creative jewish mom

Mini Magazine Page Flowers Craft

Mini recycled magazine page chrysanthemums are just the sweetest and great anytime or for a special occasion! I could have sworn that i made larger versions of these a good ten years ago, but the only thing I found on my blog is a felt version of these, also wonderful! I had totally forgotten about my felt flower stint, hmmmm, maybe time to revisit that, but in the mean time, lets make some magazine page flowers, in this case mini versions that I think I'm going to use as napkin decor for my daughter's birthday party this Shabbat (shhhh, its a surprise!) Magazine pages can be a great source of colorful and patterned paper, so before you recycled any lightweight paper items, check them out to see if indeed there are pages that are mostly one color, or a combination of pleasing colors that could be used for crafting! I save these pages in a shoe box or in a nice pile, as there are many many craft projects that call for recycled magazine pages, and the look that is achieved is unmatched with solid colored paper of any kind. Of course, there is nothing quite like real flowers, so why not buy some flowers online Sydney to enjoy as well. Okay, lets get started.....

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! We are now in another mourning period on the Jewish calendar, called "the three weeks" namely the weeks leading up to the Ninth of Av, which is the day in which the Holy Temple was destroyed. And now thousands of years later it is not the Romans that want to wipe up out, but our neighbors and the terrorists dwelling in their lands.....so much evil is really truly difficult to process, but art and craft is a certainly a great way to ease the stress and even process trauma. I have started two small craft groups with grade school aged boys, and it is truly wonderful! One father told my husband today that it is literally a lifesaver for his son, and that if I get a location to expand, he will build all the cabinetry, as he is a carpenter by trade. Wow, better get on it! In the mean time, enjoy the features from last week's party!

Oatmeal Can Airport Craft To Hold Paper Airplanes!

Introducing oatmeal can airports! I thought we'd wrap oatmeal cans with the airport art created last week, and make Q-tip airplanes to put inside, only the Q-tip airplanes I tried to make were a flop and didn't even fly, yikes, so much for that! But the boys didn't complain and made airplanes that don't fly, and we folded some origami ones as well, so it all worked out just fine in the end.

And so, this sweet oatmeal can craft with an airport theme, made by a group of 9 year old boys became much more sculptural than my original idea as the boys decided that the can needed embellishment with Q-tip airplanes, flags and airport signs! And truly, worrying about perfect results is not the point, and so any cans that were a bit roughly made, well that is just fine, the emphasis is on the making of the project and enjoying the creative process!

Modular Origami Starbursts Make Perfect Succah Decorations!

Yes, you are reading correctly, modular origami starburts make great succah decorations, and now is the perfect stress-free time to delve into all kinds of paper crafts that can then be neatly saved and hung in the succah in a few months! I taught a group of 10 to 12 year old boys how to make these yesterday, and while it was difficult for some, others breezed right on through and took home something that looks like mine, though not quite as perfect, but still wonderful! I taught them that after we make something that we love, we feel joy from it and we should say ahhhhh! This was a new concept to them, but the boy who worked diligently at the table next to me did just that when he crossed the finish line! So friends, if you craft with children, don't forget to teach them to feel the tangible satisfaction and joy!

Origami is such a vast world with so many options from beginning to advanced, and I especially love the modular origami projects that start to seem like lego of sorts! Keep on reading for tips for making this modular origami starburst that looks great anytime!

Creative Ways to Use Mini Figurines in Home Decor

Mini figurines might be something you've collected over the years, or maybe they've just recently caught your attention? Either way, they can be so much more than dust collectors when you get the creative gears turning and use them to create unique DIY home decor. Of course depending on your DIY abilities, home decor might be as simple as placing the figurines in an unexpected location, or something more involved like using them to accent frames, as tiny hooks or drawer pulls or even finials on lamp shades! Lets take a look at how to inject your home with some personality by using figurines to add that unique touch!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Summer is a great time to get crafting, with the kids, with friends, with neighbors or community groups, or even just as a little quiet time all for yourself! I've started hosting a group of 3rd grade boys once a week, which has gotten me back into origami and all sorts of recycling crafts, which I'll admit I've missed! So friends, delve into the creativity and add joy to the everyday. Lets take a look at the features from last week's party.

Watercolor Fruit Cut-Outs Birthday Bouquet

Looking for a cute fruit themed birthday centerpiece or artful bouquet for any occasion? How about painting some watercolor mosaic fruit, cutting them out and using them to make a festive bouquet? Really so simple with wonderful results, and you can certainly make quite a few for an event, and make each item two-sided so the watercolor fruit bouquet can sit in the middle of a table.

Are you convinced? Keep on reading for tips on how to make this fun bouquet, and one major benefit is that you can make it weeks ahead, and save most of the elements for future use, even as cake toppers!

Let's Draw The Airport Craft For Kids

This week with my small crafting club of 8 year old boys we spent some time learning how to draw airplanes, airport control towers, and other things one might see in the sky like parachutes and blimps, together with some trees and clouds to set the scene. Sadly, these sweet boys do not draw very often so their skills are lacking and some of them found this exercise to be somewhat difficult.....I told them they'll thank me when they are older! We be using these long strips to wrap around recycled oatmeal cans with tops, and next week (though I didn't reveal the next step to them, shhhhh) we'll be making Q-tip airplanes that really fly to put in the can! I love the results of this drawing exercise, most of the items are courtesy of the greatest book ever, Ed Emberley's Make A World, something I loved as a child and is a must! The top version is mine, not to copy but use as inspiration!

Op Art Craft For Kids: A Dimensional Hand Drawing

Looking for a interesting craft with simple supplies for all ages from 8 (or so) and up? How about creating Op art dimensional hand drawings? This is the second time I've tried this line drawing exercise with young kids, 12 years ago I did it with my 7,  8 and 9 year olds and last week I did it with a group of 8 and 9 year old boys for whom I'm doing an after school art/craft program! As you can see in the photo after the jump, it was more challenging for some than others, but worth giving it a try and doing over until the child gets it, because the reward is great! Of course you might like to try it yourself as well, the photo above is my personal attempt!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! With summer well under way, now is the time to get those creative gears turning rather than surrender to the laziness hot weather can bring? You'll thank me! I've started hosting some 3rd grade boys once a week for a crafting session and loving every minute, as together with the craft at hand we also have all kinds of interesting discussions that I laugh about all week long. So friends, take time to do acts of kindness with your love for crafts and invite some kids over to share the joy.....it doesn't have to be anything fancy! My simple origami boats with tp roll stands were a hit, so start with origami and a way to display the results and that will be great! Okay, lets take a look at the features from last week's party!