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Ice Cream Stick Photo Frame

How do we make sure that our favourite person stays by our side at most times? Simple - we frame their photographs and keep them in a place where we can always see them. What fun if we could make the photo frames too! And it is not at all difficult.

The things you need:

1. Ice Cream sticks.

2. Adhesive.

3. Colours.

4. Thick string or wire.

Step 1 Collect around 15 ice cream sticks. For the base of the frame, stick the ice cream sticks as shown in the picture.

Step 2 Leave half-an-inch space from all the sides and glue four sticks on the base to make the upper layer of the frame.

Step 3 Slide the photograph through the gap.

Step 4 Take a thick wire or a string to make a loop. Stick the two ends of the loop at the back of the frame. You can now hang your photo frame.

You can draw a variety of patterns on the side of your photo frame with the help of crayons.

Game of Shapes

If there is a party in your house then you can make a game yourself and play it with everyone.

The things you need:

1. Coloured paper (Any two colours).

2. Adhesive.

3. Scissors.

4. White card sheet.

Step 1 Take the two sheets of different colours (blue and pink). Place them on top of each other and cut out at least 15 shapes. You can make any shape: triangle, square, T-shape or even a tree shape. Try to make the shapes as different as possible.

Step 2 Take a white card sheet. Stick all the shapes of one colour (blue) on this sheet. If all the shapes do not fit on one sheet then use another one.

Step 3 Keep the shapes of the other colour (pink) in an envelope. Now you are ready with the game. Take out the shapes from the envelope and see how fast you can match them with the shapes on the card sheet. Paste the shapes in order to avoid confusion.

For a party you can make a few sets like this and also organise a competition.

Painting Pots

We cannot paint the walls of our house but we can definitely paint the pots in our house.

All you need is:

1. Poster paints.

2. Paint brush.

Step 1: Pick up a pot and remove any dust from it using a soft cloth or a brush.

Step 2: If you have earthern pots, give them a coating of colour that you think would match with the colour of your walls.

Step 3: Let this base colour dry. Now you can paint a variety of patterns on top to decorate your pots.

If your pots are cemented and polished, you can directly make patterns on them. It's quite interesting and at the same time colourful and attractive too.

Earrings

Use wires to make some colourful, ethnic earrings. You'll be amazed at what a little imagination can do to things. But don't let these ideas restrict you. Let your imagination carry you to greater depths of creativity.

Things you need:
1. Thin wires
2. Paint
3. Colourful beads
4. Coloured wool
5. Adhesive
6. Scissors

Step 1: Pick up wires that are not very thick, so that it can go through someone's ear-hole. Twist the wire in different kinds of patterns and paint it. You could also use electrical wires with a plastic jacket. Simply strip a portion of the jacket so that there is no problem inserting it into the wearer's ear-hole.

Step 2: Try to make some earrings with coloured wool and beads. Wound wool around the wire.

Step 3: Make a knot at one end of the wire and string a bead. Turn the other end in a U-shape and the earrings are ready to be worn.

Paper Chains

Diwali is that time of year when markets get flooded with decorations. You could buy them or perhaps try and make them on your own.

All you need is:

1. Crepe paper or Glossy paper.

2. Scissors.

3. Colours.

4. Adhesive.

Step 1: Take a sheet of paper, nine inches square. Fold it diagonally into two. You will get a triangle like the one in the illustration.

Step 2: With the help of scissors, make cuts as shown in the figure. Remember to keep two things in mind:

* The cuts should not reach from one side to the other.

* You should make cuts in alternate directions.

Step 3: Now, open the sheet out flat and make a second one exactly like it but of a different colour.

Step 4: Stick the two sheets together by dabbing some adhesive on the corners.

Step 5: Now, gently draw out the paper by pulling at the centre of both sides.

You will have a nice chain. Make a dozen of these and you can hang them all over.

Forever Floating

I remember making paper boats as a child but after their first voyage they could never be used again. Then somebody told me about the boats that would always float. At once the idea appealed to me and I tried making the unsinkable boat. It actually never sank. Would you also like to try making one?

The things you need:

Bottle cork, blade and card sheet.

Step 1. Slice the cork from the center, lengthwise.

Step 2. Trim the edges.

Step 3. For sails, cut a triangle from the card sheet, in proportion to the cork.

Step 4. Cut a lengthwise slit down the center, on the upper surface of the cork.

Step5. Fix the sail into it.

You can make two boats from one cork in very little time but can enjoy boating for a very long time.

Make your own Salt

What is the crop of farmers in the desert fields of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat? The answer is: salt! Farmers make rectangular fields with borders so that the water does not drain away. The water stands still under the sun and evaporates. Once the water evaporates, all that can be seen is salt. For, almost 70 per cent of the earth's surface is covered by salt water.

To test out how they do it, just do this simple experiment at home.

All you need is:

1. One tablespoon of salt.

2. A plate with raised edges.

3. Spoon.

4. Two cups of water.

Step 1: Mix the salt in water thoroughly. If mixing in a plate is inconvenient then do so in a bowl and then pour the salty water in the plate with raised edges.

Step 2: Keep the plate out in the sun until the water fully evaporates.

You will see tiny crystals of salt left behind in the plate.

That's how salt is made.

The desert soil in the Rann of Kutch has so much natural salt in it or is so saline that no other kind of vegetation can grow there easily.

As much as 60 per cent of India's salt is produced here. If you ever get a chance try watching mountains of salt being made the natural way!

Festive Bow and Arrow

Any play on Ramayana is incomplete without the bow and arrow (teer Kamaan). You can make your own bow and arrow, too, but be careful not to hurt anyone.

You will need:

Elastic, broomstick, plasticine, stem of any tree, scissors and paints.

Step 1: Bend the stem in the form of an arc making sure it does not break. Tie elastic from one end to the other.

Step 2: For the arrow, take one stick out from the broom. Trim it.

Step 3: Make a ball out of plasticine and stick it at one end of the arrow. This will not hurt anyone while you play with your bow and arrow.

Shake a Shaker

Do you want to belt out a song, but need an instrument that will keep the rhythm and add to the effect? Why don't you try making a 'shaker' that will do the trick?

Just remember, you will be making a valuable addition to the range of percussion instruments that are used for their rhythm and the texture of their sound - like the maraca (a rattle like instrument in the shape of a gourd, that contains dried seeds, pebbles or lead shots).

So what are you waiting for!

The things you need:
1. An empty soft drink can
2. A few pebbles
3. Coloured paper
4. Marker

Step 1: Put the pebbles inside the can.

Step 2: Cover the opening of the can by sticking a piece of chart paper across it.

Step 3: Take coloured paper of a size that is enough to cover the entire can. Stick it over the can with glue.

Step 4: Decorate the can the way you want to. You can draw flowers, cartoons, faces or whatever catches your fancy.

Try your hand at making shakers of different types. With paper plates, for instance. Place pebbles in a paper plate. Cover this with another plate. Now, stick them together with glue. Add decorations with felt pens or markers.

Perhaps you can think of more ideas to make your type of shaker.

Your shakers are ready for the music!

Tin Can Lantern

Are you bored of having dinner under the same electric lights? Here is something to light up your family meal time.

The things you need:
1. An empty soft drink can or a tin
2. A hammer
3. A few nails
4. A 15-inch long wire

Step 1: On the outside part of a can, draw any pattern that you like.

Step 2: With the nail tips, hammer holes of various sizes, according to the pattern that you have drawn. Be sure to make two holes near the top, on opposite sides, for stringing a handle.

Step 3: String the wire through the holes at the top and secure the ends by winding the wire a couple of times around the holes.

You can use a small bit of plastic clay to fix the candle to the bottom of the can. Your lantern is ready to brighten up your dinner time. And watch out for the exciting shadows it throws.

Weave a Thread

This beautiful design board is perfect for your drawing room wall and extremely simple to make.

The things you need:
1. Pin board
2. Small size nails
3. Hammer
4. Different coloured threads
5. Black cloth
6. pencil

Step 1: Take a soft board and cover it with a black cloth. You can take any size you want.

Step 2: With the help of a light coloured pencil draw out the pattern. Try to keep it simple if you are doing it for the first time.

Step 3: Now hammer small sized nails on the pattern you have created. The nails should be placed at a distance of an inch from each other.

Step 4: Start from one end of the pattern. Tie a knot in one of the nails and start weaving the thread randomly around the other nails.

The point is that you have to fill the pattern with the help of threads.

So aren't you eager to try it out? Though it looks complicated and difficult, once you get down to making the pattern, it's fun all the way. This attractive design board makes an excellent gift for birthdays and anniversaries.

My Hut

All you need is:

1. Square sheet of paper.

2. Colours.

Fold the paper as shown in each of the figures.

The hut that you have made looks unfurnished. Use some good colours to paint it.

Make a Toy Periscope

Imagine going to watch a match starring your favourite teams and then not being able to see it properly. This could well be the case if you are seated at an uncomfortable spot.

Instead of coming out of the stadium/field in a sour mood, carry your very own periscope to the next match.

A periscope is an optical instrument that comes handy to see things from an angle where it is otherwise difficult to see them. Like in submarines. People in submarines use a periscope to see objects above the ocean.

The things you need:
1. Two empty cornflake cartons
2. Two plain mirrors
3. Two pieces of cardboard
4. A pair of scissors
5. Packing tape

Step 1: Cut the tops from both the cartons.

Step 2: Place the cardboard to the bottom of both the cartons at a 45 degree angle and secure it tightly.

Step 3: Mount a mirror on each of the cardboard and secure it with the help of some tape.

Step 4: Cut out a one-inch square hole directly in front of the mirror in each of the cartons.

Step 5: Place the two cartons on top of each other - open ends together.

Make sure that the mirrors are placed at a 45 degree angle. Otherwise the periscope won't work!