-Something like these...?

http://www.katahdin-online.com/footrests.html

-Take big block of wood. Saw into 5"x6"X7" block. That's a good one.

or cross cut a board into two 6", one 9", and one 11" pieces. Butt the 9 incher to the 6" sides so that the ends of the sides are flush with the top of the 9" with nails, nail through the 11" into the two 6". One more through the center, clinch it, all done. Takes 6 minutes with a handsaw. Lasts 50 years.

-It used to feel a bit weird using a sloping footstool. Doesn't bother me too much now, but I still prefer the flat/horizontal ones. I wonder whether there's much to be said for one kind or the other?