Friday, 12 August 2016

GREEN CURIO BOX

Hi Everyone!
Last few days it had been drizzling throughout the day.
Today the sun is struggling to peep in...

Today am going to share how I made this little green curio box

 All the materials, I found lying around in my home
Materials needed:
A suitable box( here I used a can like box which in past came with bandage; it has cardboard body and metal top and bottom)
Green handmade paper (am reusing wedding invitation card with golden tassle)
Craft glue
One wooden bead
Golden glitter gel pen
Green felt tip pen
Golden and green paint (acrylic or oil)
Ruler, pencil, scissors and brush.

 Measure the body of the box, cut appropriate size paper and neatly stick it.
For the lid, cut out the circular piece of paper.
Paint the bead in golden colour
fix the tassle through the bead
Now paste the paper on the lid and paint the edges of the lid with green paint such that no bare metallic area is seen
Stick the bead with tassle in the center of the lid to work as decorative handle

Next using green felt pen and golden glitter pen, I drew few lotus plants towards base of box. Kept it subtle, hence elegant.

One word about the temporary green accent tray
Once was gifted something in a neat cardboard box. I saved the bottom of the box.
Here I have neatly covered the box with lovely papers in varying shades of green.
It looks nice as it has mingled into the room because of the green colour and also helps my keep a few things and books organized.

Now the box and the tray sit pretty in my living room along with other green accents

Hope you like the box
Its small utility item
to stash away keys or sweets...

Wednesday, 3 August 2016

MAKE GREEN THE IN THING!

Hello there!
In most parts of northern hemisphere now summers are going away or are gone.
In India we have Monsoon, the rainy season now..
All is fresh and lush green...

So even I thought of bringing a little green inside my home.
I made Green cushion covers
Green lamp shade
Green decorative boxes
Green tray
along with
Green throw
Green predominant painting
Green foliage in pots and Green wine bottle
Green edged doilies
Green tea set.....

Well, today I shall share as to how I made the cushion covers.
Started with some fabric scraps I had at home
A yellow cotton fabric with embroidered green check pattern for the back,
Green satin for the front
and a salvaged saree border lace

 Cut out adequate size square for my 18 x 18 inches cushion with seam allowances
Neatly sew the border all around the square, especially around the corners
Made the back portion and sew them up just as I did in my previous post of CUSHION COVER: FAST & EASY!

 Now its done
Sitting pretty on my sofa

 Oh! You see these two lumber cushions?
Their front is also made from the left over saree border lace..
Cut to desired measure(here width of cushion) and stitched alongside another lace again and again till desired length of cushion is achieved. Just take a little care about symmetry of the designs in the lace.

I love lumber pillows
So does my back

 
 I did this water colour painting, the year we got married

Well I brought GREEN into my home using Green accents
Hope you like it
Next few post am going to share how I made the decorative boxes, tray and lampshade

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

PAINTED MY OWN DECAL

Hi! Am a restless soul always fidgeting to do something new.
Found a barren wall in my appartment which looked lonely :(
I painted it
It is cheerful now, and so is the complete room..

This is my wall in living room.
The paintings are made by me.
Rest of the wall is empty.
The room is decorated in colour shades of sunny yellow, orange, rust and brown.

I have used burnt brick red poster colour mixed with equal parts of white craft glue.
No pen/pencil/sketching
Just started off...
Love Frangipani or Plumeria plant and flowers..
Started with few branches coming in from the balcony attached to the living room..

Next painted the leaves and flowers..
Just outlines...

Then I realized the painting does not stand out
Unless I fill up the flowers and buds...

So, here it is...
My cheerful wall :)
My wall now has branches of Frangipani or Plumeria coming in through the balcony. They are in full bloom.
There is even a chirping pair of birds.

Wednesday, 13 July 2016

BUILD AND FLY YOUR OWN ROCKET

Hi! Its good to be back from holidaying!
Today is  some craft work done by kids
ROCKET!

What all you shall need:

Wasted CD
Toilet paper empty cardboard roll
Colour sheets (in two different colours)
Coloured cellotape
Felt tip colour pens
White craft glue
Scissors and knife
Pencil andruler

 Take the CD and draw a line, such that you get a segment as bellow. Ask a grown up to cut the CD with scissors carefully.
Measure the height of segment, say "A".
Now on side of the toilet paper cardboard roll, mark two lines of length "A" on each side of diameter of base. Ask a grown up to cut line slits as seen bellow with knife carefully.
Measure the full length of toilet paper roll and cut a coloured paper so as to cover it completely.
Cut out a circle from a different colour paper.

Cover and stick the coloured paper on to the roll neatly.
Now gently with knife cut the paper where earlier slits were made.
Insert the cut out CD segment into the slits on the cardboard roll, and your rocket can stand.
Cut the radius of the coloured circular paper, and then fold and stick to form a cone.


 Next decorate the rocket with colour tapes and drawing with colour pens.
Using glue fix the cone on top of your rocket and let it dry well.

Now that you have your own rocket..
FLY HIGH!

Wednesday, 15 June 2016

Bhuvaneshwar-Puri-Konark THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE over a long weekend!

A very big HI to All!
It was a long weekend and my kids school was also closing for summer break..
We took a quick trip to The Golden Triangle in Odisha!
Let me share a few snippets from our travel

We reached Bhuvaneshwar, the capital city of Odisha, India at night..
Rested the night
And after a hearty breakfast, hired a prepaid taxi to Puri and Konark...

The weather was cloudy and soon it started to pour...
We crossed the famous village of Pipli known for its applique works

We soon reached Puri
Went straight to Sri Jagannath Temple premises
And Prasaad (food offerings to the deity which is later distributed to the visiters)
Oh! the Prasaad tasted out of the world and a small helping was so filling..
No photography was allowed and it was pouring..
We went to Puri beach.. The sea was furious in rains...
We headed straight for Konark..
Just before turning in towards the city we went to beach.
Steep beach with roaring sea, topped with cold winds..

Near the Konark temple we hired umbrellas and moved on..
Though a lot in ruins, but restorations works are going on
It was the first Chariot shaped temple built in the locality
which later became the trend
The temple is shaped as Chariot standing on twelve pairs of wheels and driven by seven horses...
Note the gateway
The Lion dominating an elephant is symbol repeated in many Kalinga architectural pieces in this region
Moisture got into my camera. Oops!


Aarotrika and Adhrit are standing next to a giant wheel of the temple.
Not only intricately carved
The wheels are designed to give exact time calculation even today..
Oh! About the carvings on this temple!
The elephants in queue holding their trunks and tails
Various Hindu deities
Beautiful floral carvings
And there are enumerous little erotic carvings all around the temple! Curious!
Well tired by now we came back to Bhuvaneshwar.

Next day we stayed in Bhuvaneshwar only
First to Lingaraja Temple devoted to Lord Shiva
Numerous small and big temples built on lines of Kalinga architectures,
All in a huge temple complex
Offering prayer to many forms of Lord Shiva!
Beautiful, but sadly no pics to share

Next we went to Mukteshwar temple
Again a chariot temple devoted to Lord Shiva

Beautifully carved
Is not so?
Glowing as gold in the sunlight..

My little world in this Old world temple complex..

Now we headed across the city to the mountains of
Udaygiri and Khandagiri
built around 2nd century B.C.
Many Jain monasteries are built here
The rooms are joined by long passages guarded by pillars
And rooms are small barely reaching height of standing man
The beds are mere elevated stone raised on head end like pillow
In all this simple living are intricate carvings

 Brahmi inscriptions are seen on the walls and ceiling
Love this particular cave

In contrast to yesterday
Today is very sunny

Next stop was Dhauli
Emperor Ashoka after the famous battle of Kalinga was full of remorse
The Daya river's water had turned red with blood
 
He built many rock relics with laid down rules to promote peace, love and orderliness in society, in Brahmi script. Still seen here...
 
In 1970s this White pagoda was built here

 The Pagoda has huge Buddha statues in different forms and many stone tablets.

We lastly went to see Raja-Rani temple
The beauty carved on stones take your breathe away

 Another piece on architectural glamour

Evening I went shopping and bought Sambalpuri sarees with Ikkat pattern unique to this region.
Time for good sleep
Early morning we came back home...

Shall take you soon to another trip...

Wednesday, 8 June 2016

CUSHION COVER: FAST & EASY!

Hi! A few things are never too many!
Like cushions!
Have a pair of 10x10 inches cushions,
Sew covers for them from left overs...

All I used was:
Adequate amount of printed heavy fabric for front
and matching cotton fabric for back
Some trimming(them came out of fleece shawl I used for making baby quilt)
Matching sewing thread, scissors, measuring tape and sewing machine
And, yes a little velcro

Front was easiest done by cutting out 10.4"x10.4" printed fabrics
The back was made such that the cushion can be put in or out through an overlapping opening
Fixed in place using velcro in the centre

Now the more tricky part
Sewing the pieces of fabric together in right order:
1st: the back fabric facing the right side up
2nd:  the trimming or any edging facing the right side up; and with the lacy or free side towards the centre or inwards
and last 3rd: the front fabric with the WRONG side up

Following the above order, once you finish sewing all around, neatly sewing in the edging and turn the cushion inside out You get a perfect cushion cover.

So simple
Just one morning!

Enjoy simple pleasures of life!

Friday, 3 June 2016

BUTTERFLY FAIRY IN MY GARDEN

Hi All!
The month of June brings summer vacation to my kids..
So we do crafts, plays and read new things..
Am going to share some of the good crafts me and my adorable kids make this Summer Together...
How about a happy butterfly fairy in your garden
 Before starting collect all you need:
Empty tissue paper roll (else roll up a card board)
Any Colour paper
 Felt tip or sketch pens
Crayons
White Card paper
White glue
Shiny colour tape
Googly eyes
Match sticks
Sequins
Pencil
Scissors

To begin
Mark the height of tissue paper roll on card paper
This is the maximum height of the wings
Now draw symmetrical wings of butterfly with any pattern
Then using black felt pen draw the final outlines



Use crayons to fill in the colours
Can also use sequins on the wings
Cut out the wings from card paper
  

Now its turn to make the body
1. Cover the body with any coloured paper and fix it with glue
You can put coloured tape to add features as crown, dress..
Draw the features of butterfly with pencil
2. Next glue or tape the match sticks to make the antenae
Also stick the googly eyes
3. Use felt pens to do detailing of face and dress
4. Use touches of crayon to add depth like in dress and facial make-up

Now time for patience
Stick the body to the wings with glue
Wait till its well dry
  

 Done!
Isn't she a beauty?

 My kids Aarotrika and Adhrit had loads of fun making this Butterfly
Hope you too
Shall come back with some more craft...

Vibrant Mushroom Botanical Watercolor Painting with Printable

  Vibrant Mushroom Botanical Watercolor Painting is a great Artwork to own. Watch me paint Bright Watercolor Mushroom and you can enjoy this...