creative jewish mom

Ocean Themed Party Centerpiece

Can you imagine a crossing the Red Sea centerpiece running down the length of your table? My stand up waves, that you can place in one line, or two, with little figures in between the 2 rows, are super simple to whip up, and even better, you can certainly save them for at least a few years! The first time I made these stand up waves they were quite simply silver, and I only realized that I could add some sea creatures to them last year, which I just love, especially since it makes it more festive and fun for the kids! Of course if you'd rather not have waves running down your table for Passover, this is certainly a great idea for an ocean themed birthday party, or any party for that matter. You could add just about anything to the waves, like numbers or letters or surfers, or water skiers, or ? So have fun with this one, and if you don't quite have time for it this Passover, keep it in mind for next year! Then again, send someone to the art supply store to get you some corragated silver craft cardboard, or even just heavy weight silver cardstock in large sheets, and truly you can cut out the waves in 15 minutes, and then next year you can add the sea creatures! Okay, lets do this!

Watercolor Sea Creature Cut Outs Craft

Need a perfect craft idea to keep the kids, in a range of ages, busy right about now? This is it my friends, make sea creature cut outs to use as Passover decorations, and the more the better! I'll be using these for table decor on Shevii Shel Pesach, the 7th night of Passover when we celebrate the crossing of the Red Sea, but they are certainly also appropriate all holiday long. Ah yes, and if you are looking for ocean themed birthday party decor, or sea themed birthday party decor, well this is perfect as well! These cute sea animal cut outs are perfect for garlands, mobiles, cake toppers, napkin rings, gift tags, and for a fun Passover centerpiece, that I'll be sharing shortly. Okay, ready to get started, time is of the essence!

Origami Pyramids Passover Centerpiece

Passover is around the corner, and now is the time to start thinking about how to make your holiday meaningful for the whole family. The telling of the Passover story via the Passover seder is first and foremost in order to pass on the tradition ot our children, so a fun Passover table is a must for creating great memories! Origami pyramids in all sizes can look great on any table, just use colors or patterned papers that will match your table, be it super elegant (go for metallics) or modern (go for brights.) Once you get the hang of making these simple pyramids, you can make a whole bunch to march them down the table. And maybe even keep it a surprise until you set the table, they can be stored flat until then!

I made these colorful versions four years ago, but am now revisiting this idea myself as my kids are interested in origami these days, and so am I. I'm thinking about trying these in large sizes, wouldn't it be great to have some to put on the floor around the table? Kids could certainly use them to re-enact the Passover story, right?

Milk Carton Frogs Passover Craft

 

I've pulled this one out of the archives because it is just too cute not to share once again! Enjoy!

With Passover less than a week away, it is certainly time to get crafting, if you can squeeze it in of course. Then again, maybe keeping the kids busy with some fun crafts for Passover may be the best idea right about now while you spend time getting the house and most importantly, the kitchen, in gear? My kids are now teens so they are helping big time, so no crafting for us, whaah. I am reposting this to share with you and reminisce myself! Enjoy!

These milk carton frogs couldn't be cuter and also make great party favor boxes or flower boxes any time! Of course, they are perfect to use in a variety of ways for the Passover seder, as the frogs represent the second plague discussed in the seder. And red frogs? Well that could represent the first two plagues, blood and frogs, right? And then how about using these milk carton frogs to hold other object representing the remaining 8 plagues, could be adorable! If you don't end up finding time for that, so just fill these frogs with little prizes to keep the kids occupied during the seder, and call it a night!

My ten year old made 19 of these fun red frogs, and I was so proud of him. And really happy to use up so many of those milk cartons I've been saving! So you or your kids certainly can make a bunch too, just do the project in a few stages as the paint does require drying time.

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! With Passover coming up on Friday night, phew, we are in the heat of the rigorous top to bottom house cleaning that is just par for the course around here! All the neighbors are doing it too, so it is sort of a collective effort to rid ourselves of the things to which we are slaves. I likely take the prize for greatest slavery to saving stuff I might need, or trying not to fill the landfill with things that maybe could be used for something? Sigh. But what is a recycling crafts specialist to do? Toss those styrofoam trays, mushroom baskets, milk cartons, wine corks, wine bags and much much more? No, silly, I have a basement so I can pack it up, label it and maybe use it, or never use it, who knows? At least it will get out of the house, as my basement entrance is from the outside! The good news is there is still plenty of time to make some great spring decor for your Passover table, guest room or sideboard, and there are a bunch of great ideas in the features from last weeks party, so enjoy!

Colorful Cardboard Pyramids Craft For Passover

 

I posted this last year, and dusted it off just a bit, as with Passover coming next Friday night, there really might be time to make some great artful pyramids, ah yes, note to self!

With Passover arriving this coming Saturday night, now is the time to fit in some last minute crafting in anticipation of this wonderful holiday, and possibly keep the kids busy with a crafting station so you can finish, or continue all the holiday preparations! The essence of the holiday is to tell the story of the Jews deliverance from Egypt to the children, so getting kids involved with decorations and hand made items to celebrate and absorb this game changing history of the Jewish people is really really important!

I have been wanting to make cardboard pyramids for a few years, and while I didn't quite realize my dreams this year, I did at least make one artful cereal box pyramid, which by the way depicts the plague of hail, which was both fire and ice, so hail can certainly be pink! I love the results (though it was questionable at first) and I wish I had time to make more. Next year I'll have to make them in January! Nothing says Egypt and slavery like the pyramids, so be sure to include them in your holiday decor. A line of pyramids running down the table would be stunning! Okay, time is of the essence, lets learn how to make some of these, pronto!

Make Yarn From Your Old Sheets And T-Shirts

I'm reposting this from last year, and this year there is no time to make yarn from sheets and I even tossed some old sheets in the recycling! Granted they were not 100% cotton, so no great loss and the Passover cleaning continues! Here is the post from 2017!

Yes, dear readers, when you see photos of DIY sheet and t-shirt yarn, you can surely guess that the Pesach house cleaning and organizing has begun! And of course, since I'd rather craft than clean, one of the first things I always do is look for old sheets that are no longer presentable, and clothing whose condition is too poor to pass along to those in need. (We happen to have many neighbors with large families who always appreciate out hand me downs, so I only cut up really ragged t-shirts and night gowns and such.)

Lucky for me, one of the things that was begging to be made into sheet yarn was a comforter cover, the optimal thing to use as from the giant tupe that results cutting off the two ends, one can make one continual piece quite easitly. And that green yarn? That is from my daugher's old nightgown, yippee!

Myna Birds In My Window In Northern Israel!

I would like to introduce you to some feathered friends, that keep me company practically all day long.....generation after generation! You see, about four years ago a myna bird pair decided to build a nest just above my office window, and ever since then, either they, or more likely, their children, have been expanding their family a few times a year. The first myna bird pair were very angry and made lots of noise that was really quite unpleasant. It took me a while to realize that they were myna birds, who as it turns out are not native to Israel, but rather descended from a cage of birds that escaped a zoo near Tel Aviv! Myna birds are very fierce and take nesting spots from other birds agressively, sigh, and multiply quickly. (To which I can attest!) The good news is, that after 3 or so years, the birds now sing and make nice sounds rather than the angry squawking of their ancestors!

I witness the parents bringing back large bugs to feed the babies, and I hear the babies and parents making noises of one kind or another. All of this, because I have a roller shade covering the window most of the time so that there won't be glare on my computer screen! I have photographed the birds from time to time, but this the first time that I captured the siblings, and their childish interaction with one another, too funny!

I do plan to use these silhouettes as reference for some kind of birds on a line art, or maybe just "birds in my window" art? Keep on reading to see some more shots, and if you ever happen upon interesting shadows behind your roller blinds, document it!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! And wishing everyone a Chodesh Tov, a happy new Jewish month of Nissan! Yikes, Passover is less than two weeks away, which means by the time you read this I have hopefully started the top to bottom cleaning and organizing and packing away of non-passover items in my kitchen. I have my 2 teen boys home for vacation just in time to help, and it will all get done, even all the house cleaning that isn't really necessary, but gives us that nice yearly refresh that is greatly needed! So, while I won't have much time for crafting or art during the next 3 weeks, certainly I will be grabbing moments here and there to continue my art journey, and i recommend that you find yourself a creative practice as well, it is just so rewarding! Okay, lets take a look at the features from last week's party!