Diwali DIY: Paint a Canvas Toran and Potli Return Gifts

A hand-painted toran at the door and a painted potli in every guest’s hand: these two projects make Diwali feel handmade without weeks of work. Both use plain cotton canvas, take an afternoon, and suit families, workshops and small businesses selling festive décor.

Project 1: a hand-painted canvas toran

You will need

• Blank natural canvas toran (₹349)
• Fabric or acrylic paint with fabric medium: red, yellow, orange, green, white and gold
• Flat and round brushes, a fine liner
• Optional: mirrors, beads, gota lace and fabric glue

Steps

1. Iron the toran flat and lay it on newspaper.
2. Plan the pattern: marigold flowers, diyas, mango leaves, Om or Shubh Labh along the top band.
3. Sketch lightly in pencil.
4. Paint the base colours of each motif and let them dry.
5. Add details: petal lines, flame highlights, dots of gold.
6. Embellish with mirrors or beads once the paint is dry.
7. Heat-set from the reverse with an iron on the cotton setting.

Hang it with small hooks or removable tape. Painted torans can be used year after year; store them flat.

Project 2: hand-painted potli return gifts

You will need

• Plain potli bags, 7 × 5 inch, beige or black (₹349 for 6)
• Fabric paints and fine brushes
• Fillers: dry fruits, sweets, diyas, chocolates

Design ideas

• A single diya with “Happy Diwali” in gold.
• Rangoli dot patterns around the base.
• Each guest’s initial in a painted circle.
• On black potlis: gold and white line-art only, which looks elegant with no base layer.

Budget for 25 guests

Item	Packs	Cost
Potli bags (set of 6, ₹349)	5 (30 potlis)	₹1,745
Paints and brushes		about ₹400–600
Canvas cost per guest		about ₹70

Carts with 4 or more products get 10% off automatically, which brings the potli cost down further.

Make it a Diwali workshop

A “paint your toran” workshop 1–2 weeks before Diwali is easy to sell: guests leave with décor for their own door. Offer a potli as an add-on. See how to run a tote bag painting workshop for pricing and promotion.

Selling Diwali décor

Painted torans and potli gift sets sell well at Diwali melas and on Instagram from early October. Start posting reels of your work 4–6 weeks before Diwali. Read building a brand on blank canvas.

Order in time

Diwali is the busiest courier season. Order blanks 2–3 weeks ahead; our festival calendar shows when to plan each festival.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wash a painted toran?

Spot-clean it, or hand wash gently in cold water after heat-setting.

Is black or beige better for Diwali potlis?

Beige shows bright colours; black makes gold and white designs stand out.

Can you print our shop name on potlis?

Yes, on bulk orders. Ask on WhatsApp for options.

Ordering in bulk? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 90999 99066 for bulk pricing. New buyers get 10% off with code VKART10, carts with 4 or more products get another 10% off automatically, and every order earns 5% cashback in your VantageKart Wallet. Shipping is free on prepaid orders across India.