Beautiful Cushion cover.

Its almost an year since I blogged. But dont think that I have stopped doing craft. How can I stop my addiction.!! Creativity is a continuous thought process. Once your mind and eyes soon get trained for that; then there is unlimited creativity everywhere.!

Recently I have been into stitching my own salwars and kurtis. That leaves me with bag full of scraps and bits of cloth. There was also a portion of silk saree which I did not want to throw off. I know, this habit sometimes fills up the junk bag.

So here is upcycling (let me use that trendy word!) the scraps into cushion covers. I have used the cream silk piece as the base. So I have given a cotton lining to give strength for the final product. All materials used are scrap pieces.

The elephant pattern is cut from a contrast colour fabric and pasted using fabric glue. The outline was given using black fabric paint.

 

Scrap pieces used

Cushion cover front

Cushion cover backside opening to insert the cushion.

Enjoy every day with unlimited creativity.!

paper quilling

I was fascinated by quilling crafts. A small piece of paer coul be turned into a beautiful piece of art.  So immediately I have to try it out.!!!!

My experiments with T-Shirt paintings

 Abhi loves all his favourite characters in his T-shirt!!!


Bala Hanuman
Obelix and dogmatix
............

Recycle Cotton Pants

Cotton Pants and Jeans are the best material to recycle and make shoulder bags, shopping bags etc.

I have used my son's cotton pants to make this shoulder bag. It can contain quite a good amount of things. I have cut the material such that the pockets are left as such, so that they can be more effectively used!.

See the following links also:

http://homecraftideas.blogspot.com/2007/08/shopping-bag-from-jeans.html

http://homecraftideas.blogspot.com/2007/08/shoulder-bag-from-recycled-jeans.html

Easy painting for kids

Vaccation is there and you need thousands of activities, ( that too new novel ideas) to keep our kids engaged thru the days. Anything is better than watching TV and computer games.

Here is one idea. Instead of just painting in pieces of paper and thowing it off, do a master piece they will be proud to display in their rooms..

Materials needed

Thermocol sheet - You can buy from craft shops. Some times I keep the flat ones that come with packing of electric/electronic items

Acrylic paints - colours of your choice

brushes

sketch pens

How to

Using sketch pens draw the outline of the picture they want to paint. Bigger kids can draw their own designs. Pencils wont work on thermocol sheets, so you have to use sketches pens etc whose nib is soft. Now use the acrylic colours to colour the picture. Use broad brushes to fill bigger areas. Fill thoroughly so that white thermocol spots are not seen inside the picture colored.

Enjoy vaccation with kids as well as decorate our homes.

No Limits for creativity

Cover for Kitchen Appliances

Here are some snap shots to give an idea of recycling.

Who will not like to keep the Kitchen appliances spic n span. Keep the appliances clean by making a cover for it. You can always recycle bits and pieces of cloth. Only thing to ensure is to use same thickness cloth bits for a single project. That will give more life to it.

Cut the pieces as required for the shape of the appliance you want to cover and then sew the edges.

I have used pieces of curtain cloths. In the cover for the coffee maker I have painted the coffee cups using acrylic colours. For the electric cooker, the cloth was plain, so I have done simple embroidery patterns.

Great way to beautify your kitchen also!.

M-seal art

Materials needed
Mseal
Pot – shape an be your choice
Acrylic paints
Paint brushes
Fevicol

Method

Wash the pot and dry it. Give a coating of any dark shade.
Mix the m-seal. Use little bit of talcum powder so that it does not stick to fingers.
If required draw a light sketch of the design you want to create on the pot.
Take small rounds of the mix and shape it like leaves and petals and fix it on the pot. It will stick directly on the surface. If not use little bit of fevicol.

For the stem, roll out the m-seal into long strings and arrange. Keep aside for 2-3 hrs for drying. Once dry, give the colors of your choice.

This can be done by children also. They will really enjoy doing the m-seal petals and strings. Even other shapes can be formed and used to decorate their boxes or shelves etc.

Other m-seal art :

http://homecraftideas.blogspot.com/2007/07/m-seal-art.html

There is no limit for creativity

Another Patch work

Have bits and pieces of fabric. Create a new Patch work Cushion cover.

Materials needed

Scraps of fabric
½ m Plain fabric for back
Knowledge of sewing

Method - Front

Cut the pieces of fabric into squares of 31/2 inch squares. Arrange and see how the patterns will look good. If the fabric are of contrast shades/designs it will look better. Have few plain squares in between. Cut as many squares as required. I have made a 4X4 square.
Stitch the squares as arranged. To get the required size of the cushion I have added another straight piece of fabric from 2 contrast designs.

Method - Attaching the back with overlap

Cut the backing fabric into two.One should have length more than the other. The extra length should be kept as the overlap. The total length and width should be as required for the cushion plus the seam allowance.

Attach the front panel to the backing material with overlap. Attach velcrove or buttons ont the overlap.

Cushion cover for your favourite cushion is ready!

Paper maché Art – Secret Pen holder

Materials


Old Flower vase or pen holder
Plastic ball
Newspapers
Tissue paper roll
Corn flour – few spoons
Fevicol, Bowl & Water
Paint brushes
Acrylic paints


Method
I had an old flower vase which looked like a penguin’s body. It was my son Abhi’s idea to make a penguin with that. Anything like a bislery water can, used cups, old pen holders etc can be given a new look with this method.
Penguin's Body

• Mix 1 part fevicol and 2-3 parts water in a bowl.
• Cut the newspaper sheets into long strips. Dip it in the glue-water mixture and stick it on top of the vase. Stick many strips so that one layer of paper covers the entire vase. Similarly continue and do one more layer. Press with both hands so the paper layer sticks close to the vase.
• Now, dip a broad brush into the glue-water and brush slowly on the paper layer. Stick one by one tissue paper piece on that and complete a uniform layer. Keep aside for drying.

Head

Take a plastic hollow ball. Cut it so that the hole exactly fits on top of the vase.
Do the newspaper and tissue layer as for the body above.

Beak & Feet

• Tear tissue paper into small pieces and put in a bowl. Pour fevicol, little water and little corn flour. Mix thoroughly and make into dough consistency.
• Shape the beak, feet etc (or what ever shapes you want as the item you are making).Fix the beak to the head and feet to the bottom of the body with fevicol.

Keep aside for a day to dry.Colour as per your wish with acrylic colours.
Inside the vase, kids can keep some nick-knacks of their own secretly!!!!

Enjoy ....

Kids Photo Album

Materials required

Drawing book with thick sheets
Colour pencils,crayons
Water colours, sketch pens etc

glitter pens, sequins, vegetable cuttings leaves etc!!!

Method:

This art work is for the children to make their own photo albums. It is a very good pass time in the vaccation,during nights when they get bored etc. Each type is a simple art of painting. Even they can gift it to their friends.

Each sheet of the books is coloured with different randoms designs. Tell them the technique of shading using pastel colours, using the colour combinations etc. They will do wonders.

Borders can be given by free drawing or even using different shaped stencils! The center of the sheet (see as in the pics given) is used for sticking the photos or pictures.

For a more interesting one, for each sheet let them try different technique, material etc. Use whatever material crosses your mind and give the children the idea!. Even our normal school ink could do the trick beautifully. See the last two pictures given for a different page using cut vegetables as stencils and leaves. Vegetables like ladysfinger, potato, capsicum etc can be easily used.

Let the children enjoy doing painting and art. You enjoy by involving yourselves and guiding them.

Sewing project - needle case

I needed a handy case for my crochet needles, small scissors etc when I take the craft bag while going out. Then why not make one which satisfies my requirements. It requires sewing knowledge.

Materials needed

Scrap cotton fabrics (contrast colours)

Velcro

Design the pockets inside depending on what thing need to be kept. For crochet needle, stitch long pockets. For scissors or thread rolls wider pockets can be stitched.

Piping given with contrast coloured material enhances the look of the pouch.(see the pictures)

Painted Sofa Back

Make beautiful sofa backs by youself and decorate proudly in your living room!

Materials

Plain colour cotton Fabric

Lining material

Acrylic colours

Lace edging of matching color

Method

1. Plain water wash, dry and iron the cotton and lining fabrics. Cut the fabric into required shape and size. If your fabric is thick then lining may not be required. Otherwise, stitching the lining may be necessary.

2. Choose a design of your choice. Trace the design onto the fabric using yellow carbon paper.

3. Using black colour draw the outline of the design.

4. Fill in the appropriate colours for the design. Dry it for a day and iron press the back side.

5. Stitch the lining if required and the Lace edging.

Take pride in decorating your home with your hand made creations.

Bead garlands

Beads of different colours and sizes

Pendent of matching colour

Back screw

If back screw is used, start threading with one part of the the screw. Then thread the beads alternatively (the size and colour). I have used small golden beads also in between. When the length reaches half long, thread the pendent. Different types of pendents are available in the craft shops. Finally thread the the other part of the screw at the end.

If screw is not used, make the chain longer so that it can go thru the head.

Appliqued pillow case

Materials

Plain Cotton Fabric
Fabric for the remaining part of the pillow case
Fabric scraps
Fevicol
Fabric colours

Have a design drawn on a paper. Choose appropriate fabric scraps and cut them into the required shapes.

Draw the picture onto the plain fabric. Using fevicol spotting position the shapes on the fabric. Stitch the sides. It will be easy if zig-zag machine stitch is done, otherwise it has to be done by hand using stitches like button hole stitch.

I have used appliqués for the main portions and have painted the leaves, grass, flower stalk etc using fabric colours.

Once completed, press on the reverse. Attach this as the front panel for the pillow case.

Hand Embroidered Cushion cover

Materials needed

Cross stitch fabric
Fabric for backing
Lining Material
Embroidery Floss & tapestry needle
Velcro

Cut the cross stitch fabric to the size of the cushion for the front. Have an extra 2” seam allowance. Do simple patterns using common embroidery stitches like satin stitch, laisy daisy stitch, button hole stitch, chain stitch etc.

Once done, stitch the lining fabric for the front. This will protect the embroidery. For the back lining is optional. Attach the back piece from cotton fabric, with an overlap. Attach Velcro between the overlaps.

Other Ideas!

Crocheted flowers, satin flowers, laces etc can also be attached for decorations.

Decorated Karthigai Akal

Materials needed:

Karthigai akal (earthen lamps)

glitter

artificial jewel stones

Fevcicol

If the lamps do not have smooth finish or varnish coat, a coat of acrylic or pearl color could be given as a base to have a better look.

I have used white and green stones as they shone better with the background. There was a thin groove in the lamp, which I filled with the glitter. Decorate the lamp that goes as per the design on the lamp. If the lamp does not have any design on it, we can use our own designs.

Light Karthigai deepam with home made designer akals.!!

Wall Hanging

One day my son Abhi wanted to do an art work from junk, for the school. Then we both did this cute wall piece. All the materials were available at home! The work was ready within an hour.

• The board is the one on which normally a birthday cake is delivered from the bakery. It is quite sturdy.
• We have used Pistachio shells for the petals and the manjadi seeds for the flower center. Instead of manjadi seeds, bright colored beads also can be used.
• Used match sticks have become the stalks after trimming the burnt edges.
• Some cotton has been fluffed for the clouds. That was a really good idea from Abhi.
• We used the "Kolapodi" for the sand part. Sand could also be used instead.
• The glitter paper border was already there and I left it as such. If not we can decorate ourselves.

There is no end to imagination and creativity!

Cute and handy pouch

Materials required:

Cross-stitch material – a rectangular piece
Embroidery thread and tapestry needle
Scrap cotton material for shoulder strap
Light weight lining material
Velcrove

Method:

The size of the cross-stitch material can be based on the size of the pouch to be made.. .. or as my usual self, I have recycled the remaining cross-stitch material into a pouch for my use.

Do some simple cross-stitches to form a pattern. I have done double cross-stitch which looks like stars.

Cut lining cloth to the size of the cross stitch material. Keep it on the wrong side. Fold the pieces such that one side is longer than the other. Longer edge makes the flap as in the picture. Keep the lining on top. Join the sides (sewing them will make it strong) and pull inside out.

Stitch piping for the ends using a contrast color material. Make shoulder strap using the same cotton material and attach. Attach velcrove.

Cute pouches can be used as cell pouch or as an accessories kit. Gift you friend with her favourite necklace in this cute pouch.

Making Bookmarks

With little help from elders, children could make bookmarks. They can use it for themselves or it could be simple, but lovable gifts for close people like grandpa or a close friend.



See the blog for Bookmark ideas

Making Ginger-bread-men

Paper cutting can be fun. For kids who are starting to use scissors, cutting ginger bread-men can be fun. I have given a template drawing.

How to

Take paper and cut a long strip of about 5-6 inch width.

Start folding the paper back and forth till the end.

Draw the picture of the ginger-bread-man on top.

Cut along the picture, making sure that the ends of arms and feet are not cut. Otherwise it wont be a chain.

Unfold the chain and draw eyes, mouth, buttons etc.

Like this any picture (like star) can be made as a chain. This can be used to decorate birthday parties, make art works etc