Neolithic Age School Project

Neolithic Age Diorama

         Dear friends , this school year my daughter has to learn about the Stone age with all its subdivisions - the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic Ages! It can get pretty confusing trying to remember what happened during each age!! But kudos to the clever History teacher who asked the children to make a chart, a powerpoint presentation or a model on an assigned age!
           My daughter got Neolithic Age, and of course, if you have been following my blog for sometime you will guess correctly that she opted to make a 3 D model rather than an easier chart or powerpoint presentation!!Haha!!

Neolithic Age Diorama

        We planned out the elements in our Diorama such that each unique and important aspect of the Neolithic Period was highlighted.
        The main reason I am sharing this project in so much detail is that it may benefit someone in future...When I googled about this period I found there was hardly any school project type material online!!
        And for my crafty friends....well do sit back and be transported back into Neolithic Age!!

Neolithic Age Diorama

During  the Paleolithic Age which preceded the Neolithic Age ,  men were predominantly nomads hunting for food and living in caves. During the Neolithic Period they started farming and settled down in small fenced villages and built homes with thatched roofs.

Neolithic Age Diorama

The type of tools used is distinctive in each age . During the Neolithic Period , sophisticated stone tools evolved. My daughter made all the tiny tools referring to pictures of Neolithic tools in her textbook and online. She molded the tools using air drying clay and added "toothpick" handles to some of the tools as "handles" were a hallmark of Neolithic Period stone tools!

Stone Tools

       Neolithic man could make more polished tools compared to his predecessors as he made use of the "grindstone" to smoothen and shape his stone tools! My daughter's grindstone was fashioned with clay which she painted with acrylic paint to give the "stone look"!

Stone Tool Making- Neolithic Age

Neolithic man also used "basalt" ...a type of stone which did not chip easily and hence could be shaped into finer stone tools. And in the picture below you can see the "bone" tools my daughter fashioned by cutting clay which had dried up!

Neolithic Age Tools

During this period man discovered fire and pottery! And my kiddo was sooo proud of all her little pots and vessels she made painstakingly! She added all kinds of little details like the "mound of clay" on the side besides the pots from which the pots were made!

Neolithic Age

 And can you see the food she added to one of the plates![Its craft foam putty!]

Neolithic Age Diorama

And we added a toy basket as Neolithic man were expert at basket making!!

Woven Basket in Neolithic Age 

The invention of the wheel happened in the Neolithic Period ...and they made the wheels by carving stone!! Just imagine!

Stone Wheel in Neolithic Age

And the major points differentiating the Neolithic Period from the Paleolithic Period....cultivation and domestication of animals!

Neolithic Age Diorama

         It is times like these where I am soo glad I have a nice stash of craft supplies I can fall back on to make a project quicker and easier! We could use dies to quickly and easily add a lot of plants to our diorama!
         Neolithic Period man cultivated rice, wheat and barley. Our diorama has maize plants but then I guess that's okay!!Hehe!

Neolithic Age Diorama - Cultivation

Neolithic man settled down near rivers and streams and our deep blue stream is bordered by glittery reeds and vines! Th muddy mound you see near the flower is a lump of clay!! Turned out sooo realistic !

Neolithic Age - riverside settlement

           Most of the objects in the diorama were created by my daughter with help from me for the hot gluing aspect but I couldn't resist contributing bits here and there and one of them is the  lotus! [here is the tutorial : Easy Flower Tutorial ] !

Neolithic Age Diorama 

            My kiddo painted the muddy patches and grassy terrain for her animals. And boy was this an educational as well as a fun project!
            And can you spot the "socks" on one of the cows...well that poor chap had his legs eaten off by my dog when he was a puppy ...but the good news is he can now happily stand on prosthetic clay feet [created by my daughter] !

Neolithic Age - Domestication of Animals

We had signs put up to highlight each important aspect of Neolithic  life and my daughter used glitter foam  to depict fire! The little rocks you can spy right at the back behind the sign was the carton packaging of eggs!!Hehe yeah we used a lot of recycled objects in this project!

Neolithic Age - Religious Practices

         It is always fascinating to read about religious practises and I was so surprised to read that Megaliths [which are huge stone boulders used to mark burial sites] can still  be seen in my home state of Kerala , near the popular tourist town of Munnar!

Neolithic Age - Religious Practices

Our project took a good many hours to complete but boy my daughter was sooo proud of it ! And the best thing is that I think she will remember all the important facts of the Neolithic Period for a good many years!!

Neolithic Age Diorama School Project

Supplies : Dies :  Couture Creations Bijoux,Memory Box Fringe Border,Dee's Distinctively Tree Base 1,Sizzix Tapered Fringe,Sizzix Flower Layers 3 , Cheery Lynn  Sunflower, Spellbinders Frameablities Decorative frame S5 005,MFT Dienamics Cornstalk

Stamp and Die sets :Sizzix- Hero Arts Stamp- Die Set Flowers- Thinking of you, Heartfelt creations Classic Leaf Stamp + Heartfelt creations Classic Leaf Die

Punches : Balloon Punch

Edited : This project was featured at the Pixie's Snippets Playground - Thank you so much Di !!

Easy Diorama Cards Tutorial

Diorama Cards

         Hi friends so excited to bring to you my first Guest DT post for Rudolph Day Challenges! This Challenge is very special to me as the theme is always Christmas and I looove making Christmas projects!Thank you so much Maureen for having me as your Guest DT.

I made 3 Christmas themed Mini Diorama Cards otherwise called Shadowbox Cards

Diorama Card

          My first Diorama Card has a little scene with a gingerbread house in the backdrop, sparkling silver glitter foam snowflakes hanging down, a decked up Christmas tree and the star....a cutie snowman waving Hi!

Diorama Card

The 2nd Diorama Card has our Jolly fella, Santa bringing presents! There are snowflakes hanging down and rising up from 2 layers of the diorama.

Diorama Card

And being a Rudolph Day Challenge .....I just had to make a card featuring an adorable reindeer! Rudolph has brought some presents to the ginger bread house!

Diorama Card

 And here is a closeup of the faux snow on my diorama  made using texture paste and a stencil!

Diorama Card

These Mini Dioramas were so easy to make  and I made all 3 in an evening!
Here is the Tutorial
Mini Diorama Card Tutorial 
Materials
Shapes- handcut or die cut
Handcut :You don't need to have a die cutting machine to make this diorama card though having one can make your job quicker! See this post on a completely hand-cut Diorama/Tunnel Card Tutorial
Die-cutting : You can use any shaped die you like......and they need not be nesting dies either! You basically need one die to cut out the base and front of the card and another die to cut out an aperture .
Scoring tool / Scale and blunt knife / used pen if you dont have a scoring tool
Paper and Adhesive : Sturdy Cardstock required and Liquid glue prefered
Embellishments- die cuts, stickers, stamped images ....or whatever you fancy!

1. Cut out 2 frames- one will form the base of your diorama and one will form the front part from which you will cut out a window.

Diorama Cards Tutorial 

2.On your die cut/ handcut frames- score 2  lines 1/2 inch  from the edge and from each other on either end as shown above.

For my set of cards I used the largest die from Spellbinders Labels 8 die set and my score lines fall at 1/2 inch, 1 inch , 4 1/2 inch and 5 inch.

Diorama Cards Tutorial 

3.Cut out an aperture from the center of one frame leaving approx 1/2 inch from the inner score-lines made earlier. I used a Couture Creations Victorian Square die to cut out my aperture

Diorama Cards Tutorial 

4.You can dress up the front of your card with pattern paper  but its easier to ink it up !

Diorama Cards Tutorial 

I created faux snow using texture paste and the TCW Microbial stencil

Diorama Cards Tutorial 

5.Fold the front frame of your card : Once your texturing is dry...valley fold and mountain fold your score-lines as shown.

Diorama Cards Tutorial 

6. Fold the base of your diorama : Here the folds go in the  opposite direction.... as you can see in the picture below.

Diorama Cards Tutorial 

Valley fold the inner score and then mountain fold the outer score line. Do this to the score lines on the other end too.

Diorama Cards Tutorial 

7. Now have fun designing your diorama...You can make it as complicated as you want by adding multiple layers or keep it very very simple!!

Easy Diorama Card Tutorial 

8. Decorate the base of your diorama : You can stamp/ draw/ use stickers or whatever you fancy to dress up the inside of your diorama card.

Diorama Card Tutorial 

I used  a DCWV pattern paper with a gingerbread house design on it and stencilled it with the same stencil to create a snow fall effect.
9. Add a  layer to span across your diorama using a strip of cardstock or a die-cut border longer than the  central part.

Diorama Card Tutorial 

In these Christmas themed Diorama cards I used  the Memory Box Frostyville border  die cut in glitter foam to span across the  top of my diorama card.
 You can alternately just use a strip of cardstock to span across the aperture which in this case measured 3.5 inches and I used a card piece measuring 4 inches and stuck it to the folded shelves as shown

Diorama Tutorial 

10. Optionally add more layers on to the front and back frame!

Easy Diorama Card Tutorial 

If in addition to the "easy to add" central layers , you want to add more layers, take a strip of  cardstock which is = length of  the central part + some extra on either end to act as small tabs. Add your diorama elements,[ which in my card are the stamped Rudolph and a "gift" ] on to this strip of card and stick it to the front /back  frame using the tabs on the ends of the card strip.

Easy Diorama Card Tutorial 

Here you can see the  layers of the  diorama card!

Diorama Cards Tutorial

Once you have decorated the back frame and added all the layers you want stick the front window frame onto your base by apply glue on the  shelf.

Diorama Card Tutorial 

Decorate the front of your card if you wish and your Mini Diorama Card is done!!

Diorama Cards

Hope you enjoyed the mini Christmas Dioramas and liked the Tutorial !

These Mini Dioramas wont fold flat so you need to make a box for them if you plan to gift them. If you want to make a flat folding Diorama card here is the Tutorial link : Interactive Diorama Card Tutorial 

Supplies : Dies :  From Crafters Corner:Spellbinders Labels 8,Memory Box Frostyville border,Heartfelt creations Delightful Daisy Die , Couture Creations Victorian Square, 

Stamps : Winnie and Walter In Bloom Elsa's Flora Stamp Set , Imaginisce Reindeer,Heartfelt creations Delightful Daisies Stamp ,Rubber Dance Art Stamps Cozy Christmas

Stencil : TCW Microbial Stencil

Handmade Roses Shadowbox

Shadowbox

         Hi friends ,sharing a  framed shadowbox with  handmade roses I made as a home decor item for our home!
         One of my crafty resolution for this year was to create hand crafted projects for our home and I am happy I have been successful so far in this particular resolution!!

Handmade Paper Roses

          Another crafty resolution was to use my existing craft supplies more. My Tim Holtz Tattered florals die had been neglected for quite some time so dug it up and created the shabby style rose using it!

          Can you spot the little bird hidden amongst the flowers?...It was made using air drying clay ....I love how a mix and match of different media can make a project so much more interesting to look at!

Stencilling

I am still continuing my love affair with Stencils! I used the Carabelle Studio Effet Bois stencil and Texture White [ it's a texturing medium but quality wise more fluid than Ranger texture paste] to add a wood grain texture on the die cut window. Then added gold embossing powder and heat embossed it. Once the embossed design was dry ..stained my faux wood with 2 shades of Distress Inks  for a 2 toned effect.

Stencil Technique

The window has 3 layers popped up on foam and love how it looks on the brick embossed wall!

Handmade Roses

More handmade roses on the lower part of the window and with a golden musical note and a bird's nest made with air drying clay!

What do you think my crafty friends...It is rather simple but with a touch of loveliness!

Supplies : Nearly all from Crafters Corner
Dies :  Cheery Lynn  Rose Leaf Strip,Cheery Lynn  Flourish 13, Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf strip,Cheery Lynn  Mini butterflies with Angel wings, Sizzix Tim Holtz Window & Window Box,Sizzix Tim Holtz Tattered Florals ,Sizzix- Hero Arts  Stamp- Die Set Flowers and Butterflies 657773,Marianne Anja Leaf 3, Spellbinders Sing It Loud 1,Spellbinders swirl bliss pocket,Spellbinders  Curved Matting Basics B
Stencil : Carabelle Studio Effet Bois

Embossing Folder : Spellbinders Brick and Bark
Misc : Liquid Pearls, Plaid Molds

1. Creatively Crafty Linky Party 28

Teachers Day Card

Teachers Day Card

       Hi friends, in India we celebrate Teacher's Day on Sept 5th and every year I try to make something for my daughter's teachers. Most of my daughter's teachers are ladies and flowers are a popular theme so this year too I am going the floral way !

Stencilling

I am in love with the Step Pop Up Card design so this is yet another Step Card. I used a lovely pattern paper from Bob n Betty but I wanted to tone down the dark colors a bit so went about altering it using white paint and Carrbelle Studio's Geometry Stencil.

Stencilling

 Also fuzzy cut a few flowers from the same paper and used it on my Step Pop Up Card !

Step Pop Up Card 

 The vanilla butterflies have been in my stash since years and I dressed them up with glittery thermocol balls!

Step Pop Up Card 

I have butterflies galore on the borders and on the steps of my step card! I hope the teacher my daughter gifts this to likes it!
Supplies : Dies :  Joy Crafts 6002-0251[Butterfly Border],Winnie and Walter In a Word Thanks Cutaway,Spellbinders Fleur de Lis border die,Cheery Lynn  Rose Leaf Strip,Spellbinders Happy Days
Papers : Bob n Betty Floral Logs
Stencil : Carabelle Studio Geometrie 1
Edited : This card was featured as Top 3 at the Mod Squad Challenge - Use Dies theme