creative jewish mom

Metallic Crepe Paper Flowers: Fabulous Anytime!

These metallic crepe paper flowers are simple to make and yet look great, singly or in a bouquet. Use them in your Succah, on your fall table or to brighten up your home this winter!

You'll Need: 

• Metallic Crepe Paper
• Floral Wire (or any medium weight wire you have on hand)
• Beaded trim (optional)

Note: You can use just about any crepe or tissue paper for this project, though heavy crepe paper (made for paper flower making) works the best as it holds its shape! In Israel this paper is widely available in silver, gold, bronze and creme and is called "niyar l'prachim." A friend of mine did locate some in Brooklyn, but it's not as widely available in the United States for some strange reason. (Especially given the vast quantity of art supplies that are available!)

Directions:

1. Cut two long rectangular pieces of  crepe paper, and lay one on top of the other.
2. Working with the two sheets together, accordion fold the rectangle, so that there are at least 8 folds, measuring roughly 3/4" width each. (More folds than 8 may result in a flower that is too tight, unless it is very large.) Make sure metallic side of paper is on the outside!
3. Wrap the floral wire around the center of the accordion fold and twist the wire on itself.
4. Trim both ends of the accordion on the red dotted lines, in diagram below.
5. Carefully open flower, pulling folds apart gently, and separating the upper layer from the lower. Continue to shape flower until it looks open and beautiful.
6. You can make flowers in a variety of sizes and use two different colors for top and bottom layer of paper.
7. Using hot glue, glue a small piece of beaded trim, shaped in a spiral, over the exposed wire at the center. Alternately, one can glue on a small piece of curled paper, a few sequins or a collection of beads. (I did not do this in the photo above, as you can see!)

Other uses for crepe paper flowers:

• Instead of a bow as an elegant topper on a wrapped present
• Wrapped around a napkin as a napkin ring
• Twisted around chandeliers and sconces where possible
• As a pin, bracelet or hair ornament for a flower girl
• Try making some from stiffened fabric, they might be great!

Another Version Of The Polyhedron Globe: Stenciled!

Some of you may find these photos a bit familiar, as back in August when I was encouraging everyone to work on Succah decorations, I posted a project showing you how to make solid colored polyhedrons. You can see that post here.

I mentioned that I had created a version of the polyhedrons using stencils. Now that we've lowered the Succah decorations boxes from the attic, I've finally been able to photograph them to share with you!

Please don't be daunted by the diagrams, once you get the hang of these they really aren't difficult. I created these by simply stencilling with paint on flat cereal box cardboard and then cutting out the circles per the instructions in the previous post. And once you've got lots of circles with patterns from different stencils, you can mix and match if you like! Children as young as 6 or 7 years old can handle paint and stencils, but give them a dense sponge to apply the paint rather than the traditional stencil brush. Have fun!

Cut Paper Medallions: Quick And Gorgeous Last Minute Holiday Decorations!

Cut paper medallions in a range of colors, sizes and designs, and layer them! It's that simple.

Some of you may remember this project! Yes, it was one of my first posts when a I started this blog about 4 months ago, (see original post and more photos here) but at the time I did not post detailed instructions. Now that Succot is almost here, I thought I'd give you the chance to make some of these stunning medallions as a quick alternative for some festive last minute decorations. I'll be making some myself too!

You'll Need:

• large and small squares of colored paper, thin origami-like paper is easiest to work with
• glue stick or white glue
• clear contact paper (optional)
• scissors

How To:

1. Follow the folding diagrams below and learn how to make a medallion before you get started. Experiment with all kinds of cuts, and see which shapes you like the best.
2. Cut squares from your colored paper and following the instructions below, start making medallions in all shapes and sizes.
3. Layer medallions (adhere with glue, brushed on for larger layers) of different sizes and colors for the most stunning results.
4. If you like, sandwich medallions between clear contact paper and cut around outside of shape to remove extra contact paper. This step makes the medallions much stronger more suited for hanging.

• A. Fold square in half on dotted line.
• B. Fold triangle in half on dotted line.
• C. Fold triangle in half again on dotted line.
• D. Fold triangle on dotted line.
• E. Your folded shape should look like this.

F. Now is the fun part, the surprise of what results after you cut off the top triangle by cutting on the top red line,  and giving the medallion interest depending on what shapes you choose to cut out from the sides. Have fun, and to duplicate a result that you love, fold the medallion back up and trace the outlines of the cut outs onto another folded triangle.

Today Is Yom Kippur.

Today is Yom Kippur, and though this post appears, I am not at the computer today. I am observing one of the most  important days on the Jewish calender!

May you and your family be blessed with a Gmar Chatima Tova!  Written and sealed in the book of life for a year of good health, a positive outlook, gratefulness, boundless joy and of course, creative fulfillment!

I look forward to sharing with you in the coming year, and wish each and every one of you the very best!

Make Gorgeous Decorations Using Wide Sateen Ribbon!

I recently came up with these elegant decorations for a magazine article, and now I can finally share them with you! I have often gazed upon colorful spools of simple sateen ribbon and thought to myself "how simply lovely". Then it occured to me, why not cut up the ribbon as if it were paper? And thus was born the idea for these ornaments. These could be great for your Succah, homemade wedding or just about any occasion!

Ribbon Flower Garland (bottom)—You'll Need: 

• 2" Wide basic sateen ribbon in aqua and light green
• Magenta or lavender curling ribbon
• Lavender sequins
• Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Directions:

1. Cut flowers from 2" wide turquoise ribbon using the folding and cutting technique at bottom of post.
2. Cut leaves by accordian-folding  a strip of green ribbon and then cutting through all the layers to produce many leaves
3. With hot glue, join leaves to underside of flowers and affix  sequins by placing 3 sequins on top of a small drop of hot glue.
4. Glue flowers to ribbon, varying angle and placement.

Ribbon Flower Ball (left)— You'll Need: 

• 6"Diameter Styrofoam ball
• 2" Wide basic sateen ribbon
• (in aqua and light green)
• Lavender sequins
• Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Directions:

1. Cut flowers from 2" wide turquoise ribbon using the folding and cutting technique at bottom of post.
2. Cut lengths of green ribbon the diameter of the ball. Separate each piece of ribbon into 3 strips along width.
3. Attach lengths of ribbon with hot glue. Start at top of ball, glue in place, wrap ribbon around half of ball to bottom, secure with glue and bring back up to starting point. Cover entire ball in this manner.
4. Glue flowers to ball, leaving the bottom empty. Place a drop of hot glue in the center of each flower and gently lay 3 sequins in glue.
5. Attach ribbon loop for hanging with hot glue.

Striped Ribbon Ball With Sequins (right)

Follow basic directions above, but use 2" styrofoam ball, and thin strips of ribbon. Alternate strips of aqua and green ribbon as you fill the ball with strips. Use hot glue to adhere a line of sequins around the ball.

Ribbon Flowers How-To:

• A. Fold square in half on dotted line.
• B. Fold triangle in half on dotted line.
• C. Fold triangle in half on dotted line.
• D. Fold triangle on dotted line.
• E. Shape should look like this. Cut on red line, and unfold to reveal a sweet little flower!

Make A Stunning Fall Centerpiece Using Apples And Plums!

When I was packing my bags a few weeks ago to travel out of the country for my nephew's bar mitzvah I slipped in some of my favorite crafting paper — metallic crepe paper. I thought maybe I could make a few flowers for the dessert buffet or something. Little did I know that I'd have the honor of embellishing all the arrangements for the tables! And to my great pleasure, the results, (after a bit of experimenting) though totally unplanned on my part, were stunning and so very in keeping with the style of the hall. I was so happy to have had the opportunity to make a contribution to this joyful event!  (As well as the added benefit of bringing home photos of a project worthy of sharing with you.)

The nice thing about this project is that it's suited to just about any occasion, from wedding to holiday dinner. And a few of these arrangements placed on a buffet or entryway table would be very festive as well as elegant.

You'll Need:

• a glass vase
• glass ice cubes or marbles
• fall fruit, such as apples and plums
• a candle that will sit in the mouth of the vase
• metallic ribbon
• metallic crepe paper in silver and gold
• floral wire
• small beaded trim

How To:

Instructions to be posted later today, right now I'm totally jet lagged and falling asleep at the blog wheel!

Use An Iron Candle Chandelier As A Base For Decorations

Got any candle chandeliers hanging around that you're not using? Guess what? They can be perfect bases for hanging a collection of decorations in your Succah!  (In the photo above, the red balls are sitting where cups for candles once sat.)

I really don't expect that a whole lot of you really do have a candle chandelier collecting dust, rather this is an example of creative re-use. Look around and see if you can find something interesting to use as a part of your Succah decor. For example, hoops of any kind can be used as the base for hanging ornaments in a circle. Got a hoola hoop in the garage? Cover it by wrapping strips of fabric around its entire perimeter and you've got yourself a giant hoop! You see, giving things a new life isn't so hard, you just need to look at the world in a slightly different way!

And finding a great use for something that was about to end up in the garbage is a great feeling. Let me know what you come up with!

An Elegant and Minimal Succah Feels Like A Palace!

These are photos of my Succah last year. Quite different from the colorful and ethnic Succah I showed you yesterday, and refreshingly simple yet elegant.  Two Moroccan lanterns wired with warm flourescent bulbs, sheer gold-striped fabric hung in strips between the rafters and a few other decorative touches make a minimal yet complete Succah.

Yes, to be fair,I do have the distinct advantage of possessing the ideal Succah for a look like this: a small courtyard enclosed by four tall walls. But if your Succah is enclosed with Succah boards or panels, so why not paint them creme?

And don't forget to complete your look with a beautiful tablecloth and interesting centerpiece, and take photos to share with me!

A Colorful Succah Makes The Holiday Special!

We've ushered in the Jewish New Year, and we now find ourselves smack in the middle of the busy Fall holiday season! So tighten your seat belts, we've got a lot of crafting to do here!

We have just over a week until Yom Kippur, and just four days after that Succos will be knocking on our door!  We will be celebrating Succos by dwelling in the Succah for seven days (pure heaven!) and then we move directly into the lesser known holidays of Simchas Torah and Shemini Atzeret! Phew!

In case your head is already spinning, let me focus you a bit: Get to work on your Succah plans and decorations now! A Succah is a great place to experiment with bright colors and bold patterns that you might be afraid to use in your home, so have fun and pile on the color!

Today and tomorrow I'm going to show you a few photos of some of my own Succahs in the past. I hope you'll be inspired to make your Succah something truly special this year!

  

Paper Bunting Banners In All Shapes And Sizes: Great Anytime Or As Last Minute Succah Decorations!

Bunting banners are all the rage on the crafting scene, and for good reason! They have a wonderful vintage charm, and are so easy to make, whether you prefer to sew them from your favorite fabric, or craft them from paper. While most of the bunting banners I've seen are constructed from flags in one size only, I decided to experiment with a mixture of paper flags in different sizes and shapes, and the results are so festive and charming, I think I'll be making a lot more of these in the future!

Bunting banners are great Succah decorations, whether strung across the Succah or used to decorate the walls, you can customize them in so many ways. Make a string of flags to welcome the Ushpizin, or even spell out a holiday greeting. You can decorate your whole Succah in no time, and the results will be fun and festive. Or if you have a few blank walls in your home calling out for something decorative, why not string up a few of these?

You'll Need:

• Paper or light weight cardboard
• flat curling ribbon (or string)
• metallic round stickers (optional)
• glue or tape

How To:

1. Experiment with the size and shape of the flags you'd like to make
2. Make a templates from cardboard of your favorite shapes and make sure to include a flap at the top for folding over your string or ribbon.
3. Trace around template onto paper and cut out flags individually, or if paper is thin enough, fold paper a few times in order to cut out a few flags at a time.
4. Decorate flags with words or designs
5. Attach flags to ribbon or string by folding flap over ribbon and securing with glue or tape.
6. Hang your creations and stand back and enjoy!