Summer Igloo

An instant air-powered summer hideaway. For the kids.

This is dirt simple, but the rumors of summer hotness reminded me of this little trick I used to do as a kid and I felt like posting it. It was perfect for cooling off and reading some Tintin or Asterix & Obelix. I also had a reason to make some god awful pink monstrosity in SketchUp so what the hell.

Step 1: Quick! Find Stuff Around the House!

What you need:

- Duct tape
- Flat bedsheet. The bigger and pinker the better. Try and get a clean one.
- Fan. The big box fans work best.
- Hardcover books, wooden blocks, or some other weight. Go and raid the bookshelf.

Step 2: Slap It Together

Take one of the short sides of the sheet and tape it onto the fan with the duct tape. Make sure the fan's pointing towards the sheet.

With the rest of the sheet lying on the ground, grab the middle of the sheet and pull it up a few feet off the ground and let go. Now place the books along the long sides of the sheet.

Step 3: Turn It on and Let the Breeze Blow.

Turn on the fan and watch the sheet inflate. This should make a nice air dome with the air escaping out a gap on the opposite side. Move the books around the adjust the height. If air is escaping out the side or the entrance is too big, just put down more books.

You can add a second "room" or make this bigger by taping another sheet to the first one. For an igloo effect make a long tunnel that needs to be crawled through to get inside.

Congrations! Now you're a boy or a girl in a bubble.