So it’s cold out, the kids keep bugging you to keep them entertained, and you’ve got a workshop full of crap that you should probably throw away. Well, get off your asses, you scurrilous ne’er-do-wells, and check out the following list of cold weather projects! You could do a few of these projects without it being cold outside, I suppose… but since the winter months can bring clouds of uninspired laziness, it’ll do you some good to gather the family ’round the power tools and complete of few of these fun how-tos:
Level of Difficulty: Easy
The art of origami can be impressive as it is, but adding electricity to it makes it ten times cooler. The supplies for this project are cheap and easy to come by, and the uses for these tiny lamps can be endless, if you’re creative. Make a few spares to serve as emergency lanterns for when you forget to pay your electric bill, or apply the same circuit to a paper airplane and take them to a rave!
Level of Difficulty: Easy, if you own a sewing machine
Being the owner of several pets that enjoy stealing my clothes, I sometimes find it difficult to find all of my winter gear before I head out of the door. Having a scoodie (scarf+hoodie) gives me one less article of clothing to loose, AND I can leave the house looking stylish, despite my inability to put my arms down.
3. Make a Snow Lantern (out of real snow!)
Level of Difficulty: Easy
On its own, this project might be too simple to keep you entertained for an extended period of time– but these snow lanterns definitely have their uses, and you have to admit that they’re pretty cool looking. If you’re not afraid of the cold, try lining your backyard with these and hosting a mid-winter fire-pit or barbeque. Good times!
Level of Difficulty: Easy-Medium; bring a couple of friends to help
Quinzees are shelters made out of snow that, unlike their igloo counterparts, are easy to build and don’t require much precision to make. Quinzees make great forts for snowball fights, or can serve as a warm and toasty shelter for those sudden snowstorms that can happen on your 10-block hike from the parking garage to your job.
5. Make chocolate bars that look like Han Solo Trapped in Carbonite
Degree of Difficulty: Medium
Being a tutorial that delves into basic mold-making techniques, this project might set you back a tad in terms of time and money. That said, you will get MAJOR geek cred if you send this as a gift to friends, family, or people at the office. The look on the recipient’s face when they receive this awesome tribute will be more than worth the price.
6. Dress Like a Robot and Hit the Bars
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Reserving costumed tomfoolery for Halloween is an outdated concept– who says you can’t dress like a robot whenever you want to? Do it alone, or go bar-hopping with your robot friends! A word of caution: your peripheral vision will be severely hampered, and getting in and out of your vehicle will be a challenge. Rest assured, though, the cardboard will keep you nice and warm while you’re trying to pass that road-side sobriety test in the middle of winter.
7. Make a Magnetic Wall Chess Set
Level of Difficulty: Medium-Hard
This jumbo chess set was made to help solve storage problems, since you can hang it from the wall with ease. This project has lots of possibilities, since it can serve as a framework for creating other magnetic, wall-mounted games. If you can complete the chess set, why not make a giant game of magnetic scrabble or monopoly? How about Operation? (I can’t be held responsible for any mishaps, but if you can get a giant, magnetic game of Operation going without killing yourself or others, PLEASE share the pictures!)
8. Make an Interactive LED Dining Room Table
Level of Difficulty: Hard
If you’re looking for a little modern flare for your dining room for relatively low cost, you might want to set aside a couple of weekends to bust this project out. Not only does this table light up, the lights interact with you while you eat by subtly blinking in and out of existence via sensors. If you’re looking for a fun and interesting project that challenges your woodworking and electrical prowess, give this one a shot!
Level of Difficulty: Hard
It’s been snowing for days, there’s ten feet of snow out and you haven’t been to the liquor store in a week. You have one precious bottle of MGD left in the fridge, and you’re thinking of squirreling that away until you REALLY need it. No need, my booze-weary friend! With a little time and a few household items, you can create homemade “wine” that yields all the benefits and none of the flavor of its real counterpart. Just use common sense when exploring this how-to– no one but you is responsible if you go blind from mis-using this stuff.
10. Use Electrolysis to Etch an Altoid’s Can
Level of Difficulty: Medium-Hard
If you’re familiar with how objects are plated with metal, you can use the same process to etch an image into an Altoid’s tin (or nearly any other metal container you can find). This will make a perfect gift for the person whose kitchen you made a mess of by making that “wine” from the last how-to. Use extreme caution while attempting this project, because it is also a good demonstration of why throwing electronics into a bathtub can kill you.
Jack's Blag 