How to Measure Without A Ruler

Let's say you are in need of a ruler or measuring tape for your latest craft venture and you suddenly realize that you don't have a ruler or measuring tape on hand. What are you going to do? How about improvising.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dollar Bill (a 5,10 or 20 will work as well)
• Arm
• String or Rope
• Scissors
• Pencil

1. Measuring is typically alot easier if you have a ruler or measuring tape on hand and most of us do. However, there are times when for whatever reason those trusty items have vanished into thin air. Now you are in a pickle, you don't want to stop what you are doing to try to find it and you sure don't want to run to the store and pick one up.

2. Don't, you have other ways of measuring close at hand. How close? how about in your pocket and attached to your person. Yep, in your pocket is the most compact little measuring tool ever made; a dollar (or five, ten, 20, etc.). The money you were going to use to buy a new ruler is now your temporary ruler. American paper money is a cool six inches in length from end to end and if you fold it in half you have three inches. Whip out that buck, fiver or ten and start measuring.

3. What about the attached to your person measuring device I mentioned? Oh, yeah those are called arms. If you were to measure from the center of your palm to the inside of your elbow it typically would be an even twelve inches or one foot. Cool huh? so how do you use your arm to measure. Well grab a piece of string or rope and starting at the middle of your palm, measure up to the inside of your elbow and then cut the string. There, now you have a foot long ruler.

[ultra360]

on 9/28/2009 Wow, I didn't know money was 6". That is a really great tip I never considered! Thanks!!