Baby Crafts: A Treasury of Gifts from the Heart
If you admire an work of art box with thin and smooth drawing on the black background plentifully decorated with gold shading know: before you – a Palekh lacquered miniature. It is based on a long local history of icon painting. Icon painting craft has arisen in the early thirties in village Palekh of the Ivanovo area.
In spite of the fact that the church demanded to fulfill precisely every element of icon, Palekh artists did it in their own manner of writing faces, figures, elements of landscape, buildings, carriages and so on. On the icons you could see some domestic details such as furniture, clothes, arms, horse harness. Some of them have been kept in today’s Palekh miniature art painting somewhat changed creatively.
Palekh painting wasn’t born accidentally. It was a result of century-old traditions in new historical conditions based on the knowledge of icon-painting handicraft of many generations. Their methods were rich and varied. From the very beginning Palekh artists had been studying and keeping old Russian art traditions. Therefore at an icon and a product executed in the spirit of palekh miniature have much common. After the 1917 Revolution, when the icon business went into the deepest of declines, Palekh masters tried their hands at decorating art wood tableware, kitchen utensils, toys, dishes, porcelain and glass. As it turned out, the most interesting way was the painting of paper-mache boxes that became the black-lacquered miniature.
The varnish miniature is executed by tempera paint on a papier-mache. Colour of palekh painting is based on a combination of three colours – red, yellow and green. The Palekh miniatures usually represent characters from real life, literary works, fairy tales, bylinas, and songs. They are painted with local bright paints over the black background and are known for their delicate and smooth design, abundance of golden shading, and accurate silhouettes of flattened figures, which often cover the surface of the lids and sides of the articles completely. Poetic magic of the Palekh characters, decorativeness of landscapes and architecture, and elongated proportions of the figures go back to the icon-painting traditions. The miniatures are usually set off with a complicated pattern made with gold dissolved in aqua regia.
Palekh lacquered miniatures are painted on articles – caskets and boxes, brooches and hairpins for ties, a panel and ashtrays and great number of other little things made of papier-mache.
The process of making Palekh articles is the following: The first operation in the making of these gems of folk art is the cutting out of the cardboard. The strips of cardboard are covered with flour paste, placed on circular or rectangular moulds and pressed. After that the material is given a coating of warm linseed oil. The carefully checked pieces are handed to the joiners. Then the undercoat is applied to the article with a steel palette knife. The outside of Palekh articles is painted with black lacquer. The inside is painted with red lacquer. The final operation before painting: about seven coats of transparent oil varnish is applied to the outside and inside of the article. Every coat applied is dried in the furnace for 9 hours at 90°C.
The articles are now ready to be handed to the artists. The work of the artist begins with preparation of the paint. In Palekh the paints are mixed with egg emulsion. The yolk, separated from the white, is returned to the shell where a mixture of water and vinegar is added. Then the emulsion is stirred with a special brush. Before painting the article, the artist draws on the design. Then the composition is outlined in white lead with a very fine squirrel brush and the colours are then applied in strict succession. The work of the miniature painter requires not only creative inspiration, but also extreme care and precision which is why Palekh painters frequently make use of a magnifying glass. When the painting is over, the artist begins the gold work. The gold must be polished to give it the necessary shine. After having signed the article the artist coats it by transparent oil varnish and polish by hand.
The village of Palekh is situated in 65 km to the east from Ivanovo town on the bank of the Paleshka-river, which flows among the hills covered by leaf-bearing forests. In the 15th century it was a part of the Vladimir Susdal lands and was one of the first ancient centers of the icon art. In the 17th and 18th centuries Palekh’s craftsmen rose to become the most famous in all of icon art. They developed a unique style identifiably distinguished by the fine line tempera drawing saturated with gold of their own. These art works were valued for the depth of the images, the subtlety of color placement, their intricate and minute attention to detail as much as for their fairy-tale-like ornamental design. Palekh artists are universally regarded as the most highly trained of the Russian miniature painters. The discipline and masterful technique of the ancient art of icon painting is readily seen in works of the various artists.
Luxurious art presents of wood tableware and Palekh, Mstyora lacquered miniatures you can look at online Art Store site. It is amazing that what started out as a true folk tradition over hundreds years ago is still thriving and remains basically true to it’s roots, albeit on a more organized scale.
Will Nilson, Art News Department of online Art shop, 2007.Online art gift shop suggest art gift ideas for your friends and home interior design! Here you can view unique art collections of lacquered miniatures of Palekh and Mstiora and art wood tableware and buy any liked wood gift of art.
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She sells seashells at the seashore seashell sale. Repeat three times in 5 seconds. Didn’t we all tried our hands on this and similar lovely tongue twisters as kids! While writing on my favourite subject I was tempted to use this TT (tongue twister)again, after ages. It feels good to recollect happy memories of the past.
Anyways, I was saying that we as humans have found interesting ways of using almost everything for something other than its natural purpose and sea shells are no exception. There is a whole bunch of nice items that can be carved out of seashells, like lamps, mirrors, wall hangings and many more.
On my trip to Goa the thing I most enjoyed (besides sunbathing) was collecting sea shells. My husband took to this hobby and added to my already burgeoning bag more than I did. Returning home I searched for ideas to make use of these shells. Two I implemented immediately. I had a beautiful crystal vase which was a wedding gift. The vase was lying useless because I didn’t find time to look for flowers suitable to put in it. Instead now I arranged different types of big and small shells in it and it really made a beautiful decorative piece.
Second, I draw a picture of peacock and pasted small shells on it and then colored them. Later I used this idea when I started working with kindergarten kids, I would draw small pictures and put glue on outline and kids will put shells and press them. Then they will show off to other older students.
Later in my free time I improvised and made use of things lying around in the house. Here are a few ideas of how to use seashells without many hassles.
– Buy cheap pillar candles, I liked the white. Use the tip of your hot glue gun to melt a spot on the candle and press a shell into the wax. You just have to hold it until the wax starts to set. If you do the bottom half of the candle this way and then tie a piece of raffia ribbon around the center it makes for a nice accent piece in a bathroom or anywhere.
-You can glue them around a flower pot to make it decorative.
-Drill some holes and string them and make a wind chime (add some driftwood pieces to this if you have them)
-Glue onto a soap dispenser for an ocean theme bathroom
-Hang your large shell on the wall using wire plate hangers
-Make a seashell magnet. Make sure your sea shells are clean and dry. You can paint them or leave them natural. Glue the sea shell to a small magnet! Let dry and stick to your fridge, lockers, or other metal surface!
-For making wind chime, use string to make dowels into an ‘X’ shape. Glue shells onto several different lengths of string. Let dry about a day. Tie string with shells to dowel rods at all four corners and some between. Hang somewhere you, your friends, and neighbors can all see it and enjoy it. It will also give you a chance to tell everyone about your adventures in collecting your treasures.
– Toothpicks: Make your ordinary toothpicks look fancy and graceful by adorning them with shells. Small shells will come in handy here. Just glue the inside of a small shell and put the rear of the toothpick there and press it till it is safely joined.
– Bookmarks: Take a muslin rope or you can make one using craft threads and braiding them. Drill a hole in a small and fancy shell and pull the thread through the shell. You can add some colorful beads too.
Sheetal Ahlawat is a media professor teaching at a college. She has traveled widely across Europe and Indian subcontinent. The child in her inspires to interact with kids and learn a lot from them. Her hobbies are crafts, reading and traveling.Her blog is
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Instructions for a variety of gifts one can make at home or school. Includes back scratcher, mud scraper, memory book, picture frame, miniature racing cars, jewelry, and toys…. More >>
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Gift baskets are great way to give themed gifts to kids and teens. You can figure out a wide range of options to give them something that they will like. At the same time you have ultimate control over how much you spend. Choosing a theme allows you to purchase items related to your theme from a variety of locations, and you can even include a gift card as part of the basket if you would like. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
The Basket.
The perfect place to start with a gift basket is the basket itself. Many people go with a basic wicker basket, but if you choose another option it is likely to have a use later on. You can choose a square basket so it can easily be placed on a shelf with items in it, you can choose a small tote for the toys to be stored on (to make it really cute and open wrap it with cellophane with the lid on the bottom), or choose another container that will be used. The container can be a gift in itself, like a tool apron, totebag or hat.
Filling:
Little Kids.
Young kids are often easy to buy for. Get your basket, tote, or tin and fill it part way with “grass” or shredded paper. You can also place a small blanket in there on the bottom to hold the items up. Consider cars, plastic animals, bath toys, and balls for themed gifts for boys. Girls will like dolls, dress up items, and age appropriate jewelry. You can also do mixes of items. Consider a small stuffed toy, color crayons, a coloring book, another book option, and a small toy. You can choose items related to a theme, like “baseball” or “kittens”, or a favorite movie or character. No matter what you choose, make sure that the items you choose are safe for little ones.
Bigger Kids.
As the kids grow it may be harder to find inexpensive gifts that will make great gift baskets. Choose sports related items, a “farm” such as an ant farm, tadpole pond, or other kit with small live critters, or outdoor toys for the boys. Inflatables usually fit into a gift basket (as long as you don’t blow them up first). Girls will enjoy make up (even if it is pretend), nail polish, and things that will make them feel grown up. You can also do a craft basket that is likely to be a hit for both girls and boys. Or go with a goodies basket that has candy, cocoa, and other good stuff for the winter time. No matter theme you choose, start shopping early-any time you spot an inexpensive item that will work for your basket, purchase it and put it aside…when it is time to assemble your basket, you will have plenty of items on hand.
Teens.
As your child grows it gets harder and harder to satisfy them with gifts. Things are no longer simple. A handful of inexpensive toys usually isn’t going to cut it. Now you have to think bigger while thinking little. Fear not, you can figure out your budget and fill your basket that way. Consider movie lovers baskets with a movie or two and a gift card to the theater. If you want to add some special things pick out a poster from their favorite movie or aim for a small movie watcher memento. You can also do music lovers with CD’s, earbuds, music gift certificates and more. Coffee could also be a good one (if your teenager enjoys coffee). Fill a pair of mugs with tasty treats and offer a wide range of coffee options to them, including a gift card to a favorite coffee spot.
Often times the key to an excellent gift basket is to think outside the box. Start with a unique “basket” that will make a great container and will still have a use after the present has been opened. Add in a little stuffing to fill the basket. Then choose items that the receiver will like. Have fun with it and try to tailor it to the person you are giving it to.
Denise Sanger is the owner of NewCoolToysOnline.com which features a fantastic selection of outdoor toys including ride-on toys and battery ride on toys. The company is located in Sunny Florida and may be reached at 877-950-7665
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Local Florists / Gift Delivery Services: By City. Unique Art- Craft-gift Items & Products: By Country.
GiftLands – Gifts & Flowers Locally.
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If you sell crafts, then why not create gifts under 5 dollars? I know you think this is probably not worth bothering with, but this can be a great business model for this time of year.
Many people are feeling the pinch of this years economy, and some people I have talked to are not even bothering with gifts this year! So, you may have to appeal to a different market.
Instead of creating elaborate and expensive products, why not consider smaller items. Not only do adults shop at these craft shows for something unique but children also shop for their gifts as well. A friend of mine, gives her older children (10-12 years) some cash, and tells them to go off and shop when they go to a craft show. As a crafter, that has sold in many shows, I can tell you, there are a lot of kids in that age group shopping.
Here are 5 ideas:
1. Christmas ornaments, that are unique, but don’t take much time or materials to make, have a small Christmas tree and hang your ornaments on the tree.
2. Small craft kits, you can create from your leftover supplies. These are a great way for people to venture into crafting. Such as a package to make a tree ornament etc, in a small zip lock bag.
3. Craft CD’s.. You can get creative here. Spend the time and create a CD of craft ideas, and some of your own craft patterns. It will take some time in the beginning, but you can make and sell many copies of this CD and sell it for 5 dollars. Create a decorative cover for your CD and copy it. You could have a printed version in a binder, to give the customer an idea of what is on the CD. These make great gifts. The beauty of this, is you can sell many copies, and CD blanks are quite cheap now.
4. Grab bags, of supplies. Such as scraps for quilting, or enough leftover wool to make a scarf and directions. Leftover embroidery thread, and some embroidery cloth. Go through all your bins, and put together some items that can create a small craft, or like with like. This is a great way to use up your leftover supplies, that you were not going to use anyways. This is especially good for beading, and sewing. This gives your customer a chance to try a craft without the big expense of full package supplies.
One year, I had changed the type of paint I was using, and had many bottles of acrylic paint, that had been opened and partially used, but were still good. I then purchased a few bare wood items from the dollar store, one for each kit, such as frames, boxes, canvases, and created a craft kit for kids. I sold these for 5 dollars. I got rid of my leftover supplies, and yet someone else got to create something with them. I put them in see through zip lock bags, and had them in a large basket. I labeled the basket my “bargain basket”.
Everyone loves to look in my “bargain basket” This attracted people, and it also help me sell many of my other more expensive items. The “bargain basket” was a good leader and attracted many kids, who were looking for gifts under 5 dollars.
5. Make a DVD of you creating a craft. Most digital cameras can make movies now. A “how to” movie, and put a picture of your finished craft on the front of the DVD. Something simple. You can really put your computer to good use here. Once again, you can sell many copies of this for 5 dollars each.
Hopefully this give you some ideas for gifts under 5 dollars. As a crafter, you want to offer and sell your best crafts at craft shows, but sometimes you have to appeal to a younger crowd (kids) and also to people wanting something different for gifts, and don’t want to spend too much.
Having a “bargain basket” at a craft show, does NOT make you look cheap, it actually attracts people, and everyone loves a bargain. Plus this also helps pay the rent for the show. Those 5 dollars here and there add up quickly.
crafts to sell and make money with your craft business. Article and website by Diane Palmer.. a crafter for over 15 years.
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Watching the smile on kids’ face when they receive a gift is one of the joy of gifting. There are so many occasions we send gifts to kids. We send them gifts for their birthday and the holidays. We send them gifts to cheer them up when they are sick, and to reward them for doing well in school. In selecting gifts for kids, several criteria have to be considered. The gift should fit the age of the kid and is safe. It should also be fun and educational. This article provides some ideas on kids gifts.
1. Plush Animals:
For young kids a few months old and up, plush stuffed animals are most appropriate. These include our favorite teddy bear, duckling, lion, dog. You can find stuff animals that are not only soft and cuddly, but also can sing a tune. For example, you can find a plush duckling that sings “You are my Sunshine”. It is a great gift to let your kid know how much you love him/her.
2. Special Occasions Plush Animals:
These special themed plush animals are appropriate for older kids. For example, you can send a singing birthday bear that sings “Happy Birthday to You” to just about anyone, including adults. Other special occasions plush animals include the Feel Better Bear and Feel Better Frog. The plush bear arrives in a crutch, with bandage on his forehead. It wobbles as it walks and sings “I’m felling good”. They are most appropriate for kids recovering from a broken arm or leg, perhaps from a ball game. The kids will most certainly have a speedier recovery with the singing bear or frog tell them to do so.
3. Kids Gift Basket:
Kids love to have fun activities. For kids of nursery school age, you can send them a gift basket filled with a Crayola coloring and activity book, crayons, bubbles, an adorable teddy bear; and their favorite snacks. The basket should provide many hours of fun. For a more elaborate kids gift basket, you can send one that contains not only Crayola coloring book, Crayola crayons, and Crayola water colors paint set, but also contains game set, hand held travel game, jumbo porcupine ball, silly putty, and a plush white teddy bear. This fun filled gift basket is sure to brighten any kid’s day and keep him/her busy for a long time. In addition, the basket is filled with tasty snacks such as Cracker Jacks, chocolate chip cookies, jelly beans, and kids fortune cookies. The snacks will provide plenty of good munching.
4. Kids Care Package:
For kids over 6 years old, you can send them a kids activity care package. This gift box is filled with puzzle book, kids riddle and puzzle activity book, glow sticks, kids card game (go fish, crazy 8), squishy putty, squishy smiley face stress ball. To fill their tummy during the games, the care package contains plenty of American’s favorite snacks, including Pringles chips, Ritz bits cheese filled crackers, Cracker Jacks, Nestle crunch chocolate bar, Reese’s peanut butter cups. The care package can be sent for birthdays, or to brighten their days when you are away.
5. Kids Cake:
If you want To spend more quality time with your kids, you can send them a gift that allows you to bake a cake with them. Kids like to make their own snacks. You can send Froggy bake a cake gift. It enables you to spend quality time baking a cake together. “Froggy Bakes a Cake” is a classic children’s story about a curious little frog and his hilarious baking adventure. With this gift and your help, the kid in your life can experience the adventure with Froggy. The gift includes chocolate fudge cake mix, whipped vanilla icing, decorating icing, the “Froggy Bakes a Cake” book, and the cuddly Froggy himself. All these ingredients come in a high quality white ceramic mixing bowl with a wooden spoon. Children will learn about baking, creating something that they have never made before, and having fun at the same time.
6. Candy Gift:
Kids love candy. A jelly bean machine will make a lovely gift for your favorite kid. Crafted from cast iron and glass, this jelly bean machine comes with an 8 oz. bag of assorted flavor jelly beans, and holds over 3 pounds of jelly beans. It is a nostalgic trip to a simpler place and time, when jelly beans were a kids favorite treat.
7. Movie Gift Basket:
Kids love to watch movies. The Movie Night gift basket will treat the family to all the snacks they can eat during the movie. This gift pail is packed with Cracker Jacks, cookies, M & M’s, Twizzlers red licorice, rice crispies treat, microwave popcorns, and complemented by Old Time Classic Coke. It is available with or without $10 or $15 Blockbuster gift cards,
8. Personalized Kids Gifts:
For special occasions, it may be better to send personalized gifts engraved with the recipient’s initial and a brief message. kids will love the opportunity to make their own kind of music on this standard 10-hole (diatonic) harmonica, fashioned from high-polished stainless steel. They will learn to play the blues or even a little rock-n-roll on this personalized genuine Hohner harmonics.
9. Personalized Train Bank:
This imaginative, old fashioned keepsake train bank can be personalized with the child’s name. This gift can help young children start the habit of saving money and building money management skill early in life.
In summary, an appropriate gift can brighen any kid’s day. it is quite easy to select a gift that is fun, safe, and educational for the kids in your life.
Kate S. is the CEO of Gift Basket for All, LLC. You can visit her site by clicking on the link below:
Gift Basket for All.com offers gourmet gift basket, anniversary, new baby, birthday, corporate, and get well gifts.
To send Kids Gifts, click on Kids Gifts ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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Kate S is the CEO of Gift Basket for All, LLC. You can shop at her website, http://www.giftbasketforall.com,for gift baskets for all occasions, including anniversary, birthday, holidays, new baby, get well.
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A little bit earlier this year my parents divorced. I am 14 and my little brother is 10. This will be our first Christmas without both parents, and I want to make sure that both parent’s stockings are filled. I’m sure that members of each side of the family will have a few things to give too, but I’m guessing it will be mostly up to me and my brother to do the Santa stuff. Neither of us have much money, so I was thinking that we would buy each parent one large gift, a few smaller, cheaper ones, and a lot of homemade stuff. I have a lot of old craft supplies laying around the house that I can use. But I want whatever we make to be something my mom and dad will use a lot and look almost like we bought it. Not to trick either parent or anything, I just want them to be good quality. I know that of course, my parents will like anything we make for them, but I need some specific ideas of several gifts, and instructions would be great! Thankyou so much in advance and Merry Christmas!
PS-answer asap, Christmas is in less than 2 weeks!! 