Saakshi Khanna on Pitara Kids Network

Batik: Ancient Art of Painting in Wax

Thu, 02 Jan 2003 19:03:30 +0000

A routine college day. We had to go for textile practicals after lunch. Going for any class post lunch was a pain. All we wanted to do was sleep. But, that remained a dream since we were always packed with classes after lunch. Lazily, I dragged myself to the textile laboratory.

“Today we are going to learn the technique of batik but first let me brief you about it,” said the teacher.

I was already bored. First theory and then the practical. What more could one ask for! Who wanted to know about a technique of dyeing with the strange name batik, anyway? Then I put aside these thoughts and decided to listen. After all, I would have to attempt it myself in a while.

An Unforgetful Trip

Sun, 04 May 2003 22:43:03 +0000

The Thunderbirds – This was the name that Namrata, Pooja, Kajari, Latika, Ayesha, Moni, Geetika, Ritu, Parul and Priyanka had given to their gang of 10. Everyone in St. Anna Girls’ School knew them. They were always seen together.

“Guys!!!!! The list of places for the mid-term trip has been put up on the notice board,” announced Namrata, who in her excitement had got up on a chair to grab everyone’s attention.

That did it. What had been an orderly classroom a few seconds earlier was now an empty class. The entire class had dashed off to see the announcement on the notice board.

How Monkeys Got their Red Bottoms

Sat, 20 Oct 2001 03:45:17 +0000

Once upon a time there was a group of twelve boys and girls who lived in a village called Dancing. After dinner everyday they would light a fire and dance.

One evening a monkey came and sat in a corner. He was wearing a smart safari suit with a stylish hat. He had a banjo in his hand, with which he played melodious music. He played so well that no one realised that he was a monkey.

Decorate Bindis

Tue, 24 Sep 2002 05:38:56 +0000

Decorate Bindis [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

Look for old bindis lying in your house and give them a new look.

The things you need:

Plain bindis of different colours and sizes
Tiny beads of different colours
Adhesive

Step 1: Since bindis are small, you will have to decorate them very carefully. Choose the beads that go with the colour of the bindi and stick them in a way that they look attractive.

Milk! Milk! Milk!

Thu, 16 Aug 2001 04:14:26 +0000

Morning, afternoon, evening, night
Kappu wants milk all the time
He drinks six bottles in a day
And always feels contented and gay.

Bananas and biscuits mashed in milk
Are things that Kappu loves to drink
As soon as he finishes drinking a bowl
His mommy gives a kiss on his nose.

Milk! Milk! Milk! [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Pencil stand of Bangles

Sun, 17 Feb 2002 22:50:06 +0000

Pencil stand of Bangles [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

If you have old bangles lying around in the house that nobody wears, you can use them to make a pencil stand for your desk.

The things you need:

Old bangles
Adhesive
Cardboard
Scissors
Pencil

Step 1: Collect bangles of different colours but of the same size.

Step 2: Use a bangle to draw a circle on the cardboard piece. Cut it.

Ice Cream Stick Photo Frame

Tue, 26 Sep 2000 23:37:16 +0000

How do we make sure that our favourite person stays by our side at most times? Simple – we frame their photographs and keep them in a place where we can always see them. What fun if we could make the photo frames too! And it is not at all difficult.

Ice Cream Stick Photo Frame [Illustration by Jaykrit]

The things you need:

Ice Cream sticks.

Why do we Blink?

Fri, 28 Nov 2003 18:17:35 +0000

How many times do you blink in a minute? Weird, who knows! Well, mostly people blink around 15 times a minute (Reader’s Digest – Why in the World).

Blinking is an involuntary action that protects the eye. Most of our eye is enclosed in a bony socket covered with a layer of fat, which forms a protective cover. But when the eyes are open, one-tenth of the total surface area is exposed to the atmosphere. This means the eye, the most delicate and sensitive part of the body, has to withstand the dust present in the air.

Planets! Planets! and more Planets!

Mon, 22 Jul 2002 22:20:18 +0000

Astronomers working at Berkeley and Geneva have found nine new planets circling nearby stars. With this discovery, we now know of 50 extra-solar planets, also called exoplanets. That is a big increase from 41 planets last known five years ago.

All these individual planets move in an orbit around a star, which is called their parent star. The astronomers estimate that the Beta Pictoris star has a planet ten times the mass of Earth. It orbits at a distance of about 10.5 billion kilometers, more than ten times the distance of the earth from the sun. And Vega, one of the brightest stars in the sky appears to have a planet twice the mass of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. This planet is 8 billion kilometers from its parent star. In comparison, our solar system seems almost tiny. The distance between Pluto, the farthest planet in our solar system and the sun is “just” 5.9 billion kilometers!

Paper Plate Masks

Fri, 03 Nov 2000 07:16:54 +0000

During Dussehra it seems that Rama and Ravana come down to earth. In every street there are children who wear masks of these characters and enact the story. Would you like to make your own masks and do the same?

Paper Plate Masks [Illustrations by Shiju George]

You will need:

Paper plate, paints, pencil, eraser and thread.

Step 1: Draw the face of the character on the backside of the paper plate and colour it.

Sunday with Dad

Sun, 17 Jun 2001 14:35:49 +0000

A Sunday is so typical
when Dad is around
The morning starts
With a loud TV sound.

One groan from my sister
and another from me
Doesn’t melt his heart
To let us sleep for a minute or three.

Mom tries to catch up
On her wee bit of sleep
For she knows Dad is there
To make a cup of tea.

But once we are all up
It all seems so bright
For that’s the only day
When Dad has all the time.

Why do Aircrafts Have a Black Box?

Tue, 24 Apr 2001 16:31:18 +0000

Often, after an air disaster, we hear about the black box in the news. The black box does not play any part in making an aircraft fly but it serves an important function. It is basically an electronic device used by investigators to discover the cause of a crash and may be, prevent others.

Why do Aircrafts Have a Black Box? [Illustration by Shiju George]

The black box can be inserted or removed from an aircraft. In a passenger aircraft there are actually two black boxes. One contains the flight data-recorder and the other, the cockpit-voice recorder.

Here comes the Mango

Thu, 11 Jan 2001 07:16:15 +0000

Here comes the Mango [Illustrations by Shiju George]

Set everyone’s stomach growling with your irresistable, yummy look.

All you need is:

Two Cardboard Sheets.
Two White Chartpapers.
Water Colours.
Paint Brush.
Two meter yellow ribbon.
Scissors, pencil and eraser.

Step 1: Paste a white chartpaper on to a cardboard sheet. Draw the shape of a mango and cut it.

Step 2: Colour the mango using different shades of yellow and orange. Repeat the same steps to make another mango which would cover your back.

Which is the Most Abundant Fruit in India?

Wed, 01 May 2002 22:08:33 +0000

Did you know that in India, mango orchards cover roughly 33 percent (1.08 million hectares) of the total area under fruit cultivation? In a hectare of land you can grow thousands of trees. And each tree bears, thousands of fruit! I will leave it to you to calculate how many mangoes the country produces! It’s no wonder that the subzi mandis (vegetable and fruit markets) get flooded with mangoes in summers.

Forget the fact that the country produces millions of mangoes, do you know how many varieties there are? Thousands! Some of the popular ones are Alphonso, Dassehri, Banganapalle, Langra, Safeda, Neelam and Chausa. With so many varieties in the country, people have created varieties with fancy and romantic names, like Husn-e-Ara and Jehangir.

Bunny Rabbit

Sun, 15 Apr 2001 23:12:12 +0000

If you wish to make a toy at home that does not take much time, then try this. It looks cute and can be added to your soft toy collection.

The things you need:

Fused bulb
Cotton
Adhesive
Black pepper corns
Velvet paper or the Indian ‘Bindi’
Scissors

Step 1: Take a bulb and stick cotton on it, covering it completely. Give additional padding of cotton for the mouth of the rabbit.

Step 2: Cut out the cotton in the shape of rabbit ears and stick them to the rabbit’s head.

How are Stars Named?

Thu, 22 Aug 2002 12:47:58 +0000

Till now we have only seen roads, railway stations, airports, places etc. being named after famous people. But imagine paying money to get a star named after you. If that can happen, then anything is possible in this world!

Well, there are organisations in different parts of the world that sell names for the stars in the sky. All you have to do is – go there, fill out the long, detailed form that they give you and buy star names or name stars after someone.

Make your Own Trophy

Wed, 25 Dec 2002 12:08:55 +0000

Make your Own Trophy [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Whether you are playing games, organising a painting competition or giving titles to all your friends, design trophies for all occassions.

The things you need:

Thermacol sheet
Plain paper
Adhesive
Colours
5: Cutter
6: Scissor
7: Colouring brushes

Step 1: Take a thermacol sheet and cut it out in any shape you want to make the upper half of the trophy.

Make Your Own Slippers

Sun, 04 Nov 2001 09:46:09 +0000

Most of us have slippers to wear inside the house and a different pair for outside use. So why not make your very own slip-ons that make you feel as if you are walking on clouds?

Make Your Own Slippers [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

The soles of any old pair of slippers.
A sheet of foam (1/2 inch thickness)
3 Cotton or flannel cloth (one square metre)

Art on the Broomstick

Fri, 02 Mar 2001 03:59:21 +0000

The vacations are round the corner and there needs to be some excitement every day. One imaginative way out is to make beautiful things out of waste material.

The things you need:

An old broomstick
Adhesive
Blade
Thermocol sheet
Black chart paper
Scissors
Pencil, eraser, ruler and sharpener

Step 1: Stick the black chart paper on the thermocol sheet.

Step 2: Draw an object or a landscape.

Art on the Broomstick [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Step 3: Slit the end of the broomsticks. Cut them into desired lengths and paste them on the picture, close to each other. See the lovely golden, ripple-like effect you have succeeded in creating.

Santa Mask

Mon, 25 Jun 2001 16:30:52 +0000

The things you need to make a Santa Claus mask are:

White card sheet and red glaze paper
Adhesive and scissors
Pencil and eraser
Cotton
Colours
String

Santa Mask [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Step 1: Draw the face of Santa Claus on the card sheet. Colour it first and then cut on the outline.

Stick cotton to make the beard, moustache and eyebrows of the Santa.

Alpana

Thu, 10 Jan 2002 22:04:26 +0000

Thousands of years ago when humans did not know how to read and write he communicated by means of drawing pictures. The walls of caves where early man lived, whether it was in India or France, have been found to be full with primitive drawings. The art of alpana, practised by Indian women for centuries, is one such form of visual expression.

Alpana has different names in different parts of India. In Bengal, it is Alpana, it is Kolam in south India, Rangoli in Maharashtra, Osa in Orissa, Aripana in Bihar, Sonarakha in Uttar Pradesh, Sathiya in Gujarat, Aripona in other regions of north India and Apna in western Himalayas.

Make a Toy Periscope

Sat, 11 May 2002 19:32:22 +0000

Make a Toy Periscope [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Imagine going to watch a match starring your favourite teams and then not being able to see it properly. This could well be the case if you are seated at an uncomfortable spot.

Instead of coming out of the stadium/field in a sour mood, carry your very own periscope to the next match.

A periscope is an optical instrument that comes handy to see things from an angle where it is otherwise difficult to see them. Like in submarines. People in submarines use a periscope to see objects above the ocean.

Jumbo Mask

Thu, 22 Aug 2002 08:23:40 +0000

The theme for your next birthday party is Jungle Book and you want to have animal masks. Do you know it is very simple to make these masks at
home, from material that is easily available at home. Try it out.

Jumbo Mask [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

Paper plate
Chart paper
Scissors
Adhesive
Paints
Paint brush
Ribbon

Step 1: From the chart paper cut a strip of 1 inch x 20 inches and paint it. After the paint dries, roll this strip.
What you have just made is the trunk of the elephant.

Door Decor

Fri, 19 Oct 2001 03:04:01 +0000

Come Diwali, Dussehra, Christmas or the New Year people always hang torans above the doors of their houses. Toran is a bit of decoration made with leaves or flowers or even paper. Nowadays, toran are also made of plastic. People from various parts of India make torans differently. But this is how a traditional toran is usually made:

Door Decor [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

Table Mat

Tue, 13 Nov 2001 00:40:44 +0000

Table Mat [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

You can make mats of varying sizes and colours and give them as souvenirs to your friends.

The things you need:

Pieces of old cloth
Adhesive

Step 1: Cut the cloth in three strips half-an-inch wide.

Step 2: Hold the strips together and tie a knot at the end.

Step 3: Plait the strips until you get a length of half-a-metre.

Puppets on a String Dance Again

Sat, 03 Mar 2001 15:54:46 +0000

Vishnudas Bhave’s puppets had to go through a long ordeal before they finally got to the right place and in the hands of the right people. It was not just a long journey but a tough one too.

This story dates back to the year 1843, when the father of Marathi theatre, Vishnudas Bhave created his puppets, in Maharashtra’s Sangli district. They were not ordinary wooden puppets. They were so life-like that it seemed they would talk to you any moment. They put life into every play that he put up on stage. ‘Seeta Swayamvar’ became the most well known of his puppet dramas.

Forever Floating

Wed, 06 Sep 2000 02:00:32 +0000

I remember making paper boats as a child but after their first voyage they could never be used again. Then somebody told me about the boats that would always float. At once the idea appealed to me and I tried making the unsinkable boat. It actually never sank. Would you also like to try making one?

The things you need:

Bottle cork, blade and card sheet.

Forever Floating [Illustrations by Sudheer Nath]

Step 1. Slice the cork from the center, lengthwise.

Challenge Knot Tie

Wed, 05 Sep 2001 22:59:12 +0000

Challenge Knot Tie [Illustrations by Shiju George]

This is an easy one, but it will baffle people who don’t know how to do it.

All you need is:

A piece of rope 3 or 4 feet long.

Step 1: Hold the rope as in Figure 1, and give your friends a chance to try to tie a knot in the rope without at any time letting go of either end. When they give up, take back the rope and lay it down on a table.

A Crib for Jesus

Sat, 02 Jun 2001 11:28:27 +0000

The things you need:

Sticks or branches from trees
Leaves, twigs and hay
Thermacol sheet
Adhesive and scissors
Thread or Wool
Statues of baby Jesus or the Virgin Mary with child, etc.

Step 1: You need to take a 1 inch thick sheet of thermacol. Take four sticks and fix them on the corner of the thermacol sheet. Put some adhesive around each of the sticks to ensure that they are firm on the thermacol.

Paper Lamp Shades

Sun, 23 Sep 2001 08:00:29 +0000

Paper is one thing that can be used for a variety of purposes – crafts, packaging, storage, stationery…the uses are countless. Here is one of the things that you can make.

The things you need:

Chart paper
Scissors
Adhesive

Step 1: Take the chartpaper and cut it into a rectangular piece (12 inches x 6 inches).

Paper Lamp Shades [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

Step 2: Fold the paper lengthwise into half.

Kappu has a Bath

Sat, 24 Nov 2001 19:31:56 +0000

Kappu maharaj sat in a tub
Splashing water left, right and above
Papa sat rubbing his legs
While Mama poured water on the head.

Together they wrapped
Their baby in a towel
One dried his hair
And the other gave him a massage.

Kappu has a Bath [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Instant Bunny

Sat, 05 Oct 2002 17:45:04 +0000

Instant Bunny [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

Fine towel material or flannel is is best for making bunny rabbits. However, you can use any cloth. Here we have used a handkerchief.

The things you need:

Handkerchief
Rubber band
Three black and one red bindi or buttons

Step 1: Take a handkerchief and start rolling it diagonally from one end.

Step 2: Once completely rolled, fold into half and tie a rubber band two inches from the fold.

The Taziyas of Old Delhi

Mon, 04 Aug 2003 02:48:33 +0000

I was wandering in the crowded streets of Chandni Chowk, the heart of purani Dilli or Old Delhi. Until India gained independence in 1947 and a new Delhi came up, it was the ‘only’ Delhi. For close to 300 years, it had been the seat of Mughal power and culture, especially when it came to cuisine. And that is what drew me to that place!

I had taken the day off to savour Chandni Chowk’s famous parathas and the juicy sweet jalebi at the famous 200-year-old sweet shop, Ghantewala.

Kappu goes to the Zoo

Sat, 22 Sep 2001 14:49:38 +0000

Kappu maharaj, where are you going?
Zoo!
What will you see there?
Bear!
But how will you go?
Car!
And, may I ask with who?
You!

Kappu goes to the Zoo [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Burst the Balloon

Wed, 03 Oct 2001 06:36:36 +0000

Burst the Balloon [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Your audience will see you blowing a blue balloon, but as soon as you prick it, the balloon will change its colour.

The things you need:

Balloons of two colours (blue and pink)
A grain of rice or wheat
A needle

Step 1: Put the pink balloon inside the blue one and blow into both of them together.

Eco-friendly Holi Colours

Mon, 03 Dec 2001 12:44:56 +0000

Eco-friendly Holi Colours [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

There was a time when the colours that were used by people to play Holi were taken from nature – from flowers. Why not revive those memories this time. Use natural colours to paint the town red!

The things you need:

Tesu flowers: Half a kilogram
Strainer

Step 1: Dried tesu flowers are readily available in the market. You can look for them in grocery stores or shops that sell Holi colours – or in the old city areas.

The Joy of Flying

Sat, 29 Sep 2001 20:16:46 +0000

Come Independence Day and the markets are flooded with kites. The sky looks like an ocean swarming with tiny tadpoles swimming across from one place to the other. Colourful tadpoles, though!

Although kite flying has been popular in India for hundreds of years, historians believe that kite flying originated in China almost 3,000 years ago. There are many stories, which talk about the origin of kites. One of them goes like this:

The Joy of Flying [Illustrations by Shiju George]

There was a king in China who asked his army men to tie him to a kite and fly him off to the enemy’s territory. The moment he reached above enemy territory, he shouted out that if anyone came out of their palace they would be killed.

The Little Magician

Wed, 26 Sep 2001 09:50:29 +0000

The Little Magician []

Five-and-a-half-year-old Bhagyanath can tell a story real well, especially the one about how a teacher caught him sharing a Coke with his friends in the school canteen. “I hid the bottle inside a book and when the teacher asked me to show what I was hiding, I opened the book. There was nothing there,” says the bright-eyed boy."

Indeed, there wasn’t! The little boy on stage had just managed to make a Coke bottle disappear in thin air. Master Bhagyanath is among the youngest magicians in the world.

Cone Caps

Sun, 18 Aug 2002 23:12:35 +0000

Whether it’s your birthday party or your grandfather’s, it’s an ideal occasion to make the conical caps at home. Making them can be more exciting than buying them.

The things you need:

Chart paper (12 inches x 18 inches)
Glue
Scissors
Glitter glue
Cotton ball
Ribbon
Pencil

Cone Caps [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Step 1: Use the 12 inch side of the chart paper as the height and the 18 inch side as the base. Draw a wide triangle to get the cone shape.

Earrings

Sun, 26 May 2002 00:52:30 +0000

Earrings [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

Use wires to make some colourful, ethnic earrings. You’ll be amazed at what a little imagination can do to things. But don’t let these ideas restrict you. Let your imagination carry you to greater depths of creativity.

Things you need:

Thin wires
Paint
Colourful beads
Coloured wool
Adhesive
Scissors

Step 1: Pick up wires that are not very thick, so that it can go through someone’s ear-hole. Twist the wire in different kinds of patterns and paint it. You could also use electrical wires with a plastic jacket. Simply strip a portion of the jacket so that there is no problem inserting it into the wearer’s ear-hole.

Weave a Thread

Mon, 19 Aug 2002 12:59:17 +0000

Weave a Thread [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

This beautiful design board is perfect for your drawing room wall and extremely simple to make.

The things you need:

Pin board
Small size nails
Hammer
Different coloured threads
Black cloth
pencil

Step 1: Take a soft board and cover it with a black cloth. You can take any size you want.

Step 2: With the help of a light coloured pencil draw out the pattern. Try to keep it simple if you are doing it for the first time.

Messy Kappu

Sat, 25 Aug 2001 13:57:09 +0000

Kappu maharaj sat on the bed
Clothes soiled in yellow mess
Playing with a plastic ball
He wasn’t bothered about it all.

Mamma took him in her arms
Felt his bottoms with her palm
“Kappuji, what did you do?
Let’s quickly get you a panty new.”

Messy Kappu [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Temper, Temper!!

Thu, 27 Apr 2000 07:12:21 +0000

Temper, Temper!! []

The Giant who Looked for his Temper
Written by Santhini Govindhan
Illustrated by Jagdish Joshi
Published by Scholastic India Pvt. Ltd.

Boomba is the name of the giant who lives in a cave on the mountain all alone, in The Giant who Looked for his Temper. He has no friends. Everyone is scared of him because he has a temper which bursts like a balloon at every small incident, and very frequently.

Marble Paper

Fri, 08 Jun 2001 11:15:32 +0000

Marble Paper [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Although handmade paper is costlier than regular paper, it easily lends itself to experimentation. And your creative skills will add to its value!

The things you need:

A few sheets of handmade paper
Oil paints
A flat tray with raised edges

Step 1: Fill the tray with water and add a few drops of oil paint. If you want a multi-colour effect add drops of different colours.

Letter Holder

Thu, 01 Mar 2001 10:46:56 +0000

Drawing, cutting and pasting – that is all you need to make this attractive letter holder.

Letter Holder [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

A shoe box
Cardboard sheet
Different coloured glaze paper
Adhesive
Scissors
Pencil, eraser, sketch pens

Step 1: Take a shoebox without the lid.

Step 2: Draw out a fishing boat on the cardboard and cut it.

Step 3: Use glazed paper in different colours to stick on the cardboard boat so that it looks bright and colourful.

Make a Card of Webbed Veins

Sun, 21 Oct 2001 15:46:38 +0000

Make a Card of Webbed Veins [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The leaves of the peepal tree have a beautiful shape – they taper to a needle-point. And when these green leaves brush against each other, they constantly make a rustling sound and attract everyone’s attention.

Even when the leaves dry, leaving behind a webbed skeleton of veins, they look grand – grand enough to be made into greeting cards.

Kappu wants to Draw

Sun, 18 Nov 2001 14:11:56 +0000

Pencil, paper, crayons and pen
Get them all to Kappu’s den
Spread the paper on the floor
For little maharaj wants to draw.

Two lines here and four lines there
Zig-zig patterns and a circle in pairs
Kappu scribbled on all the sheets
Till it was time for him to sleep.

Kappu wants to Draw [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Distress Signals the Leafy Way

Fri, 09 Mar 2001 21:43:56 +0000

Wondered how plants talk to each other? They do not have the same language as humans but they have their own ways. Recent research by scientists at Kyoto University, Japan, describes how the Lima bean plant protects itself and its neighbours from the spider mite or the red spider. It sends out clear distress signals. Its not like they make weird noises to attract attention, though. It does it very silently.

The Lima bean plant emits chemicals to send the message of a troublesome intruder to all its neighbours. That is the signal for all the plants to get their defense mechanisms working.

Consequences

Sat, 19 May 2001 22:34:11 +0000

You can make variations in the game and devise your own themes.

The things you need:

Pencil/ Pen Sheets of paper

Sit in a circle.

Give a sheet of paper to everyone. One of you take on the role of the organizer and instruct the others to do as you tell them. This is what you have to say.1.Write the name of a girl.

After everyone writes a name of a girl ask them to fold the paper as shown in the figure.

Make Orchids at Home

Sat, 07 Jul 2001 12:23:04 +0000

Make Orchids at Home [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

Half-a-metre of organdy
Golden wire
Green electrical wire
Adhesive
Thread

Step 1: Draw out the orchid petals on the organdy. Cut them.

Step 2: Cut the golden wire such that it is of the same length as the petal. Stick it in the centre of all petals.

Step 3: Stick the ends of all the petals on the tip of the electrical wire and then additionally tighten it by tying a thread around it.

Interesting Labels

Sat, 29 Jan 2000 19:13:04 +0000

We all have parties at home and often we hear people asking the ingredients of a dish. Here is how you can tell them.

The things you need:

Interesting Labels [Illustrations by Shiju George]

White card sheet, pencil, eraser, sketch pens and colours.

Step 1. Draw on the card sheet the main ingredient of your dish.

Step 2. If it is a non vegetarian dish you can draw the animal whose meat is used.

Danglers for your Car

Mon, 24 Jul 2000 18:44:51 +0000

Some use them as good luck charms — the danglers hanging from the rear view mirror of the car. Some like to see a nice decoration. Many prefer to buy these danglers but it is possible to make the most interesting and whacky danglers at home.

The things you need:

Danglers for your Car [Illustrations by Sudheer Nath]

Coloured beeds, thick wire and flat buttons.

Kappu's Evening Stroll

Mon, 25 Jun 2001 08:51:35 +0000

Kappu maharaj sat in his pram,
With a bottle full of jam.
All set to go to the park,
He chuckled when he heard Buzo bark.

Mama pushed his pram,
and alongside Buzo ran.
When it became dark,
They came back from the park.

Kappu’s Evening Stroll [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Paper Chains

Mon, 24 Sep 2001 12:15:52 +0000

Diwali is that time of year when markets get flooded with decorations. You could buy them or perhaps try and make them on your own.

Paper Chains [Illustrations by Shiju George]

All you need is:

Crepe paper or Glossy paper.
Scissors.
Colours.
Adhesive.

Step 1: Take a sheet of paper, nine inches square. Fold it diagonally into two. You will get a triangle like the one in the illustration.

The Walnut Tortoise

Mon, 27 Mar 2000 01:58:08 +0000

The tortoises are simple to make and you can have great fun playing with them.

The things you need:

The Walnut Tortoise [Illustrations by Sudheer Nath]

Walnut, card sheet, pencil, eraser, scissors, glue and colours.

Step 1. Break a walnut into two. Atleast one shell should be perfect.

Step 2. Put the shell, dome side up on the card sheet. Draw out the legs, mouth and tail of the tortoise.

Bidriware

Mon, 10 Jun 2002 03:54:40 +0000

_Pallo latke gori ko pallo latke…_The music of this famous Rajasthani folk song filled the air at the Crafts Museum in New Delhi where I went one Monday afternoon. Sitting in the verandah were rows of people who had displayed their work. What work it was too! My heart soared looking at all the things that they had crafted.

It was all so beautiful that I could not help but talk to the artisans who had created them. That is when I met Shyamala, the bidri maker. She sat in a corner with the pallu of her sari over her head, fanning herself to get some relief from the searing heat. There was no customer with her at that time, so I took the opportunity for a little chitchat with her.

Going to School

Fri, 09 Feb 2001 02:38:09 +0000

I am sharing a small, yet the most important part of my life, with you. You may think “What the dickens have we got to do with her life?” After all, even I used to think the same way when I was a child but sometimes other’s lives can be interesting depending on how you see it.

I can’t forget the date. It was January 25th, 1987. The temperature was around 5 degree Celsius in Moradabad, my hometown, in India. I was wrapped up in my quilt, feeling warm and cozy when somebody pulled me out of my warm cocoon. This heartless creature was the one and the only person who dared do this – MOM!

My Hut

Sun, 12 Aug 2001 15:34:40 +0000

My Hut [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

All you need is:

Square sheet of paper.
Colours.

Fold the paper as shown in each of the figures.

The hut that you have made looks unfurnished. Use some good colours to paint it.

Colourful Streamers

Sun, 28 Oct 2001 10:21:57 +0000

A simple way to make shining, colourful streamers.

Colourful Streamers [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

Sheets of thin, coloured paper
Scissors

Step 1: Make three folds in the paper as shown in the figure.

Step 2: Make slits at regular intervals all along the length of the paper (L1) without cutting the opposite length (L2).

Step 3: Now repeat the same procedure making slits from L2 towards L1. Again, be sure that L1 does not get cut.

Paper Bag Tiger

Wed, 04 Oct 2000 08:29:47 +0000

With more amd more people using paper bags instead of plastic ones, you can find one easily for your tiger puppet.

Paper Bag Tiger [Illustrations by Sudheer Nath]

The things you need:

Paper bag, paints and eyes.

Step 1. Take a paper bag and make the face of a Tiger using black paint.

Step 2. Paint the Tiger yellow.

Step 3. If you cannot imagine then see this picture and make the face accordingly.

Twinkling Stars

Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:40:05 +0000

Twinkling Stars [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

All you need is:

Square piece of paper.
Colours.

Fold the paper as shown in each of the figures below.

Make three triangles in the same way. Now interlock two of them as shown below. Paste the third triangle to the interlocked triangles.

Your star is ready to be coloured. Make as many stars as you want and let them spangle your room.

Recycled Telephone Books

Thu, 26 Apr 2001 10:33:08 +0000

Recycled Telephone Books [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Telephone diaries, address books, origami, notepads…there are numerous uses for rough paper. Don’t discard your old notebooks with unused paper. Here is something useful you can make.

The things you need:

Unused paper and cover from an old notebook.
Stapler
Glue
Velvet paper
Blade
Scissors

Step 1: Tear out at least 14 pages of unused paper from the notebooks. If they are of unequal sizes, then even them out.

One Act Play

Tue, 06 Feb 2001 21:06:17 +0000

Maharaja Krishna Chandra was the king of Bengal during the middle ages. It was customary for kings in those days to patronise talented people. So every king had his own court poets, artists, singers, town planners, architects. And every king had a court jester.

The jester was a very important person for his ability to make people laugh and feel happy. Gopal was the maharaja’s favourite jester. A barber by profession, he had a razor-sharp wit and could make the best of any situation. He was bright and clever and had a tremendous presence of mind.

Two Sides of a Coin

Fri, 05 May 2000 15:41:58 +0000

Two Sides of a Coin []

The Exquisite Balance
Written by Poile Sengupta

Illustrations by Mrinal Mitra

Published by Children’s Book Trust (CBT).

Suprabha and Subir’s mother always thought that being twins, her children would have a lot in common – not just physically but also in their ways of thinking. But she realised gradually that her daughter, Suprabha, and son Subir, were poles apart.

Painting Pots

Fri, 18 May 2001 23:51:00 +0000

We cannot paint the walls of our house but we can definitely paint the pots in our house.

Painting Pots [Illustrations by Shiju George]

All you need is:

Poster paints.
Paint brush.

Step 1: Pick up a pot and remove any dust from it using a soft cloth or a brush.

Step 2: If you have earthern pots, give them a coating of colour that you think would match with the colour of your walls.

Plasticine Candle Stand

Wed, 13 Mar 2002 09:02:33 +0000

Plasticine Candle Stand [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

Before you begin making the candle stand, spread some sheets of newspaper so that you do not dirty the floor.

The things you need:

Plasticine
Old newspaper
Steel bowl

Step 1: Flatten plasticine to make a circle. Cut a perfect circle using the rim of the steel bowl.

Step 2: Roll some plasticine in a cylindrical shape.

Step 3: Place it vertically in the centre of the circular plasticine base.

Marbles Teach

Sun, 10 Jun 2001 10:42:57 +0000

A moving object transfers its force to the second object and itself comes to rest. Did you understand that? No? But you will once you play this little game with marbles.

The things you need:

Clay or plasticine
Broomstick
Marbles

Step 1: Take two broomsticks and bend them around two centimetres in the centre.

Marbles Teach [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Step 2: Seal the ends with clay or plasticine and apply some in the centre for support. The ends should be three centimetres higher than the middle. Keep five millimetres of distance between the two broomsticks for the marble to roll in between.

Personalised T-Shirts

Wed, 14 Feb 2001 04:26:18 +0000

Personalised T-Shirts [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Paint T-shirts for Mom, Dad, Grandma…anyone!

The things you need:

Plain T-Shirt
Fabric paints

Put some paint on your hands and make impressions on the T-shirt. If you have siblings then you can also ask them to put their fingerprints too. Everybody writes their name under their impression.
You can also write slogans like ‘hugs for grandma’, ’three cheers for my mom’, ‘you are the best daddy/mommy/sister’ etc.

Paper Fan

Tue, 27 Feb 2001 21:02:18 +0000

A fan is the ideal thing to have when you are sweating on a bright sunny summer day.

Paper Fan [Illustrations by Shiju George]

All you need is:

Paper
One strand from the broom stick
Adhesive
Colours

Step 1: Fan fold the paper as shown in the figure.

Step 2: Again fold it from the centre and stick the inner leaves of the paper with each other.

Papier mache Club

Sun, 27 Feb 2000 18:56:03 +0000

The name of Hanuman makes us think of sheer physical strength. The club was the dreaded weapon with which this faithful devotee of Rama defeated his enemies. So, here’s a chance to make your own club and have a swinging time during Dussehra.

Papier mache Club [Illustrations by Shiju George]

You will need:

Balloon, waste paper, adhesive, chart paper, blade and paints.

Step 1: Mix the adhesive with water and make it watery. Tear the waste paper into small pieces – one inch long and one inch wide. Blow the balloon and stick the paper pieces on it.

The Unbreakable Match

Fri, 30 Mar 2001 12:55:02 +0000

The Unbreakable Match [Illustrations by Shiju George]

All you need is:

One handkerchief with a hem.
Two wooden matches or toothpicks.

Step 1: Hide a toothpick in the hem of a handkerchief. Display the handkerchief, and several other toothpicks you have brought with you. Then, have a volunteer point to one of the toothpicks.

Step 2: Pick up the toothpick they chose, place it in the center of the handkerchief, and roll the handkerchief up with the chosen toothpick in its center.

Kappu Tries Hard

Wed, 28 Feb 2001 15:45:25 +0000

Kappu Maharaj, wake up fast
The morning birds are chirping sweet
“Unnn..nn..unn” said Kappu
In a voice full of sleep

Little Kappu sat on his pot
But did not manage a single dot.
When his mother asked “Are you done?”
Kappu flashed a smile at once

Kappu Tries Hard [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Bookmarks

Tue, 09 Oct 2001 10:49:09 +0000

Bookmarks are very easy to make and you can make use of the things lying at your home.

The things you need:

Old greeting card.
Crayons.
Pencil and eraser.
Scissors.

Step 1 Take an old greeting card. On the inside, draw a carrot on it. Now cut it in the same shape. Use a greeting card that is made of thick paper so that your bookmark does not fold or crack easily.

Step 2 To make a colourful bookmark, use paints, crayons or colour pencils on the plain side of the card. You can even write your name on it.

Born to Love Animals

Tue, 29 Feb 2000 02:34:16 +0000

Born to Love Animals []

The House Where Cockroaches Live to a Ripe Old Age
Written by Yoram Kaniuk; Translated by Yoram and Miranda Kaniuk
Illustrations by Tapas Guha
Published by Scholastic India Pvt. Ltd.

This book is about a little girl, Naomi, whose love for animals makes her convert her house into a mini zoo. All she wants is more and more animals around her and sure enough, she does manage to get them!

Unusual Fish

Sun, 19 Aug 2001 04:22:12 +0000

Unusual Fish [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

All you need is:

Square sheet of paper.
Colours.

Fold the paper as shown in each of the figures.

There it is, draw an eye and your unique fish is ready. It’s so simple that you could make a whole family of fish in just a few minutes.

Be Bubbly

Sun, 15 Jul 2001 06:14:29 +0000

Making bubbles is really easy and so magical.

All you need is:

A short piece of wire.
Half a teaspoon of washing powder or detergent.
A cup of water.

Step 1: Make a loop in the wire as shown in figure 2.

Step 2: Prepare a soap solution by mixing the detergent in the water.

Step 3: Dip the loop in the soapy solution and blow into the loop from a distance. See the bubbles grow into a rainbow globe.

Steamer

Sat, 10 Feb 2001 22:31:07 +0000

This is an eco-friendly steamer, it runs on water. Get together with your friends and have a good time making them.

Steamer [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

A soapdish
An empty tin can
Candle
Matchbox
A piece of thin wire
A metal cap

Step 1: Take the cover of a soapdish (one without any holes) and make two holes on parallel sides as shown in the figure.

Make your own Salt

Thu, 17 May 2001 14:35:57 +0000

What is the crop of farmers in the desert fields of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat? The answer is: salt! Farmers make rectangular fields with borders so that the water does not drain away. The water stands still under the sun and evaporates. Once the water evaporates, all that can be seen is salt. For, almost 70 per cent of the earth’s surface is covered by salt water.

Make your own Salt [Illustrations by Shiju George]

To test out how they do it, just do this simple experiment at home.

Festive Bow and Arrow

Wed, 31 May 2000 01:12:41 +0000

Any play on Ramayana is incomplete without the bow and arrow (teer Kamaan). You can make your own bow and arrow, too, but be careful not to hurt anyone.

Festive Bow and Arrow [Illustrations by Shiju George]

You will need:

Elastic, broomstick, plasticine, stem of any tree, scissors and paints.

Step 1: Bend the stem in the form of an arc making sure it does not break. Tie elastic from one end to the other.

Decorating with Popcorns

Sun, 18 Nov 2001 13:41:04 +0000

Decorating with Popcorns [Illustrations by Shiju George]

If you are tired of eating popcorns try something new: decorate your room with them. This is how you can do it.

All you need is:

A thorny stem of a plant or a bush.
Popcorns.
A bowl.

Step1: Pick up a thorny stem from a plant or a bush – if it has leaves, remove them.

Step2: Put a popcorn on the tip of each thorn carefully. Avoid pricking yourself.

Calendar

Wed, 22 Aug 2001 07:38:57 +0000

Calendar [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

The things you need:

A spiral sketch book
A thin wire
Beads
Adhesive and scissors
Old magazines
Stationery: Pencil, eraser, sharpner and ruler and cardboard
Colours: Pencil / Crayons or paints and sketch pens

Step 1: Take a spiral sketch book to make the calendar (preferably A4 size). Divide the first page into two parts as shown in the figure.

In the space above, stick in cut out pictures from old magazines and below that make your calendar for the month of January. Make all the squares of the same size and big so that you can use the extra space in each square to plan for that day.

Silhouette Cards

Thu, 20 Jul 2000 00:00:43 +0000

The things you need:

Silhouette Cards [Illustrations by Shiju George]

Black chart paper, white card sheet, pencil, scissors and glue.

The things you need:

Step 1. Draw an outline of the object on black chart paper.

Step 2. Cut it along the outline.

Step 3. Make a card from the white card sheet.

Step 4. Stick the silhouette on top of the card.

Create different kinds of silhouettes and make new cards each time. Hey, it would be great if you could send a card to us here at Pitara.

Mobile Decorations

Mon, 19 Mar 2001 19:37:25 +0000

One of the advantages of a mobile decoration is that it can be gifted to a person of any age. Children love such amusing and colourful gifts, while adults can use it as a hanging anywhere in the house.

Mobile Decorations [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

Card sheet of different colours
Cord
Broomsticks
Sketch pens
Scissors
Adhesive

Step 1: Fold the card sheet into half. Draw any shape you want, like the moon, sun, flower or fish. Cut out all of them. You will have two identical pieces each of all four drawings.

Suji ka Halwa (Semolina Sweet)

Fri, 26 Jan 2001 03:33:53 +0000

Suji ka Halwa— Slurrr..rrp. I have not come across a single person who does not like this sweet. If you have not tried it, then quickly go to your kitchen and give it a try.

Suji ka Halwa (Semolina Sweet) [Illustrations by Shiju George]

Ingredients:

Semolina: 1 cup.
Sugar: ½ cup.
Water: 4 cups.
Ghee or White butter: 2 table spoons.

Step 1: Heat the ghee in a pan and roast the semolina in it until it is golden brown in colour.

Judy All the Way

Thu, 28 Jan 1999 19:35:58 +0000

Are you there God? It’s me Margaret
Freckle Juice
Tiger Eyes
Written by Judy Blume

Extremely popular among the pre-teens and teenagers, Judy Blume is one of the most popular writers for children.

The reason for her popularity is easily because the themes of her novels usually deal with the experiences children face in teenage years – new relationships, growing up, sibling rivalry, coping with peer pressure, divorce, and many other issues. All her books have one thing in common – they tackle issues that are very important to teenagers.

Cap your Scissors

Thu, 11 Oct 2001 19:34:02 +0000

Cap your Scissors [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

If you want to find your scissors just when you need them, make this sturdy case for them.

The things you need:

Any old cloth (12 inches by 16 inches)
A sheet of foam (half inch thickness)
A sewing machine
A thick fancy cord

Step 1: Fold the cloth into a quarter. Draw a triangle of base three inches and height seven inches, as shown below. Cut it out.

Coffee Time

Sun, 05 Aug 2001 08:17:50 +0000

Buy a few plain coffee mugs from the market and paint special designs for each member of your family or friends. They will love it.

Coffee Time [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

Oil or acrylic colours
Paint brushes
Plain ceramic coffee mugs
Turpentine oil

Step 1: Wash the mugs with hot water and soap. Dry them and ensure that there are no grease or dirt stains.

Candle Stand

Wed, 25 Jul 2001 02:51:36 +0000

Candle Stand [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

This candle stand is simple and it can be made by children as young as four years.

The things you need:

A few earthen lamps
Glitter
Transparent adhesive

Step 1: Spread a newspaper sheet and keep the glitter and lamps on it.

Step 2: Put some adhesive on the earthen lamp and sprinkle the glitter on it.

You can make different patterns and designs using the glitter.

Kappu and Buzo

Mon, 04 Jun 2001 04:31:34 +0000

Buzo and Kappu played all day
“Come! Come!” Kappu would say
Wagging his tail and swaying his head
Buzo would jump to lick Kappu’s leg.

Kappu maharaj was very small
But not scared of Buzo at all
For even when he pulled his ear
There was never any fear.

Kappu and Buzo [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Cloud No. Nine

Wed, 24 Oct 2001 10:50:32 +0000

This is your chance to celebrate with a lot of people so don’t let it go and quickly get dressed as a cloud.

Cloud No. Nine [Illustrations by Shiju George]

All you need is:

One Cardboard Sheet.
White Chartpaper.
Water Colours.
Paint Brush.
Scissors, pencil and eraser.

Step 1: Paste the white chartpaper on to the cardboard sheet. Draw the shape of a cloud and cut it.

Underwater Terminator

Thu, 04 Apr 2002 09:44:26 +0000

It is not an animal or disease. It is a collective name given to plants, which live underwater. Algae do not have specialised body parts such as roots, stems and leaves.
They range in size from very tiny cells to 30 metre long weeds. A special characteristic of algae is that they multiply very fast.

Underwater Terminator [Illustration by Kusum Chamoli]

US researchers recently identified the algae, which has caused large-scale destruction of European sea habitats – almost 4,050 hectares of sea habitats along the Mediterranean coast, according to a report in ‘Down To Earth’ magazine. This algae destroys underwater plant and animal life. Being toxic it forces the fish to seek new homes.

Blow a Puppet

Mon, 15 Jan 2001 23:03:52 +0000

It’s a great idea for a party – ask all the children and adults to make balloon puppets.

The things you need:

Balloons
Coloured wool
Glazed paper sheets in different colours
Adhesive
Scissors
Thread

Step 1: Blow the balloons and knot them. You can also tie them using a thread.

Step 2: Use the material given to make a face on your balloon.

Here is how you can do it. Try different kinds of faces and tie them to your wrists so that every one can see it.

Its your day to Rain

Tue, 29 May 2001 21:22:46 +0000

Shower everywhere its dry and spread the aroma of wet mud all over.

All you need is:

A Hot Water Bag.
A Wooden Cork.
Plastic tube.
Plastic shower.

Its your day to Rain [Illustrations by Shiju George]

Step 1: Choose a cork such that it fits in to the mouth of the hot water bag well making it air tight.

Step 2: Make a hole in the centre of the cork. Fill the hot water bag with cold water and fix the cork to its mouth.

The Magnetic Knife

Mon, 08 Jan 2001 11:35:47 +0000

The Magnetic Knife [Illustrations by Shiju George]

A knife magnetically clings to your hands!

All you need is:

One table knife.

Step 1: Interweave your fingers as in Figure 1, but don’t pick up the knife yet.

Step 2: When you interweave your fingers, secretly leave the middle finger of one hand loose (Figure 2). If you arrange your fingers right, no one will be able to tell one finger is loose when looking at your hands from the other side!

Make a Sachet

Mon, 10 Sep 2001 11:02:40 +0000

Make a Sachet [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Are there are any old T-shirts lying at home and in danger of becoming dusters? Rescue one of them and your creative work begins!

The things you need:

An old T-shirt
A silken cord (18 inches long)
Scissors
Pencil

Step 1: Cut out a piece of seven inches square from an old T-shirt. Place the cloth on a table and make a circle, three inches in radius.

Eat the Candle

Thu, 01 Mar 2001 22:43:29 +0000

Show everyone that you can eat a candle by performing this easy trick.

The things you need:

Banana
Knife
A small candle
Matchbox

Step 1: Take a banana and cut it in the shape of a rectangle as shown in the figure below. Place it in a standing position on a table and put a small candle on top of it. The diameter of the candle should be equal to that of the banana.

Step 2: Start the magic by lighting the candle. Quickly blow it off and tell your audience that you are hungry and there is nothing besides the candle for you to eat.

For the Olympic Heights of Stamina

Fri, 14 Sep 2001 10:58:54 +0000

September 7: The horse is a symbol of strength, power and stamina. Ever wondered about the secret behind its energy? It is the kind of food the animal eats. Ask the person who has to keep up the energy levels of one of the world’s costliest racehorses, Fusaichi Pegasus, worth all of $4 million (approximately 1.8 crore rupees).

That is the reason why US Olympic swimmer, Gary Hall, is all set to imitate Fusaichi Pegasus’ diet in the hope that it will work wonders for him at the forthcoming Olymic Games.

Against the Law of Gravity

Mon, 12 Mar 2001 05:59:45 +0000

When an apple fell on Newton’s head, he formulated the law of gravity. According to this law, every object is attracted towards the centre of the earth with a force called the gravitational force.

But if Newton were to see this ring suspended in mid-air without any support, one wonders what he would have done.

The things you need:

A ring
Cotton thread
Matchbox
Salt

Step 1: Soak the thread in salt water for sometime. Leave it to dry. Repeat this two to three times.

High Performance, Low Pollution

Thu, 23 May 2002 15:44:47 +0000

With the number of vehicles and industries growing at an alarming rate in India, pollution levels are also shooting up. Most of us go about our daily lives feeling the impact of pollution in smarting eyes and asthmatic sighs, but we do not do much beyond talking about it. But there are some people who are actually thinking of ways in which to preserve a green environment so that we can all breathe cleaner air.

Decorate Eggs for Easter

Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:44:15 +0000

Don’t let this Easter pass by without enjoying an egg rolling competition. And for more fun, decorate the eggs.

The things you need:

Paints
Paint brushes
Wool
Coloured paper
Scissors
Glue

Step 1: Pierce the egg at one end and drain the egg white and the yolk. You will have a hollow egg shell to decorate.

Decorate Eggs for Easter [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Step 2: Paint the egg in colourful patterns and gift it to your friends. You could hang the egg from shrubs and trees.

Towel Ring

Sat, 13 Oct 2001 10:55:56 +0000

Towel Ring [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

Plain cotton cloth (18 inches by 18 inches)
Cardboard
Needle and thread
A plastic or iron ring
Foam or cotton
Wool, sketch pens/fabric paints,
Adhesive

Step 1: With the help of a thread and needle, do a running stitch at the edges of the cloth. Let the stitches be spaced out. Do not knot the thread after finishing it.

Pom Pom Balls

Mon, 08 Jan 2001 11:28:04 +0000

Pom Pom Balls [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

These balls are soft and won’t hurt anyone while playing. Better still, they are easy to make. So why don’t you gift a a few to a friend?

The things you need:

A small piece of cardboard
Thick wool (single or multi-coloured)
A scissor
Needle
Thread

Step 1: Cut the cardboard in the shape of a ring.

Step 2: Now start winding wool around the cardboard ring. Make sure you tie a knot at the starting point in order to keep the wool secure.

Game of Shapes

Wed, 16 May 2001 18:51:23 +0000

Game of Shapes [Illustration by Jaykrit]

If there is a party in your house then you can make a game yourself and play it with everyone.

The things you need:

Coloured paper (Any two colours).
Adhesive.
Scissors.
White card sheet.

Step 1 Take the two sheets of different colours (blue and pink). Place them on top of each other and cut out at least 15 shapes. You can make any shape: triangle, square, T-shape or even a tree shape. Try to make the shapes as different as possible.

Tie and Dye Scarf

Thu, 22 Mar 2001 00:22:06 +0000

Tie and Dye Scarf [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

This is just one way of making a scarf. The best part is that once you know the technique, you will be able to make different patterns by twisting, clipping, knotting or folding the cloth.

The things you need:

A plain white cotton cloth
Thick white cotton thread or elastic bands
A packet of 50 beads

Step 1: Wash the cloth in warm water. Starting from one end, stitch the beads the way they are shown in the picture – a big bead or two to three beads together in the centre with four beads around it.

Poppy Doll

Sun, 17 Jun 2001 18:10:13 +0000

Poppy Doll [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

If poppy does not grow in your garden then you can plant it yourself.

The things you need:

Poppy flower
A pen

Step 1: Take a poppy flower and overturn its petals. This will form the dress of your doll.

Step 2: With the help of a pen make the doll’s features on the flower’s round bulb at its center.

Try out Batik

Wed, 28 Feb 2001 23:48:06 +0000

Try out Batik [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

You must have definitely heard about batik paintings. Believe it or not, this style is practised mostly in Indonesia and that is where it has grown to its present stature. Batik dyeing is no small task. Unlike bandhani where a part of the cloth is tied up and dyed, the batik style uses wax. Once the cloth is dyed, the motif looks like a network of shattered lines. Here is how you can do it.

Christmas Decorations

Mon, 16 Jul 2001 11:29:40 +0000

Decorations for a Christmas tree can all be made at home, with simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-find things like threads and ribbons, sweets, old bulbs, empty matchboxes and lots of popcorn. Here are some of the things you should collect to get your tree going.

Christmas tree
Coloured paper (preferably one that shines)
Popcorn

Christmas Decorations [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Paints and paint brush
Scissors, thread, cotton and ribbons.