Dasara Craft Ideas

Craft Ideas for Dussehra

Unleash your creative skills with these splendid Dasara Craft Ideas:

Teer-Dhanush (Bow and arrow)

Dasara is incomplete without Teer-Dhanush, an integral part of the Ram Lila dramatic performances. Make your own bow and arrow with simple items that you can find around the home.

Things needed:

1. An elastic band
2. A broomstick
3. Plasticine
4. A strong, supple branch (of any tree)
5. A pair of scissors
6. Paint (optional).

How to make:

1. Bend the branch slowly in an arc-shape, taking care that it does not break. Hold the shape by tying elastic from one end of the branch to the other.
2. Apply two coats of paint on the branch and hang to dry.
3. Take out a stick from the broom. Trim it. This will be your arrow.
4. Take a little plasticine and mould into a small ball. Stick it at one end of the arrow so that you do not hurt anyone accidentally while playing.

Modelling Clay

You can make just anything with this wonderful dough. Make modelling clay by yourself with these stepwise instructions.

Things needed:

1. Mixing bowl
2. Flour - 1 1/4 cup.
3. Water - 3/4 cups.
4. Vegetable oil - 1 tablespoon.
5. Salt - 1 1/4 cup.

How to make:

1. Pour the flour, water, vegetable oil and salt in the mixing bowl and blend well together using your hands. Form the mixture into a soft dough ball. Add a little water from time to time to make it wet.
2. Sprinkle some flour on the dough. Continue to knead until the dough is smooth and stretchable. Your modelling clay is ready.

Clay Candleholder

Things needed:

1. Modelling clay.
2. A candle (about 7 inch long).
3. Paint.
4. Paintbrush.
5. Glitter.
6. Sequins.
7. Varnish.

Also needed: An oven, a cookie sheet and a cooling rack.

How to make:

1. Take a seven-inch ball of modelling clay and mould it into any shape you like - a circle, a triangle, a heart or any other geometric figure. The structure should be about 3" thick.
2. Press the base of the candle 1" into the center of the clay structure. Take out the candle to form a 1" hole. Let the hole remain.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put the clay shape on a cookie sheet and bake on oven for 15-20 minutes or until the structure hardens. Take away from oven and place on a wire cooling rack for sometime.
4. Once cool, paint the shape in any colour you wish. When the paint dries, coat the clay structure with clear varnish to give a glossy finish. Keep aside to let dry.
5. When the clay has dried, press in glitter and sequins on its surface.
6. Place the candle into the hole and light it. You now have a wonderful candleholder to brighten up your Dasara festivities.