creative jewish mom

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks for joining me here! Lets get this party started, as on Sunday night we will be ushering in the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur which includes a 24 hour fast and for us, an entire day spent in the synagogue which is exactly where we want to be, though of course those with young or even youngish children spend most of the day at home, arriving only possibly for the very end of the service at sun down. Okay, lets take a look at all the amazing projects from the last party!

DIY Recycled Cardboard Roosters Craft For Yom Kippur

Pulling this one out of the archives because it is just too sweet and too wonderful not to share. Make a giant cardboard rooster for Yom Kippur, and then use him any time! Give him a birthday crown? A ski hat? You got the picture, so go for it!

Ever thought about using some recycled cardboard to make some fun cardboard roosters? Truthfully, I hadn't either, but after making a black rooster and a white rooster, well I just want to make some more. I made them to use as stage props in a school play, but they'd look great in a child's room, or even in your kitchen, so have some fun and make a cardboard rooster, or two or three! Assuming you have a bit of paint on hand the rest of the supplies are basically free, so this is a budget friendly craft project as well......ah yes, and with the Jewish holiday of Purim coming, well filling the house with roosters and chickens could be quite festive, and certainly sure to bring a laugh. Okay, lets get started.......

8 Tips to Help Plan Your Financial Future

Now that it is a new year on the Jewish calender, we can use this opportunity to take steps towards a more organized and financially secure year to come! Let's do it!
 
The one thing that a pandemic and inflation have taught us, is to have substantial control over our finances. While we were recovering from the damage caused by the pandemic, there came a round of layoffs followed by inflation. Those who had not planned for a rainy day were in trouble, and financial planning must be done over a period of time. It is important to take the time to learn a few financial rules to build a healthy and secure financial future.  If you are struggling with your finances and have big goals to achieve, here are a few tips to help plan your financial future.

10 Great Gifts For The Cyclist In Your Life

Cyclists are a dedicated and passionate community, and finding the perfect gift for the cyclist in your life is a wonderful way to show your support for their love of cycling. Of course in addition to "cyclists" who pursue cycling as a sport or form of exercise, there is also a large group of folks out there that enjoy bicycling as more of a leisure activity or even a form of transportation, and of course there are many gifts for that group as well.

So whether that friend, relative or coworker is a road cyclist, mountain biker, or urban commuter, or summer "ride the bike to the beach" enthusiast, there are plenty of thoughtful gifts that can make their riding experience more enjoyable. In this article, we've curated a list of ten fantastic gifts that are sure to bring joy to any cyclist's heart. Okay, let's stop spinning our wheels on the perfect gift and check out this article!

Holiday Break: Craft Schooling Sunday Returns Next Week

Shanah Tovah, Happy New Year! Today, Sunday is Rosh HaShana, the two day Jewish New Year Holiday, so I am unplugged and will resume the party next week. It just wouldn't feel right to know that someone might be adding links to my virutal party while I'm listening to the blowing of the shofar (on sunday only this year) and praying for the well being of myself, my family, my friends, my community, and the entire world! Wishing everyone a meaningful Rosh HaShana, and inciteful ten day period leading up to the next holiday, Yom Kippur. Thanks for stopping by!

Splatter Pomegranate Last Minute Rosh HaShana Card

Yes, the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana starts tomorrow night, but there is still time to squeeze in a few last minute Rosh HaShana cards, even if you don't give them until after the holiday, which is just fine too! The 10 days betweeen Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur is also a time when we continue to wish people a "Shanah tovah" and there is also a blessing about being "sealed in the book of life" so the feather together with the pomegranite, well, it is quite perfect, since the pomegranate is a symbol for Rosh HaShana!  And of course, you could also use feathers and pomegranates as succah decor, so the more the better! Need some tips to make you own? Keep on reading.......

Apple Card Rosh HaShana Jewish New Year's Cards

Reposting this from 3 years ago and silly me, just realized that of course my son's birthday is coming up again so time to make him a card, like right now! You on the other hand may have a few days?

One of my sweet sons has a 17th birthday tomorrow, just two days shy of Rosh HaShana, and this year, unlike previous years when the men and boys travel out of town for the holiday leaving us women to bask in the freedom of just being women, ahhhh, but never mind, that is not happening this year, or so it seems, which means that for the first time in about ten years I have the chance to make a proper birthday party for my son on his actual birthday! Not all the family will have arrived back home from their various schools, but at least I can decorate!

Just in time for my birthday decor needs, my friend Amanda Evanston posted a video on her Facebook page showing how to make some artful cakes, in preparation for the opening of her private Facebook group, (to let in another batch of members, which only happens twice a year) so check out the video here, and consider treating yourself to a membership in her Insider's Group, totally amazing, and the biggest comitment you'll need to make is for a month, so given all the videos now available there, nothing lost. This is not a paid post, just spreading good news about something that could really change your art game, if you are up for it!

Okay, back to Rosh HaShana apple cake and birthday cake, which could in fact be one and the same as Rosh HaShana is the world's birthday, at least on the Jewish calendar, but available for all to celebrate, so feel free to join in! There will be honey cake and apples dipped in honey and dates and pomegranites and carrots and beets and pumpkin and leek and maybe even a fish head if you are lucky. (I just mentioned the symbolic foods we eat on the holiday.....we also eat several course festive meals and everyone listens to the blowing of the shofar, this year on Sunday only.)

Once again, I am going off on a tangent and you might like to paint some festive apples or a birthday cake, right? Okay, let's do it........

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! With the jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana coming on Friday night, we are now in the last week of the year, so it is time to get crafting whether it be Rosh HaShana cards or decorations for the holiday, or even something say, pomegranate themed, so it can be used for succot as well. My archives are packed to the brim with craft ideas, so get to work and add some joy to your holiday and to your friends and neighbors as well. Giant origami apples are so simple and make great gifts, just for example. But for now, take a look at the features from last weeks party and enjoy!

Giant Origami Apples Rosh HaShana Craft

I am reposting this giant origami apples tutorial because it is just to wonderful not to share again. Make apples to enjoy for Rosh HaShana and use as succah decorations as well! So simple and while you are at it, make a whole giant bushel full!

Origami apples are so simple to make and are the perfect craft to whip up right now! Fill a basket with them to use as a centerpiece, use them as place cards, hang them mobile style or make a bunch and scatter them around the house. (Or save this idea and gift a whole basket full to your teacher!) The best part is they look great everywhere and any where, and would make cute little Rosh HaShana gifts as well. Attach a tag that is a card and you'll surely warm the hearts of all your recipients! I used these very apples as apple centerpieces for a Rosh Chodesh party, and then a neighbor borrowed them as centerpieces for a Brit, and depending on the colors you choose they can look elegant or playful, or both. So take my advice and get crafting dear friends, the Jewish New year is in less than 3 weeks, with Succos to follow so a barrel of origami apples will serve you well, promise! And yes, you can of course make these in a smaller size and in a variety of colors to represent a wide range of fruit, as I've done here with my origami fruit, cute as can be!

The New Mediterranean Seashore Trail Starts In Rosh HaNikra, Israel

If you love hiking, Israel is full of amazing trails, both moderate and difficult, so there is something for everyone. Despite the small size of our country, there is a huge variety of experiences, from mountain, to lake, to sea, to volcanic plateaus, to rolling hills, to dessert, to red rock canyons, together with a huge range of temperatures and weather conditions as well. There is a national trail that goes from the top of Israel to the bottom, which many do in sections, and there is another famous trail called "Yam Le Yam" meaning sea to sea, which is from Naharriya to Tiberius, which even my daughter has done, as it is a two night camping experience and thus reasonable for the not so experienced. On our visit to the Rosh HaNikra seashore we discovered, via signage, that there is a new Mediterranean Seashore Trail, that starts in Rosh HaNikra, and goes to Kibbutz Zikim, (which is 150 miles) located in the northern Negev Desert just above the Gaza strip! Keep on reading for more important info....