creative jewish mom

Back To School Crafts: Recycle A Plastic Bottle and Make Fun Containers For Organizing School Supplies, Or Just About Anything!

 

Here's a great recycling crafts project to help you stay organized this school year, as well as containing that not-so-attractive clutter that seems to always gravitate to desks and work tables! Make a whole set using the heavy duty plastic bottles from fabric softener, floor cleaner, bulk liquid hand soap etc. and maintaining neat homework and craft areas will be easier than ever!

You'll Need:

• Heavy duty recycled plastic bottle (floor cleaner, fabric softener etc.)
• Fabric
• Glue: polyvinyl (devek plasti) woodworkers glue works well
• Sharp scissors and/or heavy craft knife
• Clothes pins or metal bulldog clips

How To:

1. Cut bottles where desired to remove top and/or handle portion, creating a nicely shaped container
2. Wash and dry container well.
3. Cut a piece of fabric large enough to basically wrap the sides and base of the container. To measure, place container on piece of fabric and bring fabric up around sides of container to estimate.
4. Coat entire outside of container with glue (including base) and carefully pull fabric upthe sides of the container, while smoothing wrinkles.
5. Make a few tucks at corners if necessary, such that fabric lies flat on container at sides.
6. Secure fabric to top edge of container with clothespins or bulldog clips and set aside to dry
7. Once dry trim off excess fabric, leaving several inches excess to glue to inside.
8. Coat excess fabric with glue on the underside of fabric and adhere to inside of container

These containers also make great catchalls for nursery changing tables and to hold small baby things. So why not make a set as a great "green" baby gift! 

 

Back To School Crafts: Decorate Your Children's Notebooks With Fabric!

Get your children off to a cheerful start this school year with some fun fabric covered notebooks. You can individualize them with all kinds of notions, and if you happen to have a home embroidery machine, you could even embroider their names or initials on the fabric before gluing it to the notebook! Too cute!

You'll Need:

• spiral or hardbound notebooks
• fabric: cotton or cotton blend, lighter weight fabrics are easier to work with
• trim, such as rick rack or grosgrain ribbon
• glue, fabric glue or polyvinyl white glue (devek plasti) or woodworkers glue which is inexpensive and good for working with fabric, that's what I used!

How To For Spiral-Bound Notebooks:

1. Cut a piece of fabric that is roughly the size of the cover plus a 1 inch border all around.
2. Brush an ample coat of glue onto cover
3. Open notebook, such that cover lies by itself, and lay fabric on cover, checking to make sure it's straight where fabric meets spiral
4. Burnish with your fingers, smoothing out any wrinkles or bumps due to too much glue
5. Set aside to dry, at least a few hours
6. Turn cover over and to prepare for wrapping fabric around cover, trim an even border on the three sides.
7. Cut out squares at corners such that there won't be too much fabric overlapping, or cut flaps on the diagonal such that there will be no fabric overlapping
8. Apply glue to fabric flaps, fold down over inside of cover and burnish.
9. Do not close notebook until completely dry!
10. Glue on trim to hide rough fabric edge at spiral
11. For a very finished look on the inside cover, you can glue on a piece of card stock that's slightly smaller than the dimensions of the cover. This is how it's done with leather wrapped hard bound books!

How To For Hard Bound Books:

1. Apply an ample layer of glue to entire outside of book
2. Lay book down on fabric and starting at spine and working outword, burnish fabric such that it adheres to every fold.
3. Place sheets of paper on the inside cover and inside back cover to protect from glue, and leave to dry in a closed position
4. For the neatest finish, trim the portion of fabric that extends beyond the spine to about 1/8" longer than the spine, top and bottom and tuck under. (Sorry if  that's not too clear)
5. Once glue is fully dry, trim excess fabric to form an even border around cover and back cover, and trim fabric portions on the spine area up to the spine (there is no way to wrap the fabric here)
6. Coat flaps with glue and fold over onto inside and back cover.
7. For a very finished look on the inside and back cover, you can glue on a piece of cardstock that's slightly smaller than the dimensions of the cover. This is how it's done with leather wrapped hard bound books!
   

If you take the time to do a neat job, the results will be so great you'll want to make a whole set of these for yourself! And, fabric wrapped journals would make wonderful gifts! Enjoy!

Transported To Morocco On A Trip To The Local Moroccan Design Store!

I don't know about you, but I would jump at the chance to travel to Morocco. There is something about the Moroccan mosaic work, the ceramics, the wrought iron, the intense colors that just really inspires me. And lucky for me, it just so happens that I married a Jewish-Moroccan, born in Morocco!

I don't foresee any adventures in that country in the near future, so in the mean time I am fortunate enough to fulfill my aesthetic needs with a trip to my local Moroccan store, more aptly described as warehouse.

A friend once casually mentioned this store, so on my first visit I was caught totally by surprise to see the sheer quantity of items for sale. My mouth dropped open and stayed in that position for the duration of my visit. There are so many beautiful applications of Moroccan design that are so distinct and different from anything else, the pottery, the lanterns, the teapots, I could go on and on and I could spend a fortune there!

Any of these fountains would look great in a courtyard. Ah, the sound of trickling water.....

Look at these intense jewel toned colors, and the hand painted detailing on the the arch.....

Gorgeous tile table tops and some amazing planters!

Each time I visit this store, something else catches my fancy, this time it was the juxtaposition of these white and aqua tagines (above right) that I'm still dreaming about. Realistically, where would I put something like this? Hmmmm.

Wouldn't it be nice to entertain guests on a table like this?

On this particular trip my camera battery went dead, so I wasn't able to photograph the fabrics and the furniture and the entire room of Moroccan teapots, but I'm sure you can imagine.....I left the store with a few small purchases that I'll show you another time. One of the small glazed planters has already been claimed by my husband for his office, so I guess we'll just have to go back again to get some more!

In case you are wondering, the point of this blog post is to open your eyes to all the inspiration that one kind find out there in the big wide world. Not sure what colors work together? Look at a Moroccan mosaic that you love. Not sure what colors would work with your terra cotta colored tile floor? Look at these photos and you'll see that yellow surprisingly complements terra cotta beautifully. Got it? Start looking at the world around you, and especially at ethnic handcrafts for a bounty of inspiration that will get your creative juices flowing!

Make DIY Artwork By Stenciling On Your Stretched Fabric Canvas!

In yesterday's post I showed you how make your own DIY artwork from your favorite fabric. Today we're taking that idea one step further by stenciling on top of the fabric to create a collage-like result. This is a great project with so many possibilities, and for those of you who are feeling particularly crafty, you could add anything printed on paper, or even scraps of fabric to your artwork to create canvases with depth and interest!

Depending on the fabric you choose, stenciled designs in just one color (like white or cream) may give the most pleasing silhouette-like results.

Canvases like these would be great in your baby's nursery, or why not do a whole series for the children's room? They're quite quick to make and would be great gifts as well! And since some of us happen to be thinking about Succos, you could use this idea to create great works of art for the Succah too!

You'll Need:

• A swatch of your favorite cotton fabric
• A painter's canvas, size according to your needs (buy the most inexpensive, since the quality of the canvas makes no difference)
• mod podge or other decoupage medium, (even white glue mixed about 60/40 with water will work if your fabric is thin)
• acrylic paint
• stencils (now widely available, even in the dollar store)
• stencil brush or dense sponge such as a make-up sponge
• a staple gun

How To:

1. Fasten fabric to canvas by anchoring at the middle points of frame and pulling tightly as you go.
2. Take note of how canvas is folded and secured at corners of frame and try to duplicate this with your fabric.
3. Once you have four staples securing the fabric, work meticulously stretching and stapling, checking to make sure fabric is lying flat.
4. Once you have finished attaching fabric to frame trim of excess fabric for a neat appearance.
5. Turn frame over and brush several coats of modge podge over entire fabric surface. Allow to dry between coats.
6. Stencil designs using stencils, stencil brush and acrylic paints.
7. Add simple silhouettes of paper or fabric if desired(For example leaves, a bird, a letter)
8. Paint a border around entire canvas, including sides of frame, if desired.
9. If you've added some collage elements, coat entire surface once more with modge podge or acrylic varnish.
10. Find a place in your home where you'll enjoy looking at your new creations!

Make Wonderful DIY Artwork from Your Favorite Fabric and An Artist's Canvas

Walls looking a bit bare lately? Got some swatches of beloved fabric collecting dust? You can make some DIY artwork for your home with just a few basic supplies and a relatively small investment of time!

The photo above is of small nesting tables that sit between two beds in our guest room. I love to welcome guests with some fresh wild flowers and a colorful vignette, however this room also doubles as my oldest son's bedroom when he's home, so I needed a few props to simply place on the table when guests are scheduled to arrive. (And even if they arrive unannounced this is simple enough to whip out.) This fabric wrapped canvas does the trick beautifully, especially when the beds are dressed in bright sheets to match the colors in the pink fabric, and the vintage tea towel completes the cheerful welcoming look.

You'll Need:

• A swatch of your favorite cotton fabric
• A painter's canvas, size according to your needs (buy the most inexpensive, since the quality of the canvas makes no difference)
• mod podge or other decoupage medium, (even white glue mixed about 60/40 with water will work if your fabric is thin)
• a staple gun

How To:

1. Fasten fabric to canvas by anchoring at the middle points of frame and pulling tightly as you go.
2. Take note of how canvas is folded and secured at corners of frame and try to duplicate this with your fabric.
3. Once you have four staples securing the fabric, work meticulously stretching and stapling, checking to make sure fabric is lying flat.
4. Once you have finished attaching fabric to frame trim of excess fabric for a neat appearance.
5. Turn frame over and brush several coats of modge podge over entire fabric surface. Allow to dry between coats.
6. Think about how you could use this great idea to make wonderful artwork for a nursery, children's room, to fill a long hallway or just about anywhere!

And check back tomorrow for a really great project which uses this idea and takes the whole thing one step further!

Classic Folded Paper Boats and Hats: A Great Craft + Activity To Do Today!

There was still some water left in our wading pool and given the severe drought we are suffering from here in Israel, I wanted to make sure we got every last ounce of usage out of that water before it is finally used to water plants and clean the porch. Then it came to me, why not show my children the simple joys of making folded paper boats! I sat down to see if I could remember how to actually make one, but my memory got me only as far as a paper hat, which didn't float very well! So I looked up how to actually make a boat, which resulted in the orange model above.

Replenishing A Container Garden In Early September

Three new pots of Bird of Paradise (Tzippor Gan Eden) plants, one a tree sized version, middle.

Yes, I know, it's still August, but by the time you read this it may not be. Plus September just sounds better than "late August".  September is about a new school year, re-assessing out family's schedule and getting ready for the upcoming Jewish holidays. It's a perfect time to get your garden in shape. There's just enough time for new plants to establish themselves before winter, (for those of us who have winter) and it's a good feeling to usher in the Jewish New Year with some new greenery in your life!

Last week I finally made it to my favorite nursery, as by chance a family outing took us nearby. I've been wanting to refresh my container garden a bit for months, for myself and for the sake of beautifying the area around my home for all to enjoy.  A while back I had obtained two very large planters from a neighbor to enhance a public area above my home, and they had been sitting empty for too long! On a positive note, because they sat empty for awhile, I had sufficient time to really think long and hard about what to fill them with!

Strelitzia, commonly called Bird of Paradise is a classic large leafed plant, with stunning and exotic orange blooms, (white blooms for the tree sized version) that does well in our Northern Israeli climate, with hot dry summers and coldish (sometimes freezing temperatures) winters. So that, together with the important fact that it doesn't have any leaves to drop and is sculpturally beautiful made it a perfect choice.

Red leaved Canna has stunning orange blooms and dramatic leaves.

Another purchase that I just couldn't resist was the red leaved Canna, which has yet to be re-potted. I don't have any dark leaves in my garden, so this is a nice dramatic addition. Canna is a tropical plant but also does well here. It dies back almost completely if the winter is cold, and come spring time shoots forth new growth. Canna is one of those plants that multiplies itself quickly through it's underound root system, so from one plant you can get many, and it is possible to divide them when they are mature by simply cutting the large root mass with a kitchen knife!

(Left:) Heart leaf iceplant, aptenia cordifolia (Right:) Purple Daisy, brachysome multifida

While we were there I couldn't resist trying out a few other species that I have seen thriving in my area. A good nursery is just like a candy store for me, so it's a good thing that we were pressed for time. I'm sure I could easily spend a good four hours there looking and learning and trying to figure out how to bring some more plants into my already crowded container garden!

Mini trailing Petunia, Petunia Calibrachoa

Of course even with limited time, I was able to scoop up quite a few new beauties. Like this trailing Petunia called Petunia Calibrachoa, a perenial here, which I purchased in purple, yellow and pink. These are gorgeous in a hanging container, or spilling over a low wall. They weren't looking so photogenic when I took these photos, but you will hopefully see them soon!

(Left:) Mint (Center:) Basil + something unknown to me (Right:) Lemon Verbena

My husband always requests some wonderfully smelling plants as a part of our container garden, so he picked this selection of herbs. The basil will be ready to harvest before winter, and the lemon verbena and mint may die back if the winter is cold, but will grow back in the spring. Picking a few nice smelling herbs from your garden for the havdalah ceremony each week is a wonderful thing! I would recommend the verbena, if it is suited to your climate, as it is actually considered to be tree and in the ground will grow into a nice 4ft bush!

That's all for now, next week I'll show you how the other plants in my beloved container garden are doing at summer's end. I'll leave you with this thought: many busy moms have told me that they just don't have time for plants, which I fully understand! However, they are so incredibly life enhancing that I would greatly recommend finding those few minutes a day, or even a week to add some greenery to your life. And watering the plants is certainly a job that even 6 year olds can do with enthusiasm. Give it some thought!

Latest Breaking News!: I just went outside after posting this, and low and behold my new Red Leaved Canna was in total bloom! The biggest surprise was that I was expecting orange flowers, not this gorgeous red. The combination of the burgendy leaves and the bright red blooms is stunning! You see, I haven't even found this guy a pot and he's already giving me joy! 

Colored Cellophane Glasses That Kids Can Make Themselves!

My seven year old daughter came home from a friend's house the other day with this cute project, and fortunately for me, I realized that this would be such a nice idea to share with you all. Coming up with blog posts almost every day is no simple task, so I was so quite happy to have this one walk in my front door!

As far as craft projects go, most children really enjoy making things that they can use. These glasses would be a perfect project to go along with a game of dress-up, or as a starting point for some kind of impromptu family performance. Wouldn't it be funny to see a whole bunch of kids in the neighborhood walking around with their cellophane glasses? However you choose to use this idea, make sure to make cellophane glasses for all the little ones, so that no one will feel left out of the fun. Seeing the world through colored glasses is interesting for everyone, infact I think I'll go make some for myself right now......

You'll Need:

• toilet paper roll
• ribbon or elastic cord
• colored cellophane
• tape or glue
• hole punch

How To:

1. Cut the toilet paper roll cross-wise into 3/4" rounds
2. Glue or tape a piece of cellophane to cover the opening of each round
3. Punch holes to attach a ribbon or elastic cord for band which holds the glasses on the head
4. Punch two holes to join the two pieces in the middle, at the nose-bridge of the glasses
5. Wear your new glasses for any occasion! 

 

Use Paper Plates To Make Whimsical Decorations For Your Next Party!

I had some cute yellow and blue paper plates hanging out in my cabinet, and it got me thinking, what could I do with these? And guess what? Paper plates when cut, layered and decorated with metallic paint dots make unique decorations that could be used in so many imaginative ways. And what occasion wouldn't benefit from an extra crafty touch!

Wouldn't  frosted cupcakes or even chocolate dipped strawberries look great served on these? And they're quick to whip up, so you could even make individual place settings for a whimsical birthday party! If you'll be eating off of your creations I would avoid the paint, but maybe you could make dots from sugar icing, or even pipe a simple design such as a large cursive letter, a heart, a flower. Wow, that would be such an amazing presentation done in colors to coordinate with the table........(Just don't ask me how to pipe sugar icing on to the plates, I've never done it, but it sure sounds great!)

Oh, and one more idea, these could make great signs marking the way to a picnic party in the park or even hung singly from a colored ribbon (punch two holes in the top) as a welcome or mazel tov greeting! And wouldn't they be cute for a baby shower?

You'll Need:

• Colored paper plates in at least two sizes and colors (my plates are white on the back)
• Metallic fabric paint in an applicator bottle (glitter glue would work well for kids)
• Glue or double stick tape
  

How To:

1. Get out some good scissors.
2. Examine the above photo and you'll see that all the designs are quite simply created by cutting notches in the rims of the plates and making colored circles by cutting out the center of a plate. 
3. If you're planning on making a whole bunch, do one good one (measure roughly so notches will be even in size) and use that as a template.
4. Glue or double stick tape the layers of your paper plate creation together.
5. Decorate with metallic or colored fabric paint dots.
6. Sit back and watch all the guests smile when they realize what you've created from the humble paper plate!

Fill Your Closets With Adorable Hangers This Fall!

There really is no feeling quite like gazing into an organized closet complete with really nice hangers. Ahhh! Children on the other hand may not quite understand the need for keeping things neat and organized, but they will appreciate something cute you've made, even if it's for the inside of their closet! And with hangers like this one, maybe just maybe they'll want to actually hang up their clothes! What a great idea right?

And this cute hanger is so easy to make, you'll be able to create enough to fill up any closet! While you're at it, why not create some matching accessories like boxes, frames, or even furniture! A brightly painted dresser or wooden chair with white polka dots would be amazingly cute and not too difficult with this technique.

 
You'll Need:

• Round Colored Office Supply Stickers (6 colors)
• Wooden hangers (or frames and boxes)
• Acrylic Varnish, either matte or glossy (decoupage medium will work, but not as suited to projects like hangers that will hopefully receive lots of use)

How To:

1. Apply stickers to hanger in a random all over pattern.
2. Brush 1 coat of acrylic varnish over entire surface of hanger.
3. Set aside to dry, and apply 2nd coat.
4. Dry for 24 hours, hang up in closet and watch children run to hang up their clothes!