Stay for a While
Fire Up Some Fun
Going on local adventures during your staycation is fun, but, of course, so is planning activities at home. And there’s a wealth of staycation possibilities where you live, including holding board game marathons (even outdoors), stargazing, backyard camping, making s’mores, and just enjoying the great outdoors.
One way to add ambience to your outdoor activities is to make your own tabletop fire pit, which will immediately become the focal point of any backyard summertime activity—and add hours of fun to your staycation!
DIY Tabletop Fire Pit
Materials
- Work gloves
- Drop cloth
- Nonstick spray
- 18-inch bowl
- Large bucket
- Concrete mix
- Masonry trowel
- 14.5-inch bowl
- Heavy weights
- Sandpaper, coarse and fine sheets
- Lava rock granules
- Gel fuel canisters
- Grill grate/metal screen
- Industrial scissors
- Large lava rocks
- Lighter
Instructions
- After putting on work gloves and laying down a drop cloth, cast the concrete bowl by spraying the inside of the extra-large bowl with nonstick spray, and then mix up the concrete in a bucket. Using the trowel, add the concrete to the extra-large bowl until it’s half full, and then add the large bowl and weigh down with weights, making sure both bowls are level.
- Gently tap the outside of the bowl to release any air bubbles, and allow the concrete to harden (about 48 hours).
- When the concrete is set, gently remove it from the mold by removing the inner bowl first, and then the outer bowl.
- Using rough sandpaper, smoothen the area around the top of the bowl and any other jagged edges. Go over a final time with fine-grit sand paper.
- To assemble the fire pit, place a layer of the lava rock granules in the bottom of the bowl, and then add the fuel canisters in the center. Cut the grill grate or metal screen to fit the top of the bowl, and then place it over the canisters. Cover with a layer of large lava rocks.
- To use, simply light the fuel canisters through the grate with a lighter.
- To extinguish the fire, follow the guidelines for the gel fuel canisters. (NOTE: Do not try to blow out the fire or use liquid to do so.)
When it comes to staycationing, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Download this printable checklist to get a complete itinerary of fun activities for your summer staycation!
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Get the home fires burning for friends and family by sharing this DIY tabletop fire pit on social media!
