I was introduced to chayote. Fast-forward to present day: I live in Los Angeles and buy several chayote squash a week to cook with—yes, I said several. It's so versatile and ...more
This video will help you to make a Christmas centerpiece with flowers and evergreens. The materials required are a plastic centerpiece tray, floral foam, two candles, two candle cups and wired wooden pegs. Flowers like red carnations, white cushion chrysanthemums, red and whit ...more
Hosting a Twilight-themed party? Of course you're going to want a cake! This video shows you how to use gumpaste or fondant to make a ruffled tulip like the one on the cover of New Moon. Fondant is an edible, easy to work with material that you can use to shape just about any ...more