Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Show your festive spirit with easy DIY on gift wrapping

I remember as a kid how  I used to wait for Christmas. Christmas would hold a special attachment to most of the kids, the festival being associated with Santa Claus, a month filled with happiness and  merry making, baking and yes playing secret Santa!

Secret Santa filled us with the anticipation of receiving gifts.Last week my daughter and her class mates played secret Santa.I helped her pack her handmade gift for her friend. And that's when the idea of this post came along!

Gifting is  an art.The gift should be such that it strikes a chord with the receiver.Try to learn what  gift would please the receiver. The way you present your gift also talks about the extra effort you have put in to bring a smile across!

 Let us today have a look at some interesting DIY that will help you pack your gifts during this Christmas and New year. These are very simple ones,can be easily practiced even by kids guided by adults.The ideas matter, rest is easy. They are not at all expensive and can be easily made from things lying around your home.So sit back, relax, learn wrapping techniques and  enjoy the process of gifting with your loved ones.

1 A simple DIY with brown paper



You can wrap the gift with brown paper or any other colour and either draw to give a wrapped effect or use twines and alphabetical cut outs from newspapers to complete the look! Here you can also spell the entire name and or just the initials.Either way the wrapping gives the gift a very personal touch.

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Such a simple sweet way to personalize. It doesn't cost a dime too!


2.Bring in the Christmas spirit




Use buttons to  make a snowman or Christmas tree.Fasten the buttons  by sticking or sewing them. Alternatively use sponge and colours to dab a Christmas on your gift wrapping paper. It is a fun activity and ideal to include the kids too!

3. With twines and paper strips


This might a look bit difficult but once you get the knack it's relatively simpler. The method is the same to work with both the twines and paper strips.Pass the strips over and under the strip alternately to create this arrangement.The number of strips or twine used depends upon your creativity and imagination and whether you would want to cover the entire surface.You can make this arrangement either on the centre or on the sides of the surface.

4. A paper butterfly.


Isn't that a very pretty design.Cut out shapes of a butterfly either on newspaper, printed paper or coloured paper. For each design cut out 3 such pieces.Stick the first piece entirely on the surface & second and third butterfly partially on the first one to give a fluttering look.Now you can paste as many as you want.If they are coloured ones ,they will look awesome I tell you! Not only butterfly , you can even make the cut out in various other shapes like floral motifs or birds.

5.Heart prints from a potato and cookie cutters



Cut a potato into two halves.Insert the cookie cutter and get the desired shape. Immerse it into a bowl of paint and there you go.Make interesting patterns and designs.Add contrast by immersing the heart shaped potato in different colour. An effective way to get the best wrapping paper at no extra cost and one that also fuels our creativity!

6. Draw, cut and paste



A very simple one. Of course it is step wise and well explained so that I need not Blahh...blah...

7. Cloth wrappers


Sometimes we have small fabrics left and can't think of any other worthwhile use for it, at that moment but do save them for a later use.You never know when they can come handy.Yes, fabrics can be used to cover and wrap gifts attractively. I found this way rather imaginative and useful when it comes to gift kitchen essentials or say a recipe or a cook book.How cute is that with a wooden spoon?

So I have given you ideas and you can share with me how you implemented it or arrived at a better one of your own.

I tried them too to gift my nephews.This is the result.




Have a Fantastic Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you all in 2016!





Sunday, December 13, 2015

Open New doors.


As one door closes, there is another waiting to be opened...

Doors reveal a lot about the personality of one who is indoors! While we were in Kerala,clicked some snapshots of doors.I have always been fascinated by doors.The ones that you find in typical Goa or Portuguese cities.The ones that are so colourful,you would want to knock and peep inside to find a riot of colours inside too!

Kerala doors were different.They reflected intricate carving on wood, brass ornamentation & beautiful metal worked doors.Enjoy the post and the last few remaining days of 2015.

Rustic...The worn out door reminds us of so many seasons it would have welcomed!


Loved the granite colour ...It is a complete Kerala door with the traditional brass features



The rawness adds to its appeal


The metal door stands guards to a museum full of treasures

The brass  ornate lock called manichitrathazu steals the show


This was just too good! The vertical central pattern carving along with circular brass ornamentation brings life to an otherwise ordinary door


Similar  but another pattern



Would love to have an entry like this

Masterpiece again!


Simple yet stunning!
Welcome your door to 2016!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Jew town-Fort Kochi

Some time back we had been to Kochi( Cochin) in Kerala.Today's post is about the shopper's lane in Fort Kochi area also popularly called as 'Jew town'.It is a paradise for the art lovers and shopaholics alike.The Jew Street itself has a very interesting history.Long back the Jews traded in these narrow lanes although now only a handful of them remain.
Jew town is a quaint little area that lends out an old world charm.

Kerala and Kochi in particular is still known world wide for their aromatic spices.The entire street is filled with antique shops replete with brass, bronze and wooden artifacts in particular. One can take their own time and go through each antique shop. They are like museums giving you a glimpse of an era gone by.Let me share  some images of  Jew town.

These are cow heads.Available in most shops made of wood and brightly painted.Used to be hung around on the outer doors to ward off evil and bring prosperity!



A stone Nandi standing guard!





Dwarapalakas...
I think this is a granary..not sure although


some old wooden vessels


Jew town was beautiful with shops lined on either side of the street selling, what I love the most-Antiques.After all the walking and sight seeing,if you would want to rest for a while, head to a cafe. There were so many of them at every turn and bend...so much to see and so little time.

More on the Kerala trip will follow soon.Some info on Kerala Architecture, a palace visit and a picture heavy post from-  A visit to Folk Museum.Keep visiting!


Friday, December 4, 2015

Travel souvenir III- Aranmula Kannadi




'Kannadi' means mirror in Malyalam and Aranmula is a small village in the Indian state of Kerala.The Aranmula mirrors are a special kind in the sense that these are not the silvered glass mirrors.It is a front surface reflection  mirror which eliminates secondary reflections and aberrations. Aranmula kannadi is a handmade metal alloy mirror and the exact metals used in the alloy is kept as a family secret.Very few families are now engaged in the mysterious mirror making process.

Many metallurgists believe it to be an alloy of copper and tin but the proportion is still unknown.It is polished for several days to get the reflective surface.Every Kerala bride gets one such Aranmula Kannadi as part of her wedding trousseau.It is one among the eight auspicious or 'ashtamangalyam'.It is considered to bring luck,wealth and prosperity in one's home. Aranmula Kannadi are bestowed with Geographical Indication tag.



Aranmula kannadi is 100% handmade.It is a unique kind of handheld mirror and hence a little pricey too! The diameter of the reflective surface of the mirror, the shape ,the frame size and the art work on it all are factors that contribute to the pricing of the Aranmula Kannadi.



If you happen to be in Kerala and want something unique that gives a taste of the region,you can have a look at these handmade beauties.

Images: Pinterest
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