I use a lot of other techniques for differing behaviours. Mostly the time-outs are for completley unacceptable behvaiour, like hitting. They don't get used very often, but as a point to give her an understanding when something is really not ok. I don't want her to go through life thinking it is ok to hurt somebody else just because you are in a bad mood or not getting your own way.

She is going through a real testing of her boundries stage at the moment. For example last night at dinner she was carrying on at the table, grabbing at her brothers food, pushing his drink bottle into his mouth, getting up and down from the table, throwing food, screeching in my face etc. when I told her I would anwser her when she used a nice voice and strarted ignoring her behaviour she got her fork and stabbed me in the arm with it! So what would you do???
Personally, since you asked for opinions, she obviously isn't happy with sitting at the table anymore, so I'd say it was time for bed. Do you have DH there for dinner times, to help with one while you manage the other? Was she particularly cranky for any reason (I know sometimes my DD is really tired by the end of the day and I have to accept at a certain point she's gone beyond the point she can control herself)? If she's really at that point, I might just take the fork away from her and try to understand what she's so upset about. I'd make really sure I wasn't getting upset either, one tantrum is enough. Believe me, I find that the hardest thing sometimes! If I keep my cool I can usually find a way to get through it with my DD.

If it's at the point where she can't be manged, DH isn't around to help, I'd perhaps resort to time out. In our house, time out is in the laundry, where she can't open the door. And it isn't for very long, but there's no entertainment for her in there!