Paper clip bookmarks with wooden beads: how to make

Often we wrack our brains when we must leave a book in the middle of reading it, and such frantic for a piece of cardboard or any flat thing the hand can feel.

True the world has moved ahead with technology trophies called e-books. We still need those good old books and bookmarks that go with them. Those ubiquitous paper clips are a great way to reach that page without spending a fortune on store bought bookmarks.

Plenty of methods exist to put those little stationery preciouses to use. I tried the really quick method that took barely a few minutes.

It was more of an experiment with materials really.  On my last trip to India I had picked up some wooden beads in the shape of butterflies. Such lovelies...but I could not bring myself to make earrings with them much. When I set out to make bookmarks with paper clips this time, I simply gathered different materials from my stash of craft materials to see what would work.

So here they are, things I gathered.

-- 3-D stickers
-- big button
-- Super Glue
-- a pair of scissors
-- big sized paper clips

Here, I have added a bit of super glue to the wooden butterfly bead and let the paper clip rest on the large button to set it thoroughly.

It takes a while to dry.

I tried it with a set of 3-D baby stickers too. But have not been happy with the result. It is because gluing the already sticky surface behind a 3-D sticker to the smooth surface of the paper clip was tricky.

There is a tendency for the surfaces to slip off.

The wooden surface on the contrary works well because of its unevenness.  Let the glued clips dry for an hour or two.

Your bookmarks, or fancied up clips are ready for use.

I have used them here to hold together, my stock of cut postal envelopes which I will use for crafts soon.

Optionally you may add a lace flower or paper to the rear of these butterfly clips. Enjoy using them, or make about 10 of them, tuck them into an old jewelry box and gift them to a friend.


Pictures courtesy: Radhika M B

For permissions to reuse, write to: radicreative@gmail.com

Quickie plastic bottle caps Tic Tac Toe

Tic Tac Toe, is the easiest doodle game one can think of when bored. All you need is a pen and paper. Four lines to form nine boxes. Circles and cross-marks. And you can go on endlessly.

As kids, we used tamarind seeds. We sanded out one side of the seed over rough cement stairs to show its beige inner layer - three to be precise, and let the other three seeds stay whole. Lemon sized granite stones heaped along street construction sites were equally handy for the game. That was then.

You can add a colourful twist to the game and keep its casual flavour and portable essence. Use bottle caps that you would throw away otherwise. Just make sure you have three each of two different colours. Else, you can simply embellish them into such colours.

The supplies for this project are simple, and available around the household usually. It's a perfect one to keep your child engaged on a rainy day. Make it, and play away.

You need:

-- a pair of scissors (paper trimmer is optional in addition to this)
-- cardstock or thick cardboard of the colour of your choice, or any cardboard from diwali gifts
-- decorative tape or duct tape, about half inch thick
-- stickers to embellish which is optional
-- six plastic bottle caps...use your discretion while choosing their size and that of your cardboard's
-- a ruler and pencil to cut the cardboard into a square


Before you get started with any of the steps, make sure to wash the bottle caps and dry them out for a while.

Firstly, use the ruler and a pair of scissors to mark your cardpaper into a square and cut. My favourite for cutting paper is a paper trimmer.
You do not need it for this project. If you have one, use it by all means.

Next step: Roughly mark out the square piece, and fix the tape spanning it at one third the width. To keep it neat, it's alright to let the tape spill over to the other side.

Gauge the left over space adjoining this tape, and run it again at the two thirds marked area. Note that the dimensions need not be accurate to the point. You need an approximate division.

Now, use the same method and run another piece of the tap across these two lines at one third and two third divisions of the cardboard.

Next on, you could embellish your bottle caps. I chose to embellish the green bottle caps with stickers, as the print on them looked tacky.  The game is ready to use.

If you are a pro at using decorative tape, you can make it a reversible sheet with the tape running on both the sides.

The piece I made is 8 and half inches wide. The tape with less than an inch came in handy. This size is perfect to get tucked into your office folder. The caps, you can tuck into a string gift bag and carry in your purse. Or simple drop them into the laptop bag. And the game is ready to go to work.

It's a game your kid can take for a school picnic too. Make sure you smooth out any sharp edges on the cap. If it's a project you do with your child, watch over the child's use of scissors.

Pictures Courtesy: Radhika M B
For permissions to use content and pictures, write to: radicreative@gmail.com

Scrubber with grocery mesh bags

What happens to those onion and garlic mesh bags once you finish using them? Ever thought of creative ideas with such produce bags?

However hard I try to avoid them, every once in a while, I end up with a plastic mesh bag and wonder what to do with it.

What I tried out has been tried a good deal by creativists across the world. It was still an experiment for me - converting them into a scrubber for use either in bath, or at the sink.

Interestingly, the quick project did not need a drop of glue at any point. Wash and dry the bags before you do any experiment.

What you need for the homemade scrubber:

-- some plastic mesh bags that come with onions or garlic, or other items
-- a pair of scissors
-- tapestry needle with a wide hole
-- plarn (plastic yarn) made from a fairly thick plastic cover
-- optional is a skein of embroidery thread

I had in my stash, plastic netted bags that were bundle-taped at one end, and also bags that were heat-compressed to make for the bottom. The advantage was that I could use the bundle-ended bags to stuff into the flat ended ones.

You will need to cut off the bundle ends. And spread the mesh bag out. Stretch it well, so you can fold it. Do it with two bags.

Fold these bags in a way that they fit into the the flat-ended mesh bag. This is trial and error. You can try out the folds in different ways.

Gently push the folded set into the flat mesh bag. Make sure that the edges of these folds do not jut out from the mesh bag.

 Now fold this bag. Thread plarn into your tapestry needle and start sewing the edges. I used button stitch for two sides and overcast stitch on other two sides.You will need to crease the plarn from time to time. It gets rough with each passing stitch too, thanks to the sharp plastic in the mesh.

Stitch any left over plarn into the existing stitches. Your homemade scrubber is ready. You may use it this way. I had another idea to make it look better.

Out came my crochet hook. Using the existing hooks in the edges, crochet a single crochet chain around the scrubber.

I crocheted two lines with the plarn. Stitching plarn on to a plastic mesh, and crocheting it, are more difficult than working them with an embroidery skein or other threads. Do not give up. Here is where you can alternatively try edging off with embroidery skein. Am not sure about how long it would last with the scrubber though.

The scrubber is ready for use. I am happy with the result. It is not perfect. It's functional. It is satisfying.

I was lucky to have a red plarn ready. If you do not, try using contrasting colours. Experimenting has no end with such projects. Tutorials to convert a plastic bag into a single plastic yarn exist on the internet. They are easy and fun. If you do not have plarn, try using the plastic thread available from thread stores. Just make sure it is not too sharp on the skin. You can add more mesh bags into the flat ones for a fluffy piece. Fine mesh bags are more suited for bathing, while the rough ones come in handy for dishes in the sink. Use your discretion. At no point should you let the piece of plastic hurt you though.

Try your hand at upcycling those plastic mesh bags and save on some scrubber bucks.

Pictures Courtesy: Radhika M B

For permission to use, write to: radicreative@gmail.com

Plastic gift card or credit card fridge magnets : How to make

Plastic credit cards and gift cards are a bane, in spite of their convenience. They are a pain once past expiry date or use, which is when you twiddle thumbs about what to do with them.

They get tucked away in some wallet, occupying space and raising the wallet weight, or pop up in between books and desktop chaos, prompting you to trash them.

You do not need to trash them if you can put some energy into upcycling them, or engage your kids to do some project with them.

I made fridge magnets. And am tempted to make more.

I made three magnets with two methods. The result is somewhat different with them.

Keep the following materials handy for the two methods:

-- peel and stick square magnets

-- sanding sponge or sandpaper

-- old nail polish or acrylic paint with brush

-- decorative stickers

-- decoupage glue and sealant (I used Martha Stewart...you can try it with Mod Podge)

-- variety of card paper or card stock

-- multi-surface craft glue, and do not forget

most importantly -- used and old credit cards  and gift cards

-- a pair of scissors...

The picture below is of square magnets

METHOD ONE:

I picked up a red piece of paper from my cardstock book and kept aside.

1. You need to use the sand paper, to roughen up both the sides of the plastic credit card or gift card.

2. And glue the plastic card to the cardstock neatly.

3. Let it dry.

4. Use the nail polish to draw out a design. I made a  rangoli to blend with the red-oxide floor like paper - and added the word `Home'


5. Apply decoupage glue and sealant -- two coats is ideal. First coat adheres, second seals. This gives the piece a glossy finish

6. Once both its sides dry out from the sealant's stickiness, peel and stick the square magnets to the decorated card's rear

In this picture are -- the rangoli design credit card and my favourite cartoon sticker on another card, both smeared with the decoupage glue and drying out.

METHOD TWO:

You can avoid using the sandpaper to sand the card for this. Such a method is useful for people allergic to the fine powder emanating when you sand the card.

1. Fold the card stock over the card, in a way you would gift wrap a small gift - folds and tucks, and all

Here I have cut out the protrudng parts so I can tuck them into the folds. This design I have tried with the black paper. A similar effort went into the green cardpaper. Make sure you glue out any dry gaps. And the paper must stick to the paper and not the plastic beneath it.

2. Fix your favourite sticker and use the decoupage glue to give its front and back sides a glossy finish.

3. Let the cards dry

4. Peel at least two pieces of magnet each from the magnet strips, and stick firmly on the rear side of these cards.

If need be, give these another coat of sealant for the shine and longevity.


Your brand new fridge magnets are ready to sit proudly on the fridge.

Here they are - the Snoopy magnet or Peanuts magnet, rangoli magnet, and I love Slow Food magnet.

I am happier with the sanding and sticking method for its firmness. If you have other ideas, please implement and send me the pictures.

I hope to make differently shaped magnets someday. But be rest assured that these rectangles will do the job just fine.

Go ahead and try your bits for the fridge magnets.

PICTURES COURTESY: Radhika M B

For permissions to use, write to: radicreative@gmail.com

Kindly avoid use of Snoopy picture. It is for representation only.

DIY styrofoam cup pin cushion safe: How to

Styrofoam containers and plates are a bane. Unavoidable at times, disgusting otherwise all the same. These days I prefer eating out a great deal. But these containers which we must pack our leftovers in only scare me. All the same, how to dispose them off is a bigger question.

One option: do not dispose them off. Re-use them, but just do not re-use them to store food.

I decided to give the containers we got home last week, a dual use.

A styrofoam container that can hold pins and toothpicks, and hide away some precious things I do not want lying around. You could try out this at home with broken plastic cups too.

I admit the decor is not all that great. But the good part is, I can use the same cushion in a different container of the same size.

1. Things you need for this project:

-- cotton balls or cotton batting

-- Styrofoam or thermocol food container or cup (don't go scurrying to buy one..wait till you get one)

-- Felt sheet (one or two depending on your choice of colour - I ended up using a whole sheet of mustard yellow and a strip of deep red)

-- Saree border (one and half inches width) to embellish

-- some thread, the embroidery variety and needle

-- a pair of scissors

-- some pins to stick on the cushion when it gets done

-- embellishments such as stickers are optional

-- keep some sand paper handy too

-- also,

you need craft glue - multipurpose

2. The how to of it, 

Fold the felt sheet into four. And cut it to make it a round...I ended up with an oval shape. But circles are better.

Spread this out.

3. Keep a knotted thread in the needle ready for stitching. Fill cotton balls or batting into the centre of this shape, and cup the felt sheet around it to cover it up as much as possible. Remember you will need to hold this in one hand, and pick up.

Now, pleat the felt where its edges converge, similar to how you would pleat a saree.

4. Stitch through the pleats.

Leave enough gap for a finger to dig in so you can adjust the shape of this cushion in such a way, that it fits into the container. If you wish, you may tuck in another piece of felt into the gaping hole. I decided otherwise.

5. Use sand-paper to sand the side of this cup to embellish.

6. Glue the saree border over slowly on this sanded surface. Remember that this can be tricky as the strip does not fit into the conical shape of the container. Either pleat it to stick better, or cut a little at intervals, from the lower edge.

You can glue up the top end of the cup with an extra piece of felt.  

7. Hide away your little pieces of jewelry, keys, or simply a secret note. And tuck the cushion on it.

The pin cushion safe is ready. 

If you do not want to use this as a hide-away for your items, you can go ahead and glue the cushion to the container's base inside.

Tips: My piece is not perfect. An option would be to embellish with stickers, as the smooth surface of the styrofoam can prove a challenge

Make sure you have enough cotton to fill. You can alternatively use tailoring waste, rolled up plarn (plastic yarn), or crumpled paper to add to the stuffing.

Do not aspire to make the most perfect piece for a start. You need something functional. Better pieces turn out with practice.

Good luck with your little project.

Pictures Courtesy: Radhika M B

For permissions to reuse, write to: radicreative@gmail.com

Master strokes and tiny hands: Child Art

As an aspiring painter, I routinely browse Google Images to get inspired by masterpieces, everyday painters, blogs on drawing and painting and even try to learn from
videos online.

For years though, I have struggled to push myself, to paint. Somehow, the anxiety to create has been overwhelming. You may wonder why I am writing this post on my craft blog.

Crafting, is about creating, just like painting is. Someone who I admire greatly - an illustrator colleague with decades of experience from my earlier workplace, nudges me on each time I talk. He took to painting full time after retirement.

What he told me during my call two months back struck me the most. It prompted me to just grab the canvas and apply colour, without thinking much.

`Paint like a child. Don't wonder or fear how the painting will turn out. It has to be something that comes with your own discovery,'' he said.

This colleague went on to tell me how some painter friends, lament not being able to paint like a child, having honed themselves over the years thoroughly with techniques.

I have barely used two canvases since then, because my Artist table has been acting funny. But I started. Finally. Because I did not care how the paintings would turn out.

But am pasting here some pieces by kids of my friends and family, to make that point. Before I proceed though, here is a confession. These pictures have been sitting in my gadgets for quite a while. Apologies, dear senders, for this big a delay.

That is a picture of Snowman, by my neighbour's son Sarvesh. I love the buttons on Snowman's snow-shirt. Sarvesh, is a pre-schooler. The picture below is by my niece Smritti, who lives in Dubai. I loved her desk full of her art work. But this drawing floored me the most.

I had clicked this in her bedroom. After a few weeks, my niece sketched her dad's pic in pencil. And here it is.

Don't these pics make you fall in love with the kids even more? Straight from the heart, uncorrupted, full of love!

There is more...Scroll on.

Dia, my friend Nisha's daughter, made me want to hug her when I saw her drawing. Dia made a picture of herself among flowers in a garden.

Notice the sun, the flowers, the grass and the `V's. The big Vs are apparently Eagles, according to Dia. And the small Vs, little birds! Love you Dia, for this!

Her next one:

It is a garden picture. But also has a cat to go with it, besides a tree, and a bird flock flying above Dia's head. Love her perception. Pasted below is a self potrait. Priceless.

Refinement may make one polished with technique and craft. But watch these pictures and you marvel at a child's abandon in playing with markers and crayons on a piece of paper. No inhibitions of who will say what about the art, except may be a hug or `good job' from Mommy. They radiate innocence unblemished.

Below is a picture of Chota Bheem, the all popular cartoon character in India. My nephew Lohith who loves using his sketch pens over paper, found a white piece of styrofoam or thermocol lying around. And took to it. He is six years old. And loves Chota Bheem crazy.  His favourite hero comes alive in the sketch.

 Under guidance though, art could take on a different dimension. Scroll to understand.
Here is Chota Bheem in a coloured format, by my nephew.

And here are the sketching efforts by Smritti, through her drawing class at school.

It's how we too were taught in school - shade the objects for the right light effect. For her age - all of nine years, this is commendable effort. I would still cherish her daddy-mommy pictures which are the masterpieces.

Here is another picture, by Tamara, the beautiful school going daughter of my friend Teresa Rehman.

Many years back, an artist I met as part of work, showed me his visual novel in the making. The book was a delight. What caught my attention was the extensive use of child art in its imagery. He recalled, how every stroke by a child is poetry. You can read about it here.

And that we as adults insist on their making good pictures, with no idea of what a good picture is. He wanted to show respect to art by kids.

For those of you wondering why a post on child art now, I looked at it as a perfect way of celebrating this blog's hit count touching 1,00,000 anytime now.

Two years back, I had never dreamed of it. Now it makes me want to dream more. I hope to post more. With your continuous outpouring of love, dreams can come true after all.


Pictures Courtesy: Respective moms of the kids featured here

Permissions: These pictures may not be reused at all, for non commercial, commercial, personal work, whatever be the purpose.