Kolam by Sudha Balaji

  OHP sheet toran or thoranam - Craft ideas for festival decoration at home  Toran or Thoranam is an important part of celebration of any festival.  The image below shows a festoon or toran made from artificial mango leaves.   We can use them in places, countries where mango leaves are not available. What we need for this craft idea a) OHP sheet  b) Cardboard c) pair of scissors d) Outliners  e) Fancy tape f) Glue or stapler  g) Chamki Make a template of a mango leaf with a cardboard.  Place it on an Overhead projector sheet and cut as many leaves as you want.  Draw the veins with yellow colour outliner. Fill the leaf like shapes that are cut out with green to represent the leaves.   Stick or staple the leaves to fancy tape.  Stick chamki on the tap to enhance the beauty.  An awesome craft idea that can be done very quickly.  Decorate for festivals like Diwali, Navaratri. Yes, apart from drawing rangoli, I als...

  Festival thoranam decoration - also for Sankranthi, Navaratri Thoranam made from coconut fronds that are yellow green in colour Occasionally we can make it at home. The method is quite simple.  First cut two pieces of frond so that two thoranams can be tied together and hung on the doorway.   First remove the frond on either side of the rib.  Then take the right side element to the left as shown in the image below Next bring the element on the left to the right behind the rib of the frond The next step is shown in the pic below After bringing the element from behind the mid rib insert it in the part of the frond on the right that is folded on the left!  Pull ends extending on both sides of the mid rib.  With this one element of thornam has been completed as shown in the pic below. Now press the thoranam gently to flatten the elements as much as possible.  Repeat the process to get a thoran of length you desire.  With these few elements of the...

Also called fragrant screw pine in English, mugali puvvu in Telugu (the petals are called mugalirekalu ) In Hindi and Marathi it is kewdais one of the most fascinating and fragrant flowers in nature.  It is regularly used in hair style decoration for Navratri kanya.  When we were young it was used quite often for bridal braid decoration as also for festivals and other functions. Traditional bridal decoration | Navratri decoration | Varalakshmi Nombu decorations Remove the outer thorny layers.  Careful because they can prick. As we go inside the layers become thinner and slender Remove the petals of the flower Cut the bottom of a petal with a pair of scissors Cut elements that are dovetail shaped Cut the pointed end at the top A collection of petals cut is ready as shown in the image below Sew with a fine needle and thread because the petals  are delicate and can  tear. Sew both sides so that the petal  elements ho...

How to make OHP sheet toran at home for Diwali What we need OHP sheet and butter paper 3D glitter Glass colour Fancy lace Fabric glue Craft trinkets ( pearl chain ) Note:  After using glass colours or 3D glitter, or fabric glue allow 10 minutes to pass so that the toran element dries completely This toran can be a fancy decoration for these festivals. Also, in USA and UK where we get real mango leaves but the price may be on the higher side, we can make this mango leaf  thoranam to symbolically represent the décor.   Mango leaf thoranams are associated with auspicious occasions and festivals Gold colour 3D glitter for veins and border so that they can be seen in contrast Green glass colours for leaf Fabric glue - the advantage is that it becomes transparent after drying Craft items like pearl chain or stone stain for decoration Make a cardboard template of a leaf Place the leaf template on butter paper and mark outline of...

Simple Varamahalakshmi festival decoration | Easy Navratri decoration   Material needed 1.Saree lace designs ( the price of length of 9 metres approx is about Rs.1500 online for a lace with lot of embroidery work.  We can get in craft shops simple designs for a cost of Rs.60 per metre) 2.Fancy lace ( the price is Rs.6 per metre) 3.Kundan stones 4. Fabric glue An easy garland for Varalakshmi idol.   The festival date for 2018 is 24th of August.                           The image shows the items needed. Roll the lace and arrange the flowers to decide the length of the garland required Cut with a pair of scissors.  The number of flowers should be in odd numbers Apply fabric glue on the rear side 9 fabric glue dries easily and is transparent after drying Stick kundan stones Take a golden lace and fold it as shown and apply glue at the bottom inside the...