How to make a beautiful handmade teacher's day card

How to make a beautiful handmade teacher's day card

Hey everyone,

 I'm back with an easy tutorial for a teacher's day card.It turned up nice and pretty.And the best aspect is it's 3D appearance.It looks like a box and as soon as you open the box.......bang , the box opens up and the walls start moving and slowly go down to reveal the beautiful inside of the card.This card can be made for any ocassion and not just teachers day,like birthdays,anniversaries,invitation cards for ladies meet,kitty parties etc.

How to Make a Homemade Teacher's Day Card for kids

How to Make a Homemade Teacher's Day Card

It's your teacher's day tomorrow and you want to give your teacher something to remind her that you appreciate her? One option is to make a homemade card to show that you are grateful for the work your teacher does. A card is inexpensive yet thoughtful, making it the perfect gift from any student.

1.Decide on the designs. In deciding you can level it up if you want the cards to be all the same or make some for your favorite teacher and some for the others or just make them the same.

2

Prepare the materials. Get all the materials needed and then you can start

Teachers day cards

Teachers day cards

Hello everyone,

                  Today I'm posting some pics of the cards we made this year for Teacher's day (5th Sept).They were pretty simple and looked cute.

They opened up to reveal the message inside

Essay on Teacher for kids

Teachers Day 2015

Teachers’ Day 2015 would be celebrated at Saturday, on 5th of September.

Teachers’ Day of India: 5th September

Essay on Teacher

Teacher is one who shapes up the whole life of the students through her knowledge, patience, love and care. Using this simply written essay and speech, make your kids and children know something about his/her teacher and role of a teacher in the life of every students.

Teacher Essay 1 (100 words)

A teacher is the person who shapes the future of everyone by providing best education to her/his students. Teacher plays a great role in the education of every student. A good teacher has many qualities and fully able to make his/her students successful in life. A teacher is very intelligent and know well that how to draw attention of students towards study. She uses creativity while teaching students so that students may concentrate. Teacher is a good conductor of knowledge having lots of patience and confidence who take responsibility of the future of students. Teacher knows the ability of each and every student and tries for them accordingly.

How to Make a Pencil Holder with Popsicle Sticks

Popsicle sticks are useful for all sorts of things beyond holding an iced treat. They make an excellent pencil holder when neatly stacked together, as shown in this tutorial. When completed, you can paint it in any color you fancy, or decorate it with craft items.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 Preparing the template

1. Place one of the popsicle sticks on a sheet of paper: Measure its length. In this case, the stick measured 11cm/4.3".

How to Teach Your Child Math..

So your child has grown older, and you're ready to give them a head start in getting ready withmath. Well, that's great! This article will give you some tips and ideas on how to best instruct your child while not making them fall asleep.

                             Offering encouragement

1.Encourage your child: What do you think would make for a more enriching class-time experience, an excited and ambitious one or a defiant, uninspired one?

2.Keep teaching the child at a consistent pace. Sit down with them daily or at least biweekly to fuse the concepts into their minds. Never forget to keep it fun!

3.Begin teaching your child with an interactive activity. There's so much of options. you can use flashcardsor a simple sheet of problems. Give them a handful of small objects and let them use those to count out the answers to the problems. Make sure you also have them learn to use their fingers in case no objects are available.

                               Teaching concepts

Idea To make rakhi At Home for Rakshabandhan

1. Make an Aeroplane or Car Rakhi 

Raksha bandhan special reciepes

Indian festivals are not only an extension of beliefs in holy legends and ceremonial rituals but also of undying faith, hope, emotions and of course a melange of good food.Raksha Bandhan is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the country. Rakhi is all about celebrating together the hot and sour, the bitter-sweet relationship between a brother and his sister. According to legend, this auspicious day symbolizes the deep love and affection that sisters have for their brothers and in turn, the brother pledges to protect her against all odds and adversities in life.

How to make a post box / letter box (model) for kids school project

How to make a post box / letter box (model) for kids school project

Hello,
                I'm sharing today pics of the post box we made for a school project.Hope these might help you if you were looking for a "how to" on that.

Gk questions and answers for kids

Basic general knowledge questions that you should know

superlatives of world : Gk

1. Which is the largest animal in the world ?
Answer: Blue whale


2. Which is the largest animal on land ?
Answer: African elephant


3. Which is the smallest bird ?
Answer: Humming Bird


4. Which is the largest fish in the world ?
Answer:  Whale shark


5. Which is the tallest animal on the earth ?
Answer: Giraffe

FIVE ENGAGING INDOOR GAMES FOR KIDS

Hey everyone,

 Came up with  five engaging indoor games for kids
      

            Finding engaging indoor games to keep the children occupied have always proved difficult for most parents. Children always look for some innovative games to spend their time. Beyond television and mobile phones, there is a life for kids.Involve your children and the neighboring kids. Organize these simple yet engaging games for kids that keep them occupied.

Place values - Teaching kids ones and tens

Hey everyone,

      Came up with a way of teaching a little kid the place values.Kids get confused when suddenly from numbers they are made to move on to place values and it becomes complicated for them.

So yet another post on helping them out and making it easy.

You'll need -

Popsicle sticks
Crystals with adhesive backing / Bindis

I used crystals because they are bright and are bound to attract attention of a child.However you can use bindis/round stickers if you have to teach to a mass,for e.g. in a classroom.

So here are the pics and I think they are self explanatory.

First of all teach them count and adding by 10's and grouping sets of 10's together.

      

ones tens place vaalue for kids

Then move on to explaining ones and tens

         
       

Teaching kids ones tens place value

PLACE VALUE ACTIVITY FOR KIDS

Give every kid some bindis/stickers/rhinstones and popsicle sticks and ask them to show you a number and I'm sure within no time they'll get it.Easy for you to explain,easy for them to absorb....

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Did you like it or will you use this method in your classroom?Do you have another fun method to teach place values to kids?

Rakhi making ideas for young kids for school competitions

Hey everyone,
             I had been getting lots of requests for some easy-peasy ideas for rakhi making, for kids who cannot do needle work and the only thing they can use is say ,glue.
So I have put together some pictures for very young kids may be kinder gardeners.These have been assembled using stones,beads,ribbons,buttons etc.So here they are

Quiz-Computers

This quiz is for everyone - All those who use computers once in a while or for those who are geeks........:)

These are A to Z terms related to computers,Internet and IT technology in general.
I have tried to make it as easy as possible.See how many can you get......Time allowed - 3 minutes........Yes just 3 minutes which includes typing the answers,because everyone can get all of them in more than that.So see how many you can get in 3 minutes;)Be honest..........:D

First aid box for kids school

Hello everyone,
                          We made this first aid box for a school assignment.It was done by a fourth grader.There is nothing fancy about it.Just a simple normal box, but it is being posted to give other parents a quick general idea for the same project.

So we started with a shoe box,covered it with white paper all over,used red sticky tape to make plus signs.Used decorative silver tape to make the edges look tidier.We also jotted down some emergency details on one side like the family doctor's name,emergency telephone numbers,blood group of the family members,allergies.You can add more details.......:)

Raksha Bandhan 2015

Raksha Bandhan 2015: Sacred Bond Of Love

 & Care

Raksha Bandhan 2015 date is August 29. The day of Rakhi Purnima celebrates the divine bond of brothers and sisters. Thread of Rakhi ties the knot of their love and strengthen this bond. Read on to know more about Rakshabandhan.

Raksha Bandhan or Rakshabandhan (also known as Rakhi or Rakhi Purnima) celebrates the sacred love of brothers and sisters. Raksha means ‘protection’ and Bandhan means ‘bond’, therefore it means the bond of love and protection. Raksha Bandhan signifies the love and respect of a sister, as well as the protection and care of a brother. Rakshabandhan is the festival that adds on love, and strengthen the beautiful relationship of brother and sister.

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated by using a sacred thread called “Rakhi”. It is made from cotton or silk. Rakhi is to be tied around the wrist of brother from his sister. Sometimes, it can be a piece of precious jewellery like silver or gold bracelet. In 2015 also, many kinds of Rakhis will be available in the market like cartoon Rakhis for children, beautiful bigger Rakhis for young people and Rakhi threads for older people. Choose the Rakhi of your choice to celebrate the festival of Rakshabandhan in 2015.

Rakhi or Rakshabandhan is also celebrated between those who shares a caring relationship between each other, whether they are biologically related or not. Cousin brothers and sisters also celebrate Rakhi Poornima and shares the same bond of love and care. So, celebrate Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi Purnima in 2015 with your loved ones with full zeal and enthusiasm.

Raksha Bandhan 2015: Significance Of Rakhi

Before celebrating Rakshabandhan festival in 2015, let’s discuss about its significance.

It is believed that Rakhi (blessed thread of cotton or silk) has the power to protect the brother or the one who tied Rakhi around his wrist, from all the evil or bad things. Rakhi blesses him and give him the power to win against all odds.

The brother give the promise to his sister that he will protect her from all the bad or harmful things of society. He will always support her in every (good or bad) situation and will always be with her, financially or physically when needed.

Raksha Bandhan create and maintain a special and beautiful bond of love, care and respect between brother and sister. In 2015 also, Raksha Bandhan or we can say Rakhi Purnima spread the same message of this divine love.

Celebrating Raksha Bandhan In 2015

Before celebrating Rakhi Purnima or Raksha Bandhan in 2015, let’s first discuss the procedure of celebrating Raksha Bandhan.

Different types of beautiful Rakhis are picked up by sisters. A plate is decorated by them, with some Rakhis, sweets, Sindoor (vermillion), Chawal (rice) and a earthen lamp (Dia). New clothes are worn by both brother and sister. Sisters pray for the well being of their brothers, by rotating the Puja plate around their face. Then she applies Tilak (vermilion mark on forehead) with some rice on it. After tying the Rakhi around her brother's wrist, she offers him some sweets. Both brother and sister feed sweets to one another.

Brother pledges to protect his sister and give promise to support her in every situation. This ceremony take place in the presence of parents and all relatives. People will follow the same rituals for celebrating the festival of Raksha Bandhan in 2015.

The two or more brothers who don't have a biological sister or two or more sisters who don't have any biological brother, celebrate this festival with their cousin sisters and brothers. Sisters can also mail Rakhis to their brothers who are not present with them at the time of festival. Celebrate Raksha Bandhan in 2015 by following these rituals.

Legends Of Rakhi Or Raksha Bandhan

There are some legends from ancient times, which shows the significance and power of the holy thread Rakhi. Let’s discuss these legends first, before celebrating Rakshabandhan or Rakhi Purnima in 2015.

The Holy Thread Of Devi Sachi

Once there was a fight between gods and demons. The demons were overpowering gods and the leader of gods Indra Dev was disgraced by the King of demons. Devi Sachi, the wife of Indra Dev was very worried and thus consulted Guru Brihaspati for help. Guru Brihaspati gave her a holy cotton thread and asked her to tie it around the wrist of her husband i.e. Indra Dev. Devi Sachi tied that blessed thread around her husband's wrist along with her wishes and prayers. The holy thread gave Indra Dev the powers and he defeated the demons successfully. This story inspires the power of holy thread.

Goddess Laxmi & King Bali

Once Lord Vishnu defeated King Bali and took over the three worlds from him. Bali was impressed and requested Lord Vishnu to stay in his palace. Lord Vishnu accepted his request and started staying in Bali's palace. The wife of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Laxmi was not happy of staying in Bali's palace, she wanted to go back to Vaikuntha. So, she went to Bali, tied a Rakhi around his wrist and made him her brother. Bali accepted the relationship and asked Goddess Laxmi that what she wanted in return. She asked him to take back his request from Lord Vishnu, as she wanted to go back to Vaikuntha. Bali accepted his sister's request, and this story again signifies the power of a sacred thread.

Legend Of Yama & Yamuna

Once Yamuna was very depressed and missing her brother Yama (the god of death) badly, as he had not visited to Yamuna from 12 years. Yamuna consulted Ganga (holy river Ganga) and told her the reason for her sadness. Ganga then reminded Yama about his sister, and he visited to Yamuna. Yamuna was overjoyed and she greeted him with lots of food and sweets. Yama was overwhelmed by his sister's love and asked that what she wanted as a gift, she only requested him to visit again soon. This story become the
significant reason for celebrating the love of brother and sister or Raksha Bandhan.

Legend Of Santoshi Mata 
Lord Ganesha had two sons, Shubh and Labh. During Raksha Bandhan, the sister of Lord Ganesha visited their place for celebrating the festival with lots of love and wishes. After seeing their love, Shubh and Labh were got irritated and asked Lord Ganesha for their sister. Lord Ganesha agreed and created his daughter from the divine flames of his wives Riddhi and Siddhi, named as Santoshi Mata. All the siblings then started celebrating Raksha Bandhan with lots of fun and joy.

Legend Of Mahabharata

During the period of Mahabharata, Draupadi tied Rakhi to Lord Krishna for her husband's safety. And Mata Kunti tied Rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu for his safety before the great war.

Celebrations Of Raksha Bandhan In 2015

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi Purnima is a festival which is not bounded in the limits of biological relationships or families, that is why it is celebrated on such a large scale. People started tying Rakhis to their friends and neighbors, or to those with whom they want to share this special bond of love and care. This adds on to the significance and celebrations of Raksha Bandhan in 2015.

People start preparing much in advance for the celebrations of Rakhi Purnima. Large variety of Rakhis and gifts can be seen in the market almost a month before the festival of Raksha Bandhan. There is also a tradition of exchanging sweets on this auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan in 2015.

Siblings perform rituals in the presence of all family members, they spend time together and celebrate by exchanging gifts and sweets. All siblings and relatives enjoy good food and remember the memorable moments they spent together. The siblings who are far away or cannot come for the ritual can share e-cards or e-mails for giving their wishes. People will celebrate Raksha Bandhan in 2015 with full zeal and enthusiasm.

Raksha Bandhan 2015: Celebrations Around The 

Country

Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh: In the area of Kumaon Uttarakhand, men change their Janeu (the sacred thread) on the day of Rakhi Purnima along with the usual rituals of the festival for celebrating Rakshabandhan in 2015.

West Bengal: In West Bengal, Raksha Bandhan is also known as Jhulan Purnima. They offer prayers to Radha-Krishna and sisters tie Rakhis on their brothers’ hand by following the usual rituals.

Nepal: In Nepal, Rakshabandhan is also known as Janaeu Purnima. They enjoy the festival by sharing sweets and gifts and a sacred thread is tied around the wrist by family members or relatives.

Pakistan: Hindu community of Pakistan celebrate the festival of Raksha Bandhan. They also follow the same usual rituals for celebrating Rakshabandhan with full fun and joy.

The people of these areas will follow the same trends and traditions again for celebrating Rakhi Purnima in 2015.

Delicious Delicacies Of Raksha Bandhan In 2015

Every year different sweets are prepared at home or bought from the market to add on the sweetness of this sweet festival.

Names of some of the sweets for celebrating Raksha Bandhan in 2015 are as follows:

• Sevai (Vermicelli pudding)
• Badam Halwa
• Coconut fudge
• Ghevar (traditional seasonal sweet, especially available during Raksha Bandhan)
• Phirni (traditional sweet)
• Boondi Laddoo
• Besan Barfi
• Chocolate Barfi
• Mawa Barfi
• Gujia
• Besan Halwa
• Rabri
• Gulab Jamun

Some other tasty and salty delicacies of Rakshabandhan in 2015 are Khasta Kachori and Papdi Chaat. Some people also prefer to share chocolates or cookies as sweets, according to their choice.

In 2015 also, people will buy or prepare sweets or other delicacies to celebrate in a more delightful manner.

Raksha Bandhan is beyond the limits of cast, creed and biological relationships. It celebrates the purity of the beautiful relationship of brother and sister. Hope this article helped you in understanding Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi Purnima better, so celebrate Raksha Bandhan in 2015 and enjoy it to the fullest.

Happy Raksha Bandhan 2015!

Healthy Reciepe for kids

APPLE &ALMOND BUTTER OVERNIGHT OATS RECIEPE

A delicious and healthy overnight oats recipe flavoured with apple and almond butter!

kids heading back to school mornings are getting hectic again. With bags to pack, children to dress and lunches to make, the last thing we need is to be stressing over trying to prepare breakfast. And that’s why overnight oats are my absolute hands down favourite breakfast for busy days.

Simply throw a few ingredients together in a bowl tonight and when you wake up tomorrow you will have a delicious and healthy instant breakfast ready to go! This recipe provides a really well balanced breakfast for children, containing a good amount of fat and protein to fill them up and enough slow-releasing carbs to keep them full until lunchtime.

I have used apple and almond as the main flavors in this recipe but you can customize it in so many ways to make something that your own family will love. Cocoa and banana is another favorite in my house, along with vanilla and orange, yum!

This is also a great recipe to make in a big batch. It will keep well in the fridge for a couple of days, you may just need to add a little extra milk if it thickens up too much.

Apple & Almond Butter Overnight Oats Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cup – oats
• 1 1/2 cup – milk
• 1/2 cup – yogurt, plain
• 1/3 cup – almond butter
• 1 medium – apple

Directions

1. Add the oats, milk, yogurt and almond butter to a large bowl and mix well with a spoon.
2. Stir in the grated apple, cover the bowl with a lid or plastic film and place in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight.
3. If the overnight oats are a little too thick to eat, simply add some milk to loosen them up.
4. The oats will keep covered in the fridge for two days.

Homework Tips for kids

Top 10  Home Work Tips

Kids are more successful in school when parents take an active interest in their homework — it shows kids that what they do is important.

Of course, helping with homework shouldn't mean spending hours hunched over a desk. Parents can be supportive by demonstrating study and organization skills, explaining a tricky problem, or just encouraging kids to take a break. And who knows? Parents might even learn a thing or two!

Here are some tips to guide the way:

1. Know the teachers — and what they're looking for. Attend school events, such as parent-teacher conferences, to meet your child's teachers. Ask about their homework policies and how you should be involved.
2. Set up a homework-friendly area. Make sure kids have a well-lit place to complete homework. Keep supplies — paper, pencils, glue, scissors — within reach.
3. Schedule a regular study time. Some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack and play period; others may prefer to wait until after dinner.
4. Help them make a plan. On heavy homework nights or when there's an especially hefty assignment to tackle, encourage your child break up the work into manageable chunks. Create a work schedule for the night if necessary — and take time for a 15-minute break every hour, if possible.
5. Keep distractions to a minimum. This means no TV, loud music, or phone calls. (Occasionally, though, a phone call to a classmate about an assignment can be helpful.)
6. Make sure kids do their own work. They won't learn if they don't think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Parents can make suggestions and help with directions. But it's a kid's job to do the learning.
7. Be a motivator and monitor. Ask about assignments, quizzes, and tests. Give encouragement, check completed homework, and make yourself available for questions and concerns.
8. Set a good example. Do your kids ever see you diligently balancing your budget or reading a book? Kids are more likely to follow their parents' examples than their advice.
9. Praise their work and efforts. Post an aced test or art project on the refrigerator. Mention academic achievements to relatives.
10. If there are continuing problems with homework, get help. Talk about it with your child's teacher. Some kids have trouble seeing the board and may need glasses; others might need an evaluation for a learning problem or attention disorder.

Helping Children Learn At Home:Math &Science Tips For Young Children

Math and Science Tips for Young Children

Did you know that the games you play with your toddlers and preschoolers can influence their interest in learning math and science as they grow older? Young children are capable of learning such concepts as big and small, high and low, fast and slow, and heavy and light. By helping your children learn these concepts, you are helping them begin to learn about math and science.

"young children are natural mathematicians and scientists" because of their curiosity and their desire to explore and experiment.

When parents encourage their children to ask questions and help children explore and discover the natural world, they are helping build an interest in math and science. Many experts say that children who have such experiences when they are very young develop an enjoyment for and a confidence in math and science that pays off as they get older.

Here are some ideas for what you can do to develop your preschooler's interest in math and science.

• Go for a walk with your child. Take time to stop along the way and watch things that children notice, such as flowers, animals, and bugs. Talk with your child about what you see, and ask about what he sees.

• Draw pictures together. Draw a picture of what you have seen, whether it was on your walk together, on your front steps, in the backyard, or from your window. Ask your child to draw a plant, an animal, or a favorite place, and then ask her to tell you about the drawing.

• Turn a drawing into a story. Write down what your child says about the picture he just drew. Ask him to make up a story about the picture, and save it with other artwork and stories he has developed.

• Listen to your child and ask questions about what she is seeing and doing. Children need to have time every day to tell another person about what they have seen or what they think. When you ask your child to tell you about a walk or a trip to the zoo, you are encouraging her to think and choose words.

• Choose toys that help your child learn. Young children learn about the world primarily by playing. As a result, they need toys that encourage them to imagine and explore, which are not necessarily those that are advertised on television. Toys do not have to be expensive, but they should be simple, safe, and long-lasting. Some ideas for toys include:

• Balls. They can be bounced, rolled, thrown in the air, the grass, or the sidewalk. Which bounces the highest? Lowest? Which ones sink in water? Which ones float?

• Blocks. Building blocks can be a great math and science toy because they help children learn about engineering and geometry. You can either buy a set of wooden, plastic, or cardboard blocks, or you can make your own out of egg cartons, cereal boxes, or wood scraps. For young children, make sure the blocks are big enough to handle easily and keep out of mouths. Have enough blocks in different shapes and sizes to build unusual structures. Have children paint the blocks in bright colors.

• Puzzles. Puzzles help children learn to solve problems as well as learning about shapes, sizes, and colors. For toddlers, make sure the puzzle has some large pieces. You can make your own puzzle by pasting a magazine picture onto a piece of cardboard, then cutting it into large pieces. Or make a puzzle from one of your child's drawings. As children get older, they can do more difficult puzzles.

• Plant a garden with your child. Planting a garden, any size, is a great family activity. A garden can be a patch of dirt in the yard or a container on a window sill, and it has a season of math and science lessons in it. Measure the space or container, determine where the plants will get sunlight, find out how much seeds will cost, count the seeds, measure the rows, watch the plants grow and chart their growth, pick vegetables, look for insects, and learn what plants need to be healthy.

• Read to your child. Read books aloud every day. Look at picture books and talk about what you see. Alphabet and counting books are always popular, and you'll experience a sense of pride as you watch your children learn. Plan a regular time to go to the school library, pubic library or bookmobile. Enlist brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and grandparents to help read stories. Have your child read to you if he wants to or tell you a story based on the pictures in the book. Remember that it does not matter if you read in English, Spanish, or Chinese as long as you help your child develop a reading habit.

• Monitor TV watching. Turn off the TV and limit viewing. Too much TV viewing takes time away from other activities. Many experts have shown that children who do things other than watch TV usually do better in math and science in school. When you do let your child watch TV, look for high-quality educational programs, and watch and discuss programs with your child to help build a habit of critical reflection.

Activity for 4-6 years kids

Woven Clay Bas

Materials

• Self-hardening clay (e.g. Crayola Model Magic)
• Bowl, cup or wide-mouthed jar
• Petroleum jelly
• Plastic knife
• Scissors

Safety Tips

• Watch out for this sign . It means adult help is needed for the particular step.

ket

Weave strips of self-hardening clay around a mold to make these crafty baskets.

Materials

• Self-hardening clay (e.g. Crayola Model Magic)
• Bowl, cup or wide-mouthed jar
• Petroleum jelly
• Plastic knife
• Scissors

Safety Tips

Watch out for this sign . It means adult help is needed for the particular step.

Steps

1.Choose a small or medium-sized wide-mouthed container for your mold (e.g. bowl, cup, wide-mouthed jar, food canister). Grease the outside of the mold with petroleum jelly.

2.Position the mold bottom side up. Plan the color scheme for your basket. You can use a single color for the entire basket or choose your favorite color combinations. This may be a good opportunity to apply color theories and color families.

Roll self-hardening clay into a thin sausage shape piece that can span the diameter of your mold. Position this piece at the center section of your mold.

3.Make another sausage shape and position it at right angles with the first piece.

4.Continue making more sausage shape pieces and positioning them in evenly-spaced intervals to make the basket's frame. Typically you will need about 6-10 sausage-shaped pieces to make a 12 to 20-spoked frame. My frame has 8 clay pieces having 16 spokes. A smaller basket will need less spokes while a larger one will require more.

5.Press gently on the center area of the frame to fix the clay spokes in place.

6.Roll a different color of clay into a shorter sausage shape and tuck one end under one of the frame spokes, keeping it close to the center of the frame. Press on the area where it joins the frame to fix it in place.

7.Weave this clay piece through the frame by lifting up every other spoke as you position it in place.

8.Tuck the free end of the woven clay piece under its starting end to complete a circle. Press gently on the areas where the woven piece intersects the frame to fix the weave in place.

9.Roll another piece of clay into a sausage shape longer than the first and weave this through the frame following steps 6 to 7. The only difference is that where the first woven clay piece is positioned on top of a spoke, the second clay piece is woven beneath the same spoke, giving your basket an alternating woven pattern.

10.Tuck the free end of the woven clay piece under its starting end to complete the second circle.

11.Continue weaving more layers around the frame. You can stick with one color for all the woven layers or opt for multiple colors, depending on your intended effect. Also note that you'll need to use increasingly longer clay pieces as you move from one woven circle to the next. In case your clay piece falls short of the required length, simply lengthen by connecting another sausage shape and continue weaving until you complete a woven circle.

12.Work patiently from one woven circle to the next until you cover the entire surface of the mold or until you reach the desired height for your basket (in case you used a very tall mold).

* Self-hardening clay usually hardens quite quickly so keep unused clay well-covered in plastic wrap or in its original plastic packaging.

13.Now that you're done weaving, carefully turn the mold over, with its mouth facing up. Gently press on the bottom of the mold to flatten the clay at the base. This will allow your basket to balance nicely on any flat surface.

14.Allow your woven clay project to dry. This normally takes between 1 to 2 days.

15.Once the clay has set completely, carefully remove your clay basket from its mold. If the basket does not come off that easily, gently run a plastic knife between the clay and the walls of the mold before easing out the entire clay basket.

16.Trim the ends of the clay spokes that jut out of the basket's mouth.

17.Conceal the trimmed spokes of the frame by wrapping the edges of the bowl with clay.

18.If you prefer a basket without a handle, allow the clay lining to set before using your basket.


19.Create a handle by fastening the ends of a pipe cleaner on either side of the clay basket after Step 16.

20.Cover the basket's mouth with clay as illustrated in Step 17. You may also wrap the pipe cleaner handle in clay. Try coiling a long sausage-shaped piece of clay around the handle as shown in the photo. A more straightforward option is to cover the handle entirely with clay just like you did with the basket's mouth.


More Ideas

  Instead of wrapping the pipe cleaner in clay, another way to accent the handle is to string beads along its length or tie a colorful bow in the middle.

After lining the basket's mouth with clay, you may further accessorize your basket with shapes and characters molded from clay. Stick these shapes around the basket's mouth. The tiny pumpkin on this basket highlights the basket's Halloween theme. Create similar baskets for Easter, Christmas, and birthday parties.