| How to Make a Cat Hammock Posted: 25 Oct 2021 01:00 AM PDT Your furry friend deserves a comfortable place to hang out. Instead of buying an expensive cat hammock, create your own with items you probably have at home. For an easy, no-sew option, all you need is some cozy fleece and a cardboard box. If you'd like a hammock that you can spread across a cage or under a table, add loops to comfy fabric. Stretch out either hammock and watch your cat relax. [Edit]No-Sew Hammock with Cardboard - Choose a sturdy cardboard box that's larger than your cat. Find a medium-sized cardboard box that's not bent or damaged. Try to use the strongest cardboard you can find like corrugated cardboard. Close up the box and glue or tape the ends shut.[1]
- Corrugated cardboard has smooth outer layers and a strong, wavy layer in between. If you use thin or single-layer cardboard, it won't support your cat or kitten's weight.
- If your cat is overweight, build a lightweight wooden box frame that you can wrap the fleece hammock around. This way, the structure can hold your cat's weight.
- Trace a straight line from each edge of the box on every side. Hold a long ruler from an edge of the box and draw a straight line along the side of the ruler. Then, move your ruler to another edge of the box and trace another line from the edge. Keep doing this for every edge and side of the box.[2]
- Once you finish, you'll have traced a smaller box on each side of your cardboard box.
- Make all of your lines parallel with the sides of the box.
- Use a box cutter to cut the lines and push out the center cardboard squares. Be really careful when use a box cutter or craft knife to slice along each guideline that you traced. Once you've along each line, push the center of the cardboard so the square falls out. Repeat this for each side of your cardboard box and set it aside.[3]
- Recycle or discard the 4 cardboard squares that you're left with since you don't need them for the hammock-tower.
- If you're making a wooden frame, nail 4 vertical wooden pieces to the corners of a flat, wooden base. Then, lay a matching wooden base piece on top and hammer a nail into each corner to complete the wooden frame.
- Get out fleece or a fleece blanket that's larger than the bottom of your box. Find a fleece blanket or cut a piece of fleece material so it's bigger than your box dimensions. Cut the fleece so it's wider on each side.[4]
- For example, if your box measures , cut the fleece fabric or blanket so it's .
- Make a diagonal slit in each corner of the fleece. Spread the fleece flat and cut a slit from each corner towards the center of the fabric. Cut each slit long so you have enough material to tie to the corners of the box.[5]
- If you want a guideline, place your ruler diagonally in the corner and draw a line with a fabric marker or bit of chalk.
- Make 2 small holes on each corner of the box near the top. Take an awl or closed pair of sharp scissors and carefully punch it through 1 side of the box. Make the hole about halfway to two-thirds up the side of the box. Then, push another hole on the other side of the corner so it's at the same level. Repeat this for each corner of the box.[6]
- You'll make a total of 8 holes around the 4 corners of the box. These are the holes that you'll feed the fleece corners into.
- Push the fleece slits through each of the holes and tie them around the corners. Take a corner of the fleece and feed 1 of the slits through a hole you made. Push the other slit into the hole that's next to it. Then, pull tightly and tie the fleece slits together in a knot on the outside of the box corner. Repeat this for each fleece corner so the fabric hangs in the middle of the box.[7]
- Lay another piece of fleece in the bottom of the hammock-tower o give your cat another cozy spot to rest.
[Edit]Fabric Hammock with Hooks - Cut 2 pieces of soft fabric into squares. Pick out of tightly woven cotton or fleece in any color or design. Feel the fabric so you know it's soft enough for your cat. Then, use scissors or a rotary cutter to make 2 equal-sized squares.[8]
- To customize the size of your hammock, cut the fabric so it's larger on each side than the size you want the finished hammock to be.
- If you're making a hammock for a heavy, adult cat, choose the strongest, thickest cotton or fleece you can find.
- Iron a hem along each side of both squares. Lay the squares so the wrong side of the fabric faces up and fold each edge over towards the center by . Then, iron over the edges to keep the hemline flat until you can sew it.[9]
- If you want to make the hammock thicker, cut a piece of batting that's about smaller than each side of your fabric. Then, pin it to the wrong side of 1 fabric square.
- Read the care instructions for your fabric so you know what temperature to heat your iron to.
- Cut webbing ribbon into four strips. Unroll a length of webbing ribbon and use your ruler to measure from the end. Cut the ribbon to make a strip. Then, cut 3 more strips that are each long.[10]
- Don't use decorative ribbon since it's not as strong as webbing ribbon, which is tightly woven and durable.
- Fold each strip in half and pin each loop onto the corner of 1 fabric square. Bend a webbing ribbon strip in half and lay it diagonally across a corner. Arrange the loop so the bottom edge is from the point of the corner. Then, push a sewing pin through the loop and into the fabric before you repeat this for each corner.[11]
- It's important to place the loops onto the square so you're able to sew it in place. If you put the loop on the very edge of the square, it would be tricky to sew.
- Sew over each loop several times to stitch it to the square. Set your sewing machine to make straight stitches and sew back and forth across the end of each loop. It's important to sew a few rows of stitches on the loop so it doesn't tear off when your cat gets into the hammock.[12]
- You might need to switch to a heavy-duty sewing needle since your machine will be sewing through 2 layers of webbing ribbon, fabric, and possibly batting.
- Stack the fabric squares so the wrong sides touch and pin the edges in place. Once you've sewed the loops to the wrong side of a square, lay it wrong side up. Then, place the other fabric square on it so the wrong sides touch and the edges line up. Insert sewing pins every few inches along the edge to hold the layers in place.[13]
- If you don't want to use sewing pins, use fabric clips to keep the edges together.
- Sew around the edges of the hammock 2 times. Keep your machine set to make straight stitches and sew as close to the edge of the square as you can. Sew around each side once. Then, move your needle over by and sew around the square again.[14]
- Although you could sew the hammock by hand, machine stitches are stronger so your hammock will hold up better under your cat's weight.
- Clip a carabiner onto each loop to hang the hammock. Fasten a metal carabiner clip through each loop and hook each carabiner onto wall hooks or the sides of your cat's metal cage.[15]
- Carabiners are great for securing the hammock since they have metal latches that snap closed. Don't use plastic hooks or clips that don't close since these may loosen or break under the weight of your cat.
- If you don't want to cut out a cardboard box, overturn a small table so the legs point up into the air. Tie your fleece blanket to each of the legs to secure the hammock.[16]
- Attach bungee cords to the carabiners if you want to stretch the hammock farther.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]No-Sew Hammock with Cardboard - Medium-sized cardboard box
- Ruler
- Box cutter
- Fleece blanket or fabric
- Fabric marker or chalk, optional
[Edit]Fabric Hammock with Hooks - Fleece or fleece blanket
- Ruler
- Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
- of webbing ribbon
- Iron and ironing board
- Batting, optional
[Edit]References |
| How to Apply Nail Foils Posted: 24 Oct 2021 05:00 PM PDT If you're longing for bright, metallic nails with lots of bling, nail foils might just be the product for you. These thin strips of foil might look intimidating, but they're actually easier to apply than you'd think. We've detailed a couple of different methods you can use to apply nail foils at home for a professional-looking manicure in no time! [Edit]Nail Foil FAQs - What are nail foils? There are 2 main types of nail foils: the foils that come in a sheet and the foils that come in a pot. Sheet foils typically cover your whole nail, while pot foils can be placed with tweezers in specific spots on your nails. The products that you use are virtually the same, but the application method is slightly different.[1]
- There are also stamped foils, which is foil that looks like an image, and foil strips, which look like decoupage.
- Kitchen foil is not the same thing as nail foil. You can find nail foil at most drug stores or beauty supply stores, and they come in a variety of fun colors and patterns.
- What should I use—glue, no glue, or gel? The main difference is how much coverage you want your nail foil to give you. If you don't use any glue at all, the foil will still stick to your nails, but it might be slightly spottier. If you use glue, you can get closer to full coverage, but still not a totally covered nail. If you use gel, you can cover your entire nail in foils if you'd like to. Plus, gel nail foil goes on a little smoother.[2]
- Nail foil glue is different from typical nail glue. It's thinner and slightly less tacky, so it dries faster. You can find nail foil glue at most drug stores or beauty supply stores.
- How do I prepare my nails for nail foils? Remove all of your old polish with nail polish remover, then push back your cuticles. Apply a clear base coat and wait for it to dry, then pick out a nail polish that matches the color of the foil you'll be using.[3]
- Do I need to apply a top coat to seal my nails? Yes, a top coat is very important—without it, your nail foils might not stay on. You can use a regular clear nail polish top coat, or you can go for a gel one for longer lasting coverage. Whichever top coat you choose, it's important to swipe it over the edges of your nails, too. That way, the foil won't peel up at the edges.[4]
- Shellac top coat is the same as a gel top coat, they're just different names.
- How long do nail foils last? Typically, only a few days. Since nail foils are so thin, they tend to peel off your fingers after only a few days. Professionals generally recommend that you save nail foils for special events or photo shoots so you can get the most out of your nails while they last.[5]
- How do I remove nail foils? Soak your nails in pure acetone, and the foils will come right off. Removing nail foils is pretty much exactly like removing nail polish, so there's no special procedure. They'll slide right off your nails, and you can get ready for your next nail polish look![6]
- What challenges do nail foils present? Nail foils can sometimes have a steep learning curve, and you may need to do some trial and error before getting them right. Make sure you place your foils precisely on each nail to avoid any crinkling or tearing of the sheet. With most foil, less is more—overdoing it can make your foil flake off faster.[7]
[Edit]With Glue - Apply your base coat of polish and let it dry. You can pick any nail polish color you'd like—even a clear coat will do! Apply it all over your nails, then let it dry completely. If you have a UV nail dryer, use that to speed up the drying process.[8]
- If you don't have a nail dryer, that's fine, too. Try using fast-drying nail polish to make your application a little faster.
- If you use a gel polish, use rubbing alcohol to take off the top sticky layer of your polish. Otherwise, the nail adhesive won't work.
- Swipe on some nail foil adhesive. Grab your bottle of nail foil glue and gently swipe on a thin layer all over your nails. Nail foil glue dries clear, so you won't be able to see it on your top coat. Give the adhesive a couple of minutes to dry before you move on.[9]
- Press a piece of foil onto your nails. If you're using a nail foil sheet, grab a sheet and press the matte side (not the shiny side) onto your nail. When you pick it up, some of the foil will adhere to your nail, and you can add more or move onto the next nail.[10]
- In general, nail foil in a sheet will provide almost full coverage, but not quite.
- Use tweezers to apply pot nail foil. If you're grabbing nail foils out of a small pot, use tweezers to pick up one piece at a time and place them on your nails. Go slowly, and don't be afraid to move the foil around until it looks perfect. Once you're satisfied with one nail, you can move onto the next nail.[11]
- You can also cut up large pieces of sheet foil and use tweezers to apply smaller pieces.
- Apply a few layers of top coat. Once you're satisfied with your nail foils, simply grab a bottle of clear top coat and apply a thin layer to all of your nails. Be sure to apply the top coat to the top edge of your nails, too—otherwise, the foils might peel up.[12]
[Edit]Without Glue - Apply a thin layer of a base coat and let it dry. You can use a colored nail polish or a clear one, depending on the look you're going for. Add a base coat all over your nails, then let it dry. If you need to, you can add a second layer of polish for more coverage—just make sure it dries first before you add nail foils.[13]
- Using clear polish is a great way to make your nail foils stand out.
- Black nail polish is also a great neutral option, and it makes bright colors pop!
- Press the foil onto your nails. Grab your nail foil sheet and gently press the matte side onto your nails. Lift the sheet up to reveal the foil on your nail polish. If you'd like to, you can press the sheet onto the same nail again for more coverage. Once you're satisfied with your nail, you can move onto the rest of your hand.[14]
- Nail foil will stick to your nail polish, but it might cover slightly less of your nail than if you use a glue or a gel. If you'd like a full coverage look, pick up a bottle of nail glue or nail gel.
- If you're using small pieces of nail foil that you pick up with tweezers, you'll need to use nail glue or gel to make them stick.
- Apply a top coat. When you're happy with your nail foil look, grab a clear top coat and swipe it all over your nails. Be sure to apply it on the top edge of your nails, too, so the foils don't peel up. In general, nail foils will last for a couple of days on your fingers, but they might peel off slightly faster without a glue or a gel.[15]
- Apply a base coat of nail polish and let it dry. You can use a gel nail polish or a regular nail polish. Pick out the color that you'd like to have behind your nail foil, then apply it to all your nails. Wait a couple of minutes for your nail polish to dry before you move on.[16]
- Swipe on a thin layer of nail gel, then let it dry. Nail foil gel is slightly different from nail glue—it's slightly thicker and a bit stickier. Add a thin layer to all of your nails, then wait a couple of minutes for it to dry.[17]
- Nail foil gel is called "foil gel." It will say that somewhere on the bottle, and you can find it at most beauty supply stores.
- If your foil gel says "UV" on it, you'll need to cure it under a UV light. Otherwise, you can just let it air dry.
- Press the foil onto your nails and smooth it down. While the adhesive is slightly different, the nail foil application is the same. Grab your sheet of nail foil and gently press it onto your nails. Lift the foil up to reveal the color left on your nails. If you'd like to, you can add more foil to your nail, or you can move on to the rest of your hand.[18]
- Gel adhesive provides a lot more coverage than using glue. You can cover your entire nail in nail foil if you'd like to.
- Gel adhesive works best for sheet nail foils, not small pieces that you pick up with tweezers.
- Apply a clear top coat. Protect your nail foil with a clear top coat. You can stick with the gel theme by using a gel top coat, or you can use regular clear polish. Swipe it onto your nails to cover the nail foil and protect it.[19]
[Edit]Foil Strips - Cut your foil sheet into thin strips. You can make cute vertical stripes on your nails by cutting your foil into pieces. Grab a pair of scissors and snip your foil into thin strips, about wide. If you want to cover all your nails, keep cutting until you have enough for all 10 fingers.[20]
- You can make your strips as wide or as thin as you'd like. The thinner they are, the more you'll be able to fit on one nail.
- Apply your base nail polish color and let it dry. For a more full coverage look, pick a color that's similar to the color of the nail foil strips you'll be using. Add a couple of coats on each nail for a good amount of coverage, then let the polish dry completely.[21]
- Add a thin layer of nail gel onto your nails. Foil strips adhere best to nail gel, not nail glue. Add a layer to the nail you're working on, but don't let it dry completely. Try to work with your foil strips while the gel is still tacky.[22]
- Apply the nail strips while the nail gel is still wet. Grab a strip of foil with a pair of tweezers and gently lay it on your nail vertically. Keep adding strips of foil until you've covered your entire nail. Let the nail foil sit on your nail for about 1 minute to set.[23]
- The nail foil will stick off your nail a little bit right now, which is fine.
- Use tweezers to pull the foil off your nails. Get your tweezers again and gently grab one strip of foil. Peel it off slowly to reveal the nail foil on your nails underneath. Pull off the rest of the foils to check out your new nail design![24]
- Seal your nails with a top coat. You can use a normal clear nail polish or a gel top coat. Be sure to seal the edge of your nail, too, so the nail foils don't peel off. Once you're done with one nail, you can move on to the rest of your fingers.[25]
- File and buff your nails beforehand for a picture-perfect manicure.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Backflip off a Raised Platform Posted: 24 Oct 2021 09:00 AM PDT Doing a backflip off a raised platform, such as a diving board, is a pretty cool trick to show off! With practice and dedication, many people can learn how to backflip off a raised platform. Just make sure to stay safe when you're learning and use spotters and mats until you're totally comfortable doing it on your own. Below, we've put together helpful answers to some of the questions you might have about learning to backflip. [Edit]How do I get over my fear of doing a backflip? - Start by practicing backwards rolls on a mattress. Put a mattress on the floor in an open room, without a box spring or frame of any kind. Sit on a short edge of the bed, facing away from the bed. Now, roll backwards towards one side, so one of your shoulders hits the mattress first, sort of like a backwards somersault.[1]
- This helps you get a feel for the movements you use to do a backflip, so it's not so intimidating when you start actually practicing backflips.
- If you can't do this with a mattress, you could put a bunch of firm cushions, such as couch cushions, together on your floor and cover them with a sheet.
- Try backflipping onto your knees onto the mattress. Once you're comfortable rolling backwards onto the mattress, stand just in front of one corner of the mattress, facing outwards. Then, crouch down and fling yourself back over the same shoulder you practiced rolling back onto the mattress with, landing on your knees in the middle of the mattress.[2]
- Keep doing this until you're totally comfortable with the feeling of backflipping onto your knees.
- If you're feeling really confident after a few tries, you can attempt to land on your feet on the mattress to really get over your fear of backflipping.
[Edit]How do you do a backflip off something high? - Start by practicing with a mat on the ground. Place a thick gymnastics mat on the ground where you want to land. This cushions your landing while you're learning how to backflip off of a high surface.[3]
- You can practice doing this off a ledge, a set of stairs, or a wall, for example.
- Jump backwards off the high object while rotating backwards. Climb up onto the raised surface and stand with just your toes on the ledge. Bend down at your knees with your arms back behind you, then swing your arms forward as you jump up and push yourself backwards off the edge. Spin yourself backwards a full 360 degrees in the air to come down on your feet.[4]
- You can practice backflipping in the air on a trampoline to get a feel for the movements before you try backflipping off something high.
- Bend your knees when you land to cushion your landing. Stop spinning once your feet are aimed straight at the ground. As soon as your feet touch the ground, bend your knees and squat down to the ground, tucking your chest down towards your knees, to stick the landing. Then, stand up straight again when you have your balance.[5]
- If you land hard, just keep bending your knees and roll backwards onto your butt and your back to cushion the landing even more.
[Edit]How do you do a standing backflip? - Start by practicing jumping straight up into the air and landing softly. Stand in an open space with some padding, like a carpeted floor or some grass. Bend down at your knees, swinging your arms behind you, then push up off the ground and jump into the air. Swing your arms forward as you jump up, then bend your knees when your feet touch the ground to land firmly.[6]
- Repeat this exercise until you can land smoothly and softly.
- Spin quickly backwards 360 degrees while you're in the air. Launch yourself into the air using the technique you practiced, but this time arch your back backwards and tuck your knees into your chest when you're in the air. Spin all the way around and land on your feet, bending your knees to land smoothly like you practiced.[7]
- Have a spotter help rotate you in the air while you're learning until you get the technique down.
- You can do this on a thick gym mat or even a mattress on the floor to cushion you if you don't land well.
[Edit]Is learning to backflip dangerous? - It can be if you don't practice safely. If you just go straight into trying backflips without any sort of practice on a mattress or a mat, you can land on your neck and hurt yourself. Always work your way up to doing actual backflips with practice exercises before you try to backflip off a raised platform.[8]
- When you start practicing backflips off raised platforms, it's safer to do them into water than onto a hard surface.
[Edit]How long does it take to learn to backflip? - It could take anywhere from weeks to years, depending on the person. Most people learn how to backflip faster if they have formal gymnastics instruction, but there are some people who can do it naturally without much practice at all. Your level of fitness and your commitment play big roles in how fast you learn.[9]
- Even if you can't get a formal gymnastics trainer, it's a good idea to have someone who already knows how to backflip teach you how and also spot you. Also, use mats or a mattress to practice so you're less likely to hurt yourself.
[Edit]References |
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