creative jewish mom

Simple Gift Package Using Paper Plates

Keep this idea under your hat to pull out when needed: you can make a fun gift package with just two dinner sized paper plates and just a few supplies! I would say that this paper plate gift package is most suited to gifts of food of some kind, but not necessarily! I actually made about ten of these on Purim morning to give as gifts to the neighbors (a Purim custom), and quickly took a photo amidst all the hectic preparations for a packed day of celebrating! While I wouldn't recommend trying to make these last minute as I did, you could at least prepare them ahead and fill with goodies when needed!

You'll Need:

• two dinner sized paper plates, with a fun pattern
• coordinating curling ribbon, and metallic ribbon to close package
• a metal hole punch (the plastic ones are usually not heavy duty enough in my experience)
• a hot glue gun
• cellophane, preferably patterned and in a color to compliment your plates!
• metallic stickers or embellishments of some kind if the center of your plates are empty like mine

How To:

1. Place the two paper plates back to back, flattening the plate in front into the curve of the plate in back. 
2. Cut off two or more inches from the top, like you would to stuff a pita! 
3. Holding the two plates together securely, punch holes around the edge, through both plates. If this is too difficult. punch holes in one plate and mark where the corresponding holes need to be on the second plate. Don't worry, you needn't be 100% exact.
4. Using curling ribbon, lace your plates together, or get your 9 and 10 year old kids to do it for you, which is what happened at our house, and boy was I happy to have some help! Secure the ends to the inside with hot glue, or a piece of tape may work just fine.
5. Embellish plates with stickers if necessary.
6. Place a piece of cellophane into the paper plate pocket, insert your goodies, and tie with a coordinating ribbon. 

Voila, you've got one very original gift package that will certainly put a smile on the face of the recipient! Oh, and by the way, I didn't have the time to make gift tags, so I actually wrote my message in the middle of the plate on the back......an option to keep in mind! 

Almond Trees In Bloom In Northern Israel Once Again!

The beautiful almond trees are in full bloom once again in Northern Israel, and this year our mountaintop city is virtually covered in a blanket of pink and white blooms! The almond trees are the first to bloom, signaling that spring is on it's way, and it's so very exciting every time!

Making Yarn From Sheets For Crocheting & Knitting!

Does making yarn from old sheets that you find in your linen closet qualify as Spring cleaning? It sure does in my book, ha ha! I opened my son's closet and the first thing I saw were a small pile of vintage comforter covers that sat in the attic for a good five years, and in one closet or another for another year or so. So at long last cutting them up into yarn is certainly a good thing to do, especially when there are much greater tasks to accomplish. But hey, those greater tasks can wait, those sheets were calling my name at long last!

Giant Party Hat Centerpiece

How about a giant party hat as a centerpiece for your next party? These hats are quite simple to make, and especially great if you need to make more than one— I made 15 or so! And of course, the centerpiece has the added benefit as a prop for those guests who want to have some fun! They're perfect for a circus themed party, or anytime! One could add numbers for a birthday party, or little symbols relevant to the occasion.

I made these hats for a community Purim party, and while Purim was yesterday in our city, Purim is today in Jerusalem, we are still in semi party mode!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, and wishing you all a very joyful Purim! Purim is from Saturday night until Sunday night in most locations around the world, except in Jerusalem, where the holiday is observed one day later, from Sunday night to Monday night. We have lots of festivities on Sunday, and I still have some baking and salad preparation to do, for the festive meal as well as mishloach manot, so gotta run!

A little last minute Purim crafting? Here's a fun recycled bottle grogger you could still make (?) for the megillah Esther reading, from design megillah, and some adorable Purim finger puppets from Oy crafts

How about a simple bow tie DIY from heatherful happenings, or a crocheted zipper pull/key chain ring from estrea chikitu?

Love these amazing spring ornaments from air drying clay from Rebecca's DIY,  and this fat quarter hot water bottle cover from happy in red.

 Ginx craft knitted adorable baby slippers, and then embroidered them with the sweetest patterns, I couldn't choose my favorite so I had to share them all!

Love this leather hearts bracelet from can't stop making things, and this sweet key and crocheted heart necklace from the little treasures.

Very inspired by this in progress quilt top from daisey jayne, and this quick confetti cake topper by Aunt Peaches. That's all for now, what have you been up to this week?

A Sweet Ship Captain's Costume For A Seven Year Old!

Yes, it's true, my cute little Sea Captain is wearing a costume that consists of a store bought outfit.....okay we didn't buy it, we borrowed it from the neighbors! Nonetheless, with a store bought costume as a base, one can add so many fun details! Duct tape boots, a rope, and a little sea bird on his shoulder complete the outfit and he looks just as cute as can be!

A No-Sew Peacock Costume For A Ten Year Old Girl!

You can make a gorgeous peacock costume for your daughter with just a little effort, but no sewing whatsoever! And if you forget about the fact that most peacock costumes show the feathers raised behind the head, well then your job will be much simpler!

 

I caught my daughter as she was racing out the door this morning to Purim costume day in school, but just had to share these photos with you! You can make a no sew tutu in no time with toile and elastic cord, and the felt cape was made with iron on adhesive!

The cape is a length often referred to as a capelet, and so elegant looking when paired with the colorful tutu!

I'll be back another day to fill in the details of how I made this! Happy Purim!

A Fun Robot Costume For A Nine Year Old Boy!

I honestly can't believe I pulled off the robot costume that I promised my nine year old for Purim! Phew, the kids just got on the bus to school, happy as can be! I must say, a robot costume that allows a child to sit down and board a van is a bit of a challenge! No giant boxes here......I had to come up with something a bit practical as the costume is worn in school, as well as on the actual holiday of Purim, all day long if the the child desires! 

We started our robot brainstorming at the hardware store, which was a good move, as we purchased the most important part of the costume, the head shield, which is actually a plastic welding shield that can be raised and lowered when my son gets tired of the tunnel vision I've created for him!

Any guesses what the front breast plate is made from? A silver ware dividing tray, as seen from the back! 

You'll Need:

• welding shield and contact paper to cover both sides of the shield
• drier accordian fold piping
• a silverware tray
• some recycled plastic plates or low containers (these are from malawach)
• old boots to cover with duct tape
• pieces from a kid's nuts and bolts construction set
• flat flashlights (the yellow pieces)
• duct tape, used that to attach the attenae
• contact paper 
• velcro, used to make straps for the front and back breast plates
• hot glue

How To:

I'd love to explain this step by step, but on account of almost no sleep last night in preparation for Purim, I'm fading quickly and must go have a little meeting with my bed! Have a fantastic Purim!

 

Duct Tape & Up-Cycled Rain Boots For A Costume!

Crafting with duct tape is something I've been wanting to do for months, and now finally I present you with a great idea for making any costume that much better: up-cycled rain boots + duct tape = the boots of your child's dreams, in this case Sea Captain boots. So goodbye to our cute little Target frog boots, and hello to some boots that I know my seven year old will just squeel over when he comes home from school today!

Purim Party Decor- Japanese Koi Flags and Chinese Lanterns!

Looking for some fun ideas for Purim decorations? How about Japanese koi kites and Chinese paper anterns? The koi kites are perfect for Purim which falls in the Jewish month of Adar, which is the astrological sign of the fish! And the Chinese lanterns are just downright fun and festive! 

I also added some cupcake liner garlands to the mix at this recent Purim gathering, as I was only able to hang the lanterns near the columns where they wouldn't be too intrusive, height wise. As you can faintly see, I also made some large clown hat centerpieces, which I hope to share with you soon, gotta find a few moments in my over the top busy schedule to photograph them properly!

Today we're working on costumes, tomorrow mishloach manot, and Friday, cooking! So as you can well imagine things are just a bit crazy around here, and I'm already sleep deprived, but what's a creative Jewish mom to do before one of our craftier holidays? Smile and take shortcuts where you can! The main thing is to enjoy all the craziness.......... be back soon with more Purim ideas, and in the mean time do take a look in my Purim archives for tons of ideas you can use now!

A Note To My Israeli Readers: While the round paper lanterns were purchsed on Yaffo Street in Jerusalem, the koi fish kits and Chinese lanterns came from the United States. If anyone knows where to buy Chinese lanterns in Israel, please let us know!