Quilled christmas ornaments

Quilling, also called paper filigree, originated more than five hundred years ago; it involves rolling and combining strips of paper into highly detailed designs.
I made this snowflake ornament from six V-shaped strips of paper, curled at the ends with a quilling needle and joined with a dot of glue at the center.
Before working on the ornament, practice some quilling basics. Wind a strip of paper around the needle; it will form a tight curl. Play with the paper to stretch it back out to the shape you want. Try folding a strip in half and curling both ends in for a heart shape, or curl them out for a V shape. Quilling paper is easy to manipulate, but working with it is not an exact science: It takes some practice to make the same shape twice.

Tools and Materials
6 strips of quilling paper strips
Quilling needle
Craft glue
Metallic thread

1. Fold each strip of quilling paper so that one of the halves is about little longer than the other, and curl the ends. Repeat with five more strips.

2. On a flat surface, fit pieces together with their points in the center. Use small amount of glue to attach pieces together in pairs. Let glue dry, and attach a piece of metallic thread to hang ornament.

I hope you liked my quilled christmas ornaments! If you tried making them then click some bright pictures and send them to me at artchitrasutra@gmail.com

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Painting Diyas for this Diwali

I bought my diyas from a road in Ameerpet, Hyderabad that has pottery lined up on the pavement on either side for diwali. As the diyas were kept on tables on the roadside, they were rather dusty.

So how do you paint a diya? What paint should you use?

Things you will need:



Soak the diyas in water for 15-30 minutes. Dry them in the sun or under a fan. This helps make them receptive to paint.

Choose acrylic or fabric paint in bright colors to paint the diyas and use a wide brush. Gold, crimson and other metallic colors are my favorites.
TIP: Try a bit of each color that you plan to use on the base of a diya. This way you can check how dark/light the paint will be and whether you can get an even coat on the terracotta. I tried out the different color combinations.
You can decorate the diyas with one or more colors. If you like solid color diyas, the best way to accent them is by adding a line of gold paint along the rim using a thin brush.
Dry the painted diyas for 3 to 4 hours.

BRING ON THE BLING!
Stick tiny mirrors, zari thread, small shells, sequins, beads or glitter on the diyas to pack a decorative punch.
I hope you liked my painted diyas! If you tried making them then click some bright pictures and send them to me at artchitrasutra@gmail.com

You can also go through my previous posts for Diwali:
Reusable Rangoli
CD Sparkles!
Torans for Diwali

If you'd like to include the Chitrasutra button in your blog, grab the html code from underneath the Chitrasutra logo on the side bar to the right. To receive the latest posts, as well as updates, have CHITRASUTRA delivered right to your Inbox. You'll find a link to subscribe via Email on the sidebar to the right. Thanks for reading.... so glad you are here!

DIY felt case for a tablet

I was lucky enough to get a tablet as a gift and, after a while without any protection, it was in danger of getting a bit beat up in my bag. I was looking around at cases and kept on seeing all these lovely felt tablet cases around that I liked but I didn't want to spend the money they usually sell for. So, I decided to make mine out of craft felt sheets instead which happen to be just the right size. Yay, I love a bargain solution! This project cost me less than 25rs.

Materials needed:

A4 sized felt sheet
Thread
Needle
Buttons for closure

I hand-sewed just simple hemming across the side of the case using thread in a matching color. Then I trimmed the seams, created a flap, turned it right side out, sewed on the button for closure, and voila! I can't really give specific instructions because I just eyeballed the whole thing as I went, but it was an easy project and fortunately, my tablet fits in there perfectly.
It's a simple case, which is just what I wanted. It protects my tab from scratches when I slip it in my bag and from dust when it's lying around the house. No, it's not going to protect your tab if you drop it on concrete.... :-) I made this thing one month ago and it's still holding up like new. Hooray for simple projects that I can actually complete!

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you tried making them then click some bright pictures and send them to me at artchitrasutra@gmail.com
If you'd like to include the CCM button in your post, grab the html code from underneath the CCM logo on the side bar to the right. To receive the latest posts, as well as updates, have CHITRASUTRA delivered right to your Inbox. You'll find a link to subscribe via Email on the sidebar to the right. Thanks for reading.... so glad you are here! Note: Images collected from various sources on web.

Shell candles DIY

I love collecting shells when i visit the beach. When I got the shells home they were perfect size and shape for some whimsical candles. They are great for adding a pretty touch to any room and would make great center pieces or favours at a wedding. These shell candles look beautiful when placed in a tray of sand or on a top of sea glass.

Things you will need:

Sea shells

Candle wax or soy wax

Candle wicks

Fragrance



1.Firstly the collected sea shells are soaked in bleach water for 24 hours. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
2. Glue the candle wicks to the inside center of the shell.

3.Met some paraffin wax or soy wax in the double boiler and carefully pour the melted was in the shells.
4.Fill each candle evenly and close to the top without overflowing.
5.Let cool until hardened for about 30 minutes.
6.Once the wax has solidified trim the wicks and clean off any wax that might have gotten on the back of the shell.

And you are done. Light the candles and enjoy the soothing ambience!!

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you tried making them then click some bright pictures and send them to me at artchitrasutra@gmail.com

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Note: Images collected from various sources on web.

Crafturday creative mess 17 - Vellum flowers

I made these almost transparent flowers out of vellum paper. The layers of petals in different sizes are held together by a jeweled metal brad.
The flowers may look pretty when hung all over the house as decorations. They can also be used in scrap booking, and other crafts.

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you tried making them then click some bright pictures and send them to me at artchitrasutra@gmail.com

Linking this post HERE

You can show off your awesome and inspirational projects, crafts, recipes, and anything that you’d like to {spotlight} from your blog every week at CCM linky party! 

If you are participating in Crafturday Creative Mess  then please put your PERMALINK into the “url” box for inlinkz – and link back to my blog so everyone gets to know about CCM linky party. The “Crafturday creative mess” linky party is open from Saturday  through Friday every week......

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Crafturday Creative Mess 16 - Christmas Decoration Projects

It’s easy to buy all our Christmas decorations, but we can extend the fun of Christmas by making some decorations in the weeks before. I’ve put together a collection of photographs of Snowflake Christmas Ornaments covering a whole range of craft techniques that will, I hope, inspire.
After seeing all the photographs you might think "I can make that".


Beaded snowflake ornaments for the christmas tree..........

Snowflake ornaments with buttons

Quilled Snowflake ornaments

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you tried making them then click some bright pictures and send them to me at artchitrasutra@gmail.com.

Linking this post HERE

You can show off your awesome and inspirational projects, crafts, recipes, and anything that you’d like to {spotlight} from your blog every week at CCM linky party!

If you are participating in Crafturday Creative Mess  then please put your PERMALINK into the “url” box for inlinkz – and link back to my blog so everyone gets to know about CCM linky party. The “Crafturday creative mess” linky party is open from Saturday  through Friday every week......

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Note: Images courtesy www.pinterest.com

Crafturday creative mess 15- Matsya Thithli Chamkaris

I love decorative wall hangings because they add a traditinal touch to interiors as well as exteriors. They are usually  hanged near the main door to welcome guests, near the windows, in the garden or on the walls. Inspiration for me to make these wall hangings is a folk art of andhra pradesh called "Tholu Bommalata"(Puppet show). Puppets for tholu bommalata are made out of leather. I tried the same designs on a thick paper stock. I have named these wall hangings as MatsyaThithli chamkaris because in hindi Matsya means fish and Thithli means butterfly.

Supplies you will need:

Plain white colored thich paper stock

Glue

Scissors

Beads and bells

Needle and thread

Instructions

I chose to cut the shapes of butterflies and fishes for my wall hangings. Draw the rough outline of fishes and butterflies on the paper and then cut them carefully. After you have all the pieces, start coloring each piece. I chose bright water colors to paint all the pieces.

Once you have all the colored pieces connect all them with the help of a needle and thread. I added few colourful beads between the pieces. I chose to place the butterflies and fishes alternatively.The wall hanging is almost ready. To hang it on the wall make a loop behind the first piece with the help of a binding wire.

Aaaaaaaaaaand your Matsya Thitli Chamkaris are ready!!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you tried making the wall hanging then click some bright pictures and send them to me at artchitrasutra@gmail.com. Linking this post HERE.

You can show off your awesome and inspirational projects, crafts, recipes, and anything that you’d like to {spotlight} from your blog every week at CCM linky party!

If you are participating in Crafturday Creative Mess  then please put your PERMALINK into the “url” box for inlinkz – and link back to my blog so everyone gets to know about CCM linky party. The “Crafturday creative mess” linky party is open from Saturday  through Friday every week......

If you'd like to include the CCM button in your post, grab the html code from underneath the CCM logo on the side bar to the right.

To receive the latest posts, as well as updates, have CHITRASUTRA  delivered right to your Inbox.  You'll find a link to subscribe via Email on the sidebar to the right.  Thanks for reading.... so glad you are here!