Recycling Pots - With Clay - Using Kulfi matkas.

Decorating Small Pots called Matkas with Clay/M-Seal. 

You need - 

• A Small Pot
• Clay/M-seal
• Metallic paints (Acrylic)
• Brushes
• Touchwood (varnish)(Optional)

Different Types of DIY Fabric Painting Ideas

Fabric Painting 

Painting you dull fabrics and transforming them into the master piece is an art of appreciation. Learn this awesome hobby without much effort and money at "Craftopedia"!

Tie and Dye Technique

• Wet the fabric and squeeze the excess water
• Tie the fabric with tie cords/ Rubber bands at required areas using different kinds of ties such as beads, coins or grains.
• Paint the untied area with thick coats using desired shades of fabric colours with applicator brush.
• Allow to dry for 24 hours and then untie the cords. 
• Iron the reverse side to fix colour on the fabric. 

This technique of tying  and dyeing helps to create Fabulous patterns on a plain fabric. 

Blending Technique 

• Dampen the fabric.
• Dilute the fabric colour with water.
• With light strokes or dots apply two or more diluted colours on the fabric.
• Allow the colours to blend with each other.
• Dry for 24 hours.

Stenciling Techniques

• Position the stencil design on the fabric holding it firmly with adhesive tape.
• Prepare fabric colour in a pallet with a little water. Dip your brush in the fabric paint. Dab excess paint from the brush and stipple or apply on the fabric. 
• use different colour combinations and shades by applying different colours in different areas of the stencil.
• Remove the stencil to see the overlay full effect.
• Let dry for 24 hours.

Stenciling allows you to reproduce a pattern or a design as many times as you like. 

Block printing Technique 

• Draw a design such as a flower on the raw surface of a potato. Carve out the design. You can also choose vegetables and fruit having textured surface when cut (eg; lady finger, onions, pineapple etc). Leaves having interested shapes can also be used as block.
• Hold the fabric in the place with adhesive place.
• Apply a thick coat of fabric colour on the block with brush or sponge.
• Place the block carefully on the fabric and press in firmly.
• Lift the block without sliding or tilting.
• repeat the procedure using different colour combination and different types of blocks.
• Dry for 24 hours. 

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Old is Gold - Ceramic Jars (Jaadis) for Home Decoration

Old Ceramic Jars as Decoration for Interiors and Exteriors

It was Early Summer time, perfect time for mango pickles. My family bought a huge amount of raw mangoes and started preparing the world famous – “Aavakaaya”. The pickle was not supposed to be stored in metallic containers as they might react with metal over a period of time. Since ancient times, many of the south Indian families were using Ceramic Jars called (Jaadis) for storing pickles’.

These double colour beauties mostly in white and brown combination are pride of the kitchen few decades ago. They come in various sizes from huge jaadis for storing pickles for the entire year consumption for those large combined families to small ones to store ghee and curds for daily consumption. These marvellous jaadis come in different shapes but invariably in double colours of brown and white. The standard shape is a tall and cylindrical. They come in the shape of yellow pumpkin called gummadikaya jaadi. 

Well after filling the pickle I was left with one small jaadi. Its, 2 coloured glazing appearance delighted me. It seemed to get back the olden days in our modern home. I decided that it would bring a perfect mixture of olden and modern day’s cultural ambience. And so, I searched for more such containers and decorated my table like this –

 

 Bigger jars could be use as planters also. But my small, cute jar was perfect for 2 stems of healthy money plant in water. They bought elegance to my table. I’m still constantly searching for some more such jaadis or old containers for my house. Then what are you waiting for??? Grab such ceramics from you attics or buy some (they really Inexpensive) and adorn you home with these antiques. 

Your garden can just have such jars standing on a stone table. Or you can fix a fountain in it. They possibilities are endless !!!