DIY Kalash

Diwali or Deepavli...the festival of lights is quickly approaching. 
On Diwali, Lord Ganesha and Shri Lakshmi are worshiped in many parts of India. And in Hinduism when there is any festival a Kalash is considered as an auspicious object. Today I have come up with a tutorial on making Kalash. This can be used as a decor element in your Diwali decoration and can also be a part of a great combo gift with some sweets & diyas for friends, relatives and colleagues. 

Just keep a Kalash near your idols with some tea lights to complete the look...
Actually the Kalash that you can see in the following picture is what I had made previous year and this year I have made some only for gifting. 

Items required: 

1- A small clay pot

2- Coconut husk

3- Acrylic paint

4- Glue / fevicol

5- Rhinestones

6- Thread (same colour as coconut husk)

7- Mauli / Kalava / Charadu thread (Red and yellow thread considered as sacred and is tied on hand in many religious ceremonies in Hinduism) 

8- Small Ganesha made of plastic (I keep on collecting these from wedding invitation cards)

9- Scissors

10- Paint brush

11- Drawing sheet or green colour sheet papers for leaves 

Tutorial: 

Step-1, 2 & 3
Paint the clay pot. Cut leaves from the sheet paper and paint them. It represents mango leaves, so cut the shape accordingly.

Step- 4, 5 & 6

Take some coconut husk and give it a round shape. Then slowly add on more husk to it. Gradually give a coconut shape to it. Once you are happy with the shape, with some thread tie it all around. 

Step- 7, 8 & 9

Coconut size should be according to the size of mouth of clay pot. Now by using mauli thread and rhinestones decorate the pot and the coconut. Let it dry for some time.     

Step-10

This is the final step. Now stick seven leaves on the clay pot first and then apply some glue on the coconut and stick it on that. 

A handmade product is more than just a product, it reflects you and your creativity. To me giving a handmade product instead of something available easily in market is like writing a letter in your own hand writing instead of sending an electronic mail

DIY Paper Mache Tray

Hello Readers...
My blog space is one of my favorite space, but I admit that I often don't give justice to this space. I have realized this many times and yesterday a mail from a very dear follower of When Creative Juices Flow reminded me it again. She has written about a tutorial. In a post entitled "Ohhh Summer", I had mentioned to come up with a post on paper mache tray. She searched about it, but couldn't find the post and thus wrote to me. I am really happy to see her message and super happy to know that my posts are really read by some at least. I am so sorry that I have mentioned about it and then completely forgot to make the post. I promise I'll make all pending posts soon. So here is the tutorial of paper mache tray. 

Items required 
1- News paper or Egg cartons or any other paper (I usually use egg cartoons)
2- Plaster of Paris
3- Water
4- Acrylic paint
5- A white paper

6- Paint brush

7- Sea Shells

8- Fevicol or Glue

Step-1

The first step is making of paper pulp and then paper dough. Once the dough is ready, we need to give it the required shape. Please click on this link for the detail tutorial, where I have mentioned all these three steps while making paper mache tea coasters. (Follow step-1 to step-8). These steps for paper tray are missing and it is same as paper mache coasters, so please refer to the above link. 

Step-2

For tray I had made an oval shaped paper mache base of around 25 cm length, 12 cm breadth and 1 cm thickness. 

Step-3
Once the tray base dries completely, stick the sea shells with fevicol/glue. Allow the glue to dry completely. 

Step-4

Now paint the paper mache base by using acrylic paint. I preferred to keep it natural so painted it in up-white colour.

 

Allow the paint to dry completely and then it is ready to use. 

 

It is strong enough to hold your small table decor accessories or other knick knacks. Hope you all will like this and so sorry Sheetal I kept you waiting so long. 

Items with Henna Art / Mehendi Art

Mehendi or Henna design on hands are very popular and famous all over world. Next to this I think Henna design on candles are very popular among decor enthusiasts, DIYers, art and craft lovers. So I thought of making henna designs on different varieties of items. 

Steps I followed are: 
1- Applied a coat of oil based white colour paint and left it to dry for more than 24 hours.
2- Made some designs by using normal ready made Henna cone. Got it from market by spending only 10 rupees. 
3- Left it to dry for 4-5 hours and then applied a coat of touch wood. I think mod podge will also work. 

Here are the items.. 

My first obsession, love for bottles *smile* 

A Ferrero Rocher choclate box, has now become a beautiful jewelry box.

A plastic pot got converted into a small planter...

And all together. Whenever something new is made, for few days it is displayed on the coffee table first. 

So, I hope you will like my latest DIY. If you are good in making designs with henna on hands, you can do wonders. So try this and if you like my work don't forget to give a comment. You can also follow my blog at Facebook, here is the link. 

DIY: Book End Holder

Ohh... this bottle obsession, this is going to stay with me forever and I am going to share my creativity with bottles with you the same way. I have made a bookend with a bottle. We can find so many varieties of bookends, made of wood, metal or any other heavy material. I was in need of it since long. But before purchasing, the DIYer in me thought of giving a try. Few simple steps and it's ready. 

Items Required:

1- A bottle

2- Colours for painting the bottle ( Acrylic or oil based paint)

3- Paint brush

4-A small chunri (I used a chunri that we generally use in worshiping goddesses in India and can get it from any store selling Puja items.) 

5- Glue (I used Fevicol)

Step-1

Paint a bottle in any design. I have already shared some methods of painting bottles. Here I have used a plastic bottle of one litre capacity, as a small bottle will not be heavy enough to stack and hold the books together. First given a base coat of oil based paint and then painted a Bengali bride on it using acrylic or fabric colours. Purposefully I have not given the painting a clean look. You can make any painting of your choice. Let the colours dry properly.

Step-2

Then fill in some sand or soil in the bottle. Remember the soil or sand should have no moisture at all.

Step-3

Tightly place the cap or you can also glue it. Then apply some glue and stick a small chunri. Let the glue to dry for some time. And the bookend is ready.

Engage yourself in some best out of waste DIYs. Then admire your work, feel proud and be happy *smiles*. 

Painting some fruits of Amaltas tree

A golden shower tree or Indian Laburnum or more commonly known as Amaltas, when it is in full bloom with bright yellow hanging bunches of flowers is extremely beautiful can steal anyone's sight. 

A Golden shower tree in my office campus, before a month and now. 

And what I did in this period??? I collected some dried fruits of it. Of course few colleague of mine encouraged and cooperated in this process. Few other gave some weird expressions with raised eyebrows. But nothing can stop us (creative people). A completely dried fruit of this plant is very sturdy like wood and this quality of the fruit gave me an idea *smile*. 

  

Then what I did is I painted them and result is here *smile*

I made some shapes randomly by using acrylic colors. Here is it on a side table in the living room. The pot in which I have kept this painted sticks is one of my DIY project. 

Some Tin Can Tea Light Holders @ Home

Internet is flooded with tin can tea light holder DIY ideas. So I’ll not claim that it is my original idea. But I have made something new and will not share with you all, that's impossible. It's really a very easy DIY & even a non DIY person can unhesitatingly attempt this. 

Few easy steps and tin can tea light holder is ready. 

• Draw the pattern you want to see on the cans.
• Fill your tin with water and freeze overnight.
• Using a hammer punch holes on the pattern you have drawn of the can.
• Allow the ice to melt.
• Paint the can using oil based paint.
• Decorate the can (if you wish to).

I painted my cans in red and white as I wanted them to look beautiful even when the candle is not lit inside it. 

DIY: Painting Glass Bottles & Jars

Decorating home with colourful bottles is an easy and inexpensive way. They can create drama and add life to your home décor. But we don’t get colourful bottles that easily. But nothing can stop us; we can make our own colourful bottles. I hoard glass bottles. The size and shape of bottle doesn’t matter, I hoard whatever I get. And those who are not new at When Creative Juices Flow are aware of what I do with them and how I give a new life to them. 

Before few days I got a request to make a post on how to paint glass bottles, but sorry I took so long to share this post. Though I am not an expert, still making a post on it *smile*

Glass bottles and jars can be painted by using different type of colors and following different methods like

1- By using acrylic colour

2- By using oil base paint and brush

3- By using glass colour

4- By pouring oil base paint

5- By using spray paint

6- By applying chalk board paint

7- By using food colour, modge podge

…..and even many more methods are there.

I have tried my hand with all these methods, except the last one method. But I mainly use the first two methods as they have always given me the best results, as expected. Whatever method we follow first step is always wash, scrub the labels (soak them overnight), clean and dry them.

1- By using acrylic colour

The items we require in this method are

· Glass bottle/jar

· Acrylic paint

· Paint brush

· Varnish or touchwood

On the above bottle I have tried to make a Pattachitra painting and all colours used are acrylic colours. 

Method:

Acrylic colours are hard to clean, so I always line my work area with newspapers. Take generous amount of acrylic paint and apply directly on the clean and dry glass bottle. Move of the paint brush should be in one direction and as smooth as possible, to avoid streaks. We can apply multiple coat of paint also. If not happy with the result it can be washed at this step. If satisfied with the result leave it to dry for two three hours. After this I love to add a coat of varnish on the bottle. It gives a glossy look and a protective finish without affecting the original colour of the bottle. Allow the varnish to dry (around 3-4 hours). Then you can do any design on the bottles, by using again acrylic paint or can even try decoupage on it. After making the designs again apply a coat of varnish.

2- By using oil base paint and brush

Items required are

· Glass bottle/jar

· Oil base paint

· Paint brush

My checker board printed bottle using oil base paint and permanent marker.

Method: 

Painting bottles with oil base paint is same as acrylic paint. But it takes comparatively more time to dry (around 12 hours). But there is no need not coat it with Varnish, as oil paints itself gives a glossy look and are waterproof. Once the paint dries can make any designs using acrylic paint, follow decoupage and even make designs & patterns using permanent marker. 

[Note: Oil base paints are even harder to clean than acrylic colours. So first line your work area with newspapers, even be careful about your hands. If colour spills or anything happens like that clean it first immediately with a dry waste cloth and then wash the area with soap of detergent. If still see the stains of the colour use thinner or kerosene. Nail polish remover also works.]

3- By using glass colour

The items we require in this method are

· Glass bottle/jar

· Glass colour

· Foam brush

My glass painted bottles. You can see some patterns made on the bottles, will show how to make those in another post.

Method:

Steps are completely same as painting with acrylic paint, but only thing is use foam brush. Avoid using normal paint brush as it will give you lots of streak marks and not give a smooth finish. We can apply multiple coat of glass colour to get the desired shade.If not happy with the result it can be washed easily at any time, even after drying. From my personal experience I have found that the bottles painted in glass colour are not washable and can be cleaned with a dry cloth. But we can fill water in it (avoid spilling) and keep fresh flowers in it.

[Can make designs on the bottle first by using glass colour outliner and then filling the designs with colour also.]

4- By pouring oil base paint

Items required are

· Glass bottle/jar

· Oil base paint

In the above bottle I have poured in oil base paint inside the bottle and have painted a face of Kathakali dancer by using acrylic paint on the bottle. 

Method:

Pour in sufficient amount of colour inside the bottle or jar. Move the bottle in such way that paint will cover all sides properly. Once all the sides covered properly pour out the excess colour again back into the colour tin. Let the bottle to dry for 24 hours. This is the easiest method, but it requires more quantity of paint in comparison to other methods. Another demerit is you cannot add water and keep fresh flowers in it. Oil base colours are water resistant. But in this method as we have applied the paint inside the bottle, so if we will keep water in it for long time and use it as a flower vase, the paint may come out.

5- Spray paint

Items required are

· Glass bottle/jar

· Spray paint ( It was not easily available in nearby market, so I got it from amazon.in)

· Gloves (optional)

· Washi tapes (optional, only if you want to make any deigns or patterns)

A spray painted bottle and some deigns are made by using decoupage technique along acrylic colour. 

Method:

Choose an open area for doing spray paint (I do it in my balcony) and then cover your work area with newspaper or plastic sheet. For me it is always convenient to use the floor as my work area, so first I cover the floor with newspaper. If you want to make any deigns or patterns cover the bottle with wish tape accordingly. Then spray paint the bottle. Leave it to dry for 3-4 hours. Then carefully remove the washi tapes. I love to apply spray paint as base quote and then make designs with acrylic paint.

6- By applying chalk board paint

Items required are

· Glass bottle/jar

· Chalk board paint (how to make your own chalk board paint visit my earlier post)

If you want to make a personalized bottle where you can write messages or quotes according to situation and occasion chalk board painted bottles are best for it. 

Method:

To find the detail tutorial please click here. 

7- By using food colour, mod podge

Bottles can be painted by using food colour and mod podge in two methods, by baking in oven and without oven. But I have not yet tried any of these two methods. Before few days came across this picture on google. It stole my heart, isn’t it a breath taking beauty. So thought of sharing it here. Please visit the site for detail tutorial.

(Image Source: homedeco50)

Hope this post will help you to beautify your glass bottles and jars, that you usually through away. It will be a great motivation if you will give a feedback after trying any of these methods.

Some of my art bottles....

DIY Flower Baskets

Hello peeps...

All set for the festival of colors?? Do you have any special plan for this Holi?? I wanted something colorful and something new to decorate my coffee table, especially for Holi. So that called for a DIY work. And when DIY activity comes to mind, first priority is always something which is BEST OUT OF WASTE. This time I tried to make some flower baskets with old newspaper and invitation cards. 

Items Required

1- Newspaper 

2- Invitation Cards (Can use chart papers of different colors. I had invitation cards, that I had colored using acrylic paints) 

3- Glue 

4- Scissors 

5- Paint Brush 

6- Acrylic Colors 

7- Thread 

8- A Pen/Pencil 

9- A thin stick or a wooden skewer 

10- A Piece of Corrugated Cardboard Sheet 

Step-1 & 2 

Cut newspaper into 3/9 inch pieces. From one corner start rolling the paper using a stick. 

 

Step-3 & 4 

While rolling the paper keep on pulling the stick from one end. Once done apply some glue at the end. Then pull out the stick. 

 

Step-5 & 6 

Make around 15 sticks to make one basket. Draw circles (around 8 to 10 c.m. diameter) on corrugated cardboard sheet. For one basket we need two circles. 

 

Step-7 & 8 

Cut the circles and then glue some newspaper sticks on a circle as the picture below. 

 

Step- 9 & 10 

Apply some glue all over the circle and on that stick another circle. 

 

Step-11 & 12 

Now on that keep any heavy object, so that both the circles will stick to each other properly. I placed a plastic jar on it for 30 minutes then it was ready.

 

Step-13 & 14 

Roll a newspaper roll on finger or on a pen. By doing this it will become little flexible and we can easily weave the basket. Glue one end of the stick on one stick and leave for few minutes, so that it will fix. Or else you can put a clip on that, which you can remove later on. 

 

Step-15 & 16 

Now start weaving the basket. We have to alternatively move the stick inside and outside around those sticks which we have glued on the circle in step-8. When one newspaper stick ends then apply some glue on another stick and insert it inside the first one. 

 

Step-17 & 18 

Once our basket's depth becomes around 10 c.m, then it is done. Leave around 2 to 3 c.m. of the newspaper stick from top and cut the rest of it. 

 

Step-19 & 20 

Now fold the sticks inside the basket and apply glue on it. I used some clips to set it fast. 

 

Step-21 & 22 

Once the glue dries completely and basket is ready, next step is coloring it. I used light brown color, so that it will look like as if it is made of some natural fiber. 

 

Step-23 & 24 

Take chart paper of any color and cut the petals. I have cut the petals in oval shape, you can cut it in any shape and size. Fold the petals from the middle, so that we can easily tie up them. I have cut some thin strips also to add at the center portion of the flower. 

 

Step-25 & 26 

Tie the petals together with thread. I made around 5 such flowers for each basket. 

 

Step-27 

Once the flowers are ready, then glue them on the basket. I filled one single color flower in one basket, you can fill according to your choice.

Now they are ready. You can make any number of baskets according to your wish and your patience *smiles*. 

Do find some time to share your view on this DIY. 

If you have any DIY ideas that you want to share with others then write to me at 

whencreativejuicesflow@gmail.com. I'll love to make a post on it. 

Enjoy your Holi, but don't waste much water as summer has already knocked on our doors and many part of the country facing water scarcity. *smiles*