creative jewish mom

Ice Cream Cones And Guitars Party Garland Using Recycled Cardboard!

Make a fun garland that matches the theme of your party with just a few simple supplies, some simple line drawings and the more creativity the better, especially when it comes to making use of cardboard, paper and packaging that can all be put to great use! This ice creme cone and guitar birthday party garland came about quite simply because the pattern on the boxes of matza that we enjoyed this Passover had that gridded pattern, and ice cream cones came to mind, and the guitars are in keeping with the overall theme of guitars (as we surprised my son with a new guitar.) Surely an original combination and I just love how it works with the musical note faux helium balloon decoration. Are my decorations totally crisp and perfect looking? NO, first of all because they were basically made on the spot with no planning ahead, and secondly because that is the beauty of them, in my humble opinion. Decorations that look homemade will feel like they are from the heart, and that after all is the true purpose, right?

 Ready to make something similar but with your own unique twist? Let's get started......

Square Wreath With Felt Flowers Is Sweet Anytime!

The Jewish holiday of Shavuout starts tonight, and our door is decorated with this sweet little square wreath adorned with felt flowers! (A little disclaimer: door wreaths are decidedly un-Jewish if you delve into their origin, and I generally try not to use the word wreath, but for the sake of folks finding this post, well I just couldn't think of another word that would suffice.) Round floral wreaths are a symbol of military funerals and memorial day, so I went with a fun variation of a square wreath which actually reminds me of a trellis, perfect!

This project came about as I had a bunch of felt chrysanthemum flowers left over from my felt flower napkin ring project, and I have to say, I just love it! Change out the little banner (which reads chag sa-may-ach, with a gutteral ch that is, translated happy holiday) and this project could be perfect for so many occasions, or just as sweet as can be in a baby's room. Ready to whip up one of these square wreaths, using supplies that you likely have on hand (assuming you have a big bag of felt that needs using up, like I did, did, being the operative word, yippee!) let's get started.

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!

Toilet Paper Tube Butterfly Craft Plus Doodling Equals Fabulous!

Yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day, and it turns out that the butterfly is actually a symbol used in Holocaust Education (check out my previous post, here) and a yellow one turns out to be even more timely.......and so you see the craft that I was thinking was just too cheerful to post yesterday is actually right on time! Speaking of right on time, I'm so happy to present to you this toilet paper tube butterfly that is just so darn cute and makes a great project for all ages........make it a true work of art, or stick to patterns really seen on butterfly wings, you decide! Either way, no one will confuse your results with something made in nursery school with pipe cleaner antennae, not that I'm knocking that, just giving the toilet paper tube butterfly a higher ranking in the crafting world!

This guy has been sitting on my picture ledge in our kitchen table gallery, and he is just so much fun I hope to make some more, and maybe even a much larger one using a paper towel tube! Ready to get started? Okay, lets fly with this one........

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!

Recycled Pizza Box Top Robots For Purim

The Jewish holiday of Purim starts this coming Saturday night (Sunday night for those living in Jerusalem proper) so lets turn up the heat and get crafting! These cute pizza box top robot clowns are just one idea to get you inspired. For starters, take a look around the house and use what you have on hand — the very best way to really truly get creative without having to run to the store, and spend time (and money) unnecessarily!

And truly, these robots came about literally on account of the above advice. Last Tuesday I was working hard making decorations for a community Purim party, and my kids were treated to some takeout pizza since mommy was too busy to even think about preparing food, not to mention cleaning up the huge mess she had made, yikes. Upon arriving home, I was greated by two medium size pizza boxes whose tops were clean, and my huge pile of crafting mess, mainly little scraps of paper. So of course, I thought that some pizza box top robot clowns would be a perfect start to our Purim crafting. With only a few days left to truly get into the Purim spirit, my advice is, go large, go funny, and go recycled.....here's how:

Quick Soda Bottle Clown For Purim Or Your Circus Themed Party!

I'm quite sure how that happened, but Purim is in another week plus a few days, and so it is surely time to get crafting for Purim, right? Okay, truthfully I have been crafting, just not stuff that I can share with you at the moment, or have yet to photograph, which is usually the case, phew! I tried to photograph something quickly before the sun went down, but since the project wasn't quite finished I think I'll share it with you in its entirety tomorrow. In the mean time I realized there may have been some projects that I did last year and hadn't shared, and yes, sure enough, I now present to you my quick soda bottle clown craft!

Yes it is true, we have made soda bottle clowns in the past, or rather my daughter made soda bottle clown gift boxes, that were recycled. This one contains the drink that comes in the bottle, and since we don't buy or drink that stuff, I had to quickly craft with it to get it out of the house, clever me!

I made this to give on Shushan Purim (the day celebrated in cities that were once ancient walled cities, like Jerusalem and Akko) since in our town we give a few mishloach manot on that day as well. As you may remember, last year I was crafting away with the packing peanuts and made packing peanut stars as well as giant origami clowns with packing peanut collars, so now to add to the list is a little packing peanut trimmed clown hat!

Keep on reading to see the full photo (that my son didn't want me to share, so at least its not front and center) and a list of supplies. Happy Purim crafting!