Antique finish jhumka - Free Tutorial

Hello All,

Here is a very quick tutorial for getting the antique effect on jhumkas (or any surface, for that matter).......

Step 1: Paint the dome (in any colour). It's painted yellow here, just for the sake of it. Now draw the pattern you wish with the "colour you wish to show above antique finish". For example, if you want antique golden, draw with golden outliner. For antique silver finish, draw with silver 3D outliner. We were targeting antique look with yellow as prominent colour, so yellow 3D outliner was used. In principle, any 3D outliner colour can be used, depending on your requirement. The denser the pattern, the better the antique finish looks.

Step 2: The pattern should be allowed to dry completely, before you do the following processes. You can also use half pearls, available with A1 Craft supply. The key is to allow the 3D outliner to dry completely.

Step 3: Paint the majority colour you wish to see among the antique sub-layer. We've used antique bronze (by Camlin). Make a complete layer above the 3D outliner pattern.

Step 4: Now, dab with pearl black to give an "old and rusted" look. Make only sporadic dabs.

Step 5: On top, make sporadic dabs with antique gold (by Camlin), if you wish, to give a partially antiquated look. 

Step 6: This is an important step. The key here is to use a piece of cloth (or tissue) that isn't too soft or coarse. For example, muslin is too soft but denim is too coarse. We've used an old cotton pant piece. Make the small patch above your index finger damp and scrape gently over the 3D outliner. Do not "wet" the tip, just make it damp enough to scrape off acrylic paint. You'll slowly see the 3D outliner colour emerge from underneath the "antique" colours.

(A video to help)

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And here is an antique yellow jhumka :) Proceed with waterproofing, as described in the tutorial. You may need to alter the steps to accommodate your specific design, so get experimenting!

The obvious question is: Why so much hassle when one can simply buy an antique looking jhumka? Answer: You can "choose" your antique tone, it's made of paper (ultra-light) AND that it's handmade (there is no parallel to THAT, is there?)........

Happy jhumka decorating :)

Happy Quilling Pritesh PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

A blog hop with a difference

Hello All,

After a long long break from writing, I am back with a very unique blog hop, where I got involved, thanks to my College classmate and an avid crafter, Kripa Koushik. The number of years I've known her can't be counted on the fingers on our hands! We did Graduation together and then, recently got back in touch through the world of crafts.

She works magic with her mixed media layouts, and unlike me, cards! She has a distinct style, which often begs careful examination, for there are so many tiny details that add up to the big picture :)

I agreed to be a part of this hop because of the different format! This hop actually helps us all get to know each other better, as people and as crafters.............idiosyncrasies included! :D

More about me:

1. What am I working on?

A lot of things, like always. Quilled jewellery is something that always adorns my table. In addition, there are a couple of frames in various stages of non-completion. I just finished this jewellery piece (which took quite a bit of time, split over 3 days, to make). This is my attempt at recreating the ancient jewellery making technique - Thewa

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I don't know if there is a lot of difference between the work I do and the others do, but I try to play by my strengths, namely, free-hand drawing and an understanding of the chemistry of the materials. The combinations of materials become a lot easier to devise once you know how they work in tandem. I try to exploit that information to get better at my work.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

The simple answer is: Because that's what I can see myself doing day after day, for years to come. My husband once asked me: Where do you see yourself five years from now, and the only vision that I could come up with was: In a giant craft workshop, doling out really good craft pieces. I craft, because I live for it :)

4. How does your writing/creating process work?

This is a complex question to answer. Most times, the most difficult/tricky part is to come up with an idea. Often, ideas strike seeing something completely unrelated. And sometimes, something similar sparks an incremental idea. Often, it is the craft material itself that makes me think about how I can use it in a different way. 

Once the idea is in place, the first thing I do is a strength test. In my mind, I run through the process of creating it (earlier, I used to draw them but with experience, I am able to visualize them now). On the way, I look for loopholes like a hawk. I've an almost manic obsession with sturdiness. If my work is not sturdy, I take it as a  personal insult. So, making designs sturdy or devising processes to introduce sturdiness is what comes next. Often, I modify the design/idea to keep strength a priority. Once the process is clear in my head, I start with the actual execution. There have been rare times when I have been stumped by hurdles (largely, because of lacunae in my information database) but mostly, I've been able to foresee mistakes. If some mistakes get the better of me, I restart the whole process, subtracting the mistake.

I'll give one example. There was this one time I was making a yellow jhumka and no matter what I did, the yellow colour kept "leaking". It'd separate into a pale yellow part and dusty brown part. It took me 4 trials to figure out that it was the problem with the yellow paint (which I figured out after trying three different and top-of-the-notch brands) and the 4-step process finally because 7-step process to eliminate this pigment separation. 

To pass this baton on, I choose two of my favourite crafters: Manuela Koosch and Cecelia Louie.

Although neither of them need any introduction to crafters and quillers alike, I'll go ahead and introduce them (pardon me if I sound like a star struck teenager, but both these women are my role models!)

Manuela (or Manu, as I call her) is a crafter with superlative capability to transform the mundane to magic and if you think I am exaggerating, drop by to www.manuk.ro and see for yourself :)

Cecelia redefines "Design isn't when you can't add anything more, it is when you can't take anything away". She gives simplicity an elevation the way I haven't seen anyone do. Minimum talks maximum is a quote written for her.

Happy Hopping and thank you for dropping by!

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Hobby Mela Tutorial Video

Hello Everyone,

When Avani called me for a video interview, it sounded too good to be true..........and when she did turn up on my doorstep, it was wonderful! :D Making tutorial videos is hard work, there is loads of planning that goes into it. Avani has worked very hard at editing this video and boy! Am I thankful or what :)

She has done a terrific job with the speeding up parts and the clipping as well......thank you from the bottom of my heart Avani :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22KAGmQVx4

Some snapshots.............

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

For a photography and Social Media Buff

Hello All,

When a social media buff celebrates his birthday and the order for a gift frame comes to me, an instant kinship is felt ;)

So, here goes the 'design' I made for the frame:

And this is how the frame looked eventually :)

 In a typical style, I've altered the colour scheme slightly to make it look less monotonous.......

Something rare is happening with this frame though, I am entering this in the Pratvam Progs 1000 likes challenge.

Feedback is very welcome :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Kundan embroidery jhumka ;)

Hello All,

I have to start with, I am feeling mighty please with myself! :D Yesterday night was an unusually happy night where a pretty risky experiment paid off!

When I had a phone conversation with my supplier and a very dear friend Neha, of A-One Craft Supply about buying some half pearls, I am sure she wondered if I was right in the head! Asking for half pearls THAT small is kind of insane! ;) But she persisted, hunted them down and bought me the most marvellously useful craft supply........Neha, I owe you a zillion for this one :)

I have to thank my clients who don't even blink at allowing me to experiment wildly with various materials and processes :)

So, here goes, yesterday's R&D result..........a kundan embroidery look jhumka

The first trial is shown here (which didn't turn out great but then, if you do enough work, you'll eventually get there :D)

Thanks Ketaki and A-One Craft Supply, for making these possible :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Double tier carved jhumka

Hello All,

A quick post to show you the versatility of the "carved" finish jhumka (you can see how you can make it here). The carving effect has been extended to both the domes :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Carving effect on quilled jhumkas

Hello All,

If you ever have been to the Fourvière Basilica, this pair of earrings will immediately transport you to the golden and intricate interior of the church! Making this type of jhumka was an idea planted by Ketaki and it kept swirling in my head until I had it executed, the way she had visualized it :)

Hope I have done well Ketaki :)

Making it is not really difficult. You just need to make a regular paper dome, the usual jhumka grind and then, use 3D outliners (I lean towards Fevicryl, you can choose your preference) to draw an abstract (or structured, whichever you prefer) pattern The key is to let it dry completely before you go to the next step......agreed, it can be a bit tricky to make the patterns on a 3-dimensional structure, but hey, the end result will totally justify the effort :)

Now comes the slightly difficult (or rather, tricky) part. Taking a really fine tip painting brush (synthetic bristle brush, preferably), line the outer edges with gold to make this beauty possible :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

A quilled picture frame - worth a million words

Hello All,

After a big gap, I am back. It has been a manic busy time! And a GOOD manic busy time. After a spurt of illnesses (yet again!), I am back full throttle and making a comeback with  this project that has kept me sleepless for more than a few days :D

The sheer size of the project was a challenge! At 16 inches by 20, it was a "task" to fill this up without clutter or without glaring open spaces, and yet retain the "completeness" look. I pulled it off, or rather, so I think!

Here it goes, a picture frame, made memorable with quilling and punch-craft. I'd like thank the client for having such a clear idea about what she exactly wanted. It makes my life much easier :)

And some close-ups, for details of the amount of work that went in to it.......

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Make cheesecake, recycle cheese-box :)

Hello All,

Ever since I made the cheesecake (recipe here), I had been eyeing the boxes in which the cream cheese came. And once Snehal announced her challenge, I grabbed the opportunity (I was due to make a box anyway, something I had been postponing). So, here it is, my entry to Snehal's challenge while I make a box for the bronze black earrings too :)

And here is a more complete look (top view, with the bronze black earrings in it and with my pearl bangles in it):

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Sketching resurrected

Hello All,

After a long silence, I am back. I have been working on this clock for a while and trust me, bulk of the time was taken by "creation" of that spiral digitally. I wanted it to be done properly and Logarithmic Spiral seemed the right choice to me (Boy! I wish there was a simpler way!!!!). I created the spiral digitally (thank Wiki for explaining what it is!) and printed it. The "rays" are hand-drawn and then, "hand-sketched". Long before I took up quilling, I used to sketch and I must admit, I enjoy it even now :) I loved those sunny colours and sketching them brought back my portrait memories :) The small black dots are done using black metalling 3D outliner.

In some ways, a very simple clock.............(this is just the dial, the time-piece will be fitted tonight) :)

This is Aadyaa Originals' gratitude to Ramesh Uncle, for his help with procuring craft material from USA and being kind enough to bring it all the way with him. Thank you so much, we owe you! :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Beaute Naturelle - Part 2

Hello All,

A quick post (darned Internet decided to conk off today, and I spent half the day out of sync really). The mission statement for Beaute Naturelle (www.naturelle.in) is here! This was the toughest one to make as I was working on targeting women who have an eye for beauty and will be impressed by the beauty of THE statement the first thing into the shop :) I really like the way it turned out to be.

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Just spending time :-)

Hello All,

I didn't particularly have anything on my mind, so came this card..............just wanted to use this beautiful scrapbook paper I had :)

Entering this for B is for.........challenge (B is for Blue) at Lollipop Crafts and Create your own flower challenge at Craft Room Challenges :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

A quilled thanks

Hello All,

I am sorry for not commenting on all the lovely posts by everyone both on Facebook and Blogger. It has been a mad mad weekend with my in-laws leaving and me doing some special cooking (rum raisin cake and makki roti sarson saag).

But I DID manage to squeeze in a quilled card (this damn craft gets into your pores and doesn't let go!). And here is my quilled card.........one of my all time favourite flowers - Bird Cherry! I love photographing this flower and have hundreds of images. Finally, I have (approximately) quilled it :)

I am entering this for:

1. Thanks Challenge at For Fun Challenges
2. Gratitude Challenge by Crafty Creations
3. Thanks challenge by Scrap Creations
4. Thank you challenge using hoarded supplies (I majorly hoard card-paper, the one I have used as a background is a probably a good 3 yrs old, I think. The background paper is a scrapbooking paper out of my hoarded scrapbooking papers and I have NEVER made a single scrapbook! Hehehehe. The outline patterns are drawn by my hoarded Ikea kids' pens :D)
5. Thanks challenge TPE 126 by The Pink Elephant Challenges


Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Inky Pinky Winky - Giveaway cards set complete

Hello All,

I have finally finished my Giveaway cards set (pls don't even mention the earrings and bookmarks yet! :D). Here is my last card, a colour I am never sure about how to use - Pink!

And if you pay attention, you will see a smaller version of Manu's little butterfly somewhere! :D I hope I have done justice to the beauty of the butterfly! And also, I have used Mihaela's little tutorial for making leaves at the bottom :) What a small little world! :) The idea for the card (the embroidery card, as Suzana calls it) comes from her lovely card :-) The right side of the card is hand-textured using a gold 3D outliner :)

Happy Quilling

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

One in a million :)

Hello All,

I have been kinda silent on the tutorials, and I apologize. Largely to myself because I love writing tutorials and spreading the joy of creation :) But I have been terribly busy. One of my closest friends' B'day is SO close, I am afraid my gift won't make it in time and I must knock myself on the head for almost having forgotten that her b'day was approaching! Duh! But I remembered and I hope she likes it, she is after all, the ONE IN A MILLION people you get to meet. I want her to know that SHE has been a great inspiration for me and that I look up to her, as a guiding light :)

A jewellery box for a gem I have come across in my life :)

I can't seem to stop photographing it! Thanks to Honey for her photography tips :) The quality of photographs is suddenly so much better! :)

Addition: The box IS hand-made, from the back support of a sketch book. I have finished using up the pages and the cardboard at the back was lying around. I cut it up (after some involved calculations as the box has been sent to my friend with a personalized poem written on a scroll inside, the scroll had to fit in the box) and made the box. The black paper used is 130 gsm black card paper. The red is ordinary 80 gsm printing paper and the red lining inside the box is 300 gsm red carton paper.

Happy Quilling

Pritesh


PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)