There are many Jewish holidays on the calendar, each one with its own special significance and traditions, which keeps things very interesting and provides lots of inspiration when it comes to honoring the holiday with a special table decorations and traditional dishes. To please the adults, and make the holiday special you might opt to whip up some amazing treats and multi-course meals together with some good wine, but first, click onto a site like https://israelicenterofjudaica.com, browse their holiday collection, and then spruce up your holiday table to create the perfect setting for those amazing meals you plan to serve. Your new kiddush cups and other items might be gorgeous, and the holiday promises to be amazing but don't forget that kids have different values, and that elegant holiday table doesn't hold great importance for them generally. (I'm of course not saying don't do it, of course you should, just plan ahead to include things kids will appreciate as well.)
To get kids really excited, you need to get them involved, and there’s no better way to do this than by getting their creative juices flowing! And of course my specialty happens to be capturing a child's attention with homemade decorations and crafts, and even craft activities for little guests. With Purim coming up in just a few weeks now is a great time to think about some fun crafts for guests to make at the party, or even to make yourself to give as party favors or decor. And what better idea for the holiday that involves dressing up in costumes than to make fun animal masquerade style masks? Of course, these masks need to be child friendly and age appropriate, so lets make them from paper plates and simple craft supplies! (And if that cardboard tube castle has caught your eye, check out my shoebox castle centerpiece craft.) I'm going to give simple instructions for making a lion mask, but you can of course do a variety of animals or characters. Think about funny ears, crowns a big clown nose.......got it? Okay, lets make some lion masks!
Making masks from paper plates can be as simple or not so simple as you like, and if this will be a party activity you can offer options for all ages. If crafting with kids (yours or someone else's) as an activity then getting out paint might be a great idea, but for a party activity it is best to avoid the mess paint can cause, and instead provide elements that are already colored like card stock, craft foam, pom poms, pipe cleaners and colored plates. You will need glue, but you can even get an adult or teen to supervise use of a hot glue gun, and some craft supplies are self adhesive, which can also be perfect. The supplies list below is basic, use your own imagination!
You'll Need:
- paper plates (colored or white)
- colored card stock, pom poms, felt (optional)
- pipe cleaners (optional)
- paint
- a black marker and a pencil
- glue, hot glue to adhere the popsicle stick handle recommended
- popsicle sticks
- scissors, and especially useful is a pair of small embroider scissors with sharp ends for cutting out the eyes, though not for small children
How To:
Step One: Cutting And Designing And Cutting!
- Cut the paper plate in half. One half will be used for the mask and the other half can be used to create elements such as ears, nose/mouth and possibly the mane if you are lacking supplies.
- Draw circles for the eyes, using a pencil, making sure they are centered. The top of a glue stick can be great to trace around for the perfect circle. Of course you can opt to make almond shaped eyes or somewhat tiny holes, you decide, or experiment and see what looks the best. Cut out the eye using a small paint of pointed scissors.
- Using the the second half of the plate, draw two ears, as well as the nose/mouth section. You can alternately make these elements from colored paper, you decide. Just take note of how I've made the inside of the ears and mouth pink and the basic size of the nose/mouth versus the eyes. You can cut out eyebrows as well.
- The rim of the second half of the plate can also be cut like fringe and used as the mane, see if that works for you, or you prefer pipe cleaners or card stock or even cereal box cardboard.
Step Two: Putting It All Together
- If you've decided to use paint as your plates are white, have fun with that and set aside to dry. Paint the inside of the plate yellow and the rim orange or brown. Paint the ears to match the rim color, and the nose/mouth in shades of brown. Set aside to dry.
- If using pipe cleaners for the mane, cut them all to the appropriate length
- Affix all of the elements to the paper plate with glue, either hot glue with adult supervision, double stick tape or craft glue.
- Affix the mane last, making sure to glue the main behind the ears so they will be seen!
- Use a black fine-lined marker to draw wiskers and eye lashes and define any other details that need some definition.
- Glue the popsicle stick to the back as a handle, and voila!
This lion mask craft would be great to make in numbers to give as gifts with your mishloach manot, or to hang as decorations. Make a bunch and spread the joy!
