creative jewish mom

DIY Cardboard Cactus With Blooms!

With the Jewish holiday of Shavuot coming this Saturday night, now is the time to decorate the house with flowers and greenery, so why not make some cardboard or paper versions that you can then use again, or that keep looking great? My cardboard cactus with blooms is quite quick to make, and of course while I made just a few branches of zygocactus, you can opt to make a much larger plant. If you have a small plant of any kind, namely a real one, sticking your cardboard plant into that pot can look quite good, as the real plant fills out the background. Okay, time is of the essence, lets get started!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! As the holiday of Shavuot approaches there there are at least a few days to spend making festive floral crafts to decorate the house, not to mention special challahs as well, right? I've been doing lots of floral illustrations, so those are my holiday decor this year, (and my house is in anycase filled to the brim with greenery due to all the houseplants, and even some flowering orchids) though I will be making some special challahs, without a doubt. Some folks love to make challahs that look like the luchot habrit but I think I'll stick with challahs adorned with flowers! Our eggs came in cartons with a very purple tinge, so I was thinking I ought to make some egg carton flowers, but hmmm, it is all about time! Okay, posting this on the very late side, so lets get this party started!

Upgrading Your Deck with an Outdoor Kitchen

Above: A stunning deck with an outdoor kitchen, in Australia, designed by Breathe Architects

Everyone loves to spend time outdoors, and cooking outdoors, whether it be with a simple grill or using an outdoor pizza oven, is something many enjoy. The warm sun, fresh air, and cool breezes can truly be refreshing and a great way to make a family meal or get together even more special. A deck is a perfect place for an outdoor kitchen, as it is conveniently located for indoor/outdoor entertaining. Because decks are elevated above the ground, they cannot withstand as much weight as a patio, for example, which is directly on the ground. Lets learn some more about adding an outdoor kitchen to your deck, and make that outdoor entertaining area a reality!

DIY Paper Vase Makes A Great Centerpiece!

I originally posted this just before Passover two years ago, and am sharing it again, because it will be moved from my kitchen to the dining room for use as decor for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Shavuot! A vase like this can of course be stored flat and is wonderful to have on hand, so give it a try, even if you use colored card stock, with our without a bit of collage! Here is what I wrote back then.....

When it comes to making a DIY paper vase, there are literally so many ways to go, though for me, the idea of using not successful artwork is a lightbulb moment that happened one evening. I was going to use an abstract pattern to create a vase, and in the same pile as that absract pattern was this sweet landscape that I liked, but didn't love. As a vase however, it is fabulous! And friends, when you are in the groove of making lots of art, a way to use up anything you wouldn't want to see on someone else's wall is like gold! Even when painting on paper the pile starts to get out of control, so pick the ones you aren't loving and then make a wonderful artful vase! While I wouldn't want to give someone my mediocre painting, i would give them my mediocre painting turned into a vase, because it is just so charming! Okay, want to see the painting before I cut it up? Keep on reading......

A Painted Floral Bouquet For The Front Door!

Dusting this one off, and literally taking this out of the door to use for this year's holiday decor, and sharing with you once again, because there is still time to make one of these, and yes, have it on hand for years to come!

The Jewish holiday of Shavuot starts on Sunday night, and our front door is ready! I just love painting flowers and cutting them out, as with the water color poppies cut outs, and am also really pleasantly surprised by how wonderful a bouquet of painted flowers can be as well, especially when you free it from the confines of the paper! Of course a bouquet of flowers drawn and then painted, like this one, is all about planning, and execution, so after all that effort, you will want to use it again and again, or even hang it somewhere in a frame, and you should! The more flowers the better, and painted ones add so much joy where ever they are hung! There is still time to make something similar for Shavuot, so get started, loose a little bit of sleep over it if necessary (that is the type I am, don't do if it is isn't you!) and most of all, have a wonderful holiday! Okay, lets get some more info regardng how this paper bouquet was created, shall we?

Watercolor Flowers Cut-Out Centerpiece For Shavuot!

I have pulled this one out of the archives, because there is no time like the present to get crafting for Shavuot, and this one is a keeper! Plus you can simply disassemble the centerpiece when the holiday is over, and store the flowers, flat, for future use, they are always great to have on hand in a pinch! Enjoy!

I am totally in love with the watercolor poppies in a pot centerpiece, well one-sided centerpiece really, and I have already made two more! This idea, is something that you can play around with depending on your own needs, and there are so many ways to go! I actually made a small one using a small round plastic peanut butter tub, which would make an adorable teacher appreciation gift or a token of appreciaion for a neighbor, for example. Then again, making larger pots of poppies really doesn't take that much more time, so go for it, as this burst of festive and artful color is a joyful addition anywhere or anytime! The Jewish holiday of Shavuos is on Thursday night, so we'll be enjoying all the watercolor poppies as we celebrate the giving of the Torah, and then they will likely be used as centerpieces for any number of occassions. I'll admit, I can't wait to try this idea out with other flowers, but with the holiday approaching, together with houseguests, that will just have to wait. Okay, lets make some of these pots of blooming flowers, shall we?

How To Hire The Right Fiction Writer

Ever dreamed of taking that fantastic story in your head, or that amazing real life experience and turning it into a book? You are certainly not alone!  As you may realize writing great fiction is an art, which is likely why you have yet to follow your dream? It takes a lot of creativity to capture the attention of a reader, and it’s important to make your book stand out from the rest. Remember, there are thousands of fiction books out there, and how you create your book determines its eventual success. Hiring a good fiction writer and a freelance developmental editor to develop your idea is very likely the secret to writing a successful book. You may think you are a good enough writer to write the book on your own, but if you have never had a book deal, chances are you'd be wise to enlist the help of a professional. Lets take a look at some tips for how to select the best writer to help you with your book project.

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Wow, after a few slow weeks at the party, suddenly there are so many amazing crafts to share with you that I'm even saving some for next week in case the turn out is again smaller. Summer is always a great time to get crafting, to try something new, to take some creative chances and even to get outdoors with that creativity! Collect some leaves and other items on a nature walk, make some broken plate mosaics, sit in a shady spot and sketch something, or make a collage! I am very busy with a new virtual community project to encourage taking baby steps on the creative journey, so stay tuned for that, and enjoy the features!

What You Need to Know About Becoming a Chef

One career field that’s not commonly talked about is culinary arts. Culinary arts are a sector that revolves around so much more than simply cooking meals. That said, f you have a knack and a keen interest for cooking and food preparation, and most of all serving your food to others, you might consider becoming a chef. Becoming a chef can be challenging, and the hours that the occupation requires can be difficult as well, but it’s well worth the effort if this would be following your dreams. To boot top successful chefs can have one of the best annual salaries. So lets give this some further thought by learning more about what it takes to become a chef!

The Gravesite Of Rebbi Yonaton Ben Uziel In Amuka, Israel

This Passover we once again had the chance to get out and explore some local sites, and while that seems like ages ago, I'm have still not had a chance to share the photos with you! The gravesite of Rebbi Yonaton Ben Uziel is located in the Birya Forest, between Tsfat and Rosh Pina in Northern Israel, and is a stunning location between mountains and with gorgeous views nearby. Many visitors flock to Amuka, as it is called, to pray for their zivug, and it is an especially popular place to visit on the Yarzheit, the day of Rebbi Yonaton's passing. So bear in mind that the drive is very curvy, and should be driven with care, but do not miss a visit to this amazing location! Okay, lets take a closer look!