The Blogger's Note: April and May!

Namasté and hello everyone!

April and May were super busy months for me and this year they went as soon as they arrived! Time flies.

So here are some things that happened to me these months:

1. I caught a cold.
Okay, this might not sound that interesting, but for me, cold and flu are a giant no. It is because once I catch the flu, it dosen't leave me for months together. And untill it subsides, I am not allowed to eat or drink anything cold.
And of course, the stupid flu decided to attack me during summer.
Honestly, summer is the worst time to catch a cold. It is like reading Hunger Games all over again. All the things that you love leaves you.
But Flu during Summer? How weird is that considering it is 41 degree Celsius everyday?!

I desperately needed to eradicate the flu from my body

So here are some things I tried that might help you one day:
A. Drink loads of hot/warm water. Trust me, it really works
B. Inhale some steam.
This is definitely an age old practice so I guess everyone knows this by now. Or just take a steamy bath.
C. Apply Eucalyptus oil to your sore nose.
Okay, I'll warn you: When you apply it on your nose which is sore after rubbing it again and again on your tissue, it hurts. A lot. It is basically searing pain in its pure form. But it numbs your skin after a minute and feels pleasant later. It is just like aftershave. Plus I actually have a special technique to dilute the pain to a considerable extent. All you have to do is take a piece of cloth or tissue and make it damp with cold water. Once you apply the oil/essence on your sore nose, immediately place the cloth on your nose to lessen the pain. It works. I tried it.

2. I started 12th grade.
Let me tell you what I have learnt:
Take Science as your stream only if you are either willing to manage time efficiently and study really hard or if you are willing to sacrifice your happiness and hobbies and study really hard.
There are lots of privilages in taking the Science stream in India. Your parents announce with pride, "My child is a Science student." and people look at you with awe as if you have climbed Mount Everest. At that time, you will feel the non existent golden aura of being a  'Science student' enveloping you.
Yep. The stamp of society's approval.
Additional advantage: You can change streams after 12th as Science is the hardest stream.
But believe me, apart from this, Science is not extremely fun. Especially if you hate Chemistry and Maths or if you are really creative and stuff. In that case, take Arts. It might be better; I don't have an idea about it though. Oh, the times I wished to change my streams to Arts is inumerable, even it is still mostly shunned by the conservative Indian society. It was one of the main reasons I opted for Science. I got a great percent in my 10th grade but now I am so down in my 11th that I am praying to all the gods in the world to just get me promoted to 12th. I think I will get promoted. Pray for me. (Update: I did get promoted. Yippee.)

3. Nine hours of tutions: Yep you heard it right. Nine freaking hours. In the freaking summer vacations. What was worse was that I had to catch a crowded train, stand for twenty minutes while being mercilessly sandwiched in the insane crowd (this part needs a whole another post to describe properly) and walk for half an hour to reach the class every morning, which was in the district capital. My mind used to be completely saturated after hours of learning about unsaturated hydrocarbons. Thankfully, I got shifted back to my own city's branch of tutions.

4. Major motivation collapse: This was a horrible experience I had recently. One day I woke up happily and took my Physics textbook in my hand just to realise that my brain rejected any attempt to accept any input from my eyes or store it. I was constantly distracted, even by the plain wall in front of me. That's when I realised that I didn't want to study anymore. None of the derivations mattered to me. I had ZERO motivation. So I just wrapped myself in a blanket along with my misery and sat on the bed, rocking back and forth holding my Physics textbook in my hand while my mom scolded me for killing time in vain. I requested a lot of my friends to help me get out of that hellhole and motivate me. Finally, I googled some advice and it really helped me. Here's a link to it if you are feeling down:

https://fizzle.co/sparkline/motivation

Oh, and speaking of Motivation, do check out my INCREDIBLE friend, Irene's post on motivation which will definitely get you sparking with energy! Click HERE to read it!
Here's an excerpt:

"Work for victory. Work to transcend mediocrity. Work to look down upon the nuances of the world and know that you’ve conquered it."

I am really excited for May as my family will have a house-warming ceremony for our new home! I wouldn't be moving there till next year though as the new house is in other city and not in the city I currently live in right now, which is also the location of my college and tutions. 

Update: My guests arrived and the house warming ceremony was amazing! Yep, I had TWO days of 'not-studying' and I am so grateful for that.

So that's all for April and May! I hope you are having fun, wherever you are. If not, the dark times you are going through will be over soon.

 Instagram: @manasa2510

E-mail: manasa2510@gmail.com

Twitter: @manasa2510

You can now subscribe to my blog to recieve my posts as newsletters straight in your inbox! All you have to do is just enter your email address in the subscription box (which is on the top of my blog in the web version if you are reading this in your mobile) and that's all! Do subscribe and share, it will make my day!

Here are lots of virtual invisible bunnies for you.

Adios!

How to make Harry Potter inspired pendant and ring.

Namasté and hello everyone!

      Firstly, I would like to make a special announcement:

      MY BLOG HAS COMPLETED ONE YEAR!
*Throws confetti in the air and performs a happy dance*

And on this occasion, i.e. 'Bloganniversary', I would like to share a creative DIY with you!
                                                 

       All the book lovers agree that Harry Potter is probably one of the best series they have ever read. Some people (like me) are obsessed with anything and everything related to the series. Harry Potter related jewellery are not only a great way to accessorise yourself but also to show your love towards the fandom. Here's how you can make a Harry Potter related pendant and ring by yourself at home. The best thing is, these are super inexpensive and fun to make.

Let's get started!

What you'll need:

1. M-seal
2. Acrylic paints (Silver and Black)
3. Strong glue
4. Clear plastic sheet
5. Paint brush
6. Blade (optional)

Steps:

Step 1: Sketch the symbol of the Deathly Hallows on a clear plastic sheet by using a thin marker. this will serve as your base for making the pendent.

Step 2: Mix the M-seal well and lay it on the sketch on the plastic sheet in the perfect shape. This is going to be your pendant. So don't forget to put a loop of M-seal on it as well so that you can insert it in the chain. Use a blade to straighten the triangle and remove extra bits of M-seal from it.

Step 3: For the ring, make a Harry Potter glasses and attach a lightning scar made up of M-seal as shown in the picture below. Also, make a ring like arc with enough space for your finger to go through as well as enough space saw the glass like M-seal structure to fit between the ends of the ring.

Step 4: Remove the Deathly Hallows structure once it has dried and let all the three set for a while.

Step 5: Now attach the M-seal glasses to the ring with a strong glue and secure all the joints with it. Let it dry for an hour.

Step 6: Paint it in black.

Step 7: Now, paint it in silver to achieve the 'ancient silver' look.

                                      

Step 8: Let it dry for a day.

          Congratulations! You just learnt how to make the Deathly Hallows pendant and a Harry Potter ring!
      They are beautiful, attractive and easy to make. Show your Harry Potter pride by these simple DIYs. I hope you liked this tutorial!

        My blog started on April 1, 2015 and I am so happy that my blog has completed one whole year successfully. And that is because of you all! Thank you for encouraging me to write, taking your time to read my posts, giving corrections, suggestions and motivating me constantly.
       Whoever you are, wherever you live, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is because of you that my blog has actually surpassed 1180 pageviews. I am so happy that people around the world read my blog. I dedicate this bloganniversary to you!

OTHER DIYs:

If you want to check out how to make really quick, cute and simple fandom related character bookmarks in just 4 steps, click here!


                                             


And for a tutorial on how to make a prop bookmark, click here.

                                   

Instagram: @manasa2510
E-mail: manasa2510@gmail.com
Twitter: @manasa2510

You can now subscribe to my blog to recieve my posts as newsletters straight in your inbox! All you have to do is just enter your email address in the subscription box (which is on the top of my blog in the web version if you are reading this in your mobile) and that's all! Do subscribe and share, it will make my day!

#dontcrycraft


Happy crafting! Adios!

How to make a cute DIY PROP bookmark!

How to make a cute DIY prop bookmark!

All the bookworms simply ADORE bookmarks and that is the universal truth! Everyone is looking for a unique bookmark or a 'fandom-related' bookmark or just a simple bookmark to place between the pages of the book they are reading. Some people (like me) are addicted to them!  Sometimes, bookmarks are also used to give the book an extra interesting look and appeal and is a cause of envy for other book lovers. So without any further ado, here's how you can make a unique and cute bookmark on your own!

How to make a prop bookmark:

Definition: (What? I am a Science student, everything starts with a definition according to me. Except maybe true love. Or food.) A prop bookmark is basically a bookmark with a small prop, i.e. figurine attached to it.

The things that you'll need:

1.A piece of cardboard according to the length of your book or a sheet of chart paper of any colour you wish
2. Strong glue.
3. Sketch pens, thin markers.
4. M-seal or any clay that hardens  quickly.
5. Fabric/Acrylic paint.
6. Paint brushes.
7. Scissors, unicorns, etc.


Okay, maybe no unicorns. Though, that would have been fun.

Here are the steps to make one:

Step 1: Cut the piece of cardboard paper in a rectangular strip according to the length of the book. If you are using chart paper, cut it into a long rectangular strip and then fold it in half to make the bookmark thick enough to support the prop. Avoid making the strip too thick or your book will have a strange swelling to it.

Step 2:  Once you make the base strip of your bookmark, you can start with the prop. The prop I have made here is that of a girl resting her arms and her head on the pages of the book. Now, take the m-seal and mix the resin and hardener thoroughly to form a homogeneous dough.

Step 3: Remember, m-seal is quite annoying as it starts setting up after half an hour of mixing. So start making a face and hands from it right away. First, separate the m-seal in proper quantities for the features. For the face, you can make a smooth oval and create its features after that. Add the hair made using a flat piece of M-seal and any additional accessories (I made a small red hair bow). For the hands, just roll out a cylinder and then flatten one edge to make it seem like palms.

Step 4: Now place the hands in such a way that the palms overlap each other. Secure them with strong glue. Now, place the head in such a way that it is tilted slightly to one side and it rests over the palms. This is a tricky part so be careful and quick. Support the structure in the back with some more M-seal if needed.


Step 5: This is definitely the most hardest step of all. By now, the M-seal starts to dry and and it becomes really difficult to mould it.
So you'll need to do this quickly.  Make a slit on the bottom of your prop and attach one edge of the chart paper base in it after applying some strong glue in the slit. Make sure that it is well supported and ensure that the prop doesn't fall off the base.

Step 6: Let it dry overnight. You can use a thick book to support it. Just ensure that the base of the prop does not have any rouge glue oozing out of it or else the pages would stick to your bookmark.
And if you try this on your textbook, hey, I will not be held responsible for any page - tearing incident.

Step 7: Once it is hard and dry, it's time to paint it! If your M-seal is white, you might not need any base coat, but if your M-seal is black like mine, it needs a white base coat. Paint it completely white so that the colours you will apply later will be opaque and bright.

Step 8: Now, splash your prop with colours! (That was just a phrase, colour it carefully) You can use any colours you want but it is more advisable to use bright, eye-catching colours.

Step 9: Detailing time! Add details  like eyes, lips, the creases on the bow, etc.

Step 10: Let it dry overnight.

Congratulations! You just learnt how to make a super-cute prop bookmark!
The best part of this is that it is unique, handmade and you can make a prop of basically anyone and anything. You can even make a fandom-related bookmark or an animal shaped bookmark.
I hope you liked this tutorial! Was it worth writing this for three days on my train journey? I think it was!
It feels so good to be back writing in my blog after a month! But I hope this post was worth it. :)
If you want to check out how to make really quick, cute and simple fandom related character bookmarks in just 4 steps, click here!

Instagram: @manasa2510
E-mail: manasa2510@gmail.com
Twitter: @manasa2510

You can now subscribe to my blog to recieve my posts as newsletters straight in your inbox! All you have to do is just enter your email address in the subscription box (which is on the top of my blog in the web version if you are reading this in your mobile) and that's all! Do subscribe and share, it will make my day!


Happy crafting! Adios!

This letter will INSPIRE you!

Namaste!

Why did I greet you with a namaste? That's because 'Namaste' means, "I bow down to the divine within you". Beautiful greeting, isn't it? Read on, because what I am going to say is important.

You matter to this world. You are a wonderful, beautiful miracle. This is your life. You can change it whenever you want. Live happily. Don't choose anything that brings unhappiness to you unless it is beneficial to the whole society. Make your choices. Don't ever regret doing things that made you happy in a good way. It is almost never too late to do anything you want. Nothing is impossible.

Work smart. Do your work consistently. You will reach your goal in life, no matter how far away it is. But always have your goal in your mind. Think about what wonders will wait for you when you cross the mountain of hard work, agony and failures. There is a wonderful life waiting for you. There is success waiting for you. There is happiness waiting for you. Plus if you become famous enough, you can meet your favourite celebrities too!

Be independent. Never depend completely on somebody to do your work. They have their own life and difficulties to take care of. Learn to love yourself. Never be negatively influenced by what others say about you. You do not live for them. You live for yourself. Never act like somebody else. Be yourself.

There comes a time when you feel like giving up. Like you are worthless. You feel as if your life is just a miserable series of failures. But remember, failures are stepping stones to success. Never give up. Don't be ashamed to cry. Crying expels all the negative energy within your body. You will feel better after a good cry.

There are so many people who care about you. Your family, friends and relatives love you.There are more than a billion cells in your body and all they care about is your well being. You are the result of a 3.7 billion years of evolution. Never underestimate yourself.

You have so many beautiful things to see and experience in your life. You are not alone. Don't feel ashamed. Time heals everything. People tend to forget.

Achieve something. Show the world that you can do something. Value time. Respect nature. Try to see things from the perspective of others before you argue. Compete with yourself. Be strong. Be brave. Achieve your dream. Change your life. You are unique.

Love,
Manasa.





P.S. This is an improved version of the letter I wrote to encourage myself. I hope you are as inspired by it as I myself am.

Instagram: @manasa2510
E-mail: manasa2510@gmail.com
Twitter: @manasa2510
Did this letter improve your day? Do tell me in the comments!

You can now subscribe to my blog to recieve my posts as newsletters straight in your inbox! All you have to do is just enter your email address in the subscription box (which is on the top of my blog in the web version if you are reading this in your mobile) and that's all! Do subscribe, it will make my day!

Have a happy day! Lots of love!


Adios!

The Blogger's note: Subscribe!

Hi there!

Happy New Year 2016!!!!!!
Congratulations on surviving 2015, that was one tough year.

So along with the new year comes new resolutions, new starts and new things. And I am happy to announce that I have a brand new "Subscribe" bar on the top of my blog! You can just enter your e-mail address there to get subscribed to my posts! Note: If you are reading this in the mobile, switch the view into web version. You'll get it. Plus, how's the new template? I liked the web version more than the mobile one. Check it out! Fitting, right?

Anyway, this year, I am going to post lots of creative things on my blog (or that's the plan) and maybe I will get to interact with some of you too! I am going to make my blog more 'Books and Creativity' centered so that I will have a theme to stick to. Plus this year, I am starting my 12th grade so I might not be able to post more frequently in my blog. But I'll make sure that whatever the things I post on are worth the wait.

For me, 2015 was a great year. I scored good marks in my 10th grade finals, I joined a new college, made new friends, discovered new T.V shows, books and fandoms *sigh*. I created this blog in April 2015. I had a great time.

I want 2016 to be a...well, basically a good year. I don't think I will have much fun this year because 12th grade finals are EXTREMELY important in India and I will be drowned in a massive, relentless ocean of books, an avalanche of perplexing formulae and a vast syllabus of boredom. So, yeah, wish me luck.

What I am interested most, though, is this: How did 2015 go for you? And what do you expect to happen in 2016? Tell me in your comments below!

Do subscribe to my blog! I promise I'll make time to post good stuff in my blog! Maybe, that will be my new year resolution.

Random fact: I am currently reading 'Cinder' by Marissa Meyer right now.

E-mail - manasa2510@gmail.com
Instagram:  @manasa2510
Twitter: @manasa2510

I hope you'll have a great year ahead!
Adios!

4 SIMPLE steps to make your own DIY Character bookmarks!

Hello there!

Hope you are having a great festive time!
So as I said in my previous posts, I wanted to give a Pre - Christmas gift to all the book readers and so here it is: DIY Character bookmarks!

         
     I was making a few drawings on Microsoft Paint a few months earlier when I thought, Hey! Why not draw some characters from books! And when I did that, another thought came to my mind, Hey! Why not turn them into bookmarks! Thus it began.

               So here are the self-made bookmarks that I wanted to share with you!

Step 1: Download this picture.

Step 2: Take a colour print-out.
Step 3: Cut it out.
Step 4: Fold the red strip on the top backwards to make a bookmark.

  And Done! Viola! You have got your own Character bookmarks, ready to accessorize your books!

Freshly prepared bookmarks.

The awesome foursome.

I really hope you'll like this! You can DM me pictures of your bookmarks in Instagram and follow me for more creative posts! My Instagram account is @manasa2510 .You can email me on manasa2510@gmail.com  or you can just leave a comment below! I would love to hear from you!
Twitter: @manasa2510

If you liked this, please click the 'G+1' button down there or you can even follow my blog by entering your e-mail address on the bar on the top of the blog. I might even make another set of bookmarks with the characters you want. 

I hope you enjoy this holiday season and here are some virtual hugs and chocolate chip cookies from me! Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

Adios!

P.S. - I have an AWESOME DIY idea for Easter! Stay tuned (what?) till then!

The Blogger's note: School Days

Hello everyone! Hope you are having a great day!

So I was going through my Instagram feed and saw that many people were complaining about school.  I saw loads of posts that were captioned "I hate school", "School sucks" ,etc.

And being the person who will gladly spend any amount of time by just thinking about random things in order to postpond the overwhelming mountain of work in front of me, I wondered what was the reason why so many people simply hate school.

Then the little voice on the back of my head said, Duh! Who are you kidding? You hated school too.

True. Actually, I did not hate my school.My school was the best school in the whole city! I had absolutely no problem getting up early. My school itself was big and beautiful, with spacious classrooms and airy corridors. I loved the faculty (maybe except a few) and the other staff members. It was just that I couldn't fit in with my classmates.

Now don't get me wrong. I had such fun time with few people who I really cared about. But the thing was, I couldn't really understand the character of my classmates. So yeah, I was basically a loner.

Being the odd one out in my class, I had to face many problems. As my luck factor was really low, most of my friends were are almost always in different divisions . So I would be stuck alone in my class unable to get any help from anyone during homework submissions, projects, assignments, etc. I was really late in making friends when I was young (now don't blame me! I was a shy but hot tempered kid) and when I was old enough and ready to make new friends, the friend circles were already formed and obviously I was left alone without any group or squad. I felt like an outsider and I always had an I-am-not-supposed-to-be-here feeling. More than anything, I wanted people to talk with me. But people would do that only when they were bored of everything else or if they wanted a favor. So my usual past time was just sitting on the lectures, studying and daydreaming about the time when I would finally meet my real friends, escape my school life and become social person.

And this was the time when I was introduced to the Harry Potter novels which set a chain reaction in motion and I began to discover the world of books, fiction, fantasy and possibilities. I began to derive strength from books and they helped me survive through my lonely days. My books have literally become my best friends during high school years.

Now since I have joined junior college, I am finding new opportunities and making new friends. I have finally learnt how to mingle with people and have fun.But I wouldn't have known the meaning and importance of friendship if it wasn't for my school.

This whole experience taught me that times change. If your having a bad time right now, remember every person has ups and downs in their lives. Like the drowning man who kept clinging on to a plank on a raging sea until he was finally washed ashore, just hold on to your happy memories, hope and determination. Things will definitely change for the better. Then your school will be proud of you since you'd become the successful person you always wanted to be. They might even put up billboards with your picture in it.

Well.

I think that was enough inspirational speech for this year.


Do click on the 'G+1' button and leave a comment below if you had any similar incidents in your life. You can even add my blog in your reading list or simply share it on different social media. If you don't have a blogger account, follow me on Instagram   (@manasa2510) to be notified whenever I post a post. Twitter: @manasa2510 . I'd always like a new friend!

So don't hate school, be happy and have a great day ahead!

P.S : To any of my former schoolmates reading this, I love you all! Please don't take it in the wrong way. And thank you since you have made me stronger.

                                                            ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!
                 
 Check out my blog at 20 December for an awesome Pre - Christmas surprise!
                           
Adios!