Follow your dream | Mixed media canvas

Hi Friends
Sharing with you a mixed media canvas. This is inspired from the lovely mixed media of my dear bloggy friend Yvonne. I am marveled by the ease with which she executes such amazing mixed media project..long way to go for me. Happy with the result for now, would love to hear how you liked it.

For this canvas,
First I applied some lovely bits of tissue paper with gesso.

Then I stenciled with modeling paste to create the lovely damask texture on the canvas. It was a single border stencil, which i repeated multiple times to get the texture on entire canvas.
Then I applied some brown acrylic paint on the border, to distress the edges. Embellished with the bicycle, Eiffel tower, and Merilyn Monroe. Used a beautiful frame for her.

Though the  embellishment matched, but I did not feel a cohesive look in the canvas. Did some stamping on the edges to add more depth to the canvas. Created the bunting from vegetable mesh and old magazine paper. Applied pink glitter in the frame and flowers. Did some more stamping and used rub ons.
I thought this is the final one now.

But then an idea stuck ! I colored the frame black with a white board marker and viola..got my focal point :)
Applied modge podge. Also used distress glitter and white mica flakes sent to me by Yvonne to complete the finishing :)

Some more Close ups:

Sending this to below challenges:

Lessology -Travel theme

Craft Challenge - color challenge 

Scrap Africa - Vintage

The Mirror Crackd - Anything mixed media

Crafty Creations Challenge - Vintage

Krishna Janmashtmi layout for a friend

Hi Friends,

Sharing with you a layout which me and my friend made, the highlight being her Son dressed as Krishna. In India most infants would be dressed up as little Krishna and Radha during the festival of Janmastmi.

In this layout we tried to capture the essence of Krishna, by depicting his flute, his favourite peacock and the naughty little krishna who enjoyed eating butter from the overhead hanging earthen vessels, which he and his friends would break with a stone and then relish the fresh home made butter!

Sending this to : http://mixedmediamc.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/mixed-media-monthly-challenge-4-color.html - Inspired by the colors!

Warli envelops made by dear sister + Tutorial (Ceramic cone work)

Hey, got to share some beautiful hand painted envelops, my dear sister Jyoti made, before her marriage..now my priced possession ;)

So here comes tutorial, I would like to tell you all how these beautiful envelops are decorated using ceramic(again this is how my sister taught me :))..

Material required:
Ceramic powder
DDL (similar to fevicol)
Plastic bags (the milk bags wud be ideal, you can use some other thick plastic also)
Cello tape/rubber band

Steps:
I mixed Ceramic powder and DDL (its a form of fevicol) to get a mehendi or hina like consistency(little thcker than hina, coz it might spread). Then made a plastic cone and put it in that. All ready to rock...you can make any number of designs with this cone. If you want colors, you can mix fabric or poster colors in the ceramic and DDL mix..

Toilet paper roll craft | Mr and Mrs Owl | Kids Craft

Quick and simple craft to enjoy with kids!

I love my dad! Mixed media canvas made my little one

Hi friends

Sharing with you today a canvas that me and my little one made for her dad on his birthday. Loved the process and the outcome!

My little one does not call her father Dad, its pappa in our house, but the style queen that she is! and with all the accent she is catching from the cartoons, she would sometime call him dad..and we are amused to hear that from the little one :) 

As soon as DH comes home, the little missy wants his phone or tab to play with. He would say no, but she would bring out her hand and say "Promise" (that she will give it back soon)...awww can anyone say no to that!! 

Here are the steps that we too to make this:

1. First we applied masking tape on the canvas. Took three colors, yellow, blue and pink and let my little one have fun! Then after she used up all the color..I showed her the magic by removing the masking tape.

She was excited to see the outcome..but was not happy..she thought mumma we'll have to put more paint..it has so much white space..ok madam! your wish is my command :)

2. After it got completely dry, I put some color directly on the canvas and showed her the amazing texture we can create using our simple hair comb! I had tried tis for the first time and we both loved the texture!

3. I wanted to use my little one's hand print on the canvas to give it a personal touch. We did a hand printing session and little S printed her hand on the canvas in red. But it was not very visible, so I decided we'll use her other hand print which we had done on a plain white paper.. So did a fuzzy cut of the hand print. 

4. Next we applied some modelling paste using the flower stencil..doesnt it look pretty!

5. We stuck the hand cut out and embellished with cute little 3D stickers. 

6. Sprinkeld with white distress stickles and applied mod podge with gloss finish to seal everything well and preserve the beauty of this canvas. 

It is very special to me. Do let me know how you liked it.

Sending this to:
http://mixedmediamc.blogspot.in/2014/08/mixed-media-monthly-challenge-3.html
http://blog.inspirationemporium.com/?p=2487

Linking this to:
http://artsycraftsymom.com/diy-holi-gift-tags/

Chena poda | Indian cheese/paneer cake | kalakand | Healthy Dessert

Hi friends..sharing my firs attempt at chena poda..well loved by the kid and all:)

Recipe source: 

here and here

Ingredients

1 Cup home made cottage cheese (paneer)

3 tablespoons semolina

½ Cup Powdered Sugar 

½ teaspoon baking powder

5-6 cardamoms powdered

2 tablespoons raisins

5-6 cashew nuts chopped

5-6 pistachios sliced

2 tablespoons sugar for making caramel

Method for preparing cottage cheese

Ingredients

3 liters full cream milk

¼ cup lemon juice

Method

Boil the milk. Reduce the heat.

Add lemon juice to the boiled milk. Stir. The milk will curdle. Boil for a minute. Turn off the heat.

Put the curdled milk in a muslin cloth. Drain out the water.

Place the muslin bag with cottage cheese under the running tap.This will remove the sour whey. Squeeze out the water. Hang the muslin cloth for 15 minutes.

Method for preparing Chhena Poda

Transfer the cottage cheese to a plate. Mash well with hands till smooth. Add powdered sugar. Mix well. If the mixture feels too dry, add a teaspoon of milk.

Add semolina. Mix well. Cover and leave for 15 minutes.

In the mean time, take two tablespoons sugar in the baking tin, hold it over the flame. Turn off the heat when the sugar just begins to caramelize. Tilt the pan so that it spreads all over the base and sides evenly. Leave it to cool.

Knead the cottage cheese mixture again. Add powdered cardamom, raisins and cashews. Add baking powder. Mix well.

Put the mixture in the baking pan. Level the top.

Bake in the preheated oven at 180 degrees C for 55 minutes or till the top turns brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Run a knife through the sides and invert it on the rack immediately. If delayed, the sugar in the base of the pan becomes hard and chhena poda sticks to the bottom.

Refrigerate when cold.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#43.

Sending this entry to Valli's Kids Delight" Healthy Desserts" happening at Cooking with Sapna.

Aate ka halwa | Wheat pudding | Healthy desserts

My little one loves this wheat sheera. So what better to share for the healthy desserts for kids theme...happy kid ..happy mummy :)

 Ingredients
1 cup wheat flour (aata)
1 cup sugar (the quantity can vary as per the sweet taste)
1 cup desi ghee (clarified butter)
1 cup water
1 cup of nuts cashews, almonds, golden raisins (optional)

Method
Heat the ghee in a non stick pan & keep the pan on medium flame
Keep all other ingredients handy as they need to be added quickly
Add the entire wheat flour to the heated ghee & stir quickly till the wheat flour turns golden brown (however be careful not to stir the wheat flour for long as it might start burning)
As soon as the flour turns golden, add the water & the sugar together to the flour & simultaneously stir
Once all the ingredients are nicely mixed, add the nuts & keep stirring.
The halwa is now ready to be served. Serve hot.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#43.

Sending this entry to Valli's Kids Delight" Healthy Desserts" happening at Cooking with Sapna.

Come, join us for Breakfast hosted by Valli

Eggless Coconut Macaroons

My first attempt at these yummy macaroons. .and they were a big hit! We had a garden potluck with few friends and I just made this in the last minute. .and it sure was the star of the day! .
I prepared a second batch with egg  last week. .it was good but become too soft later. .for the eggless one I am not sure if it becomes soft after some time. .as there was none left from that batch :)
Do try these simple and yummy cookies

Ingredients:
Unsweetened Shredded Coconut - 1.5 cups
Homemade sweetened condensed milk - 1/2 tin
Vanilla Extract - 1/2 tsp
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of cinnamon powder (optional)

Method:
Preheat oven to 350F, and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl, and mix until well combined.
Drop the batter by rounded tablespoons onto the lined baking sheet, and tap gently to drop evenly with the help of spoon or your finger. Maintain 1 inch distance apart between macroons.
Bake for 20 minutes at 350F, or until the cookies are lightly golden on top and dark golden at the bottom.
Leave the macaroons in the sheet for 5- 10 minutes, then use a spatula to gently remove the macaroons from the baking sheet, and allow to cool completely on a wire rack .
Once cooled completely it will harden, store it in air-tight container, keeps good for upto a week and enjoy.
To make more crispier or lighter macaroon add more coconut.
Rememeber macaroons may look soft while hot, don't bake again, but once cool it will become harden.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#43.

Sending this entry to Valli's Kids Delight" Healthy Desserts" happening at Cooking with Sapna.

Tiny weeny updates

Terrible three? Well sometimes yes..but amusing to the core :). Love every momet with my little chatterbox bunny. Not sure if being born near easter is the reason but she loves bunnys! and carrots! and all things pink :)

Saachi - Pappa I want these coins ($3)
Papa - What will you do with these sweety?
Saachi - Me isle aapko shoes dilaungi..aapke shoes phat gaye na.. (I will buy new shoes for you with these!) Oh thats so sweet of you to think about it love..
Papa - But isme shoes nahi aayenge na
Saachi - (Thinking) Ok me usko hello kitty me daal ke ride karungi :))) (I will ride in the hello kitty car by using these in the coin machine)
What what reasoning and thinking at this age!

me kya kar sakti hu !

Saachi - Mumma you have a black color smiley
Me - Black color smiley?
She means our eyebrows! what a correlation!

Little S loves to sit on top of the sofa, keep some cusions and does lovely tale malish champi of her mom and dad! we love it too..except when it turns into hair pulling..aaouch

i love to be with you, you is happy with me?

Saachi - Pappa mujhe honey bolte...Me papa ki honey hu..
Me - Aur mumma ki?
Saachi - Mumma ki naughty boy :)

me is so happy to see you again !

Me doing little emotional blackmail when saachi not listeing to get my phone.
Me - Saachi please bring my phone na
Saachi - mum my both hands are full..i am cutting paper
Me - this is not fair, mumma does so many things for you and you cant do one small things :(
It worked! Didnt expect little miss will leave her work and get my phone!
Me  - Thank you :)
Saachi -  your welcome! (didnt expect this either)

Saachi returning mumma her earring which she was dangling on her ears.
Aruna aunty - Saachi come here..put on your pants.
Saachi - I was busy no!

Some old notes..

31st Dec 2012 - The little one started saying her Dad's name after listening her grand mom call him to eat fruits. It was so cute how the little one is calling him with his name! We went to see the fireworks at the park, and little S liked them a lot! Watching with full concentration. The other two children with us were a bit frightened, but not lilt S! :)

Her Vocab:
much much - that is for Specs (In hindi we call specs Chashma, she didnt get the entire word, and deviced her own short name as "much")
Office, chudi, phoon, pani, sit down, baby, wah wah wah, book, are some more words which she speaks without being told and appropriately!

Small actions goes to prove a lot:

• I logged into skype after a long time and soon looking at the acreen she started saying Mama! She knows I speak to mama on skype! Are all the 20 month olds are that clever these days???
• Little S wanted to go out for a walk but no one was taking her out, so she said "Me jai" (me going) and went towards the door and hid behind the shoe rack, her grandfather and me had a hearty laugh at her gesture.

Origami decorative rakhi | Origami flower

Sending this to:

http://www.hobbymela.com/contest/ - Rakhi

http://www.artsycraftsymom.com/artsy-craftsy-july-2014-challenge-rakhi-special/

Also check out some of our other handmade rakhis here