107 items in this section. Displaying page 3 of 11
Alpana
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
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....
Jumbo Mask
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...
Door Decor
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: Mango leaves Cord Thread Needle Flowers Step 1: Use a needle and thread to make a garland of flowers....
Table Mat
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
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....
Forever Floating
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....
Challenge Knot Tie
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....
A Crib for Jesus
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
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....