creative jewish mom

Crafting With Corrugated Cardboard!

My daughter made this sweet little picture in school, and I thought I'd share it with you as nice example of how to craft with corrugated cardboard. Yes, this corrugated cardboard was purchased for the project, but you can certainly use some that's recycled and paint it yourself, an even better idea!

The little flowers were made with tissue paper, a wonderful combination. And just to get your gears turning, I recently made some vase sleeves (for clear glass vases) from corrugated cardboard and tied them on with a beautiful ribbon. I'm sure you can think of lots of creative ways to use this interesting material.

And while you're at it, if you have some corrugated cardboard left over, why not do a little printing project? Paint the cardboard and press it onto paper, or even large sheets of paper to make wrapping paper. Corrugated cardboard also makes interesting little envelopes or gift tags. So use your imagination, have fun, and I have a good feeling that next time you happen upon a piece of corrugated cardboard you'll most certainly hang on to it!

Styrofoam Tray Printing Re-Visited (For Rosh HaShana Cards?)

On a recent visit with some of my nieces and nephews in the US, I was looking for a quick craft project to do with them. Then I spied some styrofoam trays about to go into the garbage, horrors of horrors, so I rescued them and spent half an hour or so teaching the art of printing!

The most important tip for this project is to keep the designs very simple, and to make sure that the paint is neither too thick or too thin. It may take a few tries to get a nice print, but it's worth it. And in any case, you can always cut apart your prints and collage the best results together. (Which is what I did with the blue Chamsa shape below.) And it's important to remember that part of the beauty of this project is the imperfect results! For complete instructions, and some more techniques, see my post from last year here.

Oh and by the way, Rosh HaShana is just a bit more than three weeks away, so how about using this technique to make some  unique  cards to send to relatives and friends? And if you make prints on water color paper, or card stock, you can also go over your prints with a light wash of color, which can look gorgeous!

 

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Hi Friends, The last three parties were actually operated from computers in various places in the United States, but now I'm back at my very own desk, and my very own computer. The jet lag is waning, most of my kids are back in school and I'm feeling a sudden need to do some serious crafting! Which is a good thing since Rosh HaShanah is just three weeks away, followed by Succot just 14 days after that. Oh boy, do I have my work cut out for me, especially since there are many readers out there that are depending on me! Wish me luck, and in the mean time, here's are some great projects from last weeks party, and can't wait to see what you've been up to!

Aren't these felt mushrooms from twig and toadstool just the cutest?  Apparently they're addicting, so watch out!  I don't think she put weights in the bottom, so depending on what you'll do with them, this seems like a good idea! And look at this dresser, also from twig and toadstool, I just love the cheerful combination of decoupaged papers and how she dared to go so bright!

 
I am so inspired by this simple headband flower that little miss mama made from t-shirt fabric, and thanks to creamer chronicles I really almost literally jumped for joy when I saw this amazing cast leaf show up at the party! Wow! I have been wanting to create things with concrete for a few years, maybe this is my calling?

I just love these apple-printed tote bags from alpha mom, just in time for Rosh HaShana! And this Anthropologie inspired headband from two little bugs clothing is easy to make and so on the mark fashion wise right now!

Here's a few simple yet wonderful projects for toddlers: homemade finger paint from homemade mamas and toilet paper tube binoculars from creating a house of grace. I could see making these binoculars (do add a string to hang them around the neck) and then going on an adventure, either real or imaginary, and writing down all the amazing things the kids noticed while looking through their creations!

I love the cheerful/vintage yet modern feeling of this crocheted granny square blanket from solgrim of Norway, and she shares a wonderful photo tutorial, so do take a look! And these triptych painting from she wears flowers are so original and just adorable! A great idea for a craft project for kids too!

Helen Clyde got a jump start on her holiday gift giving this year, and her daughters spent hours making these cute soaps! And while you're at it, why not practice your crocheting and make some of these great crocheted wash cloths to go with the soap! Annabelle shows us how, or you can even order some from her! I have yet to make some myself, but there are those that swear by them for their face cleaning routine. My only problem would be actually using them, they look so great stacked up just like this!  Okay, I'm inspired, I hope you are too! Thanks so much to all of you, and looking forward to another super party!

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Container Gardening In The California Wine Country!

I'm very happy to report that a love for container gardening seems to run in the family! On my recent visit to my brother's home in Sonoma, CA, I spied this hydrangea topiary and thought that it was just perfect outside their sliding glass door. Who would have thought that a hydrangea would make such a gorgeous topiary? Well, now we know!

 

This bright yellow hibiscus and a mixed hanging basket were pretty wonderful too!  (And I'm also very happy to report that despite a huge heat wave in Israel while I was gone, my husband did an excellent job of keeping all my containers in great shape! ) I saw so many amazing gardens on my trip that I now have a renewed desire to whip my slightly neglected collection of plants into better shape. We'll see if gardening takes preference over all the other crafting I would like to be doing......hmmmm, not likely. There's always next Spring?

Introduce Boys and Girls To The Art Of Pottery!

Aren't these bowls fantastic? My eight year old daughter and nearly seven year old son made them in their ceramics class, and I wanted to share these with you for several reasons. First of all, my seven year old son who (alack, alas) isn't interested in doing crafts with me most of the time, has loved going to his pottery class for months! So it's definitely worth a try if you happen to have a boy like mine! And secondly, working with clay is not only exciting, but learning to wait several weeks to see the final outcome is a great exercise in patience!

Wondering how these were made? It's actually a really simple technique that you could use with any type of clay, or even playdough!

Here's how:

1. You'll need several colors of your chosen material, these bowls were made with three types of clay that naturally fire to be different colors.
2. roll out a sheet of your base color
3. Roll out ball of a second color and place them on top of your flat sheet of clay
4. With a roller roll flatten balls such that they become pressed into the surface of the base color.
5. Repeat step 4 with a second color.
6. Mold your bowl by pressing this sheet of clay into an existing bowl. Base bowl was removed after pieces were left to dry for a few weeks or so.
7. I know one isn't supposed to live through their children, but I'm really glad that mine are actually doing something I've always dreamed of doing myself. (Hopefully soon..... just gotta clear some room on my plate! And speaking of plates, that's what I'm dreaming of making! Actually platters!)

Note: Our pottery teacher is Batya Erdstein, who happens to be a wonderful teacher, for those of you who live anywhere near Tsfat! She gives classes for women and children. See you there? See #7 above.

Wax Paper Mobiles: Wire, Tissue Paper + Imagination!

 

I just love wax paper, and so I'm really happy to share yet another great kid's craft project with you. One of my nephews did these sweet mobiles years ago, but I'm so happy that his mother saved them long enough for me to photograph them! You could really take this idea in so many directions, but I especially like the version on the left. Wouldn't this be gorgeous as a large Calder inspired version?

And if you don't know who Calder was, I highly recommend looking him up, his mobiles are especially a great inspiration for kids!

And......I just realized that these could be great Succah decorations, don't you think? Now's a really good time to start thinking of that wonderful holiday. Beat the holiday rush! 

You'll Need:

• tissue paper
• wax paper
• wire
• glue
• an iron and an adult to use it

How To:

1. Tear pieces of tissue paper and lightly glue them to one sheet of wax paper.
2. Iron a second piece of wax paper onto the tissue paper collage (don't forget to place something between your iron and the wax paper!)
3. Cut shapes from your wax paper creations.
4. Bend wire to fit around the perimeter of your shapes and affix the wire to the shapes with glue
5. Make a hook and hang!
6. As an alternative, as seen on the right, make a frame with popsicle sticks and decorate with glitter!

Crochet A Wonderfully Rustic Basket From Rags!

As you may know, I've been really into crocheting and knitting with rags lately. And my desire to make a crocheted basket together with the idea that one such bowl/basket would be a nice gift for my brother's house in Sonoma led to the question: "Mom, do you have any old sheets that you don't need?" And so it was that I found myself crocheting up a storm on the way to my brother's house, and while relaxing at his home. I think I invented a new type of gift plus entertainment all in one package! You just finish up or make the whole gift while you're catching up. Really! So actually there's no need to wrap the gift since the recipients already know what they're getting!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday! I just love Sundays and all the inspiration that it brings each week! Last week there were many new faces at the party, which was really so very exciting! Thanks so much to everyone who contributed, I appreciate each and every one of you. And now, for the the featured projects from last week, are you ready?

First off, I'm so happy to present to you two really great pieces from Abigail Patner and her blog whileshesleeps.typepad.com. The bird in the hoop is such a creative example of combining embroidery hoop art with stuffies, and the stuffed snail is simple and so sweet. I am so inspired by Abigail's unique style and creativity!

 

On the recyling crafts front we have a few really nice projects! I just love what Sarah of New Zealand did with egg cartons, on her site papercraftsforchildren. And Michele from Canada of michelemademe, made this toilet paper roll "snowflake" as her solution to staying cool. Don't you just love how the mind of an avid crafter works?

 

Mid Craft Crisis made these really nice cardboard tube roll chairs for Barbie sized dolls, and Crafting Coco-Nut from Poland made this sweet recycled container planter. I just love the photo too!

 

While Annabel usually shares her crocheting projects, this week she shows us how to make simple rag baskets! Fowlsinglefile filled in for the crochet with these adorable watermelon hot pads, using a pattern from purlbee.com.

 
Amanda of Crafts By Amanda.com always works wonders with baseball caps, and these two are just as cute as any! Valerie at Frugal Family Fun Blog shows us how to make a simple fishing game with pipecleaners and a magnet. Super! I don't know about you, but it certainly never occurred to me that pipe cleaners are magnetic! That's all for this week, and now it's time to see what you've been up to this August! Thanks so much for stopping by and I sincerely hope you've enjoyed your time here on creativejewishmom.com!

Slice Of Life: The Garden Shed Sonoma-Style!

Okay, the secret is now officially out, I have been in the United States for the past several weeks! I know you never would have guessed right? But now it's time to start sharing some of the great things I saw while making the family rounds and showing my children some of the lovely local sites. First stop was Northern California, and the town of Sonoma, where one of my brothers is very fortunate to own a home. He and his family eat what they grow in their garden (vegetable wise that is) and I just loved their little garden shed and especially this tiny blackboard with the thick frame.

After I took these photos I realized that the proportions of the blackboard are in keeping with the proportions of the windows! I knew it made sense somehow. Something to keep in mind whenever you're planning the proportions of just about anything- it should somehow relate to the proportions of the things around it for it to feel comfortable, or not relate to the proportion of the things around it for it to stand up and get noticed. And that my friends is your design lesson for today!

A Primative And Charming Quilt!

 

One of my brothers who lives in Northern California (I didn't tell you, but I was there recently, more about that soon!) owns this wonderful quilt that I just had to share with you. It was made at an art center for mentally disabled adults in Oakland, CA and I think it's a really wonderful example of how one can make a quilt without a sewing machine! Of course it is probably not at tough as a machine sewn quilt, but I just love it's simplicity, and it has a wonderful quality to it that just doesn't come across in the photos.

From what I could tell the quilt was made like this:

1. Rectangles and squares of fabric in no particular size were cut and rough edges were ironed under.
2. A piece of backing and batting were cut to size and fabric rectangles and squares were pinned right on top of the batting.
3. Using embroidery thread, pieces were stitched onto backing, such that stitches are seen on the back.
4. Edges were trimmed and a binding was attached.
5. Additional quilting was added by embroidering around shapes and patterns in the fabric.

The results are rustic and wonderful! I think you could use this idea to teach quilting to a child just learning to sew, or even to make some small items yourself?

I have a feeling that this is great inspiration for something, I'm just not sure what exactly. Any ideas? I'd love to hear them!