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!

Simple and interesting Junk Art for Kids

Materials needed:

Thermocol board or cardboard

Water colours, sketch pens etc

Sand, dry twigs

colour paper, white paper

pebbles, stones, shells

used match sticks

thermocol balls

glue, fevicol, scissors

any thing that you think of that can be part of the art!

Newspapers for spreading below so that the floor is not messed up.

I have used a natural scenary so that we can put many things into the art. This involves many activities like using sand, painting, paper cutting etc. So definitely Kids will like to do. Some activities like cutting may require adult help for smaller children, elder children can practise paper cutting. Children can themselves collect most of the things from in and around the house.

How to:

Roughly draw the outline picture in your mind on the cardboard.

1. Spread glue on the areas of the picture where sand is there. Ask the kids to spread the sand over the glue. Even if they put more it does not matter. After few seconds tilt the board. The execess sand will fall off. If there are any patches without sand, repeat.

2. Cut colour papers of your choice into rectangles and squares for the house, windows and door. For the roof, make small cuts 2-3 mm apart, along the horizontal edge. Stick as 2 layers with the cuts down. This will give an effect to the roof.

3.Match sticks can be used for fence

4. Dry twigs can be stuck to create an effect of real trees. For leaves cut green colour paper. Using red sketch pens flowers and fruits can be drawn inbetween.

5. Use water colour or poster colours to paint water, sky etc.

6. Cut round sun and stick

7. Stick pebbles, stones, shells, thermocol balls etc as per your imagination. Here I have used the balls to show a path from the house.

8. Make paper boats and stick on the water area

9. Draw flying birds

10. Cut people from white paper. Draw the eyes and mouth.Stick on the sand part.

You can use paper cuttings of ginger-bread-men. How to make:

http://homecraftideas.blogspot.com/2007/10/making-ginger-bread-men.html

Let yours and kids imagination go wild and enjoy a holiday with your kid making this art.

Shopping bag from Jeans

Things required:

Used Jeans, Lining material, cotton fabric for straps

Embroidery Thread

Round Sequins or mirror pieces

Beads

Method:

Cut material from the Leg part of the Jeans in the required width and height. As per our imagination decorate the Front and back sides. I have done embroidery using chain stitch. Join the sides and attach a base. Give lining inside.

Stitch a length of strap from the cotton fabric. Before attaching it to the bag, push in the beads. Attach a zip. Your shopping bag is ready!

Hobbies

Everyone should atleast have one hobby. Hobby refreshes the mind and recharges you. Anything other than what you do for your daily bread and living. Some hobbies cost you money, whereas some others can be effective. Interestingly, these days, many get opportunities to convert their hobby into a business.


I will try to put down whatever activities (I dare not call it art & craft!), which I do in the bits and pieces of time I get. Since I am restricted to travel long distance to shop, my work uses things that are readily available in near by shops and maximises the usage of already available materials. But the outcome gives a happiness and real energizer to me.

One of my favourite past time is crocheting. Mostly simple ones. The advantage of crocheting is that it is a mobile art, which can be taken anywhere along with you. So you can do crocheting when are waiting at the doctors clinic, on travel etc. Recently I read somewhere that Psychologist are advising crocheting and knitting as stress releiver and to improve concentration!


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