creative jewish mom

DIY Driedel Mobile Craft Kit To Download

If you start to see photos of my classic nesting dreidel mobile here on CJM that must mean that Hanukkah is coming! So yes indeed, with Hanukkah coming in less than2 weeks, yikes, I suggest  getting busy with decorating your home, your classroom or workplace with an extra dose of color. My nesting dreidel digital craft kit is the perfect place to start, and you can use the pages in so many fun ways beyond mobiles! Make garlands, place mats, gift wrap, gift tags, or even use the dreidels to decoupage on the bottom of some glass plates or trays! Yes, you are right, I need to try that myself, will do!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Winter is here in Northern Israel, with lots of wonderful rain for which we are always grateful, especially after a period of draught, that was concerning, but now, let it rain! The wonderful 8 night holiday of Chanukah starts on December 10, which means it is in less than two weeks, so time to get crafting! Funny enough a family friend just gifted me a whole trunk full of antique brass items he'd picked up over the years, and some of them are Turkish coffee pots, very decorative and interesting, and at the same time perfect for Chanukah. One of the symbols of Chanukah is the jug of oil, so just about any pitcher/jug works for me, so this year our Chanukah decorations are middle eastern Chanukah with lots of brass and gold meets winter wonderland! So while I had thought I'd be taking out some of the decorations from last year, that no longer works with my new theme, so new decorations it will be, but not too much left to do, except for some garlands of gold splattered dreidels and stars, and likely more stars in a range of metalics, to give that starry night Chanukah look that I love! Okay, I hope everyone is well, lets get crafting, but first pick up a little inspiration from the features from last week's party:

Hello Prague: The Stunning Views From Petrin Tower

Continuing my tales of 9 glorious days in Prague a full year plus ago, introducing the tiny Eiffel Tower replica called the Petrin Tower. Prague is a city with red roof tops and architectural delights galore, not to mention a winding river that runs right through it, so views of the city are stunning, and Petrin Tower is yet another amazing place to enjoy those views, don't miss it! We actually walked to Petrin Tower from the Prague Castle, but if you want to do that first check out the distances, as the rest of my travel group were not all that happy with me for shlepping them by foot. Whlle I enjoyed walking the spiral staircase to the top, and enjoying the views along the way, there is an elevator for those not looking for some exercise! After your visit to Petrin Tower you can take the funicular down the hill, just MAKE SURE TO STAMP YOUR TICKETS IN THE MACHINE after purchasing them, as there is guard at the end that checks the tickets, to get hefty fines from unknowing tourists, sigh. We learned our lesson on that one! Okay, lets take a look at the gorgeous Prague views from this mini Eiffel!

Amazing Home Decor Ideas That Will Take Your Breath Away

When thinking about home decorating ideas, words like flair and creativity immediately come to mind. While those two words are an integral part of home décor, many people would be surprised to know a certain degree of science is involved. (Interestingly enough, I have a master's degree in Interior Design and it is an MS, Master of Science, truly!) There are a set of "rules" that many professional designers follow based on specific interior design principles and elements, then again some designs are all about breaking the rules. When it comes to function, which is a truly important part of design, the rules should be followed as they allow for the space to be used with ease and with safety in mind.

Function aside, if what you are looking for is to change your home's overall feeling, any design or décor update, whether large or small, can make a significant difference. It is true, 2020 has been a tough year, and not everyone has the means to start redecorating their home, however, with just a little time a small budget, and a few home décor ideas, you can give your home a fresh look to enjoy for the holidays and into the new year. Time is of the essence, lets get started!

A Painted Dove In A Starry Sky For Chanukah

Chanukah is coming in about 2 weeks, so it is surely time to get crafting for this light filled holiday! And guess what folks, this year I realized that the dove is totally a fantastic symbol for Chanukah, and it is time to claim it as a decorative item to go along with dreidels and chanukiahs, yes indeed! And why is that you may ask? Well first of all, the traditional dove (who was sent from the ark by Noah) carries an olive branch in his beak, which of course relates to Chanukah, but lo and behold it goes way beyond that, are you ready for this?

I was so excited and happy to learn that there is a Jewish tradition that Noah (we call him Noach) squeezed the oil from the very olive brought by the dove, gave the vial to his son Shem who entrusted it to Avraham. From Avraham it was passed it along throughout the generations until King David hid it in the Beis HaMikdash, the Holy Temple, waiting until the time for which it was destined.This vial was  the miracle vial of oil the Maccabees used to light the Menorah and rededicate the Temple. This is the vial of pure olive oil that transcended the laws of nature and miraculously burned for eight days.

Amazing right? Okay, now go and paint some doves for Chanukah folks! Whether you choose to paint a dove with some ethnic folk art details like mine, or even something very simple, fill your sky with stars and include a chanukiah that lights up the night.

Holiday Gift Giving Made Simple With Custom Stickers

This year holiday season is looking quite a bit different for many families and individuals, but that doesn't mean it can't be special. With fewer family get togethers, holiday parties and travel plans, there may just be a chunk of time to invest in creativity in a big way? The wonderful thing about choosing to give handmade gifts and decorating with crafted items is that you enjoy doing the making and those on the receiving end get an extra dose of love from you! Plus you may just discover a new hobby that gives you joy, or even a side gig that will generate some extra income. And the good news is, that to put together some amazing DIY gifts, you really don't need to be a talented artist or crafter, you just have to be thoughtful! Okay, it is true that some graphic design skills can go a long way with the projects I've lined up for you, but you can always get advice from that designer friend, or even hire someone to do an hour's worth of work or so to bring your DIY holiday gift giving up more than just a few rungs.

Of course there are many ways to go when it comes to DIY gifts, in this post we are going to narrow it down to gifts that can be made with help of custom stickers! Of course if you are an artist or designer, maybe the gift is stickers, but for now lets think about how we can make our gifts personal and special with stickers! If the word "sticker" brings to mind sheets of glitter rainbows and unicorns, think again, stickers can be anything from transparent decals to iron on t-shirt designs, so there are many exciting options to consider. Okay, let's get started!

How To Paint A Simple Dove With A Vintage Vibe

Wondering what to paint in your sketchbook? Wondering if you can use paint in your sketchbook? You have come to the right place! First of all the sketchbook that you see here is not heavy weight watercolor or even mixed media paper, it is a sketchbook for drawing, yet I do paint in it, all the time! The main thing is to realize that the pages will first of all buckle (I was thinking of trying to iron them) and that you will want to use paint that is not runny or watery. Basically, acrylic paint is plastic, so as long as you avoid too much water moisture you can paint on any kind of paper with acrylic paint, whereas painting with water colors or even using markers on the same paper will lead to bleading through to the other side in a major way. Also, once you have one layer of paint covering the page, that acts as a protectant/barrier, so you can keep on adding more layers of paint. It is true, the sketchbook pages will not lie flat, but hey, this is a book filled with a creative journey and not a printed manefesto, so a little bit of sloppiness adds charm. Okay, now that we've covered that, the second question namely what to paint in your sketchbook is simple as can be: doves! Doves are a wonderful symbol of hope, perfect for the end of 2020, so lets get started!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Winter has arrived here in Northern Israel, with torrential downpours and colder weather, which means more time indoors and more time for crafting? I have yet to crochet anything, and need to check my stash to use up anything I have on hand, as well as a bunch of dark blue yarn that someone gave me.....the problem is that dark blue alone just doesn't sound all that exciting, but if I mix it with aqua or pink, ah yes! And come to think of it, that dark blue yarn could be useful for crafting rather than making clothing, like maybe some stars for chanukah?

Chanukah is approaching, and so now is a great time to get started with all things related to this wonderful 8 day holiday, which for our family also includes a few birthdays. This year as my sketchbook practice and painting continue, my efforts will be more artful, as that just makes sense. I have already crocheted the traditional gift bags that I use to give chocolate coins and tiny gifts, so while there are always many last minute things to do for my all out holiday decorating, I'm actually quite ahead of schedule. Okay, that is all for know, wishing everyone good health, and lets take a look at the features from last week's party, shall we?

Hello Prague: Huge Crochet Applique Mural

One of the amazing visual treats that we experienced in Prague last year, was in fact a treat within a treat, though that describes just about everything in Prague, what a city! On our visit to Vysrehard, see  my post here, not only were there amazing views and ancient history, but also the biggest yarn bombing installation I've ever seen! Ever seen a crocheted mural, constructed on a base of recycled sweaters? Me neither, so I was very excited to capture this and share it with you. I'm not sure how many years something like this can hold up, especially in a place with cold winters, so if you decide to do something similar, I'd hang it in a way that it can be removed come rain and such. All this wonderful crocheted art is both a sign and an eye catcher at a place called Indigo Kids, which is a kindergarten. You can see the main sign in my post about signs in Prague, and here I've presented you with all the many ways to make pictures with crochet. enjoy!

Hello Prague: A Walk On The Ancient Castle Walls In Vysrehard

When in Prague, and I do hope you'll have the chance to visit sometime OFF SEASON, make sure to get away from the tourist packed Old Town and experience the tranquil beauty of the city at large. My number one recommendation for that is a visit to Vysehrad! (Even the name sounds enchanting, and it is!) Vyšehrad (Czech for "upper castle") is a historic fort in Prague, Czech Republic, just over 3 km southeast of Prague Castle, and on the east bank of the Vltava River, on a rocky promontory above the river.  It was probably built in the 10th century, around 990 AD, though the most glorious period of the Vysehrad’s history belongs, to the 11th century, when it became the seat of the first Czech king and his ancestors. Then, in the 14th century, the famous King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV decided to bring Vysehrad back to its historical glory. Among other things, he added a pilgrimage to Vysehrad to the Czech king’s coronation process.

Over the centuries, other Czech rulers have brought glory to Vysehrad, having numerous architectural gems built there. The present form of Vyšehrad as a fortified residence, with powerful brick ramparts, bastions, and the Tábor and Leopold gates, is a result of Baroque remodeling, and fortunately, in 1962, the area of Vysehrad was declared a National Cultural Monument, 

The entire Vysehrad complex is expansive and features many parks and narrow streets where you can enjoy the gorgeous views of the river and the surrounding neighborhoods. After visiting the Dancing House building, we continued our walk along the river, and took a path from the street up to the compound. There are many ways to enter, but I enjoyed walking up the stairs though the wooded property and enjoying the views as we ascended. You can see photos of those views here.  In doing a little of research for this article I did notice that there is a tourist information booth at the Špička Gate, so if you choose to enter there you can collect all the information you'll need to enjoy this special spot. (Not to mention that I found the tourist information literature, gorgeous little books really, given away at the tourist office to be AMAZING, with so many ideas for walks and interesting ways to get to know Prague. Okay, speaking of walks, lets enjoy a little walk around the fortress walls!