| How to Draw a Mandala Posted: 23 Jun 2020 05:00 PM PDT Mandalas are circular designs with repeating shapes and they often hold spiritual significance. The word "mandala" comes from the Sanskrit word for circle. Many people find drawing mandalas to be a very centering and expressive activity. To draw your own, sketch a template of concentric circles, and then play around with adding organic shapes and geometric patterns. [Edit]Setting up the Structure - Pick a center point in the middle of a page. If you're going to want to watercolor your mandala at the end, use watercolor paper. Otherwise, regular sketching paper or even printer paper is fine. Pick a point that's roughly in the center of the page. It doesn't have to be exact, but the closer the better.[1]
- Mark the point in the center with pencil so that you can erase it later.
- Use a compass to draw concentric circles around the point. If you don't have a compass, you can make one by tying a piece of string to a pencil. Hold the end of the string at your center point, and drag the pencil around to draw a perfect circle. Continue drawing larger and larger circles with bigger bits of string.[2]
- The circles don't have to be evenly spaced. Some can be farther away from others. They are just a template that will help you later.
- Trace round things to make circles if you prefer. If you don't want to use a compass or a string, just trace round things. Start by placing a small round thing, like a jar, centered at your center point. Trace around it with a pencil. Then remove the jar, place a bowl on the paper, and trace around that.[3]
- Continue until you have made circles that fill up most of the paper, but stop before they are big enough to touch the edges.
- Draw axes across your circles in pencil. With a ruler, draw lines going through the center point of your paper. Draw two lines pointing in the compass directions, and then two lines cutting diagonally across, evenly spaced. This will form eight symmetrical triangles coming from the center point. You will erase these lines later, but in the meantime they can help you line up your shapes symmetrically around your center point.[4]
- If you want your mandala to look more organic and less symmetrical, you can skip drawing these guiding lines.
[Edit]Drawing Your Design - Draw one shape in a ring around your center point. This could mean a ring of flower petals, a ring of triangles, or something else. The shapes should touch the first concentric circle that you penciled in around the center. This will make sure that they are all the same size.[5]
- You can use a pen if you're feeling bold, or you can use a pencil and go over your design later in pen.
- Continue drawing concentric rings of shapes. Experiment with different kinds of shapes. If you've done a bunch of flower-petal looking things, try some triangles or ovals. You can also put in a ring that is just a circle, to divide the inner and outer parts of your mandala, if you'd like.[6]
- Your shapes can overlap with each other, if you'd like.
- Your rings can be different sizes. Some can be very thin and intricate, and some can be big.
- Let loose and relax. As you build your mandala out from the center, try not to think or worry too hard about what you're doing, and get into a calm, creative flow. Focus on your breathing, and your in-the-moment feeling of drawing a mandala.[7]
- Mandala-making can be a very centering exercise, if you approach it in a relaxed way. There is no such thing as a mistake in a mandala, there is just the unexpected.
- Stop making rings before you hit the edge of your paper. This will leave some white space around the whole outside of your mandala, which will make it look calmer than if the design extended off the page. Remember, the outside ring of your mandala, like the other rings, does not have to be a perfect circle.[8]
- For example, if your last ring has been flower petals, then your mandala edges will be scalloped.
[Edit]Finishing up Your Mandala - Trace over your design in pen if you drew it in pencil. As you trace, experiment with making thinner and thicker lines. Varying the line weight can add visual interest and a sense of depth to your mandala. You can switch to a different pen with a heavier weight of ink, or just press down harder, depending on your pen.[9]
- If you've already drawn the mandala in ink, you can skip this step.
- Add fine details within the shapes. At this point, you've drawn all the shapes that you need for your mandala, but you can make your design even more intricate by drawing extra details inside your shapes. Try adding small circles, or leaves, or draw patterns like diagonal lines inside some of your shapes. For a cohesive look, add the designs symmetrically.[10]
- Tear-drops and diamonds are tiny designs that are easy to draw and look intricate.
- Erase your pencil markings once you've inked your mandala. Now that you've finished drawing your mandala design in ink, it's time to get rid off the template of circles you drew at the beginning in pencil. Make sure that the ink has dried before you start erasing, so that you don't smudge the ink.[11]
- Gently wipe away your eraser shavings so that they don't get stuck to your paper.
- You may want to photocopy your mandala before you color it in, so that you can color it in many different times, or give copies to your friends to color.
- Color in your mandala, if you'd like. You can choose to just leave the mandala a simple black and white design, but it can also be quite fun to color it in. You can color in different sections of your mandala with patterns or solid sections of color.[12]
- Use watercolor for a light, gentle look. Just keep in mind that watercolor can easily bleed over lines if you aren't used to painting with it.
- Use colored pencil, crayons, or markers if you prefer.
- Draw lightly with a pencil so you can erase it if you make a mistake.
- The finer the drawing tool, the more refined and detailed your mandala will be. Crayons give a much cruder appearance than fine markers.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Blank paper
- Compass (optional)
- Round jars to trace (optional)
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Water colors, water, paintbrush (optional)
- Markers or crayons (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Unleavened Bread Posted: 23 Jun 2020 09:00 AM PDT Yeast, baking soda, baking powder, and egg whites are all traditional leaveners. If you don't want to bake with them because of religious reasons or time constraints, you can still whip up unleavened bread. Roll out thin matzo that crisps up when you bake it in the oven or make flexible roti flatbreads by cooking thinly-rolled discs of dough on the stove. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Crisp Matzo - 2 cups (240 g) of all-purpose flour, plus extra as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of kosher salt
- plus of water
- plus of olive oil
Makes 4 large pieces [Edit]Simple Roti Flatbreads - 3 cups (390 g) of whole-wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon (5.5 g) of kosher salt
- of vegetable oil
- of water
- Melted butter or ghee, for brushing
Makes 1 dozen roti [Edit]Baking Crisp Matzo - Place an upside-down baking sheet in the oven and turn the oven to . You'll be cooking the matzo on the baking sheet and heating it ensures that the matzo will become crisp.[1]
- If you prefer, use a pizza stone instead of a baking sheet.
- Mix the flour, salt, olive oil, and water in a bowl. Put 2 cups (240 g) of all-purpose flour into a mixing bowl and add 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of kosher salt along with plus of olive oil. Use your fingers or a spoon to stir in plus of water.[2]
- You can use virgin or extra-virgin olive oil or substitute another oil, such as canola, coconut, or vegetable oil, if you prefer.
- Knead the matzo dough for 4 to 5 minutes. Use your fingers to fold and stretch the dough in the bowl until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Keep folding and stretching the dough until it's soft and easy to knead.[3]
- If the dough is still too dry, mix in of water at a time.
- Divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll each as thin as possible. Portion the dough into equal pieces and set them on a floured work surface. Take a rolling pin and roll each piece out so it's as thin as you can make it. If you can, roll the matzos so thinly that you can hold them up and see light coming through them.[4]
- Roll the matzos into any shape you like so they're at least in diameter. Try simple ovals or rectangles, for instance.
- Poke the surface of the matzos with a fork and brush them with oil if you like. Push the tines of a fork into the surface of each matzo piece to prevent them from puffing up too much as they bake. If you'd like the matzos to be golden on top, dip a pastry brush into vegetable or olive oil and brush it over the top of each matzo.[5]
- Lay 1 or 2 matzos on the hot baking sheet. You might be able to fit 2 pieces on the sheet if your sheet is large enough. If it isn't big enough, you'll have to bake 1 matzo at a time.[6]
- It's fine to place the matzos close together on the baking sheet since they won't expand as they bake. Just ensure that the pieces aren't touching.
- Bake the matzos for 3 to 4 minutes and flip them halfway through the baking time. Let the matzos bake on the sheet until they're crisp and brown. To help them cook evenly, use tongs to carefully flip them over halfway through the cooking time.[7]
- Cool the matzos on a rack and store them at room temperature for up to 1 week. Arrange the matzos in a single layer on a cooling rack. Serve the matzos once they're completely cool or put them into an airtight storage container and use them within 1 week.[8]
- The matzos will soften the longer they're stored, so eat them quickly if you like them crisp.
[Edit]Making Simple Roti Flatbreads - Combine whole-wheat flour, salt, and oil in a bowl. Put 3 cups (390 g) of whole-wheat flour into a large mixing bowl and add 1 teaspoon (5.5 g) of kosher salt along with of vegetable oil. Use your fingers or a spoon to stir until the oil is distributed and the mixture is crumbly.[9]
- If you prefer, substitute melted butter or ghee for the vegetable oil.
- Mix in of the water to form a soft dough. Pour of the water and set the rest aside since you may not need it all. Use your fingers or a spoon to stir the mixture until the flour absorbs all of the water and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl.[10]
- If the dough is too dry to stay together, slowly mix in more of the remaining of water.
- Avoid pouring all of the water in at once or your dough might become too sticky to work with.
- Knead the roti dough for 10 minutes. Stretch and fold the dough in the bowl until it's smooth and elastic. The dough will become easier to knead as you continue to work it.[11]
- There's no proper way to knead dough, so try folding and stretching the dough until you find a method that you prefer.
- Don't sprinkle more flour over the dough or it may become too dry to roll out.
- Cover the dough and let it rest at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes. Lay a damp cloth on the dough to prevent it from drying out. Leave the dough at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes so the gluten in the dough relaxes.[12]
- You could also use an overturned bowl to cover the dough.
- Heat a skillet or tawa over medium heat. Set an ungreased or nonstick skillet on the stove and turn the burner to medium. If you have a tawa, an Indian skillet, use this instead.
- Let the skillet or tawa heat while you begin rolling out the roti.
- Divide the dough into 12 pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Pull off the dough to make 12 equal portions. Then, roll a piece in between the palms of your hands to make a smooth ball. Set the balls on your work surface and lay the damp cloth over them.[13]
- If you prefer, cut the dough into 12 equal pieces.
- Roll each ball into a circle. Press down on 1 ball to flatten it slightly. Dip it into a little whole-wheat flour and place it on a flat surface. Then, roll the ball into a thin circle.[14]
- Turn the dough circle as you roll it out to prevent it from sticking to your work surface.
- Place 1 circle in the skillet and cook it for 1 minute. Slowly lower 1 of the rolled pieces of dough into the hot, ungreased skillet. Let the roti cook for 1 minute so it begins to puff up in the center.[15]
- Flip the roti over and cook it for 1 more minute. Use tongs or a spatula to turn the roti over. Cook it until it blisters in a few spots and no longer looks doughy on either side.[16]
- Continue to cook the roti in the skillet 1 at a time.
- Brush the roti with melted butter or ghee. Transfer the cooked roti to a serving plate and spread some melted butter or ghee across the top. Stack the cooked roti on each other and lay a clean dry towel over them to keep them warm.
- Store the leftover roti in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Many cultures have their own unique unleavened bread. Research different cuisines for variations on unleavened bread.
- Traditionally, matzo for Passover is made in under 18 minutes.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Crisp Matzo - Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheet or pizza stone
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Rolling pin
- Pastry brush
- Fork
- Tongs
- Wire rack
[Edit]Simple Roti Flatbreads - Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Spoon
- Skillet or tawa
- Rolling pin
- Tongs or spatula
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Press Flowers Posted: 23 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT Keep beautiful flowers for years by pressing them to preserve their vibrant colors and unique shapes. You can use pressed flowers as decorative additions to cards, journals, or scrapbooks, or you can display them in frames. There are several different ways you can press flowers, from a single-day process by ironing them to a weeks-long process by using heavy books or a wooden press. Whichever way you choose, you'll be able to enjoy pressed flowers for a long time to come. [Edit]Cutting and Preparing the Flowers - Choose fresh flowers that don't have any morning dew on them. Use flowers you got from a florist or the grocery store, or pick your own from a garden. If you do pick your own, cut them in the morning after the morning dew has evaporated and avoid picking them on rainy days—you want them to be as dry as possible. Flowers with flat blooms, like violets, daisies, and shrub roses, are the easiest to press, but you can also use thicker blooms, like peonies and orchids.[1]
- Avoid using really thick flowers, like impatiens and begonias. They're so thick that they generally start to get moldy before they actually dry out.
- Trim the stems to the size that you want for your project. This is totally up to you and what you want to use the flowers for. Keep in mind that you can always trim away more of the stem after the flowers have been pressed, but you can't add more length to them once they've been cut.[2]
- If you're mainly interested in preserving the actual bloom, trim the stem down to .
- Remove low-hanging or scraggly leaves that remain on the stem. Use a pair of sharp scissors to trim away the leaves as close to the stem as possible rather than just plucking them off. If you want, leave a few leaves in place for the aesthetic.[3]
- If you aren't sure which look you prefer, try drying one flower that has a few leaves left on the stem along with one flower that has been completely trimmed.
- Cut thick flowers in half so they can be dried flat. Orchids, peonies, and roses are notoriously hard to press because they are so thick. Use a pair of scissors or a sharp knife to cut the bloom and stem in half lengthwise. Lay the flower down on a flat surface and cut away half of the bloom, using a motion similar to how you would cut an apple in half. Do your best to cut the stem in half equally, too. If you make an even enough cut, you could use both sides of the flower in your pressing.[4]
- It's okay if the actual cut doesn't look perfect or if there are little bits of petals left on the backside of the flower. Those imperfections won't be visible after the flower has been pressed.
- Store flowers you aren't ready to use in the fridge for 2-3 days. If you prep your flowers and realize you aren't ready to start pressing them for whatever reason, keep them fresh in the fridge. Put them into a plastic, resealable bag.[5]
- This also comes in handy if you find flowers you want to press while you're traveling. You can keep them in the fridge until you go back home.
- If you don't have access to a fridge, keep them in a cooler or somewhere similar to try and preserve them until you can press them.
[Edit]Using Heavy Books - Place the prepared flowers between 2 sheets of parchment paper. The parchment paper is used to absorb excess moisture from the flowers as they dry out. Arrange the flowers so that none of their petals, leaves, or stems overlap.[6]
- If you don't have parchment paper, you could also use coffee filters to the same effect.
- Set the sheets between the pages of a heavy book. Use a book that is large enough to completely cover the flowers. If there are ends sticking out from the pages of the book, they won't get pressed. Put the flowers toward the back of the book so that the bulk of the book's weight will rest on top of the flowers.[7]
- Make sure to choose a book that you won't need to use over the next several weeks.
- Stack on 2 to 3 more books to provide extra weight. Again, choose heavy books to provide the most weight. Stack them somewhere they won't get knocked into easily.[8]
- You could also use bricks instead of books for the same effect.
- Leave the flowers alone for 1 to 2 weeks to allow them to dry out fully. Set a reminder on your calendar to check the flowers after a few weeks have passed to see if they're done. They should feel like fine tissue paper. If they aren't done yet, carefully shut them back into the book for another week to continue pressing them.[9]
- It takes less time to press flowers with heavy books than if you were to use a wooden flower press because there is considerably more weight being applied from the books.
[Edit]Making a Wooden Flower Press - Buy or cut two pieces of wood. Making your own flower press doesn't take a long time and gives you a designated press so you won't have to scrounge around trying to find heavy books or bricks. Each piece of wood should be thick. You can use plywood or other scraps of wood.[10]
- If you visit your local home improvement store, you may be able to find scraps of wood for sale that can be used for your press.
- If you are cutting your own pieces of wood, you can make your press any shape or size that you want. Some people prefer round presses, while some want a smaller or bigger press, depending on how many flowers they need to dry at one time. A press can hold anywhere from 10-20 blooms, just depending on what kinds of flowers you are pressing.
- Place the prepared flowers between 2 pieces of parchment paper. Arrange your flowers on a piece of parchment paper so that they aren't overlapping at all. Set another piece of parchment paper over the top of the flowers and press down lightly with your hands.[11]
- Sandwich the parchment paper between 2 pieces of cardboard. Use pieces of cardboard that are at least as big, if not bigger, than the pieces of parchment paper. Choose clean, dry cardboard to prevent introducing any unneeded dampness or bacteria to your flowers.[12]
- The cardboard just helps provide another semi-absorbent layer for the flowers. Because this method takes about a month to complete, it's important that all the moisture from the flowers has somewhere else to go so they dry completely.
- Put the cardboard between the 2 pieces of wood. Arrange the wood so that the corners line up as perfectly as possible. If you need to reposition one of them, lift it up and set it back down rather than moving it while it's in contact with the cardboard, as this could shift the flowers underneath and ruin their positioning.[13]
- Secure each corner of the press together with a c-clamp. With c-clamps, one side of the clamp stays stationary and the other side can be adjusted by turning the handle to move the screw up or down. Open each clamp wide enough to fit the pieces of wood. Start by positioning one clamp over a corner of the press. Adjust the screw mechanism to bring the sides of the clamp together as tight as possible. Repeat this with the other 3 clamps.[14]
- Visit your local home improvement store or shop online for your c-clamps. You don't need to get anything fancy, so you should be able to find these clamps for about $5 a piece.
- If you bought a wooden press rather than making one yourself, there should be bolts for you to utilize rather than having to use clamps.
- Let the flowers dry for about 30 days. Resist undoing the press and checking on your flowers until at least 3 weeks have passed. If you do, it could disturb the flowers and make it hard to get them back into the same position so that they dry perfectly. To be safe, wait 30 days before opening the clamps and removing the flowers.[15]
- If you have more flowers you want to press in the meantime, use a second press or one of the other pressing methods so you don't disturb the ones that are in process.
- This is one of the more time-intensive methods because it doesn't use much weight or heat to press the flowers. If you want to speed up the pressing time, add a few bricks or books on top of the wood.
[Edit]Heating the Flowers with an Iron - Flatten the flowers with a heavy book to start the pressing process. While you're getting the rest of your supplies ready, simply set the prepared flowers underneath a large book. This will make it easier to iron because they won't be as thick as they were when you cut them.[16]
- You could do this 1 to 2 days in advance, or just 10 minutes before ironing. The more time the flower has to flatten, the easier it'll be to iron. Use sheets of parchment paper between the book and flowers if you're concerned about the book being exposed to moisture.
- Empty all water from your iron and turn it on to the lowest setting. The last thing you want when ironing your flowers is any kind of moisture or steam, so take a minute to empty out the water tank and don't refill it. Plug in the iron and switch the setting to the lowest, driest heat setting available.[17]
- You may be tempted to use higher heat to make the process go even faster, but high heat could burn the flowers and turn them brown, making them lose their beautiful color.
- Put the flowers between 2 pieces of parchment paper on the ironing board. Get your ironing station set up and put a piece of parchment paper down on top of it. Arrange the flowers so that they aren't overlapping at all; otherwise, they could adhere together. Set another piece of parchment paper on top of the flowers.[18]
- Avoid moving the paper once it is in place so the flowers don't shift at all.
- Hold the iron down on top of the flowers for 10 seconds. Simply hold the iron still rather than moving it back and forth like you would if you were ironing a garment. If the parchment paper is larger than the iron, work in sections by lifting the iron up and then setting it back down on the next part that needs to be ironed.[19]
- If you leave the iron on the flowers for too long, they will burn, so make sure to count the time and remove the iron after 10 to 15 seconds at the most.
- Let the paper cool completely before you repeat the ironing process. Remove the iron after 10 seconds and let the parchment paper cool off for 15 to 20 seconds, or just until it is cool to the touch. This will help prevent the flowers from burning from accidentally being exposed to the heat for too long.[20]
- Iron the flowers in 10-second increments until all the moisture is gone. It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes total to press your flowers unless you're using really thick blooms, like peonies or orchids. To check the flowers, gently lift the top sheet of parchment paper and touch the blooms. If they feel papery thin and dry, they're done! If they are still retaining moisture, keep ironing them.[21]
- Don't forget to unplug the iron when you're done and refill the water tank so it's ready to go the next time you need to use it on your clothes.
[Edit]Displaying Pressed Flowers in a Glass Frame - Assemble a collection of pressed flowers that you'd like to display. This can be any combination of flowers and greenery that you think look nice together. For a minimalistic look, you could choose just a few special blooms to use. If you'd like something that looks more plentiful, use upwards of 10 to 15 flowers (or more!) for your frame.[22]
- Don't be afraid to mix-and-match colors and types of flowers.
- Wipe down the glass frame to remove any fingerprints or smudges. Before you add any flowers to the frame, clean the glass inside and outside so that you start your project with a clean slate. Use a window or glass cleaner and a soft microfiber towel so that there is no lint left behind.[23]
- For this project, you can use a glass frame that hangs or that can be propped up, just depending on where you'd like to put it once it's done.
- You can buy glass frames online, from your local art supplies store, or from a lot of home goods stores, too.
- Arrange the flowers before attaching them to the glass. Play around with the placement of the flowers before using the tape to adhere them to the frame. You could arrange them from largest to smallest, in rows, or without any order at all.[24]
- If needed, use scissors to trim stems or cut a flower down to the right size.
- Some people like to add a piece of patterned scrapbook paper to the frame to act as a background for the flowers. You can do this if you want, or you can leave the glass frame as it is so it's see-through.
- Use small pieces of double-sided tape to attach the flowers to the glass. Once you know where you'd like each bloom to be, stick a really small piece of double-sided tape to the back of each bloom and press it firmly, but gently, into place on the glass. The bigger the flower, the bigger the piece of tape you can use; try to not use so much that the tape is visible when you're looking down at the flower, though.[25]
- If you're having trouble ripping off small enough pieces of tape, use scissors to cut a longer piece of tape into small sections.
- Close the frame and hang it up to enjoy your handiwork. After all the flowers are secured into place, you're almost finished! Simply secure the two sides of the frame together, and then either hang it up, display it on a desk or table, or give it away as a gift.[26]
- This is a great way to make a keepsake for yourself or someone else.
- For a really quick flower pressing process, buy a special microwave press online.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Cutting and Preparing the Flowers - Sharp scissors
- Airtight bag (optional)
[Edit]Using Heavy Books - Parchment paper
- 3 to 4 heavy books
- Tweezers
[Edit]Making a Wooden Flower Press - 2 pieces of wood
- Parchment paper
- Cardboard
- 4 c-clamps
[Edit]Heating the Flowers with an Iron - Heavy book
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Parchment paper
[Edit]Displaying Pressed Flowers in a Glass Frame - Pressed flowers
- Double-sided tape
- Scissors
- Glass picture frame
- Glass cleaner
- Microfiber towel
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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