Crafty Thinkings of an Uncrafty person

Cheap and Durable Zigsaw puzzles for Kids

2009-02-19T09:23:00.009Z

My daughter is three years. It is right time to introduce her to jigsaw puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles are very useful in teaching different concepts in a fun way. The possibilities of using zigsaw puzzles in education are boundless. Your child can improve his motor skills by working on zigsaw puzzles. You can teach him various concepts like opposites, animals, nature, maths, language etc. through zigsaw puzzles. When introducing jigsaw puzzle for the first time, you should keep in mind that the puzzle is large and easy to understand, so that the child finds it fun to solve the puzzle.
I made this jigsaw puzzle from a hard cover story book that Ananya had torn apart. The pages are intact, so I cut a page in to four square pieced and the jigsaw puzzle is ready. Let the child see the original picture, jumble up and then ask him to join the pieces.
jigsaw puzzles

A Knitted Purse for Beginners

2009-02-15T11:14:00.006Z

I have made this small flap purse for my mom. Actually this purse was supposed to be a scarf for my husband, but I jumbled up the pattern here and there and then didn't find the inclination to continue. So I improvised the scarf and gave it the shape of a purse by folding it. I have tried to decorate this small purse with beaded outline.I got the idea of the scarf from about.com.
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knitted purse
crafts

How to Make Mosaic plant Pots

2009-02-09T15:06:00.003Z

Mosaic is a craft achievable by complete beginners. Essentially, it is painting by-numbers but with pieces of glass or ceramic, known as tesserae, instead of paint. The skill lies in combining colors together in a pleasing way, and in producing a representative pictorial image. To start with, draw simple stylized shapes freehand or mark out geometric patterns on a plywood base, then fill in the designs with colored tesserae.

Mosaic Plant Pots:
You will need:
Terracotta flower pots
PVA white glue and brush
mixing container
acrylic paint
paintbrush
chalk or wax crayon
plain and patterned ceramic tiles
tile nipper
rubber gloves
flexible knife
tile adhesive
powdered waterproof tile grout
cement dye
nailbrush
lint-free, soft cloth

Fragments of plain and patterned broken tile have been incorporated into the design of these mosaic plant pots. Collect your materials by looking in junk shops for old china in contrasting and complementary patterns.

Steps to make mosaic plant pots:
1. If the pots are not frost-resistant and they are intended for outdoor use, treat inside out by sealing with a coat of diluted PVA glue. Allow to dry. Paint the inside of all the pots with acrylic paint in your chosen color. Leave to dry. Using chalk or wax crayon, roughly sketch out the design for the pieces.
2. Snip small pieces of ceramic tile to fit within your chosen design. Using a flexible knife, spread the adhesive on to small areas of the design at a time. Press the tile pieces in place, working on the outlines first, and then filling in the background.
3. Mix powdered grout with water and a little cement dye. Spread the grout over the pot, filling all the cracks between the tile pieces. Allow the surface to dry thoroughly.
4. Brush off any excess with a nail brush. Allow to dry thoroughly for at least 48 hours and then polish with a dry, soft cloth.

Make a Personalized Book for Your Child

2009-02-08T21:33:00.002Z

I got the idea of a personalized book for my daughter from bound books. I improvised the idea and made the book, with the help of my three old daughter. She got me all the supplies and I made the book. As I didn't have a hole punch, I used only eight papers to make the notebook, so that the tapestry needle can pass through them easily.
The material you will need:
Two hard cards of the same size,
scissors,
Tapestry needle,
Yarn,
White papers
I didn't have hard card either. I decided to use the card which Ananya had painted at her school. It was stiff, and more over it had Ananya's name slip pasted on one side. Just perfect. I cut the stiff card in two equal halves and then folded four A4 size paper the size of that card. Then I sewed all the pages along with the cards above and below.

Easy Recipe: Bread Rolls

2009-01-24T20:38:00.001Z

Things You Need:
1. 4 Breads
2. Water
3. Potatoes: 2
4. Chili powder
5. Salt
7. Cooking oil
8. Spices

Filling: boil the potatoes and mash them when they are done. Add salt,chilli powder and spices( I add coriander powder and Garam Masala). The filling is ready.

-Now cut the edges of the breads. Don't throw them. Instead of throwing, you dip the bread edges in some water and make a dough. You can use this dough to smooth the bread roll.
-Take the cut piece of a bread, dip it in a bowl of water just for enough time to let it wet. Squeeze the water from the bread by pressing it between your palms. Now put a small ball of potato filling in the middle of the bread and wrap the rest of the bread around the filling. Close any hole with the help of bread dough that you made of the leftover bread edges.
-Heat the oil in a pan and put the bread rolls in it. When you first put the rolls in the pan, the heat should be at the maximum. You can dim the heat after rolling them over to other side.This ensures that the bread rolls don't open up while frying.

Knitting for Beginners

2009-01-05T21:24:00.000Z

I have started my first knitting project. Its a simple cream and pink colored muffler. I started it yesterday and I think I am going to finish knitting by Thursday. Its been years since I knitted. I learned knitting and purling when I was a kid, and that's all I know. That's why I have started with basic stockinette stitch. I am searching some simple patterns for scarves and purses too.
The knitting has left me with back ache. I wonder how my aunt manages. She is an avid knitter. She has been knitting sweaters for as long as I remember. She is very good in devising different patterns and designs.
I will post a picture of my knitting project tomorrow.

Tasty Chillies in Two Minutes

2008-07-13T10:14:00.000+01:00

My father-in law likes to have green chillies with every meal. So when I went to market to buy vegetables, I especially bought green chillies. But I noticed that he hasn't touched them even once. When I asked the reason, he said that lately he is getting mouth sores when ever he eats green chillies.
I decided to minimize the sharpness of chillies. Its very simple to preserve the taste of chillies and yet savor them without any fear of burning your mouth.
Make a full length cut in the middle of the chilly. Make sure that the chilly is not cut to half. Rub some salt inside the chilly through the cut opening. Put half teaspoon oil on a pan and fry the chillies on low flame.Turn them over and fry till they are light brown on both the sides.
Tasty chillies are ready in two minutes.

Gajar Ka Halwa: An Indian Sweet Dish

2008-06-23T23:27:00.000+01:00

Today I made Gajar Ka halwa, especially for my husband. He has a sweet tooth and likes every sweet dish and dessert that he can lay his hands on.
Recipe: Making gajar ka halwa or gajarpak is very easy.
1. Grate peeled carrots.
2. Boil them till they soften. If you are making them in cooker then it won't take more than a whistle to get them softened.
3. Mix sugar to taste and now remove the lid from the cooker or pan and let the water evaporate by continuously stirring the mashed carrots.
4. When the water has dried, add milk and again stir for some time.
5. The carrot, milk mixture will thicken and your gajar ka halwa is ready.
I haven't given any quantity for this recipe because I don't know my self how much carrots or milk are needed to make a particular amount of halwa. I always prepare dishes on guess. My measurements are never same for a single dish.

Give Your Business a Thrust

2008-06-23T19:56:00.000+01:00

Every business needs customers and to reach customers, you need to take certain steps. For example advertising is a step taken by businesses to market their product. Another way is telemarketing or direct mail advertising. You can get telemarketing lists on some fair price and make your business swell through agressive marketing. It is important that the telemarketing list or the direct mailing list that you buy, targets the specific consumer group which is your prospective customer.Dcmg.com is a site that provides such lists at a resonable price, so if you want to boost your business, you may like to have a look at what they have to offer.

Plaing with Stones

2008-06-18T11:43:00.000+01:00

Ananya is fond of playing with sand, water and stones. I have observed that every kid likes to play with sand and water. Ananya likes to collect stones when we go on beach and decorated her sand castle with them. She can make a circle and a line with the stones that she has at home.
Today I was preparing lunch and she was playing with stones. She was also talking to me, and I was absently answering to her chatter. When she repeatedly called for my attention then I looked up and I saw what she had made.

It was beautiful, that too made by a two and a half year old. Ananya says that its a slide. She climbs on it from one side and slides from the other. Kids are imaginative and creative by nature. It’s us and our teaching methods that make a child loose all her creativity.

Teaching Colors to Your Kid

2008-06-11T20:13:00.000+01:00

My daughter Ananya is two and a half years. She knows four colors by heart; white, green, black,and orange.Black is the color of her laptop,she learned green from the grass, her favorite sweater is orange and white is th color of her teddy bear. She has learned all these colors by making associations.
-I also use colors in our general conversation, like "Give me my red towel Ananya", or "throw this dirty blue shirt in the laundry".
-We play color games also. Ananya is fond of making different patterns with stones. I will make a line with a pattern of one white stone and one black stone.I will ask Ananya to give me one white stone and then one black stone. She gets confused in the beginning, but learns fast. There are only two colors in stones and she already knows which ones are white. Then I reinforce her new color recognition by asking her to point out all the black things in the room.
- Bright colored toys and books attract kids.Make use of the local library. But remember to stress one color at a time.

Clay Earrings

2008-06-09T21:08:00.000+01:00

When ever I go to library, I happen to cross these stalls on Royal Mile, which sell hand crafted stuff. Some have leather bags, others sell painting. One stall has clay earring on display. The designs are so creative and attractive that I am tempted to buy one or two, but each time I have to stop myself. I had long promised myself that I will first try to make a handicraft myself, if I am unsuccessful then only I will think of buying it. I haven't yet tried my hands on making clay earrings. Wish me luck.

How to Keep Tiny Tots Busy-2

2008-06-08T00:05:00.000+01:00

I find that Ananya takes a lot of interest in taking things out of their place,( clothes from wardrobe, dishes and kitchen items from cupboard).After her exploration trip, the whole room looks like it was hit by Hurricane Katrina. No amount of cajoling or getting angry will make her tidy up. But when I say in a playful tone, let's put these poor little things in their home ( or something like that), she readily participates in cleaning up process.When I am busy, I spread the card zig saw puzzles, which I have made for her. These are big pictures of a single item, like an animal, a car or a house.As she is only 2 years and 3 months old, I have cut these pictures in to very large 3-4 pieces, so that she identifies the parts.
We also do pretend play. She asks me to become a doctor, then she takes one of the animals and comes to me for its treatment.Pretend play is a great way to teach kids different things. Now Ananya knows a lot of terms, like stethoscope( she can't pronounce it though),bandage, pincers, betadine,tablets etc.

Scrapping with cancer: Help to Spread the Word

2008-06-04T10:19:00.000+01:00

I was looking for some scrapbooking ideas when I came across this article by Carmen Chapman. Her twelve year old son is battling with blood cancer. Instead of being beaten down by this fatal disease, this young guy has taken upon himself to make life easier for kids like him. He makes scrapbooking kits for children suffering from cancer and distribute them in cancer wards. Each kit costs around $60.It is a very commendable effort, and we should help the kid. You can donate through paypal when you visit the site http://www.scrappingwithcancer.org/ or spread the word by linking to brody's site.

How to keep tiny tots busy

2008-06-04T06:53:00.000+01:00

My daughter is a gem. She never gives me hard time to make her do anything. My mother thinks that Ananya has grown past her years, and this worries her. But I think that Ananya gets lots of opportunities to do kid stuff and this helps her to stay away from trouble. As I get to spend a lot of time with her now a days ( 24/7 practically), I have to invent new ways to keep her busy, so that she is out of my hair and let me do my work.
I have put lots of crayons and water colors, pencils and brushes for her. You may say that it's too early and pushy to expect a 2 year old to dabble in painting. I disagree. Children have a natural attraction towards bright and colorful things, just like they love playing in mud and water. I see so many kids holding a color pencil and draw haphazardly on anything that they can lay their hands on.
When I am cooking Lady's finger, I give Ananya the upper left out part and ask her to stick them on paper. She is very fond of this game. Some times she sticks the cut lady's fingers on her nose and laughs" mama, joker." When I am with her, both of us make different designs using cast of lady fingers. Just dip the part in water color and then stamp it on paper.You can make lots of arty designs with it.
I have to go, Ananya has waken up from her nap. Let's discuss other arty tricks later.

Diamond Rings for Her

2008-06-04T06:52:00.000+01:00

This a review of site which sells engagement rings and diamond rings. You can also view the jewelry in 3D view, to get a feel, how the design will look when you wear it. There is a sweepstake going on, where you can win a honeymoon holiday in Mexico. You don't have to buy any jewelry to enter the contest.The site also sells loose diamonds.They have a blog which has many interesting articles on diamonds and diamond jewelry. I liked the video proposal section. Its a collection of funny proposal videos.

Crafter's Block

2008-05-26T21:01:00.000+01:00

Like writer's block, there must be a crafter's block too, otherwise why I am feeling like doing nothing. I have had many ideas lately, but I have one great weakness, If I start the moment I get an idea, I can hope my work will be finished. But if I put it for later then all the creativity and inspiration is gone. Often it so happens that an idea struck and I got to work on it, but this or that material was not available and I had to postpone the implementation. Many of my projects never took off just because of this.

Get Paid for Blogging

2008-05-14T18:32:00.000+01:00

Bloggerwave is one of my favorite paid to blog sites. I have always been paid on time and the payout is also nice. Don't be shocked when I tell you that bloggerwave pays you $10 for writing a 50 words post. Yes, you heard it right. Bloggerwave is based in Denmark and they pay through paypal thirty days after you have submitted the post.It is very easy to get accepted at bloggerwave, my only complain is that they don't answer to the queries. But may be that will change once they have their blog up and running.

How to Make Baskets

2008-05-09T17:28:00.000+01:00

For many of us, basket making is a hobby. While for others it is a full time job. Basket making method is also used to make trays, hats and mats. To get a hang on the art of basket making, you must:
-Read several books or articles about basic techniques.
-Locate a spot in your home where you can weave.
-Assemble basic tools including measuring tape, scissors, water bucket, awl, knife and clamps.
-Read on line instructions and browse free patterns for ideas and techniques.
-Practice makes a man perfect. So practice, practice, practice.
How to make a Basket:

1. Plain weaving:This is the most common weaving method, the weft is worked in and out among the successive spokes (skeleton) of the warp. A wooden base is easier to use than one with woven base. Holes for the spokes of the warp are bored with an awl around the edge of the wooden base. Spokes are then inserted in the holes and held in place from underneath by weaving. Continue weaving until the base is the right size. Then the spokes are bent upward and the sides of the basket are woven, while the spokes are held firmly in position.Handles can be added to baskets after the weaving is complete or they can be made by allowing several spokes to extend across the mouth of the basket. They are held in place by inserting the free ends into the weaving and binding them in place with weft material.

2. Coil Winding: Flexible material like rope or reed is used to make in baskets in this method. Strips of raffia or corn husks hold the basket together. The sides are built up layer on layer. Each row of the coil is stitched to the next with raffia strips. Generally a large needle is used for weaving.

3. Pattern Weaving:In this method different patterns are included in the weaving. Twill and herringbone weaves are two of the more common patterns. Both are made by passing the weft over and under two or more spokes at a time. In twill, each row must be started one spoke to the right of the previous row. In a herringbone, a few rows are started one spoke to the right, and then the same number is started one spoke to the left, giving a zigzag effect.

Two easy to make methods for baskets:

1.Can Basket: This little and handy basket is very easy to make. You will need a can, glue, a colored sheet, scissors and a posterboard. Cut the upper part of the can. Paste the colored paper round the can. Put a strip of poster board for the handle. And you are done. Make sure to cover the edges though. This small basket is ideal to put Easter grass and candy.

Win a chance to be a Top Model

2008-05-08T18:31:00.000+01:00

An online contest is being organized for young and beautiful people at http://www.lookoftheyear.com. If you win the contest, then you will get ten thousand dollars. And if you don't win? Don't lose heart, who knows you may get selected for top modeling agencies from the fashion cities of Paris and Milan. It is an online contest, so higher the number of online surfers voting for you, higher will be your chances of winning the contest.

A blog about Toronto

2008-05-05T09:08:00.000+01:00

I was looking for a some cheap hotels in Toronto, we will be going there to attend a friend's wedding.And I came across this lovely blog Bed and breakfast Toronto. Actually the name of the blog is a little misleading, but in a good sense, because the blog not only provides information about
Toronto bed and breakfast hotels, but it is also for those, who want to know everything about Toronto.
The blog keeps you update with the latest happenings in Toronto.The blog owner has also compiled witty, weird and funny news related to Toronto from all over the net.You get to know that air canada is going to charge for better customer service, then there is a story about a kind hearted butcher who gave away $.2million to his employees after winning a $14 million lottery.
There are some funny pictures too. Its a nice blog for Toronto-ites who want to keep in touch with their home town.

Create a Buzz For Your Business

2008-05-01T18:49:00.000+01:00

There is a new trend in marketing. It i called forum posting. GetPaidtoPost is a site which can give you that extra edge which you require to promote your site or business or company. The cost of posting starts from $.25 per post, which is very cheap, considering companies spend millions for the promotion of their product. This site creates different types of posts including opinion, benefit, neutral and promotion. So If you spend $10.00 then you will get 40 posts on on 40 different sites linking to your domain. Isn't that fantastic? So what are you waiting for, stating creating buzz for your business through Get Paid To Post^SM.

How to Make Paper Mache Pulp

2007-08-25T09:17:00.004+01:00

Actually I wanted to write a post on making different kinds of paper mache items. But right now I don't have pictures of the things I made and am too busy to make anything new and then take a snap and post it here.
On the other hand, I was feeling guilty that I haven't posted for so many days here, though I talked about crafter's block , it didn't do anything to lift my spirits and send me to my craft table.
Any ways here I am sharing with you some methods to make paper mache pulp.

1. Fuller's earth : This is my favourite technique. Soak newspapers in a bucket for about 2 weeks. Change water every now and then. Take out the papers, put them on floor and pound them with something heavy. I use stone. When the mash is fine, add fuller's earth and mix it properly. Your designer paper clay is ready. My grand mother used to make bowels through this method. It's an old technique being in use for many centuries in Haryana, a small part of India where I live.If you don't want to wait for too long, you can soak the paper overnight and then boil it in water for at least 2 hours. This way the paper will break down to fragments. Another alternative for pounding with stone is the mixer. You can strain the fragmented paper and put it in the mixer( ask mama first).

2. Flour : You can make your vegan pulp by adding flour.It's easy to make as you can get all the items in your home. But I don't like this method because the pulp may get moulds.( even if you add salt to prevent molding). If you still want to go ahead with it, here is how you should do.
Mix water,corn starch,salt and four slowly and remove all the bumps. You will know you have got the required consistency through a few tests and trials. If you are using tissue papers, then the pulp should be thin. With newspapers, the pulp you use can be thick. Just immerse the paper in the pulp and then stick it to the mould ( form) you are using.
Or alternatively you can add this flour pulp in the mashed newspaper mix and straight away make things using it.

3. Adhesive: The method of making this type of pulp is similar to no. 1, except that fuller's earth is replaced by glue or any adhesive of your choice.Bleach is also added to prevent the paper from rotting.

4. Egg Carton: This is the easiest recipe for paper mache pulp.Egg cartons are useless after we have consumed what was in them (eggs, silly). Make them useful by tearing and mixing them in water.leave it overnight. When you wake up in the morning, you will find your pulp ready to be used. You don't need to put adhesive in it because the carton already contains a fastening agent in it.
paper mache

Origami : Facts and forms

2007-08-08T10:57:00.003+01:00

-My first introduction to origami was through children's magazine years ago. I clearly remember that the front cover of that issue was the drawing of a girl and paper swans. The girl in the picture was Sadako, who fell terminally ill after the Hiroshima bombings. According to a legend if you make thousand paper swans, your wish is granted. She started making swans but her wish to remain alive was never fulfilled, she died before she could complete 1000 swans! I still remember this story. Her classmates folded the remaining cranes for her after her death and placed them at the foot of a monument constructed in Sadako's memory in Hiroshima's National Peace Park. The statue depicts Sadako holding a golden crane in her arms. At the base of the statue a plaque reads, "This is our cry, this is our prayer, peace in the world." Each year, on August 6, thousands of origami cranes from all over the world are placed beneath Sadako's statue.
-Origami in Japanese means Paper folding ( oru= fold, kami=paper).
-It's origin is Chinese (not Japanese as popularly believed).

-You can eat origami. I mean dried sheets of seaweed can be folded in to origami models.
-In 1998 a 207 feet giant crane was made in japan.
-"Tea Bag Folding" refers to the folding of tea bag wrappers, not the soggy tea bags themselves.
-In the movie Hannibal, Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lector) folds questionnaires in to origami.
-Origami is being promoted as mental health therapy tool, as it conveys the feeling of acceptance when you take time to demonstrate or teach. Though as a therapeutic tool it was first used way back in1914,when an Englishman Charles Gibbs became tutor to the nine year old tsarevich, youngest child of Russian Emperor Nicholas II. The boy was withdrawn and had difficulty communicating, so Gibbs showed him how to make something from a piece of paper. This encouraged him to speak.
- Traditionally, square paper was used for origami, but certain shapes are now made using rectangles and even dollar bills or other currency notes.
- Akira Yoshizawa is considered to be the greatest origami wizard. It was Yoshizawa who introduced the world to the amazing art of origami.
- In Japan a smallest flapping bird competition was organised and A. Naito won it. She folded a flapping bird from paper a mere 2.9mm square. The bird was only about 2mm from beak to tail. Naito placed it on a needle inside a transparent globe. But it was still very difficult to see so a contact lens was fitted to the outside of the globe through which it could be viewed.
- A waistcoat and hat was made from origami units by another origami maestro Maarten van Gelder. The life-sized waistcoat was made of 814 units and it was pretty warm too (paper is an insulator of heat).

origami

How To Make An Eggshell Vase

2007-08-06T12:25:00.002+01:00

This is a very easy to make craft. Hollowed-out eggshells make naturally beautiful vases for tiny flower arrangements. Save that egg shell from breakfast and make a sweet little posy vase for tiny flowers. This looks lovely on the breakfast table, on a breakfast tray or in any corner that needs a little splash of bright color.
supplies:
You will need an egg, some fabric colors, beads/mirror pieces( small)/eyelets/brads, craft wire, and some glue, plasticine clay, candies or jellybeans (mm sounds deliciously interesting!), tissue paper in color of your choice.
We will take this exercise in steps:
1. To make them, carefully break open egg near the top (it will be the mouth o the vase) so that a small hole appears. Empty the content of egg in a bowl. Lay it aside. You will need it to make French omelet after you finish with your project.
2. Roll the plasticine clay and glue it around the bottom of your vase. This will give stability to the vase and it won't wobble. Alternatively you can put a small screw in the egg if you don't want to "disfigure" the egg or place it in an eggcup for stability.

3. Now you have to decide how you want to decorate the vase. You can paint some motifs, designs or draw a simple smiling face; it's all up to you. But if you want to put in more labor then you can use beads, mirrors/ eyelets or brads. You may like to use them singly or all of them collectively, it's again up to your imagination.
4. Another way of decorating the eggshell vase is to decoupage it with colored tissue paper. It is a process of gluing pieces of paper, pictures and other thin materials to an object. Through the use of many layers of the glue medium, the finished product appears as though the work has been painted on, instead of simply glued on.
5. Our vase is ready!
Now we need something to put in the vase. Fill it with jellybeans or other small candies or use it to display small floral arrangement.
6. If you want to add flowers, then craft paper can be cut into different flower shapes and wire be pierced in it, which will be the stem.
7. Flowers can be made of beads also.
8. Better still, Cut a few short stemmed flowers and arrange in the eggshell. There is nothing more wonderful than lovely smelling fresh flowers.
9. Put your vase on your T.V. or a bookshelf and enjoy your work while taking a bite of French omelet.
eggshell craft