creative jewish mom

Quilled Leaf Sprigs Are Perfect For Shavuot!

I just couldn't resist sharing this craft from three years ago when I was delving into paper quilling. Now I'm thinking I really need to start doing art with kids again so I can put to use all those quilling supplies that are waiting to see the light of day! Enjoy!

Shavuos, the holiday of greenery is coming Sunday night, so why not start quilling some lovely leaves? Paper quilling isn't one of those crafts that you can whip up quickly, but it is oh so lovely, and can be done in spare moments just about anywhere, so give it a try! These little quilled leaf sprigs look so fabulous that I just couldn't stop! And since I have the excuse of recovering from our recent travels, well, I just kept making more and more.

I have seen that many quillers make large quantities of quilling elements that they keep in nice little divided boxes, so truthfully one could start making with no real plan. For me it is the making that satisfies that little voice,  and I can always come up with a plan later on, right? That would in any case be the more creative approach, so if you follow my example you've got my seal of approval.

Ready to get quilling?

Paper Leaves On Real Branches Looks Amazing!

I came up with this simple idea six years ago for my son's birthday just before Shavuot, and I still love it, so I'm dusting it off to share with you as a fabulous last minute craft that includes a nature walk to collect the sticks! Enjoy. Here is what I wrote back then, this year Shavuot is on Sunday night.

Paper leaves on real branches is a super quick craft that results in some fun decorations that can be used for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot or really anytime! I actually made these branches as part of the giraffe birthday party that I'm still in the middle of sharing with you all, though I did have in mind that they would be also be great for Shavuot, in which we decorate our homes with greenery to celebrate the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, which was  very green and lush.

With shavuot staring Saturday night, right after shabbat ends, many of us are now preparing for two days of holidays, so I'm sure glad to already have made these fun branches which are currently hanging from the chandelier over the dining room table. (Those who observe shabbat outside of israel are now preparing for a three day holiday, as Shavuot is two days outside of Israel, and I'm sure those of you to whom this applies wish you had some of these branches already to go, right?

What I'm really trying to say is that a super quick craft like this one is the perfect thing to tackle right now, so lets get to it!

DIY Cardboard Graffiti Vase For Spring!

Now that I have a few fun DIY cereal box vases which I think will be fun for Passover, maybe I can get started with the cleaning. Well, not just yet, I need to make some more! The idea of whipping up an artful vase using cereal box cardboard (or heavy weight paper) is just so delighful that you'll want to give this a try. This is a great idea for budget centerpieces, or for making a huge decorative vase for a desert table or buffet, and the possibilities are endless. Choose to do a cardboard vase with drips and splatters or go for a something simple and colorful, or even a few bold black brush strokes looks amazing. There is a product on the market which is really great printed paper vases, and I was reminded of this from a wonderful version that I featured on Craft Schooling Sunday in January, keep reading to see that version!

DIY Carrot Gift Tags For Purim!

The pressure is on folks, with Purim happening tomorrow night, and that means I must fit in a few creative projects, because otherwise the holiday just wouldn't feel right, to me that it, I don't think anyone will notice. Thanks to the large plastic bag pom poms on our living room now for months, well the house looks like it is ready for a party anytime, phew! That said, the mishloach manot, gifts of food for neighbors and friends and teachers (I'm done with that!) and folks we need for acknowledge or give thanks to, does need to happen! For the past two years I've given everyone a really nice selection of homemade Moroccan salads, but this year it feels like a bit too much, so I'm going the healthy route with a large quinoa mixed veggie salad, some spelt rolls and maybe some corriander pesto. Since the them is "healthy" and I have some adobrable little rabbit shaped plastic bags for the rolls, I figured a carrot gift tag fits the bill. Not quite sure how this all will come together, I'm running to the store right now, as I can't exactly put salad in recycled oatmeal containers, can I. No, not even in a plastic bag inside the oatmeal container, that sounds weird as well. Wishing everyone joyful holiday preparations, and please, no perfection, just simcha!

And on that note of perfection, this is actually one of the first times that I've actually planned ahead with the gift tag before the gift, there were plenty of years when I made a gorgeous gift basket but forgot about the importance of the tag. Just sayin' everything in its time!

Whimsical Bear Portraits Make Perfect Party Decor!

As you may realize, I have been delving into drawing and painting and sketchbooking and art journaling more than actual crafts this past year, but that does not mean that our house is suddenly lacking festive decorations, infact just the opposite. Because dear friends, brightly colored or whimsical paintings, whether on paper or in my case milk cartons and boxes make really wonderful party decor, come on by and take a look! These fun bear portraits are now part of my kitchen gallery shelves display, and I even taped a few to boxes so they can stand up. They would make amazing gift tags (they work up quickly, and the quicker the better!) or adorable greating cards, or once you get the hang of it, why not a huge portrait on your front door for Purim? Yes, Purim is coming up in a week, yikes, and a painting session to create some whimsical bears is certainly in order! Give your bears some added accessories, like the ones I've shown or maybe even a crown, or a birthday cake or a little bird? To give credit where credit is due, this idea is from Cottonwood Artistry, on instagram here, who actually posted an amazing how-to video on a private Facebook group, and I'm hoping she'll share it with the world, in which case I'll let you know! Okay, lets take a closer look......

Simple Painted Treat Boxes From The Recycling Bin!

We are about to apparently welcome some snow so I'll make this quick as I need to go cover my succulents and bring others indoors! I have quite a collection of little food and medicine boxes that I hope to use someday for a big installation of some kind, not to mention match boxes, but in the mean time, there is nothing quite as sweet as little painted treat boxes. (Or just make some artufl painted matchboxes for shabbat, a fun gift!) Purim is a great time to get creative with fun and artful packaging, so why not gather as many boxes as you can find, get out the paint and have fun creating something unique! Even if you don't use them for gift giving, they also make great decor, any time! You can hot glue a bunch together, or tie them together with a beautiful ribbon, or use your creative packaging as part of a larger gift basket. The main thing is, get those creative gears turning, don't worry about what someone might think of your painted toothpaste box! The box I've shared with you here is soooo simple, you won't believe it, keep on reading!

Quick Meringue Hearts In A Pinch

I'll make this quick, because after all, who really has time to spend making desserts for a dessert bar, especially when it is last minute? I'll admit, desserts are my daughter's thing, and she assembled these adorable hearts for a friend's engagement party dessert bar. Dessert bars need quite a few items to look great, so something like this, which simply requires filling some store bought meringue hearts with whipped cream, a cookie and a candy or two, can truly be a life saver. Who eats the desserts anyway? Maybe the little kids with the sticky hands that reach up onto that table? So I say, make something that is quick and looks great, with as little time investment as possible, and if you are like my daughter, invest in the beautiful cake that you leave in your newly married friend's fridge for the day after the wedding! Okay, need a shopping list to assemble these beauties? Lets do it!

Mini Graffiti Hearts Painting, Third Time Is A Charm!

If this looks a bit familiar to you, it is! I shared this painting a few weeks ago here, where I also described how it was painted. Honestly the colors just were not working in our home, so I decided to keep on painting tiny hearts, this time in colors that would work and phew, after another couple hundred or so hearts that covered up the previous hearts, a new pastel version of my original mini graffit hearts painting was born! So this technically is also a recycling craft, I just can't get away from them!

We don't have any holidays on the Jewish calendar that involve giving heart shaped cards and the like, but since a large part of the English speaking world does, all the heart items made for that holiday in China make it into our stores as well, and folks use the heart for birthdays, weddings, or just because. So, this heart painting is a "just because" and because I just couldn't resist painting a whole crowd of tiny hearts, one more time! I painted tiny hearts on a box, on milk cartons and in my journal, so actually painting on a canvas seemed like the next logical step. And who knows, maybe I'll have to give this as a gift to hang in a baby's room or maybe it will live in my kitchen shelves art gallery. Okay, lets take a look at the previous versions of this painting, just for fun, shall we?

Milk Carton Houses With Graffiti Hearts!

I really can't count the times I've planned to make milk carton houses, nor how many milk cartons I have packed away in the basement for those dream projects, but I can report to have taken one tiny step forward with these milk carton heart graffiti wall houses! I realize it sounds like I've never made milk carton houses, silly me, I certainly have, twice, milk carton house planter, and doodled millk carton houses. I've been all about hearts lately, and while the hearts I've been painting haven't exactly been graffiti hearts, lets just pretend they are, and certainly when painted on a milk carton house they can be! And of course there are many leaves shaped like hearts, so cover a milk carton with green hearts and you've got a wall of ivy or a garden. Add a few small house details and a whole row of houses is born! This is such a fun project for any age, and I recommend painting a bunch of milk cartons to have on hand, as in general painting on 3D objects is great for developing a creative eye, and for adding something fresh to your crafting or creative practice!  Ah yes, and with the Jewish new year for the trees coming next week, include a few almond blooms, or a blooming fruit tree and include this in your holiday decor. Either way, it feels like Spring, so it works for Tu B'Shevat! Okay, lets get started, shall we? I almost forgot, check out all of my milk carton crafts for lots more inspiration, and to plan ahead, meaning batch prepare some milk cartons for future crafts!

Mini Graffiti Hearts Painting To Spread The Love

Now is a great time to spread the love by painting tiny hearts galore! And while it is true that folks are thinking about hearts as February approaches, hearts are great anytime, and who couldn't use a little extra love right about now?  A mini hearts painting that could also become a mix of hearts to look more like a graffiti hearts painting is a great project to do over the course of a few days, and perfect for beginners. And, if you feel like painting something to give as a gift, this idea done on small canvases would also look great. I'll admit, it is more difficult that it looks, but the great thing about acrylic paint is that if you're not happy with the outcome, use that as the under layer for another painting! Start your painting by writing your heart's desire on the first layer, or fill it with wishes or prayers for a loved one, and paint away. With each heart send some love to the person for whom you are painting this, and your painting will truly be more than just a pattern, it will be a work of art literally filled with love! Okay, you will need to practive painting little hearts, but once the muscle memory in your hand kicks in, it is just a matter of diligence! Let's get started!