To make this simple wooden doll, you'll need large craft clothespins (the kind with a rounded knob on the grip end), which can usually be found at craft stores. You'll also need acrylic paints, a fine-tipped felt marker, and some materials for making an outfit, such as felt, ribbons, or scrap cloth. The knob at the grip of the pin will serve as the head, and the split at the bottom will become the feet. Use acrylic paint to paint on whatever features you want, including shoes, which can be easily approximated by painting one color about ¼ of an inch up both “feet,” letting it dry, and then painting black or brown over that color up to about halfway. The black or brown becomes the shoe color; the first color is the sock color.  You can paint the clothespin with skin-colored paint if you want, but it's not strictly necessary. If you do, be sure to let it dry first before adding other details. Paint the face so that it makes sense with the way the feet are split. Your doll will look very odd otherwise. Using your fine-tipped marker, draw any extra details you want to on the doll, such as pupils for the eyes or a smiling mouth. Using your scrap materials, scissors, and some craft glue, think of a fun outfit for your doll. Remember to pin things in place before you cut, to be sure they'll fit properly. Consider making a hat or wig of some type for your doll's bald head. Once you're satisfied, glue each item into place with a bit of craft glue. Your clothespin doll won't hold up a lot under sustained play, but it does make a great family project or childhood keepsake. Don't worry if it falls apart just fix it.

Summary: Gather supplies. Paint the clothespin. Add details. Dress your doll.


Many people use plastic sheeting to preserve their furniture. However, this method is often viewed as pointless or inconvenient due to noise, discomfort, and opacity of the plastic.  You may also consider spreading out an old towel or blanket where your dog likes to lay. You can wash the towel whenever you like, and you can put it away when guests come to visit. If your dog tends to climb on one particular piece of furniture and lay in the same spot, you may be able to keep hair off that furniture by protecting the spot. Some pet stores sell furniture covers specifically made for dogs. Consider brushing your dog more frequently, giving it haircuts, and giving it baths. Use a grooming brush to comb away loose hair.  Brushing your dog about two days a week dramatically cuts down on the amount of fur tumbleweeds rolling through your living room. Give your dog a haircut once a month. It may stop shedding so much fur if you take control of the process. Give your dog a bath once or twice a month, or as frequently as you like. After the bath, let it stay outside for about an hour to dry off. Consider putting a stocking or thin sock over the vacuum hose, and then vacuuming your dog. You may not be able to get him or her to stand still. If you think your dog might be losing hair for a medical reason, consult a vet for help. Your vet may prescribe hair-loss medication, or may be able to identify some other treatable condition that is causing the hair-fall.

Summary: Cover your furniture. Groom your dog. Consult your vet.


Even if you want to enjoy the muffins warm, wait for a few minutes before taking them out of the muffin pan. Waiting for a bit helps the muffins to solidify and come out of the pan more easily. Use a knife to go around each muffin and the pan, then place the muffins on a cooling rack. If you used muffin wrappers, just lift each muffin out of the pan by the wrapper and place them on the cooling rack. If you want to eat your muffins while they’re warm, take the muffins off the cooling rack and enjoy. If you prefer room temperature muffins that are slightly firmer, wait until they have completely cooled and enjoy. To prevent the muffins from getting stale, store them in Tupperware or another airtight container.

Summary: Wait for the muffins to cool. Place the muffin on a cooling rack. Serve the muffins. Store uneaten muffins in a closed container.


While you can cut harder gems, they'll take more time and effort to cut. Instead, choose gems that are lower on the Mohs hardness scale. For example, these softer stones will cut easily:  Fluorite Malachite Coral Pearl Amber To make a stable work surface, lay a cloth down. Set a cutting board on the cloth so the board doesn't slide around. Place a sheet of 180 grit sandpaper on the cutting board so the rough side faces up. Pour the water directly on the center of the sandpaper. The water will prevent the gem from becoming scratched as you smooth it. To create 1 smooth facet on the gem, hold it between your thumb and index finger. Firmly rub the gem back and forth across the area of sandpaper that has the water to smooth the surface. Turn the gem and rub it again to make another facet. Keep rubbing the gem to make several facets and roughly shape the gem. Once you've finished using the coarsest sandpaper, run a little water over the gem to rinse it of the grit. Remove the 180 grit sandpaper from the cutting board and lay down a piece of 400 grit sandpaper. Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 ml) of water in the center of the sandpaper. Rub 1 facet of the gem back and forth to further smooth it. Repeat this for each facet of the gem. Consider rubbing the gem in circles occasionally to prevent grooves from forming. Pour a little water over the gem to remove the 400 grit. Remove the sandpaper and set down a sheet of 600 grit sandpaper. Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 ml) of water onto the center of the sandpaper and rub each of the gem's facets across it. Remember to rinse the gem once you've finished with the 600 grit sandpaper. Replace the 600 grit sandpaper with a sheet of 1200 grit sandpaper. Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 ml) of water onto the center of the 1200 grit sandpaper. Rub each facet of the gem back and forth across the sandpaper a few times. By now, the gem should be completely smooth on every side. Remove the 1200 grit sandpaper from the cutting board. Lay another cloth over the cutting board and tuck the ends under the bottom of the cutting board. Rinse the stone with water to remove any grit and dry it with a cloth. Squirt a dime-sized amount of liquid metal polish on the cloth that's over the cutting board. Take the dry gem and rub it vigorously through the polish on the cloth. Turn the gem and rub it again so that each facet becomes polished. If you're having a hard time seeing if the gem is polished enough, rinse it occasionally and dry it before rubbing it over the metal polish again. Run clean water over the gem to remove excess metal polish. Rub the gem dry with a clean cloth and examine it to see if it's as smooth as you like. Each facet of the gem should be smooth and shiny if you've polished it enough. If it still looks rough in spots, you can rub it over wet sandpaper again. Try the 1200 grit to smooth a small spot.
Summary: Select a softer gem for cutting without a machine. Lay the 180 grit sandpaper and cutting board on a cloth. Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 ml) of water on the sandpaper. Rub the gem against the wet 180 grit sandpaper. Rinse the gem and pour water over 400 grit sandpaper. Rub each facet of the gem over the 400 grit sandpaper. Rinse and rub the gem's facets over the 600 grit sandpaper. Finish rubbing the gem over 1200 grit sandpaper. Wrap the cutting board with cloth and rinse the stone. Put metal polish on the cloth and rub each facet of the stone against it. Rinse and dry the finished gem.