Ideas needed for a Diwali card please [Archive]

cw18

12-10-2006, 10:51 PM

Our neighbours celebrate Diwali, and last year I made them a card which they were really thrilled to receive (don't think many British friends acknowledge that this is a big festival for them).

Have just realised I only have until 21st of this month to make one for this year, and I'm really, really stuck for ideas...... wasn't easy last year either, as hubby (who's the one who normally picks up on 'unusual' dates, despite forgetting all family birthdays except his!) only gave me 48 hours notice :wacko:

pic of last years card attached......

any ideas for something a bit different this year would be gratefully appreciated :wub:

Flapsi Hapsi

12-10-2006, 11:04 PM

What about something to do with lamps as it's a festival of light? Liked your card from last year.

cw18

12-10-2006, 11:09 PM

the only thing I have is really small peel offs of a candle in an old fashioned holder (the sort you carried around the house). did think of them, but don't know what to do with them :unsure:

Flapsi Hapsi

12-10-2006, 11:13 PM

Have a look here (http://www.diwalifestival.org/) you could maybe use your candle stickers something like the top banner - lots of them??

cw18

12-10-2006, 11:15 PM

thanks for that link :wub: must admit I struggled to find any ideas on the 'net last year :blink:

Kitty Crafts

12-10-2006, 11:36 PM

Have a look on page 3 of the Non christmas cards thread on here. Cara D has posted some pics and they are lovely - maybe ask if you could 'borrow' her ideas :)

Kaz x

Petra

13-10-2006, 12:41 AM

How about some paisley patterns and doodling, to look a bit like a rangoli design?

purpleplanet

13-10-2006, 12:59 AM

I am a hindu celebrating Diwali - there are some examples of the contemporary cards i have made for my friends and family, in my gallery - i started uploading pics last week to help my customers - more going up this weekend

examples of contemporary Diwali/ hindu clebration cards (http://www.purpleplanet.co.uk/acatalog/Card_Gallery_.html)

the greetings are Happy Diwali and Happy New Year - Diwali is the day before our new year - rather like new years eve.

To impress your Gujarati friends you can add the following greeting for the new year "Nutan Varsh Abhinandan"

Nutan varsh Abhinandan in phonetic gujarati means "happy new year"

Most people however will be heard to say "Sal Mubarak" to each other though which is the same thing "happy New Year"

Most of the medallion cards are great for hindu celebrations as they represent our Rangoli patterns which are created out of coloured powders for Diwali etc.

Shilpa

cw18

13-10-2006, 08:41 AM

Thanks all :)

And a special thanks to Shilpa for the greetings :wub: I guess that would always be a major stumbling block to someone like myself who doesn't celebrate this festival themselves ;)

mysticclare

13-10-2006, 10:12 AM

This card was successful one year - I just printed out the symbol on card, spread glue carefully in the shape and added seed beads.
http://images4.fotopic.net/?iid=y5xfpa&noresize=1&nostamp=1&quality=70
I don't know what the symbol is (maybe Shilpa can help) but as it is the centerpiece of Leicester's Diwali lights display, it must be the right one!
Lovely idea to do a Diwali card.

cw18

13-10-2006, 10:22 AM

Thanks :wub:

The symbol actually looks very similar to the one on the first couple of cards in Shilpa's gallery :)

purpleplanet

13-10-2006, 10:47 AM

hi

The symbol on mysticclare's post is called the OHM or AUM - it is a HIndu religious symbol and can be used on all hindu cards. You will see it everywhere. It is the mantra used for meditations and is a general sign for all hindus.

My cards have my own version of the symbol and it can be adapted in several ways without causing offence.

there is a site with a whole collection of aums - showing loads of different interpretations. Sacred Aums (http://www.himalayanacademy.com/art/aumcd/psd_eps/color/001-024/)

PS if you really want to impress - little touches like writing the message in red would put the icing on the cake. All hindus write their cards out in red ink
Invitaitons, birhtday cards the lot

JemCraft

13-10-2006, 10:49 AM

Have you seen the November issue of Crafts Beautiful? They have a bit on Diwali cards.

purpleplanet

13-10-2006, 10:53 AM

I actually love the cards that Amanda has done for Diwali - The elephant is a great card for indian cards.

Mysticclare - very impressed with your idea - off to find the seed beads.

Just so you all know - i am getting indian stamps made COS THERE ARE NONE AROUND.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! religious symbols, motifs and deities.

Will keep you posted.

Bluemoonjules

13-10-2006, 10:56 AM

Interesting thread, thanks. I wish I had soneone to make one for!

cw18

13-10-2006, 11:22 AM

Have you seen the November issue of Crafts Beautiful? They have a bit on Diwali cards.
I've got a copy somewhere --- somewhere being the key word here!! been looking for it since Tuesday, and not found it yet :blink: Will look again later, but sod's law says I'll find it on 22nd :lol:

But I'm so pleased I asked on here --- nothing like the 'insider information' from Shilpa..... especially about printing the message in red :wub:

Can't wait to see the stamps when they come out :) I already have a few stamps in my collection which won't get regular outings, and it would be wonderful to have a few I can use for this -- especially as I also work in a very multi-cultural department/company ;)

Hysteri-CAL

13-10-2006, 07:03 PM

purpleplanet

13-10-2006, 07:35 PM

I would not use the Aum for Eid cards as Eid is a Muslim celebration.

I have a muslim student who happily uses the 3d medallion stickers to create cards for her muslim friends and family and the medallion stamps too.

i will upload some more cards tonight for you all

Shilpa

Petra

13-10-2006, 08:11 PM

Shilpa - would the same type of card apply for Eid cards ?? I need to make some for teachers in my school, and for a couple of the children in my class, and I would hate to make a faux pas !!

Thanks for any help.

A while back I was looking for some clip art to use in class ( I teach English to refugees) about different religious festivals, particularly Eid, as about half the class at the time were Muslim, however there seemed to be so many pitfalls about non-Muslims using them (i.e. potential to cause offence) that I didn't dare in the end.

Hysteri-CAL

13-10-2006, 08:28 PM

purpleplanet

13-10-2006, 08:35 PM

Aum is widely used as a symbol in Yoga studios, meditation studios and all hindu religious celebrations. Hindus would not mind the "elephant god" - Ganesh symbol being used either. He is the remover of all obstacles and is at the forefront of all our celebrations. I have some adhesive Ganesh 2d embellies, i can list them on the website tomorrow as an assortment if you want. - A goodie bag of indian Bollywood embellies......?????

As long as our deities and symbols are not being used on toilet seats and shoes - hindus are prety lenient. (Believe me it has been done)

The nazi's hijacked one of our most sacred symbols - the SWASTIK and turned it into the SWASTIKA.

you would not offend Hindus by using the SWASTIK the right way up - LOL we use it everyday.

mysticclare

13-10-2006, 08:54 PM

Shilpa - I used some bindis from India that someone brought back for me (very cheap). I guess they're only in specialist shops here - but that might be an idea for your shop, no craft suppliers seem to have caught on to that one.

cw18

13-10-2006, 09:06 PM

The nazi's hijacked one of our most sacred symbols - the SWASTIK and turned it into the SWASTIKA.

you would not offend Hindus by using the SWASTIK the right way up - LOL we use it everyday.
we spotted that 'chalked' outside next door, shortly after they moved in -- had to ask someone at work about it :blink:

Lumpyfoo

15-10-2006, 09:03 AM

Was so pleased to see this thread (only just realised that UKS has a cardmaking board - been lurking around the craft robo boards for months!) Thanks especially to Shipa for all her help. I made some Diwali and eid cards last year which my mum sold to friend at work, they went down really well. I designed and made the Diva lamp stamp myself. Been a bit stuck for new ideas this years though!

cw18

15-10-2006, 09:37 AM

They're lovely cards :wub:

purpleplanet

15-10-2006, 11:08 AM

HI

I have added a few more designs at the top of my gallery - all of which i use for my friends and family - They are pretty open and can be used for any hindu occassion..

One thing to remember all you cardmakers is that at diwali - we dont give presents as such but MONEY. This is usually given in lovely decorated envelopes or cards. So use these ideas to sell cards to all your Hindu friends who will be happy to purchase unusual cards to present their money gifts in.

Actually this works for weddings as well. Do personalised money cards for asian brides - we give out money to various people at weddings for different parts of the ceremony. The cards are more of a talking point than the money sometimes. LOL

got to go - back later this evening

Promise to upload the Ganeshes etc - for all those that have asked me.