Papermache fun

During summer holidays I decided to engage kids in some craft work. Thought of making a name board for house as we did not have one and settled on papermache work. 

More Handmade Rakhis

Made more rakhis with crochet (view earlier ones here). First one is having four layers of crocheted flowers and has a crochet string. Another string is woven into crocheted line.

Handmade Rakhis

Raksha Bandhan is falling in August this year. Every year I plan for sending handmade rakhis but could never do it except for few rakhis which I made 2-3 years back (and yes, I did not post them here). This year I wanted to do it and started well in advance. 

Two Frocks - same fabrics

Made these frocks for two little girls using same fabrics. Used satin material along with self worked white tissue. Put cotton lining inside for comfort. Flowers are also hand made.

Air Dry Clay Key Chain

I bought a package of air dry clay from an online store along with some plastic modelling tools. Weekend went into trying this new craft(first attempt). Though I wanted white colored clay, I got a terracota one, never mind :-). 

Bookmarks

I collect stuff  thinking I can reuse that later. Sometimes it is quite difficult to keep them stored neatly as I do not have much storage space(perils of staying in a rented house) but I am unable to throw it away. And when this crafty urge appears, then I really feel happy to have all this around.

Made these bookmarks from old wedding invitation cards which I was having for last 7-8 years.

Earlier I had made some money envelopes also using wedding cards(here).


Shalini

Another Quilled Greeting Card

Quilled cards are my latest obsession. Whenever I need to make one, I think of nothing but quilling. Here is my second attempt at it:

Quilling on Greeting Card

A quick post on recently made greeting card using paper quilling. I love this art form as it gives a 3D effect to your design and can be done easily. Take a look:

(Not a very nice pic still gives a view.)


Shalini

Summery Kurta for Mother

It is holiday time in school before new session begins and we (me and 'C') went to my parents place for 4-5 days. I love stitching during my visits as my mom also helps me in planning and working on stuff. I stitched one cotton night suit for 'C' and a cotton kurta for my mother as we are gearing up for harsh summer months. Here is my mother's kurta:

 

I used matching blue fabric for design and put buttons made from kurta fabric. Though picture is not very clear. It is showing blue fabric as straight piece while I have made pleats there and then turned them from middle creating 3D effect in pleats. Will ask for a closer shot from my mother and then re-post. 

I loved its final look and now planning for my kurta from same fabric (I had got fabric for two kurtas).

Will be posting 'C's night suit in next post as it still has not got its buttons and button holes. Till then keep spreading happiness........

Shalini

Gift Box Decoration

'C' learnt Gift box packing and decoration for a school competition. Children had to pack a gift box and decorate it in class. He did practice at home and learn step by step method. I gave him a paper, Golden Ribbon (Gota), a fairy, star stickers for decoration and cello tape. He did fairly well in packing (teacher even asked if he had got it packed at home) and pasted all decoration nicely.

 

I made this fairy using nylon stocking and wires. I already had a small doll lying with me (of course recycled from a Rakhi). For added effect, added some flower petals in magenta color, two green leaves(though leaves are hardly visible) and stamens (used in flower making) with a ribbon and golden lace.Here is a closeup of fairy with petals. This was first time I tried using stockings to make things and found it quite easy and satisfying. I hope to continue this in future.

Here is side view of gift box which is actually empty from inside.

 

Shalini

My Experiments in Knitting: 2

Hope all of you lovely ladies (and gents) are doing good. Its been long since I posted here anything. There were many reasons and without going into that detail, I would prefer to show my new creation: A sweater for 'C'.

 

I had bought wool 2-3 years back and kid has grown since then, so you can easily notice I've used fur wool at some places. 

I had planned to use crochet and knitting together for this. After two strips of crochet in front, I got bored of slow process. So crochet strips are in front only (Originally I had planned them for sleeves also).

 

Overall, I'm happy with whole look. 'C'  wanted 'G.one' on it (kids latest obsession). I tried but ended up writing 'Gone'. Does not matter as he is happy with this 'G.one'. And I'm happy with his liking for his new sweater.

Shalini

Happy New Year......

Welcome Year 2012.......

Shalini

Handmade Jewellery

'C' had a jewellery making competition at school. It had to be child friendly and something recycled. He was not comfortable putting small beads in a string so we decided to use nylon shimmer mesh as string with plastic rings over it. These rings are used with mirrors in tribal embroidery. Rings had yellow thread wrapped around them. Used an old  Lumba's (Ladies Rakhi) left over stone and crochet flower as pendant. Since it was all green and red, I added one satin yellow flower to add yellow color in pendant.
Told him how to put satin green ribbon in the hole of stone and then tie it with red shimmer mesh. After this, he had to put rings on the mesh and then adjust their spacing. He did it perfectly in school and stood first in his class.
It can be used as Christmas tree decoration also. So I'm submitting it as my second entry in artsy-crafty @mindfull-meanderings.

Shalini
Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story'
Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop #39
Mymumscraftshopchallenges---Anything-goes #37

My Experiments in Knitting: 1

I do not know knitting much except for simple knitting style. I can not make designs unless somebody tells me how to make it. And I can not decipher knitting language also. Even with so limited knowledge, once in a while I venture into this domain and try to make sweaters, socks etc. for 'C'. Here is one sweater I had made and designed (I make up for design disadvantage by adding embroidery/ready made stickers/colours) four years back. 'C' was about 3 yrs. old and it came out very well.

Here is back view of the sweater:

Sorry for bad quality of this pic, I cropped it from a video in which kids are running. Here is a good one with front view:

I used three colors furry wool in this knit: light blue, black and light pink. On the front, I embroidered big heart shape and random alphabets. On one side of heart added two cloth stickers. One of the sticker is not clearly visible.
Since it was done four years back, now I only have photographs as my records. Sweater is long gone to a deserving one. It feels nostalgic to see it now. This was my first sweater for my little boy and I can vouch, it was the best. I had put in my heart:-) and mind into it.


Shalini
Linking it to: Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story'
Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop #38 

Woolen Kurta and Dhoti pant for a little girl

I love giving handmade gifts and when I got a chance to make something for a little girl(2 yrs. old).....I had nothing but a dress in mind.

I looked into my stash for a cloth but could not decide which one to use. Then I received a gift: a woolen dress material. Noticing it was way too big for my dress, I decided to use that for little dress. Since it was woolen material, I thought of making shirt and pant kind of set.

First I cut my dress from the material and then set out on cutting girl's dress. A Kurta and salwar fitted the design and colour most. So here it is: a Kurta with full sleeves and a dhoti salwar. Sleeves have folded edges with salwar material. Have kept a shoulder open with buttons so that it easily gets into little body.

                               
Back view of kurta:

 

 Front view:

 

Salwar material was bit small so added a strip of kurta material in the belt portion of it.

Could not pester little princess to model it. Will post her photograph some other time.

AdithisAmmaSews has a giveaway going on her blog. Participate to win a vegan bag with other goodies.



Shalini

Liking it to:
Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story'
Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop #37
Ta-Da Tuesday Link Party #17 

Dhoti Pant and Kurta for Boy

I had stitched Dhoti and Kurta for 'C' before Diwali but could not post it. So here it is now:

I had stitched one dhoti kurta for him in past also but that  style of Dhoti pant use to restrict his movement. So he was not very fond of wearing that. I somehow coaxed him to wear that 2-3 times for few hours. But now having grown up, he refused to wear dhoti if it was stitched in old manner. So I thought of making him this Dhoti which I was noticing in 'Balika Vadhuu'. I had to put in lots of thought since I could not find any pattern on net. I first made a doll dhoti and then based on that experience, cut this shimmer piece. Since this was first time, I chose wrong material but overall this dress looks nice. He puts a golden stole with this dress.

 Here is Dhoti alone:

I have done back stitch on neck and sleeves to perk up the Kurta. Closer view of Kurta:

After stitching I noticed AdithisAmmaSews had posted a tutorial for Dhoti pants and that was exactly how I had done it. This has grown my confidence many folds that I can sew properly.




Shalini
Linking it to: Colours Dekor 'The Weekly Story'
Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop #37
Ta-Da Tuesday Link Party #17 

Chubby Little Snowman

Chubby Little Snowman,
had a carrot nose.......

Recently Mr. Snowman visited our home and had his lunch. See how he sat:

'C' had to recite a rhyme in school and needed props for that. I made this chubby snowman with cotton, Newspaper and glue. Added a carrot nose and a hat with scarf (Its cold out here).........

 

All it took me was 30 mins. I made it all by myself. Conceptualized and then made. Have you ever tried making a snowman?

Edited: I've linked this post to Mindfull-meanderings's December Artsy-Craftsy.

Instructions: Take a newspaper and make a ball of it. Make one more ball half in size. Attach both the balls with each other using glue and tape. Now stick cotton on the structure. Make one hat using some thick paper and glue it to the head. Add Bindis as eyes and an orange cone(again made from paper and colored) as nose. Finally add a ribbon for scarf and it is done.
Kids (more than 6yrs old) can do most of the work by themselves.

Shalini

Linking it to :

Warli Obsession on Coasters

I am obsessed with Warli right now. I think of adding warli designs in one way or other to each and every work. Latest addition to the list is these coasters.

I got a set of six plain wooden coasters from Delhi Haat. Actually I was just about to leave them because trader was quoting too high price(they are china made) but hubby bought it for me.
We ('C' and I) painted them in different colours. Only two are complete as of now. Others are coloured but plain. I did this design with acrylic colours and gave a coat of  transparent varnish after drying.
I would use some wood paint on others because I feel that will give it more shine and texture. In fact I plan to repaint these also once I get wood paint. We have a dark rosewood colour dining table (seen here in Picture). Light colours suit it. So I've decided to go for Yellow, Orange and light Blue shades.
Tell me if you like these.........


Shalini
Linking it to :

Completed Girls's Top

Here is completed Top which I had talked about in this post.

Lehanga for Diwali

As discussed in earlier post, I stitched this ghaghra (Lehanga) for my niece. I used an old net saree, a brocade material (for lining) and a cotton lining.