Dedicated to our Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda

Dedicated to our Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda

Hari OM!

This blog is designed to serve as a library of art and craft ideas for our balavihar children. We hope that you will find this site useful. Please feel free to use any (or all) of the projects you see posted here. We ask, however, that you refrain from publishing (in any form) these templates, instructions, and photographs, unless you receive written permission. These projects are being provided for your own personal use or use in the Balavihar classroom.


All art projects are categorized by 1) material, 2) use, and 3) type. For example a Diya greeting card would be under the labels "Paper" and "Cards," while a Lord Hanumaan puppet would be found under "Paper," "Toys and Puppets" and "Gods and Goddesses." Most materials for these projects can easily be purchased from any local craft store — and some projects involve materials you already have laying around the house.


We would love to hear your suggestions and ideas about any of the information you find on this site. And, if you have any projects that you would like to share with other seviks/sevikas, please send a picture of the finished piece, as well as instructions on how to make the project – so we can post it.


Happy Creating!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Swami Chinmayananda Coloring Page (07)

Coloring page of Gurudev.
Click on the image and print.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda

Coloring page of Guruji.
Click on the image and print.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Swami Chinmayananda (06)

A coloring page of Gurudev.
Click on the image and print.



Swami Chinmayananda (05)

A coloring page of Gurudev.
Click on the image and print.

Swami Tejomayananda Coloring Page (1)

Click on the picture and print.






Chinmaya OM Coloring Page (04)

Click on picture and print. (Enlarge to 160% if you want to fill the page.)





Swami Chinmayananda Coloring Page (03)

Click on the picture and print.

Swami Chinmayananda Coloring Page (02)

Click on the line art and print.

Swami Tapovan Maharaj Coloring Page

Click on the line art picture and print.



Pujya Gurudev Coloring Page (01)

Click on the line art picture and print.

OM Tracing Card

This OM is meant to be laminated (8.5 x 11) so that the children can practice writing their strokes correctly. We like to use Crayola Washable Markers on the lamination sheet, so that it can be easily washed off for the next writing session. Dry Erase Markers also work well -- you just need a bit more elbow grease to get the sheet clean. Having the children color the OM can also be a nice way for them to quieten their minds and meditate on God.



श्री राम Tracing Sheet

We use this in class for the children to practice Japa Writing. 
To Print: Click on the image below to view full-size. Print.



Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Lotus Flower








































This project is dedicated to Gurudev
For balavihar classroom or personal use only
©jmg 2010

This flower is created with watercolor paper, which is quite easy to find — art stores, craft stores, and even stationary stores carry many different varieties. Watercolor paper is a fabulous medium to work with! It's possible to make very lovely and durable sculptures with just one sheet, some water, and careful maniupation.

Materials
• Watercolor paper
• Paint brush
• Water
• Color (water colors, water soluable art pencils, tempera paints, etc.)
• Decorating items, — glitter glue, acrylic gems, sequins, and/or lace

Directions
1. Print out the template below 3 times.  One is printed at 100%, one at 90% and one at 80%. You may scale them to any size you desire, just make sure all three are reduced/enlarged at the same percentage.

2. Cut out the 3 templates.

3. Trace them onto the watercolor paper.

4. Cut out the 3 shapes.

5. Color or paint each tier.

6. With the largest shape, take some water (using either a paintbrush or your fingers) and lightly cover each side. Take each leaf and roll it gently inwards until you get the desired effect.

7. Follow step 6 with the other two lotus tiers.

8. Decorate with gems or glitter.

9. Let dry.

10. Once all the pieces are dry, glue the three pieces together with a small dab of glue on the bottom of each tier.

Click on the template image below and print.