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Grandma’s Trick for Lighting Matches When It’s Windy

It seems that even when mom knows best, grandma knows better! That’s especially true when it comes to life’s little tricks and tips. After all, grandmas are so resourceful!

Here are three little hacks for when you just wish there were a better way to do things!

Light a match in the wind

Few things are more frustrating than trying to light a match on a windy day! Don’t worry, grandma’s got you covered!

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Materials

  • Matches

Tools

  • Knife

Instructions

1. Using the knife, shave little nicks into the matchstick, toward the tip. They should curl outward, almost like the boughs of a pine tree.

2. Save match in a match box for when you really need fire on a breezy day.

Sharpen scissors and keep them sharp

A good pair of scissors is an investment that pays high returns in a daily life at home, so keep your pair sharp. Oh, and don’t let anyone else use it!

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Materials

  • Sharpening stone

  • Small combination padlock

Tools

  • Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Unscrew the scissors into two parts.

2. Take one side of the scissors at a time, and lay the blade to be sharpened flat against the stone.

3. Slowly scrape the scissor blade across the stone, in an ‘up and away’ motion.

4. Repeat on other side. Then screw the two sides back together again.

5. Fit the small padlock through the finger holes on the scissors and lock it. Now your fabric scissors won’t be used on paper, or vice versa.

Related on Yahoo Makers: 8 Easy Tricks to Look Better in Pictures

Teach kids the right way to set a table

All those knives, forks, and spoons can be a little confusing for the kids, and that confusion can be an easy excuse when it comes to not setting the table. Here’s an easy way to set them straight.

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Materials

  • Dish

  • Glass

  • Knife

  • Fork

  • Spoon

  • Napkin

  • Marker

  • Paper placemat (11x17” from a copier is fine)

Instructions

1. Trace each object onto the paper, in its correct place.

2. Print off multiples so that the children can use them as often as needed, until they understand the pattern on their own.

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