creative jewish mom

Mini Mezonot Rolls For Shavuot!

I  pulled this out of the archives and added the recipe that I found in one of my cook books on a slip of paper, now recorded permanently here! I'll be making these again tonight to enjoy on our Shavuot Kiddush on Monday morning as they were a big hit last year. Here is what I wrote lastyear:                  

Never mind the specifics of the stock photo I've used here, this article is about making tiny buns that are not colored, though was that done with beet juice and tumeric, hmmm, interesting! I wanted to share with you a recipe that a neighbor gave to me to bake tiny mezonot hamburger buns that are perfect for appetizers when you need something just a bit next level! (If you don't know what "mezonot" is, don't worry about it, or look it up if you like, but basically regular bread is not mezonot, while these are not technically "bread." I made the recipe for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, for our morning dairy kiddush/meal as I wanted to change up the usual of too many sweet things and start serving more actual food instead. I had planned on making these tiny buns and filling them with a slice of sweet potato, slice of fried eggplant, pesto and soft white cheese, (divine) but I ran out of time and simply included them on our cheese board already sliced, and they were truly a hit!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! The festive Jewish holiday, Shavuot, that comes at the end of a mourning period will be celebrated starting Sunday night, for one full day in Israel and for two full days elsewhere. I am ready decor-wise, with greenery and flowers, and new vintage green and white dishes! With just a bit of cooking still left to do, I'll say Chag Sameach (happy holiday) as I run to put yet another batch of challahs in the oven. Enjoy the features from last week's party!

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Geometric Watercolor Strawberries Garland To Enjoy All Summer!

Just last year I was painting up a storm, this year, I've been crafting with 20 students and making dollhouses, so the painting got pushed to the side, but I must get back to it! Dusted this one off to share, as it is just so much fun!

The festive Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which includes lots of cheese and milk dishes (not eaten at the same meal as meat) also might include strawberries and summer fruit, as it just goes together, and strawberries are just festive. Of course crafted watercolor mosaic strawberries are even more festive than the real thing, and you can whip up a fun holiday garland quite quickly. I can't tell you how this garland brightened up this door in my kitchen, so do give it a try! And if you don't have time today to make this garland, no problem, it is great for just about any summer occasion you can think of, or even just because! Okay, lets make a watercolor strawberry garland, or two?

Cupcake Liner Flowers Bouquet With Floral Paper Is Beyond Adorable!

Introducing a cuter than cute craft that can be easily made in multiples and in any size you like, with out a huge time investment. My crafting students made a bunch of cupcake liner flowers for a Shavuot project and those that had between three to five left over were able to make a bouquet of flowers to bring home as well as the main project. They added a sweet note to Mom to thank her for everything, and one boy thanked her for letting him come to the crafting class, awhhhhh. These came out so well that I'm going to hopefully whip up a few myself for two neighbors who will greatly appreciate it, and one for myself maybe to put on the front door for Shavuos, yes! Okay, lets do it!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks for joining me here! With the Jewish holiday of Shavuot coming up on Sunday night, now is certainly the time to start thinking about how to make the holiday extra special, whether with stunning cheese boards, greenery and flowers or crafts of every kind? I am busy finishing up projects with my students to make their holiday festive, and of course have crafted a few things myself, so phew, no last minute endeavors needed! Okay, lets take a look at the fabulous features from last week's party!

DIY Bouquet From Paper Flowers And Quilling

It has been quite a few years since I delved into quilling, and thought I'd give it a try with my students to make some lovely paper bouquets for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Shavuot. I decided to combine paper flowers with quilling for the best results, as quilling requires a level of acuracy that many 11 year olds don't quite have. That said, with this piece as an example, the boys have actually created lovely bouquets, with quite a bit of help (sigh).

The main thing, I've realized, is that they feel proud of what they've made and have learned something in the progress. If they feel unable to arrange the flowers, okay, so be it, I'm there to make sure it goes right and that the end result will be a success. There are so many important areas of growth for kids who engage in crafts, and it isn't always just about them doing it all themselves, especially for those lacking confidence. Of course anything requiring drawing must be done with their hand, otherwise it looks like I did it, and with each project there is a give and take. Children who aren't happy with the end result, and don't receive good honest feedback at home might be inclined to quit, so forcing the idea of "do it all yourself" might not always be the best route. Proceed gently and when you do things for the child get them to at least try themselves first, or help make any design decisions.

Okay, back to the specifics of this project! I introduced the boys to the idea of quilling with the purple stalk flowers and various leaves and the rest of the flowers were made with simple paper flower techniques that can be done in felt as well. Okay, lets do it!

DIY Bouquet Of Paper Roses Wall Art

With the festive Jewish holiday of Shavuot coming up in a week and a half-ish, now is the time to get crafting, and specifically all things flowers and botanica to remind us of the lush Mt. Sinai where the Torah was given. It has been a while since I've done any quilling, and while this isn't quilling, the idea started as doing quilled bouquets of flowers with my crafting students, and then transitioned into a combination of quilling and paper flowers, and then this version, the simplest of all. Only one of my students choose this version the others choose the harder combo, which I'll share soon. The wonderful part about this paper bouquet is that is isn't holiday specific and can be made or enjoyed year round! Okay, want to make a colorful bouquet of paper roses as a gift, a card, or holiday decor? (How about a whole gallery full? And yes, of course, framed with cardboard frames, which I've started doing and will share shortly as well.) Okay, time is of the essence!

Simple Cupcake Liner Chrysanthemums For Shavuos!

With the Jewish holiday of Shavuos and all things floral and greenery coming up in just two weeks, now is the time to get crafting! And delving into the kitchen cabinets for art supplies is often a truly great idea, especially for me and the box of Kath Kidston cupcake liners I've had on hand for a good ten years! Now I'm going to use them all up with my crafting students, and the box, well couldn't toss it as it is too cute, and perfect as a closet for one of my future dollhouse creations. So yes, the box is out of the kitchen, and festive flowers will be created, but now it is in a closet in my craft room waiting for its next incarnation, and so it goes! I've combined the colorful cupcake liners with white cupcake liners (also onhand) for a very nice result, and flowers that will be part of a larger craft ensemble, yet to be decided.

These cupcake liner flowers are great in so many ways, whether as bouquets, cake toppers, garlands or simply scattered on hour holiday or festive celebration table! Okay, lets make some!

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks for joining me here! After celebrating the holiday of Lag B'Omer on Thursday night/Friday, and then a festive Shabbat with many guests, and a very long shabbat table, we said goodbye to all the family members who also joined us, and whose journey home is not simple due to all the post holiday traffic, and so it goes! Today was very hot here in Northern Israel, so after shabbat I ran to water my container garden! Speaking of greenery and gardens, the Jewish holiday of Shavuot is next on the calender, in just about 2 weeks, so it is time to figure out what crafts I'll be making with my students, though of course it will involve flowers, as Shavuot, the holiday in which we celebrate receiving of the Torah, goes with all things Mount Sinai which was lush and beautiful. Okay, lets take a look at the features from last week's party!