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If something looks and sounds stupid, but it really works, then it’s not actually stupid! Problems don’t always need to be solved with fancy, expensive, and high-tech approaches. All you really need is a bit of creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to test things out till they work.

Our team at Bored Panda has collected some of the most brilliant DIY solutions to mundane problems that people came up with, and they might just inspire you to think outside the box. Scroll down to load your brain up with some imaginative inspiration.

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

This Gentleman At Target Who Reversed His Hooded Sweatshirt To Make A Puppy Pocket

Man creatively solves a problem by using an oversized sweatshirt to carry a small puppy inside a store.

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    #2

    Seamless Fix

    Red car fender replaced with a mismatched white panel spray painted with the word red, showing creative problem solving.

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    #3

    Use Letter Trays As Additional Freezer Shelves

    Organized freezer with labeled bags and stacked trays showing creative problem solving in storage solutions.

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    It doesn’t necessarily take a genius to solve a simple problem. And yet, an adventurous, curious, scientific mindset can really help when you’re up against unusual issues. People often have different specializations, talents, and ways of thinking. Some folks might be more likely to experiment with various solutions until they find something that works.

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    Or, in other words, many people have good ideas, but not everyone is willing to put them into practice and test them out.

    Human intelligence is still difficult to get to grips with. Saying that you’re smart isn’t saying all that much because you might be amazing in some areas and lacking in others. And your IQ score might not accurately depict your full range of talents and abilities and how they interconnect.

    #4

    Steering Wheel Broke, Needed To Finish The Yard. Thankfully I Know How To Drive A Stick

    Lawn mower with a wooden plank creatively attached to the steering wheel as an unhinged problem-solving hack.

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    #5

    Used A Leaf Blower And A Funnel To Inflate A Pool. Actually Worked Fairly Quickly

    Person using a red funnel and leaf blower to inflate an outdoor blue pool in a creative problem-solving way.

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    #6

    Cut A Pool Noodle In Half To Make A Comfortable Armrest For The Truck. From Australia

    Driver in a white truck using a pink pool noodle as an improvised armrest, showing a creative problem-solving solution.

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    According to a theory developed by psychologist Howard Gardner, individuals possess varying strengths across (at least) eight types of intelligence. These include: linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, and naturalistic intelligence. The ninth proposed type is so-called existential intelligence, Verywell Mind explains.

    Though Gardner’s theory is popular in education, it’s also often criticized for being far too broad. Critics argue that these intelligences, proposed by Gardner, are simply talents, abilities, and personality traits. What’s more, the psychologist’s theory lacks strong supporting empirical research.

    That being said, even if you don’t necessarily classify these abilities as types of intelligence, they are still individual areas of strength and excellence that are worth being aware of.

    #7

    Who's Laughing Now?

    Car elevated on small wheels driving through deep floodwater showcasing a creative and unhinged problem-solving solution.

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    #8

    Keep Your Toddler Safely In The Grocery Cart Seat (And Prevent Abductions) With A Carabiner

    Blue carabiner clipped to jeans inside a shopping cart showing a creative and unhinged problem solving hack.

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    #9

    The Snacklebox, Perfect For A Day Trip

    Creative and unhinged snack organizer using a tackle box with assorted crackers, meats, cheeses, and fruits at the beach.

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    For example, someone with good visual-spatial intelligence is great at things like working with and interpreting directions, maps, charts, videos, and photos. These individuals tend to be good at putting puzzles together, enjoy drawing, painting, and the visual arts, and recognize patterns easily. Career-wise, they would make great architects, artists, and engineers.

    Meanwhile, someone who has awesome linguistic-verbal intelligence excels in writing stories, memorizing information, and reading. They’re good at debating or giving persuasive speeches, are adept at using humor when telling stories, and they make great writers, journalists, lawyers, and teachers.

    #10

    Parenting Hack #2446

    Creative problem solving shown by a child seated on a foldable chair attached to a suitcase at an airport terminal.

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    #11

    To My Fellow Gardeners, If You Need Less “Chunky” Soil Use A Litter Scoop

    Plastic cat litter scoop used creatively to sift soil in a gardening setup on a wooden floor surface.

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    #12

    A Whole Load Of Amish Guys Moving A Barn

    Group of people creatively lifting a large barn structure to solve a moving problem in an unhinged way outdoors.

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    Individuals with good logical-mathematical intelligence, on the other hand, are experts at analyzing problems and doing mathematical operations.

    They are great at thinking about numbers, relationships, and patterns conceptually, enjoy thinking about abstract ideas, and like doing scientific experiments.

    Naturally, they make great mathematicians, engineers, accountants, scientists, and computer programmers.

    #13

    Found This Fork In My Brothers House And Asked Him Why He Had Done It.... Then He Ran Upstairs To Grab His iPad

    Fork with pink handle creatively repurposed as a tablet stand showcasing problem solving in unhinged ways.

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    #14

    Solo Couch Carry

    Man creatively solving problem by using an office chair to transport a large couch outdoors on a sidewalk.

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    #15

    When You’ve Got Too Many Groceries For Your Reg Cab Pickup

    Pickup truck bed with grocery bags hanging creatively secured by an orange strap, showcasing creative problem solving.

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    Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence refers to being good at body movement, physical control, good hand-eye coordination, and dexterity. People who excel in this area tend to become dancers, crafstpeople, builders, sculptors, actors, or surgeons.

    Musical intelligence means that a person excels in thinking about patterns, rhythms, and sounds. Not surprisingly, these individuals make great musicians, singers, composers, conductors, and music teachers.

    #16

    If You Run Out Of Aa Batteries For Anything, AAA Batteries And A Small Crumbled-Up Ball Of Aluminum Foil Will Make A Good Replacement

    Laptop battery compartment with AAA batteries and foil used creatively to solve power connection problem.

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    #17

    Water Powered Sausage Rotisserie

    Creative and unhinged problem solving shown by a bike wheel with wooden clothespins near an outdoor fire pit in winter.

    Me and my brother-in-law made a water-powered sausage rotisserie yesterday in my backyard (we have a very small creek on the property) using a bike wheel, bike fork, coroplast sign, paint stirrers, zip ties, and a wheel (12 hot dog rotisserie for a grill from the 1950's) I bought off eBay. Cooked up some Saugy Franks on potato rolls with French's mustard.

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    #18

    Master Lock 100

    Creative and unhinged problem solved with a wrench used as a latch secured by a lock on a wooden door.

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    Someone who is good at interpersonal intelligence is wonderful at understanding and interacting with other people. They’re great at assessing other individuals’ emotions, motivations, desires, and intentions, Verywell Mind explains.

    They’re skilled at nonverbal communication, empathy, and conflict resolution, and they make good psychologists, counselors, politicians, salespeople, and philosophers.

    #19

    Putting A Hair Tie Over Your Wrist With Box Dye Gloves Makes Them Almost Useful

    Black disposable glove stretched open on printed paper showing a creative problem solving tool usage.

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    #20

    My Dad "Fixed" My Lawnmower

    Lawn mower with a creatively crafted wooden wheel attached, showcasing a problem solved in a unique way.

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    #21

    Door Bell Backup

    Rusty hammer mounted on a door as a creative and unhinged problem-solving doorbell alternative.

    I was expecting the gas company to come by today to change out my propane tank, and they said that they rang the doorbell, but no one came to the door, and when I tried to call them, they just went to voicemail. I don't know what was wrong with the phone, but it turns out my doorbell and pick malfunctioned at that time. I need a tank changeout bad, so I came up with the emergency backup doorbell.

    Henderson2026 Report

    On the flip side, someone with intrapersonal (not to be confused with interpersonal) intelligence excels at introspection and self-reflection, understanding their own emotional states, feelings, and motivations, and enjoys self-analysis. They understand their motivations and personal strengths and make great writers, theorists, philosophers, and scientists.

    #22

    That Is Something That Was Ever Found In A House Floor

    Nest of wasps built cleverly in a small wooden corner showcasing creative problem solving in unusual ways.

    Seventy-odd years ago, someone blocked a mouse hole in the barn granary by nailing a corncob into it. Today, I found it in the floor of my master bedroom. I'd say it wouldn't work, but it apparently did, since the mice never chewed it back out.

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    #23

    I Think This Qualifies?

    Toyota truck bed creatively repurposed as a built-in backyard pool, showcasing a unique and unhinged problem-solving idea.

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    #24

    Drill A Bunch Of Holes In A 5 Gal Bucket And Use That To Collect Your Fruits/Vegetables And Wash Them All At Once

    Person using creative problem solving with a DIY self-watering bucket planter outdoors in a garden setting.

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    Meanwhile, naturalistic intelligence refers to an individual’s ability to find patterns and relationships in nature. It means that someone is more in tune with nature, exploring their environment, and learning about other species. These people can make good biologists, gardeners, conservationists, and farmers. However, this part of Gartner’s theory has been met with more resistance by other researchers.

    Existential intelligence, the ninth type of intelligence proposed as an addition to Gardner’s original theory, revolves around a person’s ability to delve into the deeper questions about life and existence. Individuals who excel here potentially make good philosophers, theologians, and pastors.

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    #25

    Been Sick This Week, Taking A Lot Of Baths To Steam My Sinuses. Water Cools Down Too Fast And Never Enough Steam. With A $10 Vinyl Sheet, I Made A Steam Room

    Feet protected under a plastic sheet while soaking in a bathtub, showcasing a creative problem-solving method.

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    #26

    Redneck Repurposing Of Kids' Recreational Toys

    Ceiling fan made with skateboard decks and wheels, showcasing a creative and unhinged way to solve a problem.

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    #27

    Clothes Pegs Fit Nicely Between Brick To Hold Lights

    Creative problem solving shown with clothespin used to hold Christmas lights on a brick wall in an unhinged way.

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    Which of these out-of-the-box, DIY, bizarrely brilliant life hacks impressed you the most, dear Pandas? What’s the weirdest, dumb-looking yet effective solution that you’ve ever come up with for a basic problem in your life? Would you say that you’re willing to experiment with unusual and novel approaches in life, or do you prefer doing what’s already tried and tested?

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    #28

    My 12 Year Old Son Modified His Bike With Carpet For Barefoot Riding

    Green bike with carpet pieces attached as pedals, demonstrating a creative and unhinged problem-solving hack.

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    #29

    My Gas Cap Stopped Closing Properly, So I Came Up With A Solution

    Car fuel cap secured with a metal hinge latch, showcasing a creative and unhinged problem-solving approach.

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    #30

    Home Made Smoker From FB

    Two charcoal grills connected with flexible ducting showing a creative and unhinged solution for smoking food outdoors.

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    #31

    Who Would Ever Pay For One Of Them Fancy Projector Mounts? Courtesy Of My Local Dive Bar

    Projector creatively mounted on ceiling inside a wire rack cage as an unhinged problem-solving solution.

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    #32

    Found That On A German Sub, Text Means "Emergency Stop"

    Pliers with a makeshift cloth holder labeled "NOT AUS" in a cluttered tech setup, showing creative problem solving.

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    #33

    Guy On The Plane Put His Boarding Pass In His Phone Case, Holding It Up With The Tray Table Latch

    Phone held on airplane seat back using paper as a creative and unhinged problem-solving method for hands-free viewing.

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    #34

    A Woman On My Timeline Has A "Remote Stick", Because Her Family Loses The TV Remote So Often

    Remote taped to a wooden plank mounted on the wall as a creative solution to keep it from getting lost.

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    #35

    The Temporary Fix Has Become A Permanent Fix

    Black bucket creatively hung from ceiling pipes with a yellow hose attached, showcasing a problem solved in an unhinged way.

    The temporary bucket has been sitting on the floor for months collecting a leak. It was recently upgraded to a permanent fix with a drain hose plumbed into a pipe that leads to a nearby sink.

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    #36

    Anti Frost Devices

    Yellow car with a broken side mirror creatively fixed using a plastic bag and padding, showcasing an unhinged problem solution.

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    #37

    Spray Bottle Storage

    Cleaning spray bottles creatively hung on a towel using an unhinged problem-solving hack in a bathroom setting.

    With only two of us living in the house now with extra towel holders. I found this to be quite effective.

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    #38

    Spotted This Beauty At A Walmart

    Green car with a custom-built camper shell attached, showcasing a creative and unhinged problem-solving solution.

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    #39

    Automotive Excellence

    Red truck with a broken grille creatively repaired with wooden slats, showcasing a unique problem-solving method.

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    #40

    I Hit Something Sharp And It Ripped Them Open. Fixed My Pants With Zip Ties

    Close-up of dirty orange work pants creatively repaired with a small clamp as a problem-solving hack.

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    #41

    I Use My Fan To Vent The Fumes Away From Me When Onion Chopping

    Fan positioned to ventilate cutting board where onion is chopped, showcasing creative problem solving in everyday kitchen tasks.

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    #42

    Why Use Nuts When Wood Doesn't Rust?

    Close-up of a creative and unhinged solution using a wooden wedge to fix a metal and plastic appliance part.

    Snapped off a rusted bolt and couldn't get the rest out. Ground the nut hanger thing off and ran a screw into a piece of hardwood until I can get a replacement. The most permanent fix is a temporary one.

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    #43

    Show Me You’re In Florida With One Picture

    Window air conditioner creatively supported by stacked bricks outside a beige house wall solving a problem.

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    #44

    I’m Basically A Mechanic. Glovebox Won’t Work? $5 And Some Superglue For A Fix

    Creative solution using a bent metal hook to fix a broken car glove compartment latch in an unhinged way.

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    #45

    Safe Way To Run With Keys: Thread The Aglet Through Your Car Keys And Then Put The Aglet Through Eyelet With The Key Firmly Attached In The Middle

    Worn running shoes with a car key tied into the laces, showing a creative and unhinged problem-solving hack.

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    #46

    I Call It The Madness Mobile

    Homemade motorized cooler labeled Madness Mobile parked on driveway, showcasing creative and unhinged problem solving.

    Essentially a Coleman cooler on wheels. Does about 45 mph and gets a lot of “[why?]” looks.

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    #47

    Heavy Duty Office Chair

    Office chair with yellow shock absorbers creatively added for enhanced comfort showing a creative problem-solving hack.

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    #48

    Somebody Was Proud Of Their Custom Antenna For The Garage TV

    Plastic hanger modified with empty cans to solve a problem in a creative and unhinged way outdoors under a metal roof.

    For $50, you too could get a garage TV mount and a "sweet custom made antenna".

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    #49

    Bucket Is Full Detector

    Small electronic device with wires and batteries installed in a radiator area showcasing creative problem solving ideas.

    The heater is leaking. I put a bucket under the leak. Put the sensor in the bucket. Home Assistant tells me when I have to change the bucket.

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    #50

    Impressive Ngl

    Mug creatively repaired with metal clamps and screws, demonstrating a unique and unhinged problem-solving approach.

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    #51

    Ran Out Of Clothesline Space, House-Help Hacked A Clothesline

    Clothes hung on hangers suspended between two chairs, a creative and unhinged problem-solving setup outdoors.

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    #52

    Feast Your Eyes… My Brother’s Gaming Chair

    Wooden chair with cushions strapped using tape as a creative and unhinged problem-solving solution in a cluttered room.

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    #53

    Didn't Feel Like Having Company Today

    Metal tool creatively used as a door lock on a textured metal door, showcasing a unique problem-solving hack.

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    #54

    Use A Knife To Cool Down Your Crisp Toast So It Won't Get Soggy! That's Right! Not Just For Bagels!

    Knife stabbed through three pieces of toast standing on a cutting board demonstrating a creative problem-solving hack.

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    #55

    Saw An Amazing Mailbox Today

    Green ladder creatively used to support a mailbox, showcasing creative and unhinged problem solving outdoors in winter.

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    #56

    Signal Booster

    Wireless router antenna creatively fixed with paper clips to solve signal issue in a clever and unhinged way.

    Seen at a rental place I was doing work at.

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    #57

    The Mark Of An Expert Dishwasher Installer

    Dishwasher installed with a cutout in the counter to fit, showcasing a creative and unhinged problem-solving solution.

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    #58

    Soap Holder At My Friend’s House

    Creative problem solving shown by securing soap with screws on a wooden holder attached to a fence outdoors.

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    #59

    Use A Plastic Egg Carton If You Don’t Have A Module Tray For Planting Seeds. Cut Holes In The Top And Bottom With A Razor Blade And Fill With Potting Mix

    Young plants growing in a creative and unhinged DIY seed tray repurposed for gardening on a gravel surface

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    #60

    High Chair For Inconveniently Tall Deck Railing

    Black folding chair with extended legs made from metal pipes in a garage showcasing creative and unhinged problem solving.

    My hunting mentor brought me to a friend’s ranch to wait for some hogs that kept digging up his yard. The problem was his deck railing was too tall for just sitting in a normal chair to rest a rifle and have a clean shot down into his yard. So this was my solution. I had conduit on hand and picked up a cheap steel chair. Ended up being the perfect height, too bad the hogs didn’t show up again… lol

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    #61

    Homie Thinks Duck Tape Structural

    TV suspended on a wall using tape and straps, showcasing creative problem solving in unique and unhinged ways.

    Bro literally hung a 24in monitor and Xbox up with duck tape bc land lord said not holes in da wall.

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    #62

    Broken Toilet Handle Fix

    Toilet handle fixed with rubber bands and a makeshift hook, a creative problem-solving example in a bathroom setting.

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    #63

    Redneck Anti-Theft. It Was The Same On Both Sides

    Silver car with door attached by chains as a creative and unhinged problem solving solution at night.

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    #64

    Half Price Two Room A/C Installation

    Air conditioner unit installed in a tight corner space, a creative and unhinged solution to a tricky problem.

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    #65

    Damp Fabric And Cold Drink In Front Of The Stupid Fan With The Window Open Better Cooling

    Fan propped up on Coca-Cola cans with a cloth draped over it, a creative problem-solving hack on a black table.

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    #66

    Slowish Leak On Water Pipe, No Plumber Available Today. 10 Layers Of Paint And 2 Burlap Bags Cut In Strips

    Pipe patched with wire and tape in a creative and unhinged way to solve a plumbing problem.

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    #67

    Kitchen Counter/Stairs Hybrid

    Modern kitchen with red cabinets and an unusual staircase integrated into the kitchen island, a creative problem solved design.

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    #68

    My Christmas Themed Repair

    Red car with a broken headlight held together by colorful straps showing creative and unhinged problem solving outdoors in snow.

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    #69

    How Can I Improve This?

    Bathroom shower with mesh bags hung on shower rod and a comb balanced on a storage rack showing creative problem solving.

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    #71

    Roommate Accidentally Bought Paper Towels Instead Of Toilet Paper, So This Was His Solution

    Partially shredded toilet paper roll with unhinged and creative problem-solving visible in the torn edges.

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    #72

    So If You Want To Reheat Pizza Without It Getting Soggy. Put It In The Toaster

    Two slices of pizza creatively toasted inside a toaster, showcasing an unhinged problem-solving method.

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