creative jewish mom

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?

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!

Special Occasion DIY Star Cake, For Birthdays, Anniverseries, Or Just Because!

Need a relatively simple cake decor idea that will wow the crowd, look great from both sides and won't take hours to make? This special occasion 3D star topped cake is really something to try, and once you have made the stars it can literally be assembled in minutes! I made a bunch of 3D paper stars for Chanukah, and then when I realized I could use them to make this cake, I really couldn't believe how it all came together so quickly, and looked amazing, especially since it matched the decorations in the room! Of course these 3D stars can be made ahead and then used for a variety of decorations, and if you need something elegant, go with metallic gold or silver, or mix in the metallics, and if you need something for a baby shower, so go with pastels, and if it is for kids, so maybe get some tiny figures to put on the cake or make a scene of somekind beneath the stars! Or opt to do as I did and add a few origami doves, especially great for a wedding anniverysary! Okay, lets learn a few important tips for assembling this super simple yet stunning cake!

3D Paper Star Cake Toppers

I have always opted to make simple paper cake toppers for the birthday cakes and special occasion cakes that we've enjoyed over the years. Lately I've love making simple cake flags that look great, possibly together with a number or letter, but this past Chanukah I came up with yet another show stopper that is oh so simple, 3D paper star cake toppers! It is true, you'll need to figure out how to make the paper stars, but once you've conquered that (and truly it is much simpler than it looks) you can whip up star cake toppers in just a few minutes, and they are truly wonderful. In fact these 3D paper star cake toppers could be used for just about any occassion, just change up the color, or use patterened paper, and sky is the limit! If you like, add some numbers or letters or a few tiny figures, and you've got yourself a winning cake, without the hours of negotiating with icing! Okay, lets make some star cake toppers that will surely be the life of the party, and with supplies you likely have on hand!

DIY Tree Branch With Colorful Leaves Wall Art

We are now on the third day (of seven) of the wonderful Jewish holiday of Succot, and while I am not doing any crafting, I can stop by here to share my favorite succah decoration with you! And, unlike some Succah decorations, this one is truly a work of art, and can be used year round indoors, or for a special event or to mark a new season. You decide, but if you are anything like me, you won't want to stop at just one, which I did not! After making the first version, a tree of life with gold leaves, I just had to make another colorful version with a gold trunk (previously the gold spray paint was not to be found) to fill a huge blank area in our Succah. And despite some scepticism from the peanut gallery, it turned out even more beautiful than the first one, and there is a very funny story that goes with it, which I'll share soon. The main thing is to find a really great looking dead branch with lots of character as well as bunches of tiny branches, as that variety is what truly makes this piece special. Okay, want to make one yourself? Lets learn how!

A Quick Accordian Folded Paper Flower For The Succah!

If I am sharing succah crafts with you right now, namely decorations that are currently hanging in my succah, that must mean the Jewish holiday of Succot is quickly approaching. And yes indeed, one of my favorite holidays, that also happens to be seven days long, starts tomorrow night, so time is of the essence! While I had thought I'd be ready days ahead, hmmm, that didn't quite happen as I was waiting for inspiration to strike with something new, and it did, PHEW, only I once again find myself crafting in the wee hours of the morning the night before the holiday, sigh! Lest I digress, if you happen to need some quick succah decorations right NOW, paper accordian folded flowers look great and are quick, plus you can make them in a variety of sizes, and voila, a whole wall of decorations is born! I'll admit, I didn't make the gold accordian folded flower/star this year, and in fact I'm not sure how many years ago this was made, the miracle was that I packed them away nicely and somehow a box full of them surfaced this year when my son combed the attic!

I do hope to share photos of the entire succah with you next week, so stay tuned for that, and keep on reading to find out how to make even just one gorgeous gold flower!

Happiness Is A Jar Full Of Tiny Origami Paper Stars

I truly wish it were that simple, don't you? Truthfully, it really can be, and for starters it is all about putting things in perspective, being happy with your lot, and recognizing the need to be grateful for all the good you do have, not to mention for every moment and every morning that you wake up, as nothing is certain! On the other hand making tiny paper stars might come easily to some of us, while to others making a jar full of these would be torture. And that my friends is sort of like happiness: easy to come by for some and really difficult to achieve for others, sadly enough. And in case you are wondering, I do mean a deep sense of fulfillment as well as joyful moments, and hopefully some exhilarating ones as well, as true happiness is a combination of all of the above, and then some.

So, while it may sound a bit cliche, happiness can truly be a jar of origami stars, that put a smile on your face every time you look at them, that add that just perfect cute factor to your day, that brought together your family in an activity, or that became a sweet baby mobile for a new mommy. Right now that jar of stars that has been sitting on our dining room table for a few weeks now is just exactly what it is, a jar of paper stars that I made one at a time, and I love it! The combination of colors, the joyfulness of it, and the fact that it is not trying to be anything other than what it is.

Ah yes, so maybe that is another key to happiness, being true to who we are? In my case I am being true to who I am by writing this post in the first place, and by actually displaying this jar of stars front and center in my home. Do I need others to understand anything about this jar? No, loud and clear, no, on the other hand if you are reading this you likely do understand, and our mutual understanding across the seas creates global happiness, which is quite a significant thing to think about. I am rambling, so please don't think about it too much, just get yourself some quilling paper and make yourself a little jar of happiness, and then spread it!

Simple DIY Polka Dot Balloons

Looking for a super simple way to transform inexpensive helium balloons in to something special for a party? Polka dot balloons are so simple to make and can be made with a wide variety of materials, so keep this in mind next time you are thinking about how to enhance the party decor you've just whipped up for a special someone! I made these pastel polka dot balloons for my daughter's 18th birthday a few weeks ago and they really did look amazing, especially given the minimal time investment. And just by the way, a few helium balloons tied to a base of some kind can make a wonderful and very cost conscious centerpiece for a wide variety of occassions, especially for example bar mitzvah centerpieces, bat mitzvah centerpieces, family reunion centerpieces, brit milah centerpieces and more of course. I was looking for an airy bright look so I choose white balloons, but you can certainly go with a dark colored balloon and white or metallic polka dots, which could look festive and sophisticated and downright amazing! Okay, lets delve into polka dot balloons just a bit deeper.....

Simple Watercolor Poppy Wall Art

After sharing a few posts last week showing the watercolor poppies I used to make holiday decorations I decided to hold off and publish this watercolor poppy wall art separately so that it wouldn't get lost in all the gorgeousness of the watercolor poppy cut outs and the watercolor poppies centerpiece! After making those watercolor poppy cut-outs with straight stems, I realized that I could paint a panorama (two sheets of large watercolor paper used horizontally) of curved stem poppies to fill the width of my kitchen picture ledge for some more lovely decor! And yes indeed, simply painting a long row of poppies with no added background looks quite good, and can be done fairly quickly. Best of all, flat art like this is certainly simple to store until you need to add a festive touch once again. Of course these poppies are so great looking you'll likely leave them up for a while! I have 3 picture ledges in my kitchen that are used to display art generally, and I love to change them up, so these poppies have been a nice addition, and quite a bit more calming than my flower paintings hung clothesline style! The great thing about watercolor paper is that I was able to simply stand the sheets on the shelf, and with just a bit of masking tape to secure them, voila, lovely art was born. Okay, I did have to paint the poppies first, but that was pure joy! Want to make some painted poppies to decorate a spot in your home? Let's do it!

Blooming Watercolor Poppies Centerpiece Is Festive And Very Budget Friendly!

I am totally in love with the watercolor poppies in a pot centerpiece, well one-sided centerpiece really, and I have already made two more! This idea, is something that you can play around with depending on your own needs, and there are so many ways to go! I actually made a small one using a small round plastic peanut butter tub, which would make an adorable teacher appreciation gift or a token of appreciaion for a neighbor, for example. Then again, making larger pots of poppies really doesn't take that much more time, so go for it, as this burst of festive and artful color is a joyful addition anywhere or anytime! The Jewish holiday of Shavuos is on Thursday night, so we'll be enjoying all the watercolor poppies as we celebrate the giving of the Torah, and then they will likely be used as centerpieces for any number of occassions. I'll admit, I can't wait to try this idea out with other flowers, but with the holiday approaching, together with houseguests, that will just have to wait. Okay, lets make some of these pots of blooming flowers, shall we?