Quick & Simple Eid Card

Hi Friends,

I am back with a quick Eid card made using minimal supplies.

Supply list:

• iCraft Floral Natura White Card stock
• Papericious Incredible India Paper Pattern
• Martha Stewart Circle Cutter
• Concord & 9th Sophisticated Script Stamp and Sophisticated Script Uppercase stamp
• Ranger Archival Inks: Cobalt and Red Geranium
• Pie Lane Sequins
• Glue

Steps:

• Cut, score and fold a card stock to make 6 by 6” card base.
• Cut a 6 by 6” size paper from pattern paper and a 5.5 by 5.5” paper from white card stock.
• Adhere pattern paper on card base and adhere 5.5 by 5.5” white card stock on top of pattern paper.
• Using circle cutter, cut the moon from pattern paper. (Tip: You can cut it free hand or use any circle dies you have).
• Adhere the moon on the card. 
• Stamp the sentiment with Concord & 9th Stamps with help of Ranger Archival inks.
• Finish the card with some sequins.

Hope you liked this card.

If you would like to win this card for yourself or a friend or a family member, subscribe to the blog and please comment below. I will pick a winner randomly to receive this card on 1st June. 

(PS. This article was 1st published in the June 2017 issue of "Our Idea Book" Magazine)

Love,

Dr. Neha Sanwalka Rungta,

Crafty Flirtations 

Photo Transfer on Wood

Photo transfer is a technique to transfer an image (most often an actual photo print) on a canvas, wood, MDF or clay to create personalised gifts. Today I am sharing a photo transfer project done on a piece of wood. When you transfer a photo on wood, it gives a vintage look to project due to the rough texture of the wood.

Project created for Our Idea Book By Dr. Neha Sanwalka Rungta 

Supplies:

• Piece of wood
• Photograph or a Picture printed using laser printer 
• Transfer mediums/glue such as: Gel Medium or Mod-Podge or Mod-Podge Photo Transfer Medium
• Sand Paper

Steps to create:

• Sand the paper with sand paper to get ride of any prominent edges. 
• Apply an even coat of Gel Medium or Mod-Podge on the wood.
• Place your photograph, face down on the wood and press it lightly with a cloth to remove any creases.
• Keep it aside to dry for 24 hours. 
• Once dry, spray water on the image and light rub with fingers to peel of the paper to reveal a beautiful photo transferred project. (Tip: spray water on one part of the image and work on one part of the image at a time).

(PS. This article was 1st published in the June 2017 issue of "Our Idea Book" Magazine)

Creating Home Decor using Photo Transfer Techniques

Photo transfer is a technique to transfer an image (most often an actual photo print) on a canvas, wood, MDF or clay to create personalised gifts. Today I am sharing a home décor project created using pattern paper and photo transfer techniques.

Photo Transfer done by: Dr. Neha Sanwalka Rungta of Crafty Flirtations & Flowers crafted by Forum Shah of The Craft Studio 

Supplies:

• Flat Back Canvas
• Papericious Incredible India Paper Pack
• Transfer mediums/glue such as: Gel Medium or Mod-Podge or Mod-Podge Photo Transfer Medium
• Handmade flowers or mulberry flowers for embellishment
• Ranger Distress Ink - Aged Mahogany & Vintage Photo

Steps to create:

• Clean the canvas with a piece of soft cloth to make sure that the canvas is free of any dust particle.
• Apply an even coat of Gel Medium or Mod-Podge on the canvas.
• Place your pattern paper, face down on the canvas and press it lightly with a cloth to remove any creases.
• Keep it aside to dry for 24 hours. 
• Once dry, spray water on the image and light rub with fingers to peel of the paper to reveal a beautiful photo transferred project. (Tip: spray water on one part of the image and work on one part of the image at a time).
• Leave it aside to dry for a few hours. Distress (Colour) the edge with Distress Inks and embellish using handmade or mulberry flowers. 

(PS. This article was 1st published in the June 2017 issue of "Our Idea Book" Magazine)

Stamping on Candle

Candles come in various size, shapes and colours and make for excellent home décor.  One can further create interest on candles by either doing Decoupage or stamping on them. Today, I am sharing the process of stamping on a candle with you all. 

Art Work Created by Dr. Neha Sanwalka Rungta & Forum Shah of The Craft Studio for June 2017 issue of Our Idea Book Magazine

Supplies: 

• Stamps 
• Ranger Archival Ink or any pigment Ink 
• Scissor
• Plain and non-textured white tissue paper
• Heat gun 
• Wax paper

Steps:

• Stamp the image on a single ply of plain and non-textured tissue paper. (Tip: You can colour outline image using permanent markers).
• Cut the stamped image as close to the edges as possible.
• Place the cut out on the candle where you want the image and hold the stamped tissue paper in place by rolling a wax paper around the candle. Hold it with your hand nice and tight to make sure there are no creases on the tissue paper below.
• Plug in a heat gun and once warm, wave it over the areas where the stamped image is placed. As the candle heats up, the pressure from the wax paper will push the stamped tissue image into the melting wax of the candle, embedding the image in the candle.
• Make sure to keep moving the heat gun so as to not heat any one point of candle for very long.
• As the tissue paper gets embedded, the tissue paper will no longer be visible as a separate element from candle. Remove the wax paper to reveal a beautiful stamped candle.
• You can also embellish the candle using lace, sequins or art stones. 

(PS. This article was 1st published in the June 2017 issue of "Our Idea Book" Magazine)

Hot Glue Gun Guide

Hot glue gun is a great, non-toxic and waterproof glue for art and craft projects and holiday decoration. Here are top 15 tips and tricks for using your hot glue gun:

(Pic source: Stock images from Google)

• Hot glue gun takes 3-5 minutes on an average to warm up. So, plug in your hot glue gun at least 5 minutes in advance.  Make sure your glue gun has warmed up completely before attempting to use it. Hotter the glue gun, better the glue works to adhere objects.
• Always keep your glue gun in upright position when it is plugged in.
• Keep a scrap piece of card stock or tile under the glue gun to catch the glue drips.
• Burns from hot glue gun are very common. Keep a bowl of ice water on work table when working with hot glue gun to dip your finger if you get any hot glue on your finger. You can also smoothen the hot glue with wet fingers if needed without any burns.
• When using hot glue gun to stick burlap or other porous items, use finger guards to protect your fingers.
• For delicate projects, squeeze out a pool of hot glue onto a piece of foil and dip the materials into the pool, rather than applying the glue directly onto the material.
• Glue gun strings are one of the most common headaches that crafters face while using a hot glue gun. Apply Vaseline to the tip of glue gun before use to get rid of glue gun strings.
• Another good way to get rid of glue gun strings is to keep glue gun sticks in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before use.
• If you do get glue gun strings on your project, run a blow dryer over the project and your glue strings will disappear or snip them with scissors once the glue has dried.
• If your glue gun looks dirty and nasty, plug in your glue gun and let it heat up. Once a little warm, use a kitchen foil like a rag and clean any residues from the glue gun to make it sparkling clean.
• Apart from sticking items, glue gun can also be used to add textures to different projects and surfaces and can also be painted on with acrylic colours or nail paints or alcohol inks.
• Set up your work space away from the reach of children and pets to avoid burns or electrical shock accidents.
• If you get hot glue where you don’t want it, apply some rubbing alcohol with a swab or cotton ball and it will pop right off.
• If you make an error with nonporous materials like metal just wait for the glue to dry, then pull it off and try again.
• If you make an error with a porous material like fine fabric, you can melt the glue with blow of a steam from an iron or warm air from heat gun to correct the error.

 (PS. This article was 1st published in the June 2017 issue of "Our Idea Book" Magazine)

Our Idea Book - India's Premier Art & Craft Magazine

Hi Friends,

This post is to share one of my biggest achievements & the story behind it. India's 1st ever Art & Craft Magazine "Our Idea Book"(FB page) (Instagram) was launched last Tuesday on 13th June 2017, here in Mumbai, India and what a proud moment it was for me as I am the Editor on this magazine. Here is the cover page of the inaugural issue:

I would love to share the story of how this happened & thank people who gave me this opportunity. One fine Wednesday, I got call from Dinesh Shah, co-owner of The Craft Studio that they are planning something and the 1st name that comes to their mind is me. He asked me to come down to their store and said he would discuss more when I meet them. I am sure you all would agree, if yours is the 1st name someone thinks of when they wants to start something new, you dont want to give it up. As luck would have been, I was very busy with my statistics work and I requested a meeting on Saturday. I had no idea it was a magazine that they were thinking of and only when Forum (Dinesh's better half & co-owner of The Craft Studio" called me on Friday (day before our meeting was scheduled for) she told me they are thinking of a magazine and they want me to be the Editor.

It's impossible to explain the rush of emotions I had during that phone conversation with Forum: from excitement that India will have an Art & Craft Magazine to being unsure if I was fit for the job. Till that day I had written many articles in Nutrition and Health for websites & magazines and had blogged about my crafting adventures here, but to be an Editor on a magazine was huge. So I decided to meet them before I made the decision & met them the following day and as they..rest is history. I am here today, sharing with you all, the cover of the 1st ever Art and Craft magazine from India in capacity of Editor for same. 

Our Idea Book is a bi-monthly magazine and will be published in February, April, June, August, October and December. 

So what all would you find in our magazine: 

• Card inspirations
• Mix media projects
• DIY Projects
• Step by Step tutorials 
• Interviews of crafters and artists from across the globe
• New techniques
• Product reviews
• Challenges
• City wise store list & much more 
• And you get some free crafty goodies with each issue too 

I hope all crafters and artists from across the world love the magazine and enjoy reading it. I welcome you all to be a part of this beautiful journey with us. 

You can purchase the magazine from: Our Idea Book

If you would like to contribute to the magazine, email us your profile at editor.ourideabook@gmail.com

If you would like us to review a product, email us on editor.ourideabook@gmail.com

If you would like to advertise with us, email us on info.ourideabook@gmail.com

If there are any artists or products or techniques you want to know more about, email us on editor.ourideabook@gmail or info.ourideabook@gmail.com 

I would like to end this post by acknowledging a few people. Thank you so much Forum & Dinesh for getting me on board your dream and letting "Our Idea Book" become my baby too :) I would also like to thank my husband Jitesh Rungta & my Father-in-law Omprakash Rungta for supporting me in my work & my mom & dad (Pushpa & Jagdish Sanwalka) for educating me & making me capable enough for same.

Hope you all enjoy reading our magazine :)

Love,

Dr. Neha Sanwalka Rungta

Editor, Our Idea Book

Crafty Flirtations