Craft Activity on Pitara Kids Network

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.

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.

Make a Balloon Mask

Sat, 11 Sep 1999 08:42:30 +0000

Things you need:

Make a Balloon Mask []

A big balloon
Adhesive
Bowl of water
Poster colours, sketch pen,
paint brushes
A knife
Thread
A screwdriver
An old newspaper.

Step1

Blow the balloon and tie it with a string. Then draw a line on it with a sketch pen, dividing the balloon into two equal halves.

Step 2

Now tear the newspaper into small bits. Dip the torn bits in water and place them on any one side of the balloon.

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.

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.

Matchstick Models

Thu, 05 Dec 1996 19:30:07 +0000

Matchstick Models [Illustrations by D.K. Sharma]

“Science, in essence, is a viewpoint — a worldview, an ability to critically examine phenomenon. It is an ability to see patterns, structures, sequences, trends, commonalities, regularities and generalities — in short, an ability to perceive and discover an order in the universe. From this point of view, every object is a piece of scientific apparatus and every child a budding scientist.”

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.

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.

Joy of Making Indian Toys

Sat, 26 Sep 1998 23:35:28 +0000

Introduction
The best thing a child can do with a toy is to break it. The next best thing is to make it. This book is about toys which children can make and break freely. The low cost or rather no-cost toys documented in the book are the everyday playthings of millions of Indian children, past and present.

Joy of Making Indian Toys [Illustrations by D. K. Sharma]

Strictly speaking, most of the toys documented here do not have a technical or standard name. Many parents shun them as ‘junk’. Toy manufacturers would not even talk about them because there is no way to make money out of them. How can one make money from a whistle which can be made by rolling a leaf or a tiny piece of paper?

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.

Egg Carton Flowers

Mon, 16 Dec 2002 01:26:44 +0000

There are times when you want to give a special gift to a friend or family member and want them to know that you took a great deal of trouble to make it yourself. On days when you feel like that why not try making flowers that always bring a smile to the sternest of faces! How’s this for a great brainwave – flowers made of egg cartons…

Egg Carton Flowers [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Frog Prince

Thu, 25 Apr 2002 14:29:12 +0000

This frog may not be a prince, but he is certainly charming! So be ready to be wooed by this jumpimg jack’s charm.

The Frog Prince [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

Paper plate
Green and black paint
Brush
Scissors
Red felt paper
Green and white chart paper
Glue

Step 1: Paint the paper plate green. When it’s thoroughly dry, fold the plate in half.

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.

Little Toys

Wed, 01 May 1996 11:02:48 +0000

Introduction :
It is an irony of modern consumerism that junk products are packed in tough cartons. While the frail human body consumes and digests the junk, it is the environment which has to grapple and reckon with the tough, non-biodegradable waste. And, in the process, humans become sick and the environment decays.

Today we can see city parks littered and garbage dumps overflowing with tetrapacks — empty cartoons of Frooti, TreeTop, Jumping Jack or Dhara. These packets are made with layers of different materials — plastic, aluminium and paper — all fused into one multi-walled laminate. We know that aluminium does not rust and plastics do not rot. These materials are energy-intensive and take a heavy toll of the environment, which helplessly chokes under the debris.

Doll-making

Sat, 22 Feb 1997 03:16:59 +0000

Cotton Wool Doll

You thought cotton could be used only in bandages, or to clean wounds? Well, we found another use for it. We made a doll out of a roll of cotton.

Things you need:
One roll of cotton (ours was
Buttons.
Stick ’em stones, or sticking ‘bindi’.
Satin ribbon.
A pair of scissors.
Adhesive.

Doll-making []

Step 1:

Take the roll of cotton and unfold it.
Cut off a length of 12 inches, which is five-and-a-half inches in height.

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.

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.

Let's Tango

Sun, 07 Jan 2001 07:12:41 +0000

If you are interested in making music, why not start by making a music instrument from things easily available at home?

The things you need:

An empty toothpaste pack
Three rubber bands
A sheet of coloured paper
Glue
A blade or paper cutter

Let’s Tango [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

Step 1: Cover the entire pack with a coloured paper. Use glue to stick the paper.

Step 2: Draw a rectangle of 1 inch x 2 inches on the upper side of the pack. The rectangle should be in the middle of the pack.

Tin Can Lantern

Wed, 06 Feb 2002 19:50:46 +0000

Are you bored of having dinner under the same electric lights? Here is something to light up your family meal time.

Tin Can Lantern [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

An empty soft drink can or a tin
A hammer
A few nails
A 15-inch long wire

Step 1: On the outside part of a can, draw any pattern that you like.

Step 2: With the nail tips, hammer holes of various sizes, according to the pattern that you have drawn. Be sure to make two holes near the top, on opposite sides, for stringing a handle.

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.

Make Your Own Friendship Band

Fri, 01 Sep 2000 16:24:43 +0000

Make Your Own Friendship Band []

Things you need: colourful cotton or satin embroidery threads. These are commonly available in all markets. Take three sets of coloured thread. I chose red, blue and green. Each set of thread should be two mm thick and seven or eight inches long. After all, you should be able to tie it around your friend’s wrist.

Now tie a knot at one end, leaving two cm of the thread open. Then plait the three sets of thread like girls plait their hair. Knot the other end as well. But see that you leave two cm of the thread open at that end as well. Your friendship band is ready. Keep it on your friend’s wrist and tie it at the ends. Your friendship is sealed with that knot.

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.

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.

The Magnetic Fish Bowl

Thu, 11 Nov 1999 02:05:16 +0000

This unusual fishing game is simple to assemble and great fun to play. And you won’t have to worry about pulling poor live fish out of the water.

Items required:

The Magnetic Fish Bowl []

Four to six magnets (one for each player; magnets can be found at any hardware shop),
paper clips, stickytape, four to six thin nine-inch sticks (one for each player; unsharpened pencil work really well), a large bowl of water, aluminium foil, string and scissors.

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.

Sand Flower Vase

Wed, 27 Mar 2002 20:34:01 +0000

Have you ever seen an empty glass bottle lying in one corner of the kitchen or store room? It makes you feel like giving it a new life. Make it a flower vase and then see it take its place proudly in the house as a precious object.

Sand Flower Vase [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

The things you need:

An empty glass bottle
Sand or pebbles
Glue
Poster colours
Brushes

Step 1: Stick the pebbles on the bottle with glue or cover the entire surface with sand, depending on the kind of look and feel you want. Let it dry.

Your Own Bus

Sat, 14 Apr 2001 04:14:25 +0000

Shiny vehicles on a shop shelf are inviting, but how about making a shiny red bus, much like the ones you see on the roads. What’s more, you can give a new life to things that are being readied for the dustbin at this very instant!

The things you need:

Empty juice carton
Felt paper (any colour of your choice)
Black marker pen or pen
Four bottle caps
Glue
Thermacol

Your Own Bus [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

Step 1: Paint the four bottle caps to make the wheels for your bus.

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.

The Magnetic Fish Bowl

Wed, 05 Nov 1997 02:35:34 +0000

This unusual fishing game is simple to assemble and great fun to play. And you won’t have to worry about pulling poor live fish out of the water.

Items required:

How to prepare the game:

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.

Play with Maps

Sun, 11 May 1997 06:56:51 +0000

No, this is not an exam. Thank God! It is time to have some fun. We looked at the map of South America and thought it looked like the face of a man looking sideways. Doesn’t it? Others thought it looked like a lion’s profile. The man’s face came out better so we put it here.

On the next page is the map of Italy. It looks very much like a lady’s stylish knee-length boots. And, after that is the map of Cameroon, in Africa. It looks like a sad peacock. Sad because it has few feathers.

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.

Finger Puppet

Wed, 15 Mar 2000 23:07:38 +0000

Finger Puppet [illustrations by Kusum Chamoli]

Make a finger puppet for your little sister, and watch her squeal with joy.

Things you need:

Bits of card sheets or thick paper.
Sketch pen or crayons.
Fevicol.
Scissors.

Step 1: Draw the outline of a figure that you want to make a puppet of. It could be a human puppet, an animal, a bird or even inanimate objects like a time piece, or a bucket. Let your imagination run wild. Draw a crazy figure.

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.

Sock Doll

Tue, 26 Mar 2002 14:43:53 +0000

Line up a few of these dolls on a windowsill or mantel, and you’re guaranteed to spread cheer to family and guests alike.

Sock Doll [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

The things you need:

Cotton socks
Pieces of foam
A few rubber bands
Red and black paint
Scissors

Step 1: Fill a cotton sock three quarters of the way with the foam pieces. Secure it by tying a rubber band at the end of the filling.

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.

The Magical Paper Pipe Stand

Fri, 31 Jul 1998 08:32:41 +0000

You don’t know what to do with that old magazine, the plastic box or that empty tin? Why don’t you do some magic, like Kusum did. Make a beautiful paper pipe stand with these ready-to-throw materials. As we all know, cutting and gluing is great fun!

The Magical Paper Pipe Stand [Illustrations by Kusum Chamoli]

THE THINGS YOU NEED

One or two old colour magazines with thick shiny paper.
An empty tin or plastic box. It can be circular or square.
Adhesive (like fevicol)
A pair of scissors

HOW TO DO IT

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.

Stage Surprises – A Party Game

Tue, 20 Apr 1999 23:08:11 +0000

Here’s a great game when you have several kids around. Whether it’s two children at home or ten at a birthday party, Stage Surprises is great fun.

Write the names of animals or objects on slips of paper. Put the slips in a shoe box. Place the shoe box in the centre, with the children seated around in a circle. Now, play “passing the parcel” passing a cushion to music. Whenever the music stops, the child with the cushion in her hand may pick up a slip.

The Green Family

Thu, 11 Oct 2001 03:32:07 +0000

The Green Family [Illustrations by Shinod AP]

Want to have a family of your own? A green family? All it takes is a little water and sunshine to entice this green family to spread its roots!

The things you need:

Empty containers of different sizes
Wheat seeds
Soil
Water
Poster colours
Brush

Step 1: Fill three-fourths of all the containers with garden soil.

Step 2: Spread a handful of wheat seeds on the soil. Cover the seeds with another layer of soil.

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.

Peanut Puppets

Mon, 29 Jun 1998 23:17:42 +0000

You will need:
A darning needle.
A reel of strong thread.
Peanuts in the shell (at least 13, of different sizes).
Paint, paint brushes, glue, scissors, wool for hair, 3 lollipops, icecream sticks or twigs.

Procedure:
Thread the needle and make a large knot in the end. To make the head and body, thread three long peanuts on to the length of thread. (You may need to twist the needle a bit to get it through the shell). Leave a long thread above the head. To make the hands, arms, and legs, string long and small peanuts to the body as shown.

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.

Rainbow Flowers

Mon, 12 Oct 1998 01:13:55 +0000

Here’s a great way to see where all that water in your vase actually goes.

Items required:
You’ll need a jug of water, four clean glasses, four different coloured inks or food dyes, scissors & white flowers (carnations work out very well, try tuberoses too.)

What to do:
Pour one inch (about half a finger high) of food colouring/ink into each glass (Each glass should have a different colour). Now add an equal amount of water to the glasses.

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.

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.

Make your own Cards

Tue, 23 Nov 1999 18:47:36 +0000

Things you need:

Vegetables like potatoes and lady’s finger.
A few bottles of bright poster colours.
Painting brushes, one for each colour you
want to use.
Some drawing sheets, or ivory or poster paper.
A knife.
A water container.

Make your own Cards []

What to do:

Step 1

Take a potato and slice it into two. Then draw any design on it with the pencil. Take the knife and run its tip over the motif, making a shallow cut. Carve out the rest of the potato flesh so that your design stands out.

Shake a Shaker

Fri, 23 Mar 2001 21:38:52 +0000

Do you want to belt out a song, but need an instrument that will keep the rhythm and add to the effect? Why don’t you try making a ‘shaker’ that will do the trick?

Just remember, you will be making a valuable addition to the range of percussion instruments that are used for their rhythm and the texture of their sound – like the maraca (a rattle like instrument in the shape of a gourd, that contains dried seeds, pebbles or lead shots).

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.

Glove Puppets!

Tue, 22 May 2001 08:25:48 +0000

Take out those old socks that have been lying in your cupboard. With these puppets you can actually hold a puppet show for your friends and family.

The things you need:

Old sock
A needle and thread
Poster colours
Brush
Red coloured paper

Step 1: Put your hand inside the sock, take hold of a part of

Glove Puppets! [Illustrations by Anup Singh]

the front of the sock and pull it in. While still holding the front
part, turn the sock completely inside out.

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.

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.

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.