| How to Make a Dinosaur Tail Posted: 24 Oct 2019 01:00 AM PDT A dinosaur tail can be used in a Halloween costume or be a new accessory for a dress-up game. Best of all, this fun, brightly-colored tail only takes 1-2 hours to make. If you're familiar with a sewing machine, you can stitch your dinosaur tail together. For a quicker assembly, you can use hot glue. It only takes a few pieces of fabric and some fiber stuffing to take your child's imagination to the next level! [Edit]Creating a No-Sew Dinosaur Tail - Cut a series of triangles into a long strip of fabric. Snip out a line of connected triangles from the strip. The total length of the strip should be by . When you're done, the felt should look like a miniature mountain range. Set this aside for later.[1]
- This strip will become the spikes of the dinosaur tail, so feel free to pick a bright, fun color!
- When flattened, the fabric will look like a row of diamonds. This will be fixed later on when the spikes are folded and glued together.
- Use fabric scissors for a quicker and smoother cut.
- Trace the edge of a bowl onto the main fabric and cut it out. Flip over a bowl and trace its circumference onto the felt. The diameter of the bowl will be the width of your dinosaur tail, so make sure that it's wide enough.[2]
- Cut out 2 strips of fabric for the waist straps and glue them in place. Use fabric scissors to cut by rectangular strips from the tail fabric. Then, fold in the edges lengthwise and glue them into place. Fold the fabric in half again and glue both sides together so the straps are less than thick.[3]
- Crease and glue the line of fabric spikes together. Use short lines of hot glue to connect the folded spikes. Instead of looking like a row of diamonds, the felt will now look like a row of triangles.[4]
- Cut a large, curved triangle out of fabric to make the base of the tail. Measure out a curved triangle along the edge of a folded piece of fabric. You don't have to use specific measurements, but make sure that the tail will fit around your circular piece.[5]
- Attach the spikes to the inner seam of the tail with hot glue. Use small lines of hot glue to connect the felt spikes with the outer edge of the tail. Apply glue on both sides of the spikes, as this piece will hold the tail together. Put pressure on the glued areas with your fingertips to secure the spiked tail into place.[6]
- Use additional glue at the pointy end of the tail to provide extra support.
- Add extra glue as needed to connect the rest of the tail together.
- Put fiber stuffing into the tail until it's fully stuffed. Take a bag of fiber filling and stuff the tail completely. Place as much or as little stuffing as you would like inside.[7]
- Make sure that the pointy end of the tail is completely filled before continuing to stuff the rest.
- Glue the waist straps and circular piece to the inside of the tail's base. Take the waist strips and glue them on opposite ends of one another, using small lines of hot glue. These straps should be perpendicular to the line of spikes. Make sure that the circular base is glued snugly over the waist straps and is covering the end of the tail.[8]
- You can tie the waist straps together to secure the tail when your child wears it.
[Edit]Cutting and Sewing a Tail Shape - Fold the fabric in half and mark above the crease. Take of fabric and fold it in half horizontally. Use a tape measure (preferably non-mechanical) and mark above your starting point on the fold. This indicates the height of your dinosaur tail.[9]
- Make sure that your measuring tape expands to at least .
- Make a second mark down the fabric. Measure from your starting point and mark the fabric. This distance will serve as the length of your dinosaur tail.[10]
- Make sure that you have enough fabric for these measurements.
- Make a third mark above the second mark. Take your measuring tape and make a dot above the second mark. This third measurement represents the pointy, bottom end of the tail.[11]
- Connect the 3 marks with a marker and cut out the tail shape. Use a fabric marker to sketch the line that connects these three points before removing the piece with scissors or a rotary cutter. Rotary cutters can be found at most craft stores, and provide a more even and exact cut along the edge of your fabric.[12]
- If you want to make your lines exact, use these measurements to sketch and cut a template out of cardboard beforehand.[13]
- Trace a plate on fabric twice to create 2 circles for the tail's base. Place a ceramic plate onto the fabric and cut around it with scissors or a rotary cutter. Repeat this process so that you have 2 circles. The diameter of this circle will be the width of your dinosaur tail.[14]
- Use folded fabric if you want to cut 2 circles out at once.
- Measure and cut out 2 pieces of fabric to create the waist straps. Use a measuring tape to mark and cut out 2 strips of fabric. The length should be , and the width should be .[15]
- These strips will help attach the dinosaur to a child's waist.
[Edit]Adding the Spikes and Waist Straps - Sketch a series of triangles onto a piece of felt using a fabric marker. Use a ruler or measuring tape to sketch a row of triangles onto the felt. Make the triangles, which will be the tail spikes, about tall and wide. Ensure that there's between each spike.[16]
- You can make the spikes bigger or smaller, depending on how you want the tail to look at the end.
- You can also make individual triangular spikes.[17]
- Arrange the cut spikes on the edge of the tail fabric and pin them in place. Use fabric scissors to cut the spikes out of the felt. Begin constructing your dinosaur tail by positioning the trail of spikes between the folds of the base tail fabric. Pin the spikes so that they face inward, as you will be sewing the fabric from the inside out.[18]
- Use a sewing machine to attach the spikes to the main fabric. Feed the fabric through the machine to stitch the base tail fabric and spikes together. Go along the curved shape of the tail, leaving less than a of space between the stitches and the fabric's edge.
- Pinch and tug on the fabric on the inside of the tail to pull the tail right side out.
- Remember to remove the pins from the fabric as you sew.
- Fold and pin the waist strap fabric at the ends before sewing the edges together. Crease the fabric along the center so that the short ends are touching, and use a few pins to secure the fabric in this position. Stitch the edges together lengthwise, but leave the shorter end open. Pinch the fabric on the inside of the stitching to pull the straps right side out.
- You'll be stitching the shorter, unsewn ends of the waist straps into the base of the tail.
- Stitch the Velcro rectangles to the straps and attach the waist straps to the tail. Take a small rectangle of Velcro and place it on the sewn end of the waist strap before stitching it into place with a sewing machine. Then, take the unstitched ends of the waist straps and pin them to the inside of the tail. Make sure that the straps are placed perpendicular to the spikes before sewing them into place. Check to see that the strap is long enough to wrap around a child's waist. Pin the straps onto the tail and sew them into place.[19]
- You can purchase Velcro at a craft store.
- You can also sew Velcro by hand.[20]
- Pin the base circles along the edges and stitch together. Take the 2 base circles and secure them with pins along the edges. Make sure that the circles are centered against one another before you sew them together.[21]
- Leave at least of space to turn the circle right side out.
- After sewing the edges together, pinch and tug at the inner fabric of the circle to make pull it right side out.
- Fill the tail with stuffing until it has a firm shape. Take fiber filling and stuff the base of the tail. Use as much fiber as you need to completely fill the dinosaur tail.[22]
- You can buy fiber filling at a craft store. You may need more than one bag to fully stuff the tail.
- Use a ladder stitch to close off the base and complete the tail. Tuck and fold the excess fabric into the tail before sewing it shut with a ladder stitch. This part can be completed by hand.[23]
- The ladder stitch helps all portions of stitching to look uniform.
- Iron your material beforehand to remove any wrinkles. Take an iron and apply heat to your fabric in long, even strokes. Loosely woven fabrics like cotton and linen are great options to make a dinosaur tail, or you can opt for satin if you want a shinier look. Check the care label on your fabric to ensure that it can be ironed before you proceed. [24]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Creating a No-Sew Dinosaur Tail - Fabric
- Felt
- Bowl
- Fabric marker
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue sticks
- Scissors
[Edit]Cutting and Sewing a Tail Shape - Fabric
- Measuring tape
- Fabric marker
- Scissors
- Rotary cutter (optional)
- Plate
[Edit]Adding the Spikes and Waist Straps - Felt
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Small Velcro rectangles (2)
- Fiber stuffing
- Measuring tape
- Fabric marker
- Sewing needle
- Thread
[Edit]References |
| How to Help Your Nails Recover After Acrylics Posted: 23 Oct 2019 05:00 PM PDT Anyone who's ever had acrylic nails knows that they can absolutely ravage your natural nails if removed incorrectly. Typically, the best way to repair this damage is to wait for them to regrow. In the meantime, you can take steps to make sure your nails grow in happy and healthy by providing daily and weekly care and varying your diet to make sure you're getting the nutrients you need. [Edit]Caring for Your Nails - Trim back weak nails to prevent breakage. If your nails feel weak after you take off the acrylics, it's likely they will break, which can be painful and result in jagged edges.[1] Cut your nails straight across with a pair of clean nail clippers. Round off the corners so they're not sharp.[2]
- You can also use manicure scissors to trim your nails.
- File your nails in one direction only. Choose a fine-grit nail file, as it will be kinder to your nails. Start from one outside edge on your nail and move across the nail in that direction. Don't go back and forth, as that can ruin the edges of your nails.[3]
- To keep from overdoing it, place the edge of the file under the tip of your nail so you can see what you're doing.
- Buff your nails once a week. Remove oils from your nails first by rubbing acetone, rubbing alcohol, or vinegar over them. Use small, circular motions to buff the tops of your nails just until they're smooth. Don't go overboard, as you don't want to remove too much of the nail.[4]
- You can also try buffing in an "X" shape.
- However, you don't want to do this too often, as it can remove some of your nails' thickness over time.[5]
- Keep your hands moisturized with hand creams. To create healthy nails, your hands need to be hydrated. Apply hand cream or lotion at least twice a day, including once before bedtime. Pick a heavy cream for night time for extra moisturizing power.[6]
- Try putting on lotion after every time you wash your hands.
- Put on cotton gloves at night after applying lotion to help seal in the moisture.[7]
- Rub a cuticle oil with jojoba oil in it around your nails. Keeping your cuticles moisturized will support your nails and help them stay moisturized and healthy, too. Apply cuticle oil around your nails at least once a day. At night is best so that you can leave it on while you sleep.[8]
- Put it on after you apply your lotion or hand cream.
- Try a nail hardener to protect your nails. If your nails are weak and brittle, a nail hardener may provide enough support to allow them to grow back properly. Simply paint on a coating of nail hardener like you would nail polish, moving from the nail bed up to the tip of the nail. Allow the hardener to dry and re-apply as needed.[9]
- You can find nail hardeners at most drugstores and big box stores. They may also be labeled as "nail strengtheners."
- Some people find nail hardeners work a little too well, making nails more likely to break. If that's the case for you, try just wearing a clear base coat of nail polish instead.[10]
- Wait for your nails to grow back in. While you can't completely heal the damage down by acrylics, your nails will eventually regrow. They will typically come back in strong and healthy as long as you are paying attention to nail care and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.[11]
[Edit]Eating the Right Nutrients - Get biotin in your diet from things like eggs, meat, and avocados. Biotin is important for healthy nails, skin, and hair, and it may improve the health of your nails after they've been damaged by acrylics. Most meats are a good source of biotin, including fish. You can also eat nuts, sweet potatoes, spinach, and broccoli to get enough biotin.[12]
- If you're over 18, aim for 30 micrograms of biotin a day. A single egg contains 10 micrograms of biotin, while a pork chop or hamburger patty has 3.8 micrograms and of salmon has 5 micrograms.
- With nuts and seeds, of sunflower seeds has 2.6 micrograms while the same amount of almonds has 1.5 micrograms.
- If you feel like you're not getting enough biotin in your diet, ask your doctor if a supplement is a good idea for you.[13] Typically, a 2.5-milligram supplement is helpful.[14] While this is much higher than the daily recommended amount, you can consume as much as 50 milligrams a day without problems.
- Take a daily 10-milligram silicon supplement. Silicon can help repair your nails if they've become brittle after wearing acrylics. Look for one with choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid (ch-OSA) and take it daily for at least 4 months.[15]
- Talk to your doctor before starting any supplement.
- If you don't want to take a supplement, beer is one of the best natural sources of silicon. A single beer has 10 milligrams of silicon, so you can also get this nutrient that way. Always consume drinks in moderation, though.[16]
- Ensure you're getting enough protein in your diet.[17] To determine how much protein you need in a day, multiply your weight in pounds by 0.36 grams or your weight in kilograms by 0.8 grams. You can also use an online protein calculator.[18]
- For instance, if you weigh 150 pounds, multiply that by 0.36 grams to get 54 grams of protein. If you weigh 90 kilograms, multiply that by 0.8 grams to get 72 grams of protein.
- As a guide, a serving of tuna, salmon, or haddock the size of a deck of cards has 21 grams of protein while the same serving of turkey or chicken has 19 grams.
- A single egg has 6 grams of protein, while 0.5 cups (81 grams) of cottage cheese has 14 grams and the same serving of cooked beans has 8 grams.
- Eat iron-rich foods such as red meat, leafy greens, and beans. An iron deficiency can lead to problems with your nails and hair, so make sure you are getting enough in your diet. Women who are 19-50 need 18 milligrams of iron a day, while all other adults need 8 milligrams.[19]
- Fortified breakfast cereals are one of the best sources of iron, as they contain 18 milligrams per serving. A serving of oysters or 1 cup (179 grams) of white beans both contain 8 milligrams of iron. Other good sources include dark chocolate, spinach, lentils, meat, and beans.
- Talk to your doctor if you think you may have an iron deficiency, typically classified by fatigue, cold extremities, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, weakness, and brittle nails.[20]
- Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, seeds, and nuts. Many vitamins and minerals support good nail health, so aim for a variety of foods in your diet. Eat a wide spectrum of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains like whole wheat, quinoa, brown rice, bulgur, and buckwheat.[21]
- Aim for a variety of beans, seeds, and nuts as well!
[Edit]Using Acrylics Appropriately - Ask a professional to remove your acrylics. Because acrylics require filing off, it's best down by a professional. They will cut off the tips, then mostly file the acrylic off of your nails. After that, they will soak your nails in acetone to completely remove the polish.[22]
- Usually, they'll use a cuticle pusher to completely remove the acrylic at the end.
- Take breaks between acrylics. If you use acrylics continuously, your nails will likely suffer. Go at least a week before applying your next set of acrylics to give your nails time to strengthen again.[23]
- Alternatively, use fake nails on special occasions only.[24]
- Opt for gels over acrylics to be kinder to your nails. If your nails have suffered from acrylics, switch to gels for a while. Some gels can be completely soaked off instead of filed down, making them less harsh on your nails.[25]
- Also, gels bend more easily then acrylics, meaning they're less likely to crack your nails.
- Replace acrylics completely every 6 to 12 months. If you do leave your acrylics on, you should completely replace them at least once a year. That's because air pockets under acrylics can cause them to lift off, creating more damage to your nails.[26]
- Plus, removing them completely gives you a chance to provide extra care for your nails.
- Keep your nails short until they have regrown.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Open a Jammed Locker Posted: 23 Oct 2019 09:00 AM PDT A jammed locker is a nuisance and a time stealer, but you don't need to make yourself late. Most jams come from books, packages, and other things pressing against the lock. Knocking that item free is often enough to open up the average school locker. If your locker has a key lock, clean it before attempting to force it open. If you still can't open it yourself, call for help in order to retrieve what you left inside of the locker. [Edit]Opening a School Combination Locker - Dial the combination more slowly than you did before. Before you practice your karate on the locker, make sure you put in the correct combination. Sometimes, when you're in a hurry, you might end up passing the numbers by too quickly. Remember, you turn the dial to the right, the left, and the right again, stopping at each number in the combination.[1]
- Try the combination a few times. Sometimes you might put it in wrong without realizing it. Confirm that you have the right number before doing anything else.
- If you do it slowly, you can be sure that you put in the right combination.
- Grab and pull the latch on the handle if you are able to see it. Look closely at the bottom of the handle where you usually put your fingers to tug open the door. Most dial lockers have a small latch that you have to push up. Even if you can only see a little bit of the latch, try using it to open the door. Push it up as far as it will go, then yank the door back toward you.[2]
- Sometimes this is enough for the door to come unstuck, but not always. If your locker is pretty full, for instance, you probably need to deal with something pushing against the lock.
- Shake the locker while pulling the handle. Use all of your muscles to give the locker a good tug. Rattle it around as much as you can without attempting to rip the door off its hinges. Shaking the door could knock over whatever is leaning on the lock.[3]
- The locker door may still not open. If it doesn't come open after you shake it, stop trying to force it open. You don't need to end up with a doorless locker.
- Slap the locker a few times around the lock. Jams usually happen when something falls onto the locking mechanism. Bop the locker to try and dislodge whatever is blocking it. Be gentle, though! Start with light hits and increase the amount of force you use, but don't put a dent in the door.[4]
- If the locker still won't budge, try pounding on it like you're knocking on a friend's door. You could also give it a swift kick if no one's looking, but be gentle. The locker isn't a punching bag and hitting it as hard as you can won't help.
- The last thing you need when dealing with a stuck locker is having someone jump out into the hallway and tell you you're responsible for the damage. Lockers are frustrating sometimes, but resist the temptation to haul back and kick yours!
- Put pressure on the locker with your knee while opening it. Prop your knee on the locker about ¾ of the way up to the lock. Doing this is a little awkward, but the pressure often gets the locking mechanism working again. While you have your knee planted on the door, put in your combination and lift up the latch on the locker's handle to open it.[5]
- Keep your knee on the locker the entire time until you're ready to open it. Once you lift the latch, you can put your foot back on the ground.
- Ask a friend to grab and pull the locker with you. Together, you might be able to pull the locker open with force. Have your friend push the door or keep their knee on it while you work the lock. If it still doesn't open, try having everyone pull the locker forward at the same time. Everything you ever learned about teamwork might finally pay off when that stubborn door flies open.[6]
- You could ask one of your friends to knock on the locker as you attempt to pull it. With your combined force, you could break through almost any jam!
- Call a janitor for help if you still can't get the locker open. A lot of school lockers are old and stubborn. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it. School janitors deal with plenty of locker problems and have special tools for opening them. The janitor can also repair the locker if you happen to have one that gets jams often.[7]
- Before looking for the janitor, go to your classroom and tell your teacher. Let them take care of it so you don't get in trouble for being late. Who knows, you might get to share a book with that friend you wanted to talk to in class!
- Clear out the space near the lock once you open the locker. Many jams come from full or messy lockers. Organizing your locker can help you keep it from jamming again. Cleaning isn't the most fun thing when you're ready to race home after school, but at least stack your books straight so nothing falls on you when you open the locker door.[8]
- A lot of school lockers are old, so they don't work as well as you want them to. Any weight that presses against the lock could cause it to jam, so don't let anything tumble onto it.
- Locker organizers are a great way to keep your locker neat. Office supply stores often sell shelves that slide into your locker. Also, try hanging shelves and baskets.
[Edit]Fixing a Stuck Padlock - Remove broken keys or anything else you see stuck in the lock. That horrible snap doesn't have to mean you're locked out forever. Inspect the key slot to see what is in there, and then spray plenty of penetrating oil into the lock opening. Reach in with a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull out the blockage. If you can't grab it with pliers, try catching it with a jagged tool like a scroll or jig saw blade.[9]
- Check your broken key before working on the lock. If you only have the head of the key left, you probably managed to turn the lock a little bit. Use a screwdriver to turn the lock back to its starting position so it releases the key.
- Try using a penetrating oil like WD-40. Keep the keyhole greased so the thing blocking it slides out as easily as possible.
- Spray a lubricant on the key if it doesn't turn in the lock. Most people never think of a lock as something that needs to be cleaned, but dirt can stop your locker from opening. The best lubricant to use is powdered graphite. Put some graphite in the lock's opening, then put your key in. Turn the key a few times to work in the lubricant and see if it allows you to open the door.[10]
- Powdered graphite is available at most hardware stores. It comes in a tube so you can easily squeeze it or spray it onto the lock.
- If you're in a pinch, try a silicone-based lubricant like WD-40. It isn't the worst thing to try, but it can gum up the lock if you use it often.
- Heat the lock up to melt ice if you're in a cold area. Like how you feel frozen in the winter, your lock might freeze too. One of the easiest ways to fix a frozen lock is by spreading a little hand sanitizer on your key. Put the key in and turn it a few times to spread the hand sanitizer through the lock. If that doesn't work, you could also try getting a deicer from a hardware store.[11]
- Heat sources are good for melting the ice and preventing it from reforming. Since you probably can't move the locker, your options are limited. If you can find a place to plug in something like a hairdryer, point it at the lock and heat it for 2 or 3 minutes.
- You could also try blowing on the lock. Your hot breath helps melt the ice, but this can take a while. Use a tube like a toilet paper roll to direct your breath onto the lock, then blow for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Push the locker door in if you're able to turn the key. If you're sure that the lock is ready for use and you're able to turn the key, put pressure on the door. As you turn the key, apply firm but gentle pressure to it. You could also push against the door with your free hand. If the door still won't budge, also lift the key up as much as you can while turning it and pushing it toward the lock.[12]
- Lockers often get stuck when something hits the locking mechanism, such as a big package stuffed into a tiny space.
- Sometimes this takes the pressure off of the lock so you can open the door.
- Call a service line if you're renting the locker. Some universities, jobs, and delivery services maintain lockers, for instance. You can usually get a stuck locker open by calling the person who assigned the locker to you. It's the equivalent of calling a janitor to deal with a bad school locker. Tell them that the locker is stuck and you need it opened.[13]
- For example, if you're trying to open a package delivery locker, go to the front office or contact whoever gave you the locker key. Look for a sticker with a customer service number or go onto the post office's website to find it.
- Have the locker fixed by a repair technician. Once you get the locker open, see if it looks rusty or damaged. Close the locker and try to open it again. If it gives you more trouble, tell the locker manufacturer. Ask them to fix the locker or even replace it with a better one so you're not stuck fighting with it every time you want to get your stuff.[14]
- Call the business responsible for maintaining the locker if you don't own it. Don't attempt to take it apart on your own.
- Many jams are from items inside overstuffed lockers bumping up against the locking mechanism. All you have to do in this case is clean out the locker to prevent it from jamming again. If it jams repeatedly even after you try everything, you might need to get a new one.
- Try to find the source of the jam as you rattle the locker door. You can often hear where something is pushing against the door, then pound on that area to knock the obstruction free.
- Keep your locker closed when you're not there. If you can't close the locker after opening it, take all of your items with you so no one takes them.
- Janitors usually have special tools or keys to deal with jammed lockers, so ask for help!
- If a jammed locker makes you late to class, tell your teacher or principal. They can keep you out of trouble or maybe even tell you to share a book with that friend you wanted to talk to in class.
[Edit]Warnings - Lockers are always someone's property, so don't go wild trying to kick open a stuck one. You could end up being held responsible for the damages.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
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