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!