Reuse - A fun Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving craft idea using paper, cloth and other scraps!

Colormehappy Turkey- fun thanks giving art project using finger paints!!

All you need is

• Paperstock
• Finger paints
• Marker
• Wiggly eyes
• Glue

Dip thumb in paint and make impression on the cardstock for the face.

Dip index finger in paint and make wings.

Stick wiggly eyes using glue
Use marker to draw nose and legs.

Thanks for visiting! Enjoy and have a colorful day:))

Colors of Freedom: An Independence Day art project!

Featured in Times-Republican!

Fourth of July is marked nationwide by congregating with loved ones, shopping, backyard barbecue galore and spectacular display of fireworks. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for us to discuss with our kids what independence means and why we all need to appreciate the freedom we enjoy every day.

Symbolic use of colors in flags represents the values that country stands for. This month’s project is a creative, colorful and fun to do art that teaches what colors and values we as a nation take pride and stand for.

Red – Hardiness and Valor

White – Purity and Innocence

Blue – Vigilance and Perseverance

What you will need

• Cardstock
• Markers
• Red, white and blue buttons

• Glue

• Scissors (for bookmarks)

Using markers write on cardstock the meaning of colors. For younger children you can also take a print out. Stick the buttons using glue and give a finishing touch using markers. Makes fun greetings, bookmarks, folders and wall art.

Wish you all a very happy 4th July!! 

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day:)

Wish you all a very Happy Independence Day!

Warli Painting - Art as an expression!!

Expression is said to be an art. Folk arts dating back hundreds and thousands of years, found carved and painted on trees, walls, and stones tell us a story of art as an expression. The people, their lives, their celebrations and fears are reflected in such rudimentary paintings. They are found everywhere in world where civilizations prevailed, left for us to interpret and bring them to life by giving them words; a journey from art as an expression to expression as an art.

Warli Painting in India is such tribal art dating back several hundred years. The word “Warli” comes from the word “warla” which means a piece of land. The Warli tribe painted the walls of their mud homes with pictures to depict their social life and mark important occasions such as weddings, birth and the harvest. Their extremely rudimentary wall paintings use a very basic graphic vocabulary from their observation of nature: a circle, a triangle and a square.

A circle represents the sun and the moon

A triangle represents mountains and pointed trees

A square represents the piece of land symbolizing fertility.

These geometric figures are joined together to form beautiful patterns. Like, two apex of triangles are joined together to form a human figure.

To make your own Warli painting:

• Choose a design

• Draw pattern with pencil

• Outline with black marker

• Fill in the colors

This art was derived from observation of nature and a limited vocabulary... Simple way to do it is just let go of all you know for few moments. Limit yourself to discover what’s unlimited and…that’s expression

Enjoy the art!!

Dream catcher - Colorful world of stories!

Featured in Times-Republican

Being a mother of two lovely daughters is one of the best things ever happened to me in my life. Their colorful and joyful stories, silly grins and giggles, fill my days with so much love and happiness.

I see them cracking silly jokes and laughing till their tummies hurt and wonder why and when in life we grow up and stop living like a child? We get stuck on things and cannot let go, we forget to forgive and start worrying too much. Why does growing up really needs leaving our innocent, beautiful heart and world behind. Even the jokes should make perfect sense:((

Dream Catcher is a joyful artwork from my daughter’s colorful world of stories! I feel blessed that I get to experience through my daughters what I left far behind in the life and even forgot how it felt.... to be a child!

To create your own masterpiece, take mundane materials from your life, run them through your imagination and let your personality shine through your work following these simple steps.

• Choose a design

• Draw pattern with pencil

• Outline with markers

• Fill in with crayons

Revisit your lives through your art work... it's so much fun:)) Thanks for stopping by and have a colorful day!!

Starfish - A thoughtful art project!

Featured in Times-Republican

I am surrounded with friends and family who do not share the same passion of green and organic living as me. I tell you, it can be very difficult to be able to live your way as others are either trying to question your thinking or justifying their actions.


Often the question get raised, what can a single person do? Or what difference it will make?

It’s not an easy conversation especially when people have preconceived minds.

I feel so blessed that I am raising the kids who share my passion towards the happier and healthier world. Few days back my daughter got a lovely gift for me and she told me” mommy thanks for making us the throwers of starfish”. I wondered what it meant.

When I opened the gift, it was a beautiful story titled ‘Starfish’.

I got so touched with the story. It’s a beautiful read so I thought of sharing with you all.

A man saw a boy throwing starfish into the ocean, he asked the boy why he was doing this and the boy said, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

The man looked at the miles and miles of beach and saw starfish everywhere. “You just saved one starfish. You can never save them all. What difference will it make?”

The boy picked up another starfish and threw it in. He smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one.”

As we become throwers of starfish, we too have the power to change the world!

This month’s art project is also inspired by this story.

For this project what you will need

• Cardstock
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paints or markers
• Paintbrush

Draw starfish on cardstock. Cut using scissors. Dip paintbrush in paints and dab it gently on the paper for polka dot impressions. Write the story or print for the base. When dry, stick starfishes using glue to the base.

Be colorful, joyful and the change you wish to see in the world!

A recipe for a very dear mother!

Thank you so much girls!! 

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Now or Never - A thoughtful art project for new year with endless possiblities!!

Featured in Times-Republican!

Have you ever noticed that thinking of past no matter pleasant or unpleasant only brings regret and misery? The beautiful moments we lived in the past fill us with misery for not having them now and the thoughts of what we could have and should have done fills us with regret.

Similarly, thinking of future leaves us with anxiety of what is going to happen and how we will deal with it while we can do nothing about it.

Life is what is happening to us right now and we can only be happy living in the present moment.

This New Year take resolve to be happy and spread happiness by living in the moment…NOW!

It’s beautifully said that if you feel free you are free. If you feel bound you are bound.

This month’s art project is a scrabble art.

What you will need is

• Letters for message from scrabble
• Glue
• handmade paper

Using glue, stick the letters onto the handmade paper. It’s a simple and creative art project with endless possibilities. You can use it for wall art, greetings and picture frames.

Wish you all a very colorful and joyful new year ahead!

Reuse idea - Snowman using buttons!

A simple and creative snowman!

All you need is

• Buttons of different sizes
• Scraps
• Sequins ( optional)
• Glue
• Scissors

For scarf, you can use construction paper or felt or any other scraps available. I used white, orange and red construction paper. Cut one and half inches long thin stripes. Stick them together and then, onto the cardstock.

Stick small button above the scarf and bigger button at the bottom as shown. Fold the scarf from one side and stick it using glue on the other side.

and its all done!!!!

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day:)

Celebration bookmarks - Simple and creative ways to celebrate!

Rudolf the rednosed reindeer had a very shiny nose - Holiday art project using finger paints!!

Featured in Times-Republican!

Have you felt the lightness of the moment when everything is organized in life? I am a person with a long checklist of things to do and ongoing quest to clear my list. However, most of the time there are number of unchecked items as new items get added at the same pace as old ones closing. But then comes a moment, short lived yet blissful when all the things, spaces and relations in our lives are well organized. My favorite thing to do to enjoy the bliss of that short moment is have a cup of chai, listen to music, have a cookie and read a book till something else pops up.

It is so important to slow down every once a while and unclutter life. It is amazing how light it feels when we do not have any backlog in mind! With New Year approaching in less than a month now, try getting your checklist done. Organize your thoughts, spaces, life and make room for the change you want to see in yourself for the coming year.

Here is a simple and creative idea to spend quality time with the family and check that box in to do list!

For this month’s project I have Rudolph the red nose reindeer. You can make greetings, bookmarks, gift tags, gift bags and decorate a coffee cup sleeve using this idea.

What you will need

• Finger paints

• Wiggly eyes

• Marker
• Small pom poms
• Glue

Dip your thumb in the paint and make an impression on the paper for reindeers face. Let dry. Stick wiggly eyes . Stick pom poms for nose using glue. Use red pom pom for Rudolph. Draw antlers using markers

Wish you all a very joyful and colorful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

String of colorful lights - Fun art project using finger paints!

What you will need

• Finger paints
• Glitter
• Marker
• Sequin
• Glue

Draw a string using marker.

Dip the tip of index finger in paints and make impression on paper for lights.

Stick Sequin using glue and sprinkle glitter.

Thanks so much for visiting and have a colorful day!

Joyful Christmas Tree - Fun art project using finger prints!

What you will need

• Paints
• Glitter
• Marker
• Sequins
• Glue

On a paper plate mix green finger paint with glitter.
Dip index finger in paint and make an impression on paper.

Stick Sequin using glue.

Draw tree trunk using marker.


Thanks for visiting and have a joyful day!

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!

TuTu - Fun and creative art project using finger prints!

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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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:))

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!