Wish you all a very Joyful n colorful Diwali!!

Colormehappy turkey - A fun and colorful fingerprint art project!

Featured in Times-Republican!

Festivities provide us with a wonderful opportunity to teach our kids generosity. Performing a random act of kindness and sharing without any expectation of return not only helps others but also brings happiness and inner peace in our hearts.

At our home we are keeping a count of the ways we are going to share our blessings. Some of them are donating books to library, sharing food, writing notes, bringing smiles, visiting animal shelters, donating toys and volunteer our time. Even a small act of kindness can pour our hearts with abundant love.

This month’s art project is a fun and colorful fingerprint turkey. It’s a simple and beautiful way to get kids involved in personalizing thankful notes.

What you will need

• Paints

• Wiggly eyes

• Marker

• Glue

Dip thumb in paint and make an impression on paper for face.

For belly dip thumb in paint and spread in round shape. For wings, dip index finger in colorful paints and make impression. Stick wiggly eyes and draw legs using marker.

Be generous and spread generosity!! Wish you all a very colorful and joyful season!

Frankenstein's Bride - Fun Halloween art project using foot prints!

Colorful fall leaves using tissue paper!

What you will need

• Different colors of tissue paper
• Pencil with eraser on top
• Glue
• Construction paper

Hand tear brown construction paper for tree trunk and branches.

Hand tear little pieces of tissue paper and squeeze them on eraser end of pencil.

Dip in glue and stick for leaves.

TuTu - Fun and creative art project using finger prints!

The ittsy bittsy spider- fun and creative art project using handprints!

Such a beautiful thought!!





Devi – The various names and forms of Divine Mother! - By Bhanumathi Narasimhan

We are all floating in the effulgence of one scintillating unseen cosmic energy called the ‘Devi’. The Devi or the Divine Mother is the womb of all creation. She is the seed of all dynamism, radiance, beauty, equanimity, peace and nourishment. She is the life force energy.

A mother has total love for her child. The Divine Mother has unconditional and unquantifiable love for Her children which includes every being in this entire creation.

Remembering names and forms of Devi

During the nine nights of Navratri, the Devi is worshiped in all Her names and forms. Names have a significance. We remember a sandalwood tree by the memory of its perfume. Each name and form of the Devi refers to a specific quality or attribute of the Divine. By remembering the form or by chanting the many names of Devi, we enliven those qualities in our consciousness and they manifest in us according to the need of the hour.

Navratri is a journey from the outer world of names and forms to the subtle world of energies, invoked through the various yagnas, to the innermost core of our being - the Self.

Warding off negativities and mental blocks

The first three days celebrate the Devi in the form of Durga. Durga also means hill. A very difficult task is often described as an uphill task. In the presence of Durga, negative forces fade away. Difficulties find it difficult to exist in Her presence! The goddess is depicted as riding a lion or tiger as her mount, alluding to the aspect of courage and valor which are the essence of Devi Durga.

TheNava Durga are the nine aspects of Durga energy which act like a shield to ward off all negativities. When you have obstacles and mental blocks, just remembering these qualities of the Devi, can cure the mental blocks. Especially in the case of people suffering from anxiety, doubting oneself, doubting one’s ability, ‘lack’ consciousness, feeling threatened by enmity and negativity - simply by chanting the names of the Devis, it is like mantras that elevate your consciousness and you can become more centered, courageous and composed. This is the significance of the aspect of the Divine as Devi Durga.

The Devi Durga, in Her form as Mahishasuramardhini, is the destroyer of Mahisha. The word Mahishameans buffalo which is a symbol of laziness, lethargy, and inertia. These are the qualities which impede the spiritual and material progress of an individual. The Devi is a storehouse of positive energy and any trace of laziness or inertia dissolves in Her very presence.

The second set of three days honor the Devi as Lakshmi. Lakshmi is goddess of wealth and prosperity. Wealth is a vital ingredient bestowed upon us for the maintenance and progress in our life. It is much more than just having money. It means abundance in knowledge, skills and talents. Lakshmi is the energy that manifests as the complete spiritual and material well-being of a person.

The final three days are dedicated to Saraswati. Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge- the one who gives the essence (sara) of the Self (swa). She is often depicted as being seated on a rock. Knowledge, like a rock, is a steadfast support. It stays with us at all times. She plays the veena, a musical instrument whose mellifluous notes bring harmony and peace to the mind. Similarly, spiritual knowledge brings relaxation and celebration into ones’ life.

Goddess Saraswati is the ocean of understanding and the consciousness which vibrates with different types of learning. She is the source of spiritual light, remover of all ignorance and the source of knowledge.

Attaining the Ultimate Offering to Divine Mother

While worshiping the Devi in her various names and forms, we offer flowers in a multitude of hues and fragrances like jasmine, hibiscus, lotus, lilies, rose, and so on. From the outer beauty, as we turn our focus inward and are soaked in the divine attributes, our consciousness flowers. We offer our blossomed consciousness too. Worshiping Her through the blossomed consciousness is the ultimate offering.

The Divine Mother is the unfathomable, infinite, supreme, pure consciousness. A child does not try to know the mother. The child simply has faith in her. In the same way, having faith in the Divine Mother is the source of the greatest strength. It is a great wealth and a blessing.

Navratri is a time for us to soak in this blessing, relax in the depth of our being and feel grateful for the abundance and beauty in our lives.


By Bhanumathi Narasimhan

The writer is the sister of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, meditation teacher, and Director of Women and Child Welfare programs of The Art of Living.
www.artofliving.org

Superhero bugs - Fun Halloween crafts using pipe cleaners!

Gandhi's principals!

Thanks www.takepart.com for the image!



Star - Fun print art project using apples:)

What you will need

• Apple
• Paints
• Plate

1. Pour paints in a plate.
2. Cut apple in half
3. Clear out seeds
4. Dip the apple in paints
5. Print! Enjoy:)

Prints by my 4 year old!!

Booooo alien - Super fun Halloween craft!

Featured in Times-Republican!

As the festivities are beginning around the world the hearts are poured with so much excitement. This year seems to be flying by fast. Stores are already putting up Christmas decors and sales, no wonder if we see Easter sales in January itself. I am glad the birds and animals do not follow the store promotions or they will be confused too.

Talk of a festivity and the aisles get filled with million ways to decorate and celebrate with tons of candies, colors and decorations. Isn’t it true how we all are getting so conditioned commercially and losing the spirit of what makes the festivals important. What’s even worrisome is the amount of waste that will be produced after few hours of glee.

We all see, hear and read about landfills, global warming, sugar intake, plastic hazards etc. It has become another yada yada story. So many times when I am writing and discussing the topic even my husband says please not landfills again!

Sustainable and green living is not a hard thing to achieve if we all can take care of our share of responsibilities and think of greater good. Things sell because there is a demand for them and only we are responsible for creating them. With each buy we are making a choice and then the choice is making us and our environment.

The best thing is each day, each moment and each buy provides us with this wonderful opportunity to promote healthy, eco-alternatives that are not only good for the planet but also teach our children to care for themselves and environment.

Even the simple things like sending online invites, reusing costumes and swapping, avoiding disposable cutlery, saying no to non-recyclable plastic and recycling the one that we can, buying healthy treats, reusing or making reusable treat bags can make such a huge change and make us feel accomplished for our unconditional contribution.

This month’s project is boo alien candy wrapper. They are fun, easy and joyful!

For this what you will need is

• Paper napkin

• Pipe cleaner

• Wiggly eyes ( you can also make eyes on paper using markers)

• Glue

• Marker

• Beads

• Scissors

1. Cut pipe cleaners 3 inches long.

2. Insert beads and stick wiggly eyes on the ends of pipe cleaner using glue.

3. Place candy in middle of paper napkin.

4. Twist and roll the ends of pipe cleaner in the back.

5. Using markers draw the eyes and mouth.

Wish you all a very colorful and joyful fall!!

A poem!!

I'm dancing.

I'm leaping.

I'm skipping about.

I gallop.

I grin.

I giggle.

I shout.

I'm earth's many colors.

I'm morning and night.

I'm honey on toast.

I'm funny.

I'm bright.

I'm swinging.

I'm singing.

I wiggle.

I run.

I'm a piece of the sky

in a circle of sun.

-Rebecca Kai Dotlich

Reuse idea - Fun and creative art project using paper towel tubes!

Featured in Times-Republican!

Every time we have an empty paper towel tube in home, it’s the toy of the day. My daughters will have loads of fun seeing and talking through them. A thing so little can bring so much joy, that's the beauty of childhood.

I am a mom who always has the 6 R's on top of mind. Recycle, Reuse, Reconsider, Repurpose, Reduce and Responsibility. I enjoy every opportunity to learn and teach my girls about green and responsible living. Keeping the R's in mind we started thinking about how tubes can be used in art projects.

We tried impression art and simply loved it. This reuse project idea is creative and super fun project for all ages.

All you need is

· Paper towel tubes
· Paints (poster or acrylic) and paper plate
· Card stock, folder, canvas bag or cardboard

Get Indulged!

Pour paints in a paper plate. Dip the end of paper towel tube in colors of your choice and start making impressions. Let your creativity drive you!

My daughters loved every bit of the project. Shown is a project done by my 4 year old.

When you are done reusing the tubes, don't forget to recycle them.

Thanks so much for visiting and have a colorful day!! 

Adinkara - The art of symbolic printmaking!

Featured in Times-Republican!

I had an amazing trip back home in India. Met all my family and friends and caught up on changes I missed in last few years. Shared so many laughter’s and tears that were held back for so much time. Embraced new members and felt emptiness for loved ones I lost.

I also took the opportunity to take my daughters to visit Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Red fort and India gate which are famous historical monuments. The art, sculptors, paintings and carvings were simply beautiful and told the story of events that made history.

Art has been used in all the cultures throughout the world to keep history alive and retell the stories of triumph and defeats.

This month’s project is also influenced by one such wonderful art from Ghana, Africa. This art has been used for ages to tell a story and express thoughts and feelings. It’s called Adinkra or symbolic printmaking.

People in Ghana decorate the cloth by using a black dye made of bark. This dye is called Adinkra aduru. Using the dye, they draw lines on the cloth to divide it into squares. Symbols are carved on calabash gourds and then used as stamps onto the fabric.

The Adinkra symbols express various themes that relate to the history, beliefs and philosophy of the Asante people. They mostly have rich proverbial meaning since proverbs play an important role in the Asante culture. The use of Proverbs is considered as a mark of wisdom. Other Adinkra symbols depict historical events, human behavior and attitudes, animal behavior, plant life forms and shapes of objects.

The designing is done according to the message the wearer or owner of the cloth intends to convey to the participants of the event.

You can tell your own story using

Adinkra symbols or by creating your own designs in this super fun and creative way. We printed symbols on canvas bags.

What you'll need:

• Pieces of Styrofoam (the kind meat is packaged on works great)

• A dull pencil

• Various colors of paints or ink (metallic paint for the muslin and block printing ink for the bags)

• Something to make the prints on- example- paper, strips of muslin, canvas bag

• Paint brush or rubber brayer to apply the ink or paint

1. Create a design using or symbol on a piece of Styrofoam with a pen.

2. Trace over it using some pressure with the dull pencil.

3. Cover the Styrofoam with the paint or ink, be careful not to get the paint down into the design, only gently cover the surface.

4. Flip the Styrofoam over and press onto surface of paper, muslin, or whatever you are printing on.

5. Pull up the Styrofoam and check out your design.

6. Repeat this process and many times as desired with different colors and surfaces.

Very special thanks to Emma Unsworth for sharing her creative art project. She is a senior at Kent State University majoring in art education. She loves  traveling and experiencing new cultures and hopes to bring these experiences and inspirations into her future classroom. She has a passion for kids and art making and is excited to start career with both of them!

Attached is a YouTube video she made during her travel to Africa. Enjoy:))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYWH5XfbQlw

 

  

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day!!















Acrylic Skins/ Peel Painting - Super fun and creative art project!!

Acrylic skins are super fun and creative way to create colorful patterns and marbling type effects. Each painting is unique and beautiful. No matter what’s the occasion, this painting does wonders in capturing attention of people of all ages.

What you will need

• Acrylic paints

• Gloss or Matte pouring medium

• Glitters

• Plastic sheet ( I used the one from picture frame)

• Small containers to mix paint with medium

• Paint brush

1. In small containers mix acrylic paints with the medium using paint brush. Avoid any bubbles while mixing. You can use both gloss and matt mediums for mixed effect. The medium looks white but dries clear.

2. Pour different colors of paint all over the plastic sheet keeping uniform thickness. For colorful effects try overlapping the colors at the boundaries. The colors will start mixing and create beautiful effects. For details further overlap with gold and silver color.

3. Spread Glitter.

4. Leave it for at least 24 Hours. For humid and cold places leave it up to 48 Hours.

5. Gently peel off when dry.

Enjoy the art!

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day :))

 

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Sand art - colorful and creative art project using sand!

After the long cold Midwest winter I was so ready to be roasted in Delhi's heat. 

Though I am so very Roasted and toasted, I am enjoying company of friend’s n family, no rain, no stormy nights and of course eating super hot spicy food.

It’s amazing to see how even with so much of growth and change some of the basic things are still the same. Today my daughters went to buy vegetables from farmers market and older one said if she will describe it to anyone in her school they will think its a piece of fiction. Their amazement, grins n giggles on how things work here makes me feel good. 

My dad saved and shared my Pandora box with my daughters. Everyone used to call it a Pandora box because of the collections I made of the things I loved. This month’s art project is also from my thinking box. It’s simple, creative and colorful art which can be preserved for ages.

What you will need

2 or more cardboards
Elmer's Glue
Colorful sand
Small spoon

Put 2 or more cardboards of same size next to each other.
Using glue draw a freehand design in a sequence all over the cardboards.
Using hand or small spoon sprinkle different colors of sand on glued areas.
Allow to dry, and then tap off extra sand from the picture.

Enjoy the art and have a colorful day 

Life is a blessing!!

Life is a blessing...

Let there be a beauty in your presence!!

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!!

Quilling/paper filigree - Fun and creative craft project!!

Featured in Times-Republican!

Spring has sprung. The beauty of fresh blossoms, fluttering butterflies, colorful birds, hopping bunnies and dandelions is a delight to eyes after such a long winter. This month’s project is Quilling. It is such a fun, creative and colorful way to capture the nature at its best!

Quilling or paper filigree is a fun paper craft which involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, coiled, spiraled, and glued together to create decorative 3D designs.

What you will need

• Paper Stock
• Construction paper

• Scissors

• Glue, paper plate and Q- tip
• Curling tools – You can buy a kit or do this using hands, chopsticks or manicure stick

1. Pick design or subjects of your interest: flowers, animals, cars, butterflies, vehicles etc.

2. Using scissors cut construction paper 1/4-3/8'' wide. You can also buy precut strips.

3. Glue one tip of the strip and start rolling tightly. Once it’s rolled completely then, let it loosen to desired size and glue its other tip. You'll have to hold it for a while until the glue is dry.

4. Pour some glue into a paper plate. Using Q-tip glue the quill and stick it on cardstock.

Enjoy the craft:)

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful and joyful spring!!

Thought tree: A green art project!

Featured in Times-Republican!

While scribbling the ideas for this month’s art project, I started wondering, what is my expectation as an eco-friendly mother from mother’s day?

I counted some ways we all have celebrated this special day always… cakes, flowers, cookies, gifts, clothes, chocolates, greetings, jewelry, dine out, etc.

Well, none of them satisfied my mind. It’s a day to celebrate mothers influence on society and our thoughts and ideas to celebrate are so confined to the not so green and commercial eye.

Aisles everywhere are loaded with tempting ways to satisfy wants and wish for more. It is so disappointing to see the amount of sugar consumed and waste produced by each celebration and I wonder how much of it will be responsibly disposed.

We all celebrate so many occasions throughout the year. Celebrations are so much fun and will always be because they are from us and people around us. They are about getting together, enjoying and cheering and sharing laughter’s. A few hours of glee should add smiles and memories to our lives and not a heaping pile to the landfills.

Every time we have a celebration at home I take it as an opportunity and try to teach my girls about the 5R’s of green living. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Responsibility and Reconsider. It’s very challenging at times to convince them to be more creative, less materialistic, think outside the box and care for environment. But, I do believe that educating our kids about the green living is a step forward in raising the child who appreciates and is thankful.

This month’s art project is a thought tree, a simple project which emphasizes on questions we need to ask ourselves every time we are thinking of buying something. They can make such a positive impact on environment and on our budget.

What you will need
• Paper stock
• Construction paper
• Glue

• Pencil

• Eraser
• Markers

Hand tear construction paper and stick it on paper stock in shape of tree using glue. Using markers write the questions.

Well, about the mother’s day celebration we will be celebrating it as a share mom’s chores day. That way, we will have more time sharing the stories from their birth to first steps to first words and everything else.

Wish you all a very happy mother’s day and responsible earth’s day.