creative jewish mom

Milk Carton Craft For Kids: Fun Animal Desk Organizers

Looking for a fun craft for kids (or to make for kids) that is just truly adorable? You've found it! This milk carton craft that results in the cutest little milk carton animal boxes is truly a keeper, and requires minimal supplies. So save those milk cartons (I was driving my family crazy with a cabinet stuffed full of them) and have fun creating a whole menagerie. The more the better, and while they make great little desk or craft cubby organizers, you can also use them as sweet party favor boxes, or in our case, to hold little edible gifts for our Purim shaloch manos, or as we generally say here in Israel, mishloach manot.

Origami Tree Centerpiece Using 3D Modules

 

If you are having a forrest themed birthday party, or are looking for a cute little decoration for your chlld's room, a fun origami tree made may be just the answer. And yes, I am aware that this tree may look too much like decorations made for Dec. 25th, but I figured that pine trees can be used for other occasions as well, just don't put any presents under them or place a star on top, and hopefully you'll be able to get away with it? I was thinking that a colorful origami tree like mine might look less like that holiday, but it may be just the opposite. Namely if you make an origami tree in all shades of green, it will look more like a forest theme.

Washi Tape Decorations

Washi tape is the number one simplest way to add an adorable crafty touch to any occasion. Need some quick party decorations? Make washi tape flags and washi tape garlands. Need a cake topper? Again, washi tape to the rescue. And need to fill a wall with something fun, washi tape can do the trick, though I have yet to try that one, even though I really must! Oh, and almost forgot, need to transform a plain box or paper into something special for gift wrapping, you already know the answer, washi tape! Oh, and washi tape can transform a plain box of matches into  special washi tape matches!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday! Thanks so much for joining me here for this international linky party full of creativity, thanks to all the wonderful contributors from around the world.

We are now in the Jewish month of Adar, which means that the very craft holiday of Purim is on its way, and we need to get started on our costumes and other crafty goodness. Which of course I'll be sharing with you here just as soon as it happens, hopefully sooner that later!

So without further ado, here are the features from last week's party, which will hopefully give you lots of inspiration for all your late winter/early spring crafting, enjoy!

Love these fimo heart place card holders from pysselbolaget (Sweden) and this glitter state wall art from simply darrling (Washington, USA)

Into The Nearby Woods In Northern Israel

Earlier this week I shared with you photos of the first almond tree blossoms, and now I thought I'd also share with you some photos of the little hike I took with my boys on that same day. We are fortunate to live just a skip and jump from a small forest and nature preserve, so appreciating the wonders of nature isn't difficult, though in the winter we have to wait for Rosh Chodesh, which is a half day. Okay, it is true, Fridays are also a half day, but I am generally really busy with cooking and getting the house in shape for Shabbat, so that isn't usually an option, though I'm hoping to get out today again with my camera, as the blooming trees are calling my name.

Plastic Canvas Nesting Heart Baskets

In my book one can never have too many little baskets to decorate a table or sideboard, or to leave on a dresser top for safekeeping of jewelry and small items. These heart shaped plastic canvas baskets are also nesting baskets, so they're easy to store and fun to use when the moment strikes! One could even make them to hold treats for a special occasion, and then use them afterwards just for fun.

You can choose to leave the plastic canvas blank, as I have, or spend some time embroidering the baskets as you see fit. It really is all a matter of how you choose to spend your precious time, and in this case, the simple metallic edge gives these baskets just enough  interest, that spending hours and hours filling up the canvas in my opinion may not result in something that much more wonderful, if you know what I mean? Then again it really is just a matter of personal taste, embroidering the sides with peach or pink could be lovely indeed, and if you use long stitches, maybe diagonal ones, it could go fairly quickly. Hmmm, now maybe I've convinced myself, whoops!

First Almond Blossoms On Rosh Chodesh Adar!

Wishing everyone a Chodesh Tov, (a good month) on this first day of the Jewish month of Adar! Adar is a month of great joy and so it only seems fitting that I share with you these gorgeous photos of the first almond blossoms that I saw today while out on a little hike with my boys. When the almond trees bloom in both pink and white, it is truly a spectacular sight around our city here in Northern Israel, and the first sign that Spring is on its way! Personally, no matter what else is going on, just one glimpse of these flowering trees and it just makes me so happy!

Cruciferous Vegetable Salad With Carrot Hearts

Have you heard the news about cruciferous vegetables and their wonderful health benefits? They have properties that enable one to greatly fight the preventive war against cancer, and so everyone should eat them daily. The good news is that the list is quite extensive and varied, and even for those like me that have to worry about not eating bugs in things like the very healthy kale, and who don't have bok choy readily available, there are still lots more veggies on the list!

This salad, which I made using white cabbage, kohlrabi and radishes, has three cruciferous vegetables in it, and is fresh and delicious. Dress it with an olive oil and lemon juice dressing, with salt and pepper, or choose to consume your fats in the form of seeds, and make a techina based dressing with vinegar or lemon juice, that works wonderfully with crisp veggies. For some interest toss in some black sesame seeds or even a few dried no sugar added cranberries, and well, yumm!

Radish Roses And Carrot Hearts

Come to think of it, there is really nothing all that caring about giving your loved ones all kinds of food colored and sugar coated treats just to show your love on a commercial holiday, is there? Okay, I know, I know, the pressure in on to conform, and if a bunch of people are eating this way, then your family wants it too......believe me I experience the same thing on a regular basis. So, while depriving our families of treats isn't the healthiest thing to do in the long run, we can make an effort to show our love with some healthier options! So I now introduce to you, simple radish roses and carrot hearts, the healthy way to show your love! And these two shapes are so simple to carve, you may even want to use them for birthdays and other festive occasions.

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday! Last week's party was full of amazing contributions, which I am so happy to share with you here. With the party this large, please excuse me if I didn't have time to leave you a comment, I do look at almost all the links except those that haven't noticed my request: PLEASE NO FOOD LINK UPS THAT COMBINE MILK AND MEAT OR THAT INCLUDE PORK OR SHELLFISH!! A Jewish blog really can't have a bunch of non-kosher food all over the place, right? Honestly, I had to delete at least 15 or more links last week, which is truly a waste of time on my part, though I realize that everyone is busy and people just zoom in and add links without stopping to read anything. Okay, enough about that, I am considering removing food items from the party altogether though, any thoughts anyone?

On to other topics, like the amazing creativity that I am so happy to share with you all from bloggers from around the world, so please don't be shy and join the club! Last week there were contributors from The United States, Canada, Guatemala, The United Kingdom, Portugal, The Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Greece, India, Pakistan, and Mozambique! And now for the features from last week's party:

Darling crochet hearts from Anne Marie (The Netherlands) and an adorable crocheted toddler shirt from Anne Marie IThe Netherlands.)

Wonderful map heart treat bags from pillar box blue (United Kingdom) and a gotta have it knit Mini Cooper Paul Stuart edition from Ginx craft (United Kingdom.)