creative jewish mom

Summer Crafts For Kids: Sculpting With Paper Strips!

Here's a nice spur of the moment craft to get your kids interested in three-dimensional thinking. I was thinking modern art sculpture, while my five year old was thinking tunnels. And actually his version was more practical as he then used it together with some Playmobile figures and cars! A whole city to use with a train set would be wonderful! I whipped up the version below to give you an idea of what I had in mind for the project, modern art of course.

There are so many possibilities with just some strips of paper, tape and a base of some kind! And how about some weaving with the left-over strips? Or get out the paints and paint a backdrop for the sculptures for a really complete project!

You'll Need:

• Strips of heavy paper, preferably pre-cut by a parent
• Tape, I used electrical tape which is good for kids, but honestly it is lacking the necessary tackiness to keep some of the pieces adhered. I had to add some hot glue to the tunnel to keep it intact.
• A base of some kind, cardboard, a shoebox, a piece of styrofoam

For those of you looking to keep kids occupied this summer, I'd make a calender/list of possible projects/activities and make sure to have the supplies on hand. Do a new project each day, and by the end of summer you'll have some budding artists! (Or there is a chance that some may never want to set eyes on art supplies again, but that goes with the territory, and hopefully doesn't describe any of your children. Good luck!) And not to worry, I'm here with you, with lots of fun projects to come!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

I don't know about you, but I'm nearly out of breath from all the amazing creativity happening here each week. And now it's time for some more inspiration, so we'll just have to make room somewhere!

Who wouldn't want to add this super cute reversible bonnet from prudentbaby to their list of sewing projects? And masteringeverydaycrafts has yet another great project to share, nesting fabric containers! I could definitely use some of these.

Polkadotpineapple shares this super cute cupcake which actually opens up to hold a treat or a gift! And these felt strawberries from pinktea are so wonderful I'm actually really tempted to make some myself. And they'd look so cute hanging don't you think?

This birthday calender/reminder from mysideoftheroom is such a great idea, and this little crocheted cupcake from Rachel over at crochetspot is so simple and sweet, a great applique for just about anything.

Isn't this pillow lovely? You can make one too with this great tutorial over a VandCo. And Disney from rufflesandstuff is so talented, even her pacifier clips are works of art!

I just loved learning about kazakhstan cradles (real and doll-sized) over at mymommymakesit, and for a really big craft project, how about a wonderful tree house built around a tree from lifeaslori? I could go for one myself!

Aren't you glad you made room for these wonderful projects? I know I am! And now, let the party begin!

© 2009-2010 Inlinkz.com |

A Tzimmer Near The Sea! (A Quaint Cabin North Of Nahariya)

 

Tzimmer means room in Yiddish, but in vernacular Hebrew it's more like a bed and breakfast, often without the breakfast. Northern Israel is ideal for those seeking to "get away" and there are many many tzimmers dotting the gorgeous rolling hills. On our trip to Nahariya (here) which I told you about last week, we stayed in a rustic tzimmer on a the Lemen yeshuv (farming community) just north of Nahariya. I though you might like a little glimpse of our tropical/woodsy getaway, envision Hawaii meets Bavaria!

Vases filled with fresh cut roses from the garden! (I'm dreaming of my own cutting garden....alack, alas)

Glass bells.......

Outdoor dining, amidst banana trees.......

Hibiscus growing on bushes.....Jacaranda in bloom......

Wood scrap craft and authentic farm equipment.....

More Jacaranda in bloom, I just love Jacaranda can you tell? And passion fruit growing wild on hedges.
And lots and lots of bananas, and more bananas, everywhere. Apparently they do well in this lovely spot by the sea. I think I could do quite well here too!

A Creative And Inspiring Container Garden

Does this appeal to you? I've been keeping my eye on this tiny oasis for some time now and finally had a chance to take a few photos. There's just something so inspiring about this combination of recycled containers, interesting plant choices and the fact that this container garden was created right on the street! (Only in Israel, but you gotta love it!)

Getting inspired?

Lovely! A few plants, a rusted metal box or two, some stones, a little bit of creative staging and you too could create something wonderful from almost nothing. I highly recommend it!

And now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go sit in the corner and cry over the fact that I've been neglecting my own container garden. Just kidding, but with all the crafting going on lately my plants haven't been getting the attention they could use in order to flourish. Gotta lay down the glue gun and start gardening!

My Daughter's Sweet Matchbox Dresser.

I have wanted to do this project myself for years! How many exactly I really don't know, but I'm now happy to say that I can live vicariously through my almost-eight year old daughter. (I think it's okay in this case, don't you?) She was looking for a project to do today but kept picking things that would have required too much help from mom. So when she decided on this one, I was more than happy to empty out six new matchboxes and give her some of my prized fabrics to choose from. And best of all, she was really happy with the results! So save those matchboxes for this sweet project, or empty out some new ones, it's worth it!

ps: The pink gingham shirt that you've seen over and over (if you're paying attention), is her school uniform!

You'll Need:

• matchboxes
• white glue
• fabric or decorative paper
• shank buttons or large beads for drawer pulls
• hot glue or high tack craft glue to attach buttons or beads

How To:

1. Glue together two stacks of three matchboxes each.
2. Glue together the two stacks.
3. Remove drawers and set the frame aside to dry.
4. Cover drawer fronts with fabric or paper. Brush glue onto front panel, lay paper or fabric onto glue and trim.
5. Once front panels are dry, use hot glue or high tack craft glue to attach button or bead handles
6. Cover entire base with fabric or paper, working one panel at a time, but overlapping and folding under fabric for neatness.
7. Set aside to dry.
8. Fill with small treasures or little notes to a friend!

Fun Button Covered Wine Glasses For Your Next Party!

Isn't this sweet? You could make a bunch of these, or just one like I did for my most recent birthday boy. I really like the idea of a special glass for the birthday child, (and he was thrilled) and it works quite nicely with our birthday chair cover (here)! So whip out the brand of epoxy you know and love, and if you don't know or love any of those extra strength toxic glues, so ask at the hardware store. Crafters in the US seem to love some brand with the number 2000 in it.

And for practicality, I would recommend not covering the rim for ease of cleaning and comfort of drinking. and yes, gluing things to a round surface does take some patience unless you can find a super tacky glue wherein the buttons won't slide around like mine did! I worked in sections, with the glass lying down, turning the glass after the buttons on top seemed to be adhered. Of course the results are so cute, a bit of futzing around is worth it!

Make Your Own Watercolors: A Great Activity For All Ages!

Doesn't this look irresistible? It is! And you can get started on this fun activity right away, using supplies that you most likely have in your pantry. Okay, you may not have light corn syrup (I certainly didn't) but you can substitute glucose syrup which you can cook up yourself with some regular old sugar! (Boil 2 cups sugar with 1 cup of water until you have a clear syrup.) And I'm happy to say that I can now cross one thing off the list of things I told you to save for upcoming projects (here), as tea-light holders are perfect little water-color paint pots, practically and aesthetically!

Make the water colors by mixing up a batch of white base, and then add drops of food color to mix the colors of your choice. It's a wonderful exercise in color mixing and the colors look so lovely that it's bound to produce lots of oohs and ahhhs. At least that is what happened over at our place, and we were even without blue food coloring (not commonly stocked in my local store, very smart of them, just that we weren't planning on eating it!)

And though mixing up the colors is great, getting to paint with them is wonderful too. Especially if your kids haven't been exposed to water colors (as mine haven't, gasp!) Just don't make the mistake I did and start by drawing with a pen and filling in! Show them photos of accomplished water color artist's work and encourage free form painting. (Like the one on the upper right, which my daughter did after I showed her my version, below. And she wouldn't believe me that hers is better, mine is much too studied!)

And if even my reluctant artist drew the houses and got as far as painting the roofs (on his second picture), so I can guarantee you this is a winner! I should say that the paints do dry a bit chalky, (and sparkly!) and I really can't vouch for them archivally speaking. If of course a masterpiece results with your homemade watercolors, you may want to consider spraying them with fixative, and as with all water color paintings, do not display in bright light and never in direct sun.

The Homemade Water Color Recipe:

• 3 tbsp baking soda
• 3 tbsp cornstarch (cornflour/kornflor in Israel)
• 3 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp light corn syrup
• food coloring, add sparingly to individual pots
• watercolor paper, you know like that $2 pad you've been saving for 7 years (just like me!)

This batch was more than enough for one mom and three kids, but if you have a bigger group,  you may want to double the recipe. You can let the paints dry out after use and add just a bit of water to re-use. You may have to mix the paints while in use, as the white base tends to settle. Enjoy!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Thanks for dropping by my weekly crafty linking party! I'm so happy and proud to say that I've got some more super projects to share with you this week, and I think there's really something for everyone! Enjoy and please join the party and share something you've created lately!

Aren't these crocheted birds just the cutest? You can be sure I'll be making some soon! Thanks to attic24, and check out her blog for lots of colorful crochet projects, really inspiring!

Aren't these crepe paper flowers from the bride'scafe simply gorgeous? Another project to add to my to-do list, along with this simple tree art by maryjane'sandgaloshes. Even if you don't have the tree trunk punch that she used, you could cut your own pretty quickly! Too sweet!

Amy of heynowwhoanow was inspired by faux bois (wood grain) to make this oh-so-simple and yet stunning piece of art, and I just love this messenger bag that Susan of 3punkmom whipped up from some pillow covers!

Got someone graduating soon? Hop on over to Birdcrafts to download the graphics for these cute party flags. And if you love old furniture so you'll probably be just as excited as I was by this tutorial from Rory at toolsareforwomentoo (our token male participant here on CJM) on how to re-cane (with rush) those worn out chair bottoms. It looks actually pretty simple! Thanks Rory! Anyone know where to get rush in Israel?

I just love this shadow box project from childhoodmagic and can't wait to try it with my little ones! And another day I think we will take a cue from my friend Tali at matzoballsoup and her woven newspaper basket project. This is going to be a great week!

© 2009-2010 Inlinkz.com |

A Visit To Nahariya, A Beach Town In the Far North of Israel!

Where in the world is this? It could be so many places, Florida? Los Angeles? Nice? Wrong, it's Nahariya, a clean beachy town on the Northern coast of Israel. My husband and I took an overnight trip to visit some friends and see some water! Ahhhh! Nahariya is just down the coast from Rosh HaNikra, a beautiful spot that I visited a few months back, here.

I just loved these cement balls on the pedestrian walkway next to the beach, and the empty beach!

In the touristy area next to the beach, you won't find Coney Island hot dogs, but you will find hot corn, french crepes and shaved ice!

You might find pansies planted on the beach. and don't be surprised by the huge rubber trees, you know, the same kind you have in a pot indoors!

And just thought you should know, that if you order an iced coffee in Nahariya, it comes with a scoop of icecream and a cherry on top. Probably not what you expected, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it just the same as you watch the sun set over the Mediterranean!

Crocheting With Yarn And Jute: Make A Fun Portable Vase (Cover) Or A Water Bottle Holder

There is something about my latest little crochet project that just makes me so happy! You may or may not feel the same way, but let me tell you why I think it's so wonderful. First of all, I actually set out to make a water bottle holder, not a vase cover, so this metamorphosis was a surprise all together, which is in itself fun. Secondly, as a water bottle holder I really didn't like it at all, (plus I made it too wide) but as a vase I love it enough to even put on my dining room table! Thirdly, I used someone elses's pattern for inspiration,
but added my own twist by combining yarn and jute (a roll of brown string from the hardware store) and adding a row of shell stitch at the end for a delicate/decorative touch.

This is the perfect look for bunches of wildflowers and would be great to take along on a trip or to your country cabin or campsite this summer! Just place a container (a jar or can or plastic bottle cut to the correct height) on the inside once you arrive at your destination! I was also thinking that it would make a great gift for someone in the hospital (hopefully for good reasons.....). Flowers given in vases can sometimes be a burden to take home— this one can be packed flat once the flowers have seen better days. And you could make a bunch for a large event (how about a DIY crafty wedding?) and store them afterwards without the need for lots of space!

You'll Need:

• inexpensive acrylic yarn, sport weight or worsted weight (or something else if you feel like it)
• jute string or any thick string you feel like trying out (the jute is a bit course, so for a water bottle you might want to try a cotton string or something a bit softer than my choice)
• a crochet hook that enables you to crochet with two strands you've chosen, I used a 7mm (L?) hook
• imagination: to transform your project into something that works for y0u!

Pattern:

Rnd 1: ch 2, 10 double crochet in 2nd ch from hook, slip st to first double crochet.

Rnd 2: ch 2 ( this did not count as the first double crochet) 2 double crochet in each st around, sl st into back loop of first ch2

Rnd 3: ch 2, double crochet in same st, *2 double crochet in next st, double crochet in next st, repeat from * around, sl st into back loop of first ch2.

Rnd 4: ch2, dc in same st and in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, sl st into back loop of first ch2.

Note: Check diameter of your work to see if this is the desired size, if you'd like to make it wider, add more rows by adding a double crochet stitch between the "2 dc in next st" for each consecutive row. If it's too wide, so unravel a row!

Round 5 is the first row of the side of the vase/water bottle holder:

Rnd 5: ch1, sc in same st and around in back loop for this row, sl st to first sc

Rnd 6: ch 1, sc in same st, *ch2 skip next st, sc in next st, continue from * around, sl st into back loop of first sc
Rnd 7: sl st into ch 2 sp, ch 2, dc in same sp, *ch 2, skip next st, dc in next sp, around. Sl st into back loop of first ch2. Continue crocheting consecutive rows in this manner until you've reached the desired height.

For Shell Trim (for Vase): In first stitch of last rnd: *sc,2 hdc,dc,2hdc,sc, skip next stitch and repeat from *around. If your stitch count doesn't end correctly so skip two stitches before the last shell.

For Strap:Crochet a chain the length of desired strap, and add rows lengthwise with hdc to achieve desired width. Attach strap  to inside or outside a few rows from the top. Add a drawstring by weaving a piece of ribbon or crocheted chain through one of the top rows.

Enjoy, and send me photos of your creations!