creative jewish mom

Floating Musical Notes Party Decor With Faux Helium Balloons

Here's an idea I came up with last night (for my son's guitar themed birthday party) that is soooooo simple and looks amazing, plus you'll be able to plan ahead and do an even better job than I did! And by the way, since Shavuot is in just four days, replace the notes with hebrew letters and you've got a great decoration to celebrate receiving the Torah!

Presenting floating musical notes that look like they're being carried away by balloons, you know like music floating up to the heavens! Best of all this music themed party decor idea could be used for just about any festive occassion, so be sure to keep it in mind! And as far as the faux element is concerned, well faux seems to be a hot topic of late in the blogging world with faux driftwood and faux crystals and faux succulents and faux shiplap etc. etc. So I now present to you faux helium balloons! This idea is something my daughter actually taught me, as it is a popular one around here! Keep reading for the simple secret and you'll just have to laugh, promise!

DIY Snowglobes Using Recycled Jars

Okay dear readers, here is it, my daughter's current number one favorite craft, made by her, photographed by me, and of course encouraged by me as well! DIY snow globes using recycled jars has been on my mind for months, and I keep wanting to make them for specific holidays and just never get around to it. Fortunately my daughter got bitten by the creative bug and finally decided to put those baby food jars and that glycerin waiting patiently in the cabinet to good use. We are just thrilled with the results and just need to find some more subject material to make some more!

DIY snow globes can me made with recycled jars of any size, and if you want to make something for a toddler you could use a plastic spice bottle or some other plastic container. True the results won't be as gorgeous as glass, but certainly much safer!

You'll really only need a few simple supplies for this one, so let's get crafting!

Recycled Cardboard Tube Logs, A Fun Craft For Lag B'Omer!

Here's a fun recycled cardboard tube craft, in this case I used paper towel tubes, that is perfect just about any time really......though of course with the Jewish holiday of Lag B'Omer coming up, that is what I have made them for. Lag B'Omer involves bonfires, generally really huge ones in our neck of the woods, so all things log and campfire related are perfect. It is true, many Lag B'Omer bonfires are fueled by olive oil, or made from towers of crates and palettes and old furniture, but logs are just so much cuter, I'm sure you'll agree!

So lets make a bunch of cute logs, faux bois style, shall we? Oh, haven't heard of faux bois? That may just be a crafting faux pas, so lets get you up to steam. Faux bois means fake wood, namely anything with a wood grain pattern or made to look like branches, even sculpted. Are you with me? Now lets get crafting and doodling!

DIY Simple Flower Napkin Rings Lovely For Any Occassion!

We made these very simple yet oh so lovely flower napkin rings in just minutes to use on our Passover table, but truthfully they'd be great for just about any occasion, especially weddings, sheva brachas, or any time really! They are so simple to make that you truthfully could make a hundred or so in no time. I packed these away with the Passover dishes so that we can use them again next year, but am already thinking about looking for some larger flowers to use on our table for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, in which we decorate out homes with flowers and greenery, perfect!

Ready to make some, or pick up the supplies to have on hand, let's do it!

Simple Paper Cup Flags Centerpiece

Yes dear readers the pressure is on, with Purim rieally right around the corner, but you still gotta make your table look festive right? So how about whipping up some paper cup flag centerpieces which are really quick, look great and can be embellished however you like. Not to mention you can use them again and again for different occasions! I'll tell you a little secret, shhhhh. I actually made a few of these for my son's bar mitzvah dessert table, and have since used them for Chanukah, Tu B'Shevat, and now Purim! Yes I did in some cases add something different and taller to the center, which one certainly can for Purim, namely with a crown, or a clown or a pom pom......so let's get started!

Quick And Cute Cake Flags From Paper Cups

If you are celebrating Purim this coming Saturday night (with the major festivites actually on Sunday) then like me, you are likely in need of a few quick and cute ideas to help make your holiday festive. Yes, little tricks that give your table and your mishloach manot that extra little touch but actually took very little time! I introduce to you the idea of paper cup flags, paper cup toothpick flags, and paper cup dessert cups.....these three items all made from one single cup! Keep reading for complete instructions, and yes I know time is precious, so I'll make it quick!

A Simple Bear Birthday Cake For A Fourth Birthday

Once again I pulled out the teddy bear cake pan and my large red plastic tray in order to whip up a cute birthday cake in as little time as possible. With a cake pan that results in a cake that is at least the silhouette you desire, and a few simple toppings like whipped cream or icing, edible cake decorating paper (used here for the first time) licorice, sprinkles, and striped sour sticks, for example, you too can create something cute in just about 15 or so minutes. My little patent that really adds so very much? That would be colored paper shapes of course to make balloons and greenery to surround the cake which makes the whole thing that much more special!

Of course, planning ahead is crucial, and whille I did plan ahead I should have looked at my previous bear birthday cakes, as the addition of a crown as in previous years would have been cute. Oh well, next time! With all the pre-Hanukkah rush and the need to decorate this cake and get a party together within an hour or so, I was quite frazzled. Oh yes, and then the cake wouldn't come out of the pan because my daughter (who now does most of the baking) didn't know that one needs to oil and flour pans like this!

So I scooped out the head of the bead with a spatula and then the body, but no one was the wiser as it was all covered in non-dairy whip cream in any case. Keep reading for some more tips and links to previous bear birthday cakes!

Accordian Folded Paper Medallions

Accordian folded paper medallions are so simple to make, look great, and may just be the answer to your Succah crafting dilemma right about now? I made around fifty of these medallions in a few sizes and colors and they sure came in handy at my son's bar mitzvah, not to mention that I'm about to decorate our succah with them as well, phew! You can make your medallions as simple as can be, as shown here, or glue a circle or flower shape to the center if you desire, there are no rules and so many possibilities! I'm planning to actually sew these to some of the curtain wall panels in our succah, and assuming there isn't any rain, I'll simply cut them off the curtains and save for yet another occasion.

The main thing is to make them in three colors or more and in a bunch of sizes, and them hang them in clusters that look somewhat random. Need a few tips for making them? Keep reading...

Cross Stitch Apple Embroidery Recycling Craft

Here's a fun apple cross stitch craft that is fun for all ages, and is a recycling craft to boot! And with Rosh HaShana in less than a week, well a few of these cross stitch apples, that can be whipped up quite quickly would be a great way to welcome the new year! Not to mention of course that apple themed crafts are always perfect for teacher appreciation gifts and Fall. So gather your supplies, and if you don't have a recycled styrofoam tray on hand you could even use a piece of cardstock, a piece of foam core, or even a paper plate! Time is of the essence, so lets get crafting!

Egg Carton Flowers That Look Like Porcelain!

I have started crafting for my son'e upcoming Bar Mitzvah, and as usual have a bunch of ideas that I'm not sure how to bring together, so the best thing to do in that case is simply get started! The first of hopefully many great surprises is that one can quite simply make lovely modern egg carton flowers that look like porcelain, or glazed ceramic of some kind. The effect is lovely and artful, and I'm so very happy with this first step.

Egg carton flowers are a bit on the time consuming side as far as cutting them out. but it is the kind of thing one can do in a few moments here and there, or get the whole family involved! My husband was surprised when i asked him to start cutting the egg carton flats into strips, but he couldn't say no, as he was waiting for me in any case. Then in the hour drive to our destination I actually succeeded in cutting out quite a few flowers! I know, maybe weilding scissors in the car isn't the safest thing to do, so make sure to cut in you lap, no near your face. It is certainly safer than running with scissors right?

Ah yes, but how did I make them? (I'll give you a hint, I used supplies that I had right in my very own attic!) Keep reading for the light bulb moment that I'm sure will help you when you find yourself in a situation like mine: a million little things to paint and not enough time!