Crafter in the Spotlight

Hello arty crafty folks! Once again I am back with the story of another enthusiastic crafter, Nargis Khan in “Crafter in the Spotlight”. Hope the inspirational stories keep you enthused to pursue crafting and share your ideas with fellow crafters.

Nargis was born and raised in the ‘Spiritual capital of India’, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. After completing her Software Engineering from Jhansi, she moved to Bangalore post marriage. Currently she lives with her husband and two lovely Persian cats. Besides crafting, she is also passionate about baking.

Nargis believes that ‘Art is an expression of oneself’. She loves up-cycling things with Decoupage on various surfaces and also has a knack for clay art and pottery.

Read ahead to find out what are her favorite craft forms, about her crafting style, her favorite Itsy Bitsy’s offerings and catch sight of a step-by-step Decoupage project made by her. Don’t forget to shower some love and best wishes on her in the comments section.

Rashmi Closepet M.D Itsy Bitsy: Tell us a bit about yourself & your background?

Nargis Khan: Hello all, I am Nargis. I am an Artist or a Crafter by passion and a Software Engineer by profession. I enjoyed crafting from a very young age. As a kid, I loved playing and making things with clay. My love for crafting deepened when I started living in Bangalore. This wonderful city nurtures so many hobbies, and crafting is definitely one of them. A few years ago, I learnt decoupage through a couple of formal workshops and fell madly in love for this art. I must admit that craft supplies from Itsy Bitsy always helped me beautify my decoupage projects. Currently, I am a practicing decoupage artist and enjoy doing decoupage on all kind of surfaces. I think it’s an excellent way to upcycle things.

RC: How did you get into crafting?

NK: Crafting is my first love. From a very young age, I have tried various forms of Art & Craft. My mother is a great Knitter and a crafter herself, so I think it runs in the family!

RC: What is your favourite type of craft?

NK: Although I love doing decoupage, I am also very inclined towards Clay Art and Pottery. I wish to develop these further and pursue them as my hobby in the coming years.

RC: What are your favourite products at Itsy Bitsy?

NK: I love Little Birdie Flowers, Chalk Paints, Crackle Medium, Laces, 3D stickers, Jute Ropes, Feathers, Buttons, Glitters, Twines; the list of supplies that I love at Itsy Bitsy is never ending!

RC: If you had magical powers, how would you contribute to the Crafting world?

NK: If I had magical powers, I would want to make the world realize that Crafting is not just a hobby but could be a profession. Handcrafted products are much more valuable than readymade ones that are picked off-the-shelf. If more people believe in the concept, it will help boost the morale of many creative individuals who pursue crafting just as hobby. They will be motivated to take up crafting as a full-time profession.

RC: Your prized possession in your craft stash from Itsy Bitsy?

NK: It has to be Little Birdie Flowers. You just add them to any craft and let the magic work!!

RC: How would you describe your style of crafting?

NK: I make simple things; I believe ‘Simple is Beautiful’. If you do anything with great passion and love, it turns out beautiful. Your work is an expression of yourself!

 RC: How do you organise your time for crafting?

NK: I always look forward to spending time with my Decoupage work. As I am working, I usually spend an hour late in the evening for my craftwork and of course my weekends. Also, it’s about setting your priorities right. If I have an order in hand or workshop to conduct, it is always prioritized over my leisure time.

RC: Tips for people who want to craft

NK: I would say – Try to focus on one craft at a time, practice it, take inspiration from other crafters, nurture your craft and slowly excel in it.

RC: Your all -time favourite quote?

NK: Love What You Do!

Here is a step-by-step project by Nargis on how to create a Classic Decoupaged Bottle:

Supplies used from Itsy Bitsy:

  • Matt Chalk Acrylic Paint – Snow
  • Sponge Dabber
  • Decoupage Napkin
  • Little Birdie Decoupage Glue
  • Little Birdie Varnish – Glossy
  • Little Birdie Handmade Flowers
  • Little Birdie Laces and Ribbons

Step 1: Clean the glass bottle and pat it dry. Apply a coat of Matt Chalk Acrylic Paint on the bottle evenly with the help of a sponge  brush. Yes, we can directly apply Chalk Paint on a Glass Bottle.

Step 2: After the first coat of Chalk Paint dries, apply another coat of Matt Chalk Acrylic Paint on the bottle. Let it dry. You can paint the base of the bottle too.

Step 3: Cut out the design that you desire to use from the Decoupage Napkin carefully using a wet brush.

Step 4: Decoupage Napkins have three layers or ply’s, carefully remove the two base layers.

Step 5: Keep your design cut-out on the bottle and decide where exactly you want to place it on the bottle. Once decided, apply a layer of Decoupage glue onto your design. Remember to work in small areas. Let it dry for 10 minutes.

Step 6: Seal the entire project with a generous coat of Decoupage Glue. Let it dry completely.

Step 7: Varnish the entire project using Glossy Varnish. Let the project dry

Step 8: Decorate the Bottle with Little Birdie Flowers and Laces.

 

Here are a couple of  Narghis’s  other awesome creations:

 

Many congrats  Nargis Khan  for being the CRAFTER IN THE SPOTLIGHT – ITSY BITSY !

You will receive Rs.500/- Itsy Bitsy gift voucher & a Crafter in the Spotlight badge, which can be proudly displayed on the side bar of your blog and other platforms. Looking forward to many more creations, Happy Crafting!

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