creative jewish mom

TP Roll Clowns Craft For Kids

Purim is quickly approaching, so now is the time to turn up the heat with some creative projects to keep the kids busy, and give them something to be proud of in their own preparations for the festive holiday. This tp roll clown craft that I did with a group of 11 year old boys is a perfect craft to encourage creativity! Give them the idea of the clown, and let them create a stand or environment for the clown with recyclables and of course, colored paper. The stand shown here was a great idea, and received first prize (between you and me) for creativity, plus the results are downright professional! Okay, whether you make clowns from tp tubes, and/or tall clowns using paper towel rolls, the more the better, lets do it!

Simple Castle Recycling Craft For Kids

With Purim coming on Thursday night, now is surely the time to get crafting! I have been crafting up a storm with 3 groups of schoolboys grades 4, 5 and 6, and I'm so proud of their accomplishments! The 6th grade boys were given an open ended project, so they all ended up making something different which I just love, and which doesn't always happen with younger boys lacking the confidence to do something different, but I'm working on them! This simple castle recycling craft can be made quite quickly and with a few items from the recyling bin! Yes, it is quite similar to my shoebox castle craft from many years ago, but honestly I love this too as it can be placed on the table as a fun centerpiece, without the volume that a shoebox takes up! Okay, want to make one, or even a bunch? Let's get to it!

How To Make A 2 Minute Origami Butterfly

While our Women's Purim party is coming up in a few days and I could pull my boxes of origami butterflies down from the attic, instead I'm coming up with something new, and sharing the past with you here!

Purim is the next Jewish holiday on the calendar, and a festive one at that, so now is the time to get crafting! Our Women's community Purim party is scheduled for next week and since the decorations are always on me, I simply must make the time. Somehow taking the cardboard castles down from the attic just isn't so appealing, and suddenly the idea of butterflies galore came to me, and so it will be! I'm thinking like a ton of origami butterflies from tiny to giant, and maybe some colorful fluffy clouds, and that is it! Of course things could change, but for now, the folding marathon has begun, and this butterfly, can be folded in 2 minutes if all goes well, I timed it! Yes, I do plan on adding wire attenae with tiny pom poms on some of them, and I may add some paint pen details, but for now loving them as is! The origami butterflies make great cupcake or cake toppers, or even fun gift tags, so they are great to have on hand. And I've recently realized that small origami projects are great for car trips, so keep that in mind as well! Want to get folding? Let's do it.........

Origami Clowns Craft To Make In Many Sizes

These origami clowns are just too much fun, and since they are quite simple to fold, why not make a bunch in many sizes to decorate for Purim? Garlands, cake toppers, vase inserts and even front door decor are perfect ideas for how to use this clown, or how about glued to card stock as a gift tag? I'd say make a bunch, and then figure out how to use them! I have made giant origami clowns using wrapping paper in the past and using the entire width of the wrapping paper to produce a very large clown, which is quite fantastic actually. This year I'm crafting these with some of my students and we are making smaller versions to stick into a Purim vase centerpiece. Okay, lets do it!

A Bowl Of Origami Pears For Tu B'Shevat!

Tonight is the festive holiday of Tu B'Shevat, the New Year for Fruit Bearing Trees, and there is still a tiny bit of time to make a fun centerpiece, especially something quick ilke this bowl of origami pears! While this year I've gone crazy making origami fruit of all kinds in great numbers and with my groups of crafting students, but there is just something so wonderful about filling a bowl or plate with just pears, as they sit so nicely with one another! And friends, even if you don't have a footed bowl, cake plate or the like, you can make one in 2 seconds by simply placing a plate on top of an upside down bowl, got it! So time is of the essence, lets make this fun paper pears centerpiece, and wishing you a joyful Tu B'Shevat!

DIY Paper Pomegranite On A Branch Craft

I have to admit, this is one of the cutest crafts I've done lately, and I just can't wait to make more! Perfect for Rosh HaShana, and then bring your pomegranite branches into the succah! Use them to fill vases, or make garlands for the table or to hang overhead, on LED lighting or on rings hung horizontally.......or how about as part of a placecard/napkin ring? However you choose to use this idea, make a bunch as they are truly adorable. The traditional green and red is fun, but how about neutral colors or something unexpected? Okay, lets get started........

Recycled Plastic Bottle Vase Craft For Kids

How do you make a vase to hold various paper flowers, pomegranite branches and Rosh HaShana symbols on skewers? Well, I've just come up with a really fun way that has great results and is so very enjoyable to make. The room was almost silent as my group of 9 year old boys got to work, meaning this was perfect for them. And I'll admit, I had fun making a few as well! For kids whose confidence level is low when it comes to crafting, something like this is perfect! I of course am against buying pre-made crafting elements to glue onto things as there is no creativity in that, but arranging pre-cut paper strips in a great range of colors is a few steps above that, and to encourage kids to craft sometimes you've got to encourage them with projects that are relatively easy! These vases got an extra boost of cuteness with a t-shirt yarn rim and a row or two of bobble yarn. Aren't they truly just the sweetest?

Fun DIY Plastic Bag Pom Pom Craft

Once again, I have made plastic bag pom poms, well rather my 9 year old students have made some plastic bag pom poms and the results are just so much fun! And of course with the crafty hoiday of Succot sneaking up on us, now is the time to get crafting, and these pom poms are truly wonderful! While plastic bags are outlawed in many places, they are still in use here is Israel (and honestly when you are fighting for your life, worrying about plastic bag use takes a back burner.....) and so I am doing my part to recycle them myself and raise awareness with local kids about what great crafting material plastic bags can be!

Recycled Icecream Cone Box Birthday Garland!

I hope you will never throw out another food box with photos on it again, as cut-outs make the most adorable garlands, especially when the kids cut out the items and decorate them! This ice cream cone birthday garland for a beloved five year old was made together with him, though admittedly I did most of the work, but he did a great job making some abstract cherries and cutting out the cones! The black and white striped t-shirt yarn adds to the whole look, though of course black and white polka dot ribbon would also be great. So friends, recycle those food boxes with photos on them and make fun crafts. Boxes of cereal with collage of pom poms  and sequins could be great, hmmm, gotta do that! Get creative with this one and enjoy!

Cross Stitch on Cardboard Apple Craft

Pulling this one out of the archives from a mere two years ago, and now it is making me want to embroider, help!

I followed my own advice about making some cross stitch apple crafts (check out my first cross stitch apple craft here) for Rosh Hashana, and last night in the wee hours of the morning I made my son a birthday card featuring a slightly different cross stitch apple, and this time on cereal box cardboard. I'm happy with the results and wish I had time to do some more icons for Rosh HaShana, hmmm, maybe I do have the time? You'll be the first to see the results if I do, but in the mean time, think about how you can take this idea and use it for your upcoming celebration, whether it be a Fall birthday, a teacher appreciation gift, or, Rosh HaShana of course, coming up this Sunday night! Ah yes, and traditionally, the Jewish new year is the time to give cards, so if you need a special one, this could be perfect! Okay, time is of the essence, lets learn how I made this!