creative jewish mom

Summer Camp Crafts: A Graffiti Logo Sweatshirt With Splashes Of Color

I am so grateful that my teen daughter loves crafting, as with no school for months now due to Covid-19, she has had lots of time to delve into creative activities that she loves, the latest being grafitti sweatshirts! Her friends are begging her to make some for them, and while I was just thinking she could do a class, maybe just buying an airbrush and semi-mass producing them would be a better idea? Just to be clear, my daughter isn't wearing this sweatshirt out and about, but she certainly has fun wearing it as pajamas! The graffit sweatshirt idea all started with a Purim costume which led to a black and white graffiti sweatshirt, which then led to this colorful creation, all done by aforementioned teen daughter on the floor of her tiny Israeli sized bedroom......of course the bedroom is a cute as can be, complete with tiny lights and dreamy decor, so it is actually a nice sanctuary for creativity. This project is perfect for summer as a whole family or group of kids could make them together and even make each shirt or sweatshirt together to reflect the group as a whole, which could be a really great memento of time spent creating together. The instructions for this project are quite loose, so you'll really have to rev up the creative gears, but if you start with a word or a logo in the middle and then go from there, you really can't go wrong. And if you do, just pour some paint over the areas that weren't so successful and keep on going! Okay, lets take a look at the supplies we used for this graffiti sweatshirt......

Summer Camp Crafts: A Simple Graffiti Sweatshirt In Black And White

Summer is here, and yet this summer is not like other summers, sigh. Here at CJM central we seem be in the middle of eternal vacation, well sort of, with the future of schooling this year very uncertain. Rather than dwell on that, and whether some of my kids will actually get "summer vacation" when and if school starts, lets get busy making summer camp crafts, as there is something about messy or process oriented or outdoor type crafts that just makes many of us happy, not to mention busy and creative! Speaking of busy, this graffiti sweatshirt project could keep someone busy for hours and hours, and when my daughter disappeared into her room for long periods it dawned on me that she must be working on a graffiti sweatshirt! This graffiti sweatshirt idea was born when my teen daughter wrote all over one of her brother's old white shirts as  Purim costume (keep on reading for photo) and realized that she'd like to create a sweatshirt in the same style to wear as pajamas......and voila, a graffiti sweatshirt was born. And then another for a friend, and then another, but with color added! So, if you love to doodle, and love lettering, and/or drawing little items, this is the project for you, or your kids, so get a cheap sweatshirt, some permanent and/or fabric markers and enjoy. If some areas don't turn out wonderfully, just get some dark fabric paint and pour splatters over the areas you'd like to cover, ah yes, this is where the outdoor crafting part comes into the picture! Enjoy this one, and actually if you want to keep yourself and/or the family really busy, you could do a comforter cover, or a set of sheets using this graffiti sweatshirt as inspiration...........

Doodle Bees For Rosh HaShana!

Rosh HaShana is just around the corner, so in a pinch I realized that my folk art doodle bees didn't need to become a wall hanging but rather would look great just taped on the wall. Yes, of course the parthership of my doodle bees and this Swedish apple poster by fine little day are what make the simplicity of taping the bees to the wall successful, then again, I think they'd look great as is as well. So dear readers, do spend the time to create some fun decorations for Rosh HaShana, but don't get too stressed out about how to display them, simply tape them on the wall, with masking tape of course. If you have an empty frame you could fill a frame with them too, which could be simple and great looking, the main thing is, again, just display the results of your efforts for all to enjoy, even if it is on the fridge, I do that too!

Wishing everyone joyful preparations for Rosh HaShana during this last week of the year! Keep on reading for a few more photos......

Folk Art Doodle Bee Napkin Ring And Placecard

Bees are a fun theme for so many occasions, like birthdays, baby showers, you name it, and of course for Rosh HaShana as a reference to the honey that plays an important part on our holiday table! So add a little joy to your table with some sweet folk art doodle bee napkin rings and tiny placecards, and you will set the tone for a buzzing occasion. Plus, if you are the hostess with the mostess, or host with the most, then you owe yourself a bit of creative time, right? And whipping up some of these folk art doodle bees is just the thing. You may end up inviting even more guests in order to use up all those bees you've created, or better yet, hang them mobile style over the table or use them as gift tags or cards. Or put a few in a frame and gift it as art for a baby's room, so cute! Okay, time is precious, with Rosh HaShana coming in just over a week, so lets get crafting!

Folk Art Doodle Bee Gift Cards Or Tags

After drawing a whole barrel of folk art doodle apples last week, I just had to give the same technique a try with some bees, and I'm happy as can bee with the results! Okay, truthfully it did take me a whole sheet of bees to get it right, (and I almost gave up, yikes!) as I just couldn't find the right combination of florals and stripes, but in the end, I found a formula that works, and am so happy that I stuck with the idea in my head! And in any case, stripes and florals always go together, so why not with some fun folk art bee cards or gift tags?

With the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana, coming up a week from Sunday, now would be the time to get crafting......cards, decorations, something special for the table, a surprise for the kids in your life, a fun little something for a friend or neighbor? These doodle bees can be used for so many of the items I've listed, and are truly a relaxing craft to dive into, so go for it! Keep on reading to see some other versions, and then decide for yourself if you prefer black and white or black and white and festive color!

Folk Art Doodle Apple Cards Or Gift Tags

Now is the time of year for all things apple related, because Rosh HaShana is approaching and the apple is one of the symbols for the Jewish New Year, not to mention Fall of course. It might be hard to believe that once upon a time apples were seasonal fruit, but yes indeed, and therefore they were given a great deal more respect I might add. So lets shower those apples with some attention and cover them with folk art doodles! This idea popped into my head, and while the original thought was a painting, using markers is much quicker (for most of us) and a great way to whip up a bunch of apple gift tags, cards for Rosh HaShana, or to use on a festive garland — in the house for Rosh HaShana, and then in the succah! Because of the doodles you'll need to draw to fill in these apples, this becomes truly addictive, I have to say, but then again, who can't use a relaxing activity that also has a use? I say bring on the folk art apples, at least a bushel!

Mini Cardboard T-Shirts For Birthday Party Decor!

DIY mini cardboard t-shirts are just the cutest for birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, graduation, baby showers, casual weddings, and to welcome guests or just because! Simply make some mini cardboard t-shirts, decorate them with the message or graphics that works for your party, and voila, you can hang them on a string with mini clothespins, attach them to skewers for cake decorations, add a ribbon to make gift tags, or even use them to make fun napkin rings! And that is just for starters, I'm sure you can think of some more great ideas! I just love drawing black line drawings of clothes on cardboard, and you may remember my recycled cardboard clothes on a clothesline stage set, or even my mini Purim costumes on a clothes line kids craft. Once you realize how quick these ilttle t-shirts are to make, and how adorable they are, you'll be hooked, I know I am! Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go make a whole pile of them to have on hand for every occasion! Of course this is a bit self explanatory, but let me give you a few tips to make it even more simple, shall we?

A Peek In My Sketchbook

At long last this past summer I started working in a sketchbook in an attempt to go out of my comfort zone, and while it wasn't easy (on account of the fear of making bad art that is then stuck in a book...) I was thrilled with my progress. It took a good month, and then I actually started creating some sketches that I'm happy to share. And that dear readers is truly an accomplishment for a quasi-perfectionist like myself. Now unfortunately I have not had the time to continue the sketchbook process, but that is more of an excuse, truly I can and should just work even an extra 15 or 20 minutes into the day and devote it to sketching, as practice and more practice is the only way to advance in the creative journey! Okay, now that I've given myself a little lecture, I'll have to remind myself to follow my own advice!  Okay, maybe after Purim, for which the pressure is now on, or maybe even after Passover, for which the pressure will also be on in another week. Hmmm, excuses?

Rosh HaShana Symbols Mobile Or Wall Hanging Craft

Rosh HaShana starts on Sunday night yet there is still time to whip up a few fun decorations to add extra meaning to your holiday. Or maybe you are celebrating at someone else's home and would love a fun way to add a special holiday touch to a bottle of wine or wrapped gift? Here is it my friends, simply paint some whimsical shapes that look like a fish, a carrot, a pomegranite, a beet, a gourd, and an apple for starters, and either use them together to make a mobile, or use them separately as gift tags, place markers, cupcake or cake toppers, or you name it!

Having spent two good weeks going to museums in the USA this past month, I am all for crafts and creativity that use the simplest of materials and therefore the most creativity. And you know what, generally the results are also the most heartfelt. Who ever said ahhh about something cut from a die cutting machine? Got it? So get out those paints and enjoy, because quite honestly just applying color to paper is so very very satisfying and a great way to jump start your family's (or your) creativity!  Ready?.......

Simple Gold Leaf Rosh HaShana Card Craft Makes A Perfect Fall Craft Too

If you enjoyed my simple Rosh HaShana card craft, well now get ready to take that project up a rung with the addition of some gold leaf, love it! It is true, real gold leaf comes in sheets, and can be pricey, but for some fairly small change one can buy little containers of gold leaf flakes that are perfect for crafting and not breaking the bank. The addition of some gold leaf pieces to the leaves or even the apple itself turns nice cards into something spectacular! And I'll let you in on a little secret, I actually did it with black and well and wow! Ready to make some fabulous cards for Rosh HaShana, for Fall gift giving or even for teacher appreciation day, it is so simple and the results are fantastic. Just don't even think if making those leaves green please, that would spoil all the fun. Ready, lets get crafting!