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.

Beautiful thought...

Feel The subtleties of life....
and wonder in awe of them!

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day!

Dreams!! A beautiful poem by my 2nd grader:)

Dreams may come true,

Dreams may not come true,

But always remember,

A dream is a part of you!!

Khushi Pasrija

Wish you all a colorful and joyful spring!

Mom, "Do you love me"?

Yes baby! Loads and Loads...

You want to hear a joke?
Yes, I do

"An elephant was riding on an ant" followed by so much fun filled giggles.

Well, the fun thing is it’s probably the hundredth time I am listening to this. Not, in a week, not in a day...but in an hour!

Thinking of this, I am really looking forward to the spring break...Is there something like a survival guide for holidays. Even social media is loaded with updates from moms like me wondering what their fate holds this spring break or how are they going to deal with this special bonding time. I tell you, time flies so fast and soon spring break will look like a piece of cake in front of summer vacation;)

Well, all I can say is luck favors the prepared mind. So, get equipped with the ideas and activities that will keep the little minds occupied...

Wish you all colorful and fun filled times! Here is silly a joke for you that I am trying to answer from past few months...Why did chicken cross the road??  Looks like I have a choice here. Keep wondering why he did or join the laughter club! Laughter sounds better for nowJ.

Strawberries - Fun art project using Potato stamps!

 Project featured in Times-Republican

What you will need

• Potato

• Knife
• Paper
• Pencil
• Poster paints
• Paint brush

Wash a potato. Cut it in half. Draw a pattern on the cut surface of half potato. You can also draw another pattern on the other half. With a knife cut away any potato that is not part of the pattern. After you do this, the shape you are going to print will be raised from the rest of the potato. Cover the raised part with a light coat of poster paint. Lightly press the potato on a sheet of paper, when the pattern fades, paint the potato again. Finish by making stem n leaves using paintbrush.

Thanks for visiting. Have a berry sweet day!!

Blow painting - Fun art project using straw!

Project featured in Times-Republican!

What you will need

• Paints
• Paper

• Straw

• Stencils (optional)
• Paint brush

Squeeze little dabs of flowing colorful kid’s paints or take them out using paintbrush on a piece of paper. If the paints are thick then add some water so they can easily move when blown. Enjoy cool effects by blowing paint using straw.

Thanks for visiting!

Have a funfilled and colorful day. Be awesome today:))

  

Impression art - Fun art project pressing paints

Project featured in Times-Republican

What you will need

• Paper stock
• Paints ( poster and acrylic)

This project is so easy, so fun and creates magnificent details. The first thing you need to do is figure out in your mind what you will like to create....Flowers, butterflies, birds, trees, dragons.

Fold paper in half. Now, generously pour the colorful dabs of paint on one side of paper using your imagination. Press the other half gently and let the paint make its impressions on other sheet. Open up gently like you are opening a book. Try a mix of both poster and acrylic paints for captivating details. Enjoy the art:)

Be colorful today! Thanks for visiting:))

We are all part of something bigger...and we are all part of it together!

www.artofliving.org

If every child in the world learns a bit about all cultures, a little bit about all values, the whole scenario will be different. It does not matter what color or race you are, what matters is a sense of belongingness with the whole world!!

Sri Sri

INK - Visual Art!

Love and be loved!!

Featured in Times-Republican!

No matter which part of world or which religion you belong to, Valentines is on the roll everywhere. Love is a global phenomenon. There are millions of things you can love and millions of way to show it too.

Love is the basic necessity! From the moment we are born we learn to love and be loved. For a new born it does not matter what toys, clothes, and nursery they are in. The gentle nurturing, love and warm embrace of parents makes them feel loved and secure.

Unfortunately, our wish list rises as we grow and we start replacing love and security with material things. Only if those beautiful things in the stores could have bought happiness, I tell you the world would have been the happiest place with no one sad, depressed and lonely.

Have you ever wondered how many flowers, greetings, cakes, gifts, chocolates, candies etc. get bought every year to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day?

The essence of love is from us and the comfort of knowing that we are loved and someone is there for us no matter what is irreplaceable.

This Valentine’s Day don’t forget to tell your loved ones that you belong to them.

Here are some wonderful ideas to share laughter’s, happiness and sweet moments together on this special day.

1. Personalized notepads and bookmarks

All you need is

• Note pad
• Sequins
• Buttons
• Markers
• Glue

Stick sequence or buttons on the bottom of notepad using glue. Use markers to add a touch and write a message.

2. Thankful message board – I simply love this practice in my home. All you need is a simple chalk board or white board with dry erase markers. Share a sweet message when you can and enjoy reading sweet replies too.

3. Heart stamped rocks -

All you need is

• Rocks

• Paints

• Pencil

• Paint brush

Clean the rocks with water and let them dry. Paint the rocks using pastel shades. When dry draw a heart using pencil and fill with bright color.

4. A wall full of loving moments –

What you will need

• Colorful construction paper

• Tape

• Scissors

• Heart stencil

• Pencil

• Pictures

Using stencil draw hearts on construction paper. Cut them using scissors. Stick pictures you love on them using tape. Now stick those hearts on the wall using tape. Relive the beautiful memories. You can also hang these picture hearts on jute twig using clothes pin.

5. Create your own personalized piece of art by using old crayons.

All you need is

• Card stock

• Crayon stubs

• Pencil

• Glue

• Markers

• Scissors

Remove any wrapping from crayons. Using scissors trim uneven crayon stubs. Sketch a heart on card stock using pencil. Outline with glue and stick crayons.

Wish you all a colorful Valentines. Love and be loved!

Thankful message board - A simple and creative idea to share smiles!

I simply love this practice in my home. All you need is a simple chalk board or white board with dry erase markers. Share a sweet message when you can and enjoy reading sweet replies too.

Thanks for visiting. Love and be loved!:))