A springtime conundrum: How do you prevent the umbrella that kept you dry outdoors from getting everything indoors soaking wet? Let it drip dry into a special basket that you can empty out later. And when the long, dry days of summer roll in, this decorative bucket has an even duckier use: storing pool toys!
| Prep Time: Afternoon or Evening | |
| What you need: | |
| 2 small identical white plastic wastebaskets that fit
inside one another
12- by 18-inch sheet of orange craft foam Pencil, ruler Scissors Duct tape Pushpin Hammer and nail Three 1 ¼-inch-long metal paper fasteners Two 12-ounce bags of floral marbles (or stones) | |
| Seasons: Rainy day, Spring | |
| Materials: plastic tubs | |
| Instructions: | |
| 1. | Place one of the baskets on the foam sheet at least 1/2 inch from one of the 18-inch sides. Trace around the bottom of the basket about 1/2 inch out from the base, then draw duck feet extended from the front of the circle. Cut out the shape in one piece. |
| 2. |  To attach the feet to the basket, stick 3 1/2-inch squares
of duct tape to the foam as shown, spacing them evenly apart. Use
a pushpin to make a hole through the center of each tape square
and the foam. |
| 3. |  Center the feet, taped side up, atop the overturned basket.
Press a pencil through the pinholes to make corresponding marks
on the bottom of the basket. Then remove the foam and use a
hammer and nail to make holes through the plastic at the
marks. |
| 4. | Realign the feet and insert a metal paper fastener through each pair of lined-up holes, spreading open the prongs against the inside bottom of the basket. |
| 5. | Finally, place some marbles or stone weights in the basket, then slide the second, water-collecting basket into the first, and the holder's ready to use. |
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