creative jewish mom

Giant Origami Clown With Wings For The Front Door!

A giant origami clown makes a great decoration for the front door especially for the Jewish month of Adar and the holiday of Purim, and also of course anytime you're expecting guests for a festive occassion of any kind! And just in case you were wondering, my clown also happens to either be a bird dressed like a clown, or a clown dressed like a bird, you decide! Or maybe I could just eliminate the beak and it would be a giant origami clown angel? And can you guess what those ready-made wings were made from? Keep reading for the answer!

DIY Rubik's Cube Costume That Is More Than Just A Cube!

Purim is a Jewish holiday that involves costumes, at least for younger kids, and this year I had a great time making m youngest a rubik's cube costume that actually turns, as opposed to a static cube, as well as a fun piece of cake pinata costume for my daughter. On Purim afternoon as we headed to a friend's home for a huge and festive Purim meal I was blessed with amazing lighting which enabled me to take some nice photos of the costumes in a historic alley just above our home. My only regret is that the beard and mustache that my some wore with this costume the day before has disappeared.....so bit it, just do keep in mind that some fun facial hair looks great with this costume, as does round glasses and even a crazy Einstein-like wig. I also saw a clever rubik's cube costume in which the  girl was dressed in a traditional Hungarian style dress with a rubik's cube on her head......here in Israel it is a called a "Hungarian cube" so everyone gets the costume, and it was quite good! In the USA I highly doubt that people know where Mr. Rubik was from, so that would be an educational costume!

This rubik's cube costume was a six or seven hour endeavor, but the results speak for themselves, and afterwards the costume can become a giant rubik's cube to hang in a child's room (with the addition of a bottom panel, or not.....) If cutting a bunch of squares all the same size doesn't phase you, this might be up your alley! Lets get started.

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday! After all the preparations for our huge Purim celebration, and the big clean up afterwards and then cooking for shabbat things have been very very busy around here! And now, just when one might want to pause for a moment, we must go full gear into organizing and cleaning the house for Passover! Now, technicallhy one doesn't need to go crazy with this, but most of us feel that if we don't Passover just isn't Passover......all the cleaning and hard work helps us identify with the hardships the Jews endured in Egypt, and there is no better feeling than sitting down at the Passover seder with a totally clean and organized house. Wish me luck, I have a big job ahead of me! Of course, I still will have to make some time for crafting, and this week's features are just as cute as can be, so enjoy, and thanks for joining me here.

Love love these dresden patchwork pot holders from flamingo toes (Tennessee, USA) and they sure look cute with wooden spoons with painted handles from simply darrling (Washington, USA.)

Another adorable project from flamingo toes, this palette mason jar sign that anyone can do with a template, and a cute way to upcycle a basket from the logbook (Iowa, USA.)

Craft Scraps Party Plates That Kids Can Make Too!

Purim sameach, wishing you all a very joyful and meaningful Purim holiday! Today was a day filled with crafting by mom and three kids, in preparation for Purim and all the elements required to really celebrate this very festive and very action packed holiday. My ten year old is still working on his 20 milk carton characters which he is filling with treats for friends, and my 12 year old son mades these oh so sweet decorated party plates using bits of craft foam. Decorating plates with little scraps is so much fun, and perfect for kids who may not be so inclined to sit for hours making little milk carton bears! The inspiration for these plates was the sprinkles I made for my daughter's piece of cake costume, and I just love the colors!

Piece Of Cake Pinata Style Gift Box

Okay my friends, when it comes to creating a knock your socks off kind of gift box, this one really is a piece of cake! Pinata style party decorations using crepe paper are all the rage, and so this idea, namely an upcycled box covered pinata style in crepe paper strips to resemble a piece of cake, is right on target. And best of all, if your box is on the small side like mine, it really doesn't take a huge chunk of time, phew! So next time a nice little box comes your way, save and turn it into the funnest gift box or party favor box ever! I actually made this one to go with my daughter's piece of cake costume for Purim, and this box held treats to give as part of a mishloach manot exchange in her classroom. (On Purim we give gifts of food to friends and neighbors, and the kids get into it too.......)

Piece Of Cake Pinata Costume!

A piece of cake pinata style costume is cuter than can be, and today my daughter wore her mommy-made extravaganza to school for their Purim costume party. Yes, a cake pinata this size is lots of work, but the results are so adorable that I have no regrets. There are so many ways to go with this costume, and admittedly she could have worn a birthday hat or something on her head, but in the end the twisted braided hair style (that my daughter did herself!) and lots of makeup made the costume complete. Want to make something like this yourself? I'll be happy to show you how, lets get started!

How To Fold Origami Clowns

Origami clowns in a variety of sizes are simple to make and make perfect decorations for birthdays, childrens rooms, circus themed parties and of course the Jewish holiday of Purim. Use them to make giant wall decorations or small cake or cupcake toppers that will make your party special! I made giant origami clowns as wall decorations for Purim, and they are so much fun!

Speaking of Purim I am rushing to make DIY costumes for my kids, so I don't have time to write out the instructions for the diagram, but hopefully you'll be able to figure it out. If not, drop me a line and I will between glueing strips of crepe paper, be checking my email!

Giant Origami Clowns

Giant origami clowns are really quite simple to make and make amazing party decorations, not to mention that they make perfect Purim decorations! I used squares of wrapping paper to make origami clowns that are about 70 cm tall, and just a few of these clowns are enough to add a fun touch to any wall. Add some packing peanuts as buttons and collar, and some patterned paper for shoes, a pom pom and hat trim, and the results are simple adorable! The origami clown is folded initially just like an origami crane (hmmm, I need to try making those from wrapping paper too!)  so lets get started! (And in any case I've got to run and make my daughter's Purim costume......)

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday! Thanks so much for joining me here for this weekly linky party with inspiration from around the world! With the Jewish holiday of Purim coming on Wednesday night (Thursday night in Jerusalem) I am busier than busy, with still soooo much to do. This year's costumes require lots of assembly with cardboard, which is new to me, but we are tackling it anyway to please the little ones, who have gotten so big that soon costumes will be a thing of the past.

Of course I'll share the results with you here, so stay tuned! In the mean time, lets get started with the features from last week's party!

Sweet knitting needles from we bloom here (Calfornia, USA) and a fun coat hanger bird cage from pillar box blue (United Kingdom.)

A fun spring planting box from bisozozo (Greece) and duct tape earrings from just JP (California, USA.)

 Tissue paper flowers from decor by the seashore (Connecticut, USA) and easy planked walls from worthing court (South Carolina, USA.)

Getting Your Orchid To Rebloom, Up Close And In Person!

It is with great excitement that I share with you my white phaleanopsis orchid in full bloom, namely in full bloom as it has re-bloomed! And even more marvelous is that the plant now has four stalks of blooms as opposed to the two stalks of flowers that were existing when I received this beauty. Now, I am no expert when it comes to orchids, but since my orchid is obviously quite happy, I guess I did something right, so I thought I'd share that with you!