creative jewish mom

Festive Painted Apples For Rosh HaShana

Let the Rosh HaShana crafting take over your dining room table, because what a great way to end the Jewish year! And with just a bit of forethought, whatever you make now can be used as decorations in the Succah (coming up 2 weeks after Rosh HaShana), or as little gifts or cards to wish neighbors, family and friends a sweet New Year! We are about to enter a three week lock down here in Israel, which means more time for family crafting, and hopefully a succah that is more creative than ever! But lest I digress, first let's celebrate Rosh HaShana and a family birthday Wednesday night, with lots of color and fun painted everything!

I have been going to town with painting a whole box full of styrofoam apples, and then doodling on them with a white paint pen, and at the moment those that are still in my house (I sent a basket full to loved ones for Rosh HaShana) are actually living in a glass fish bowl, which is a fun way to use a fish bowl if you have yet to make it a terrarium! Okay, lets talk about how to decorate your little painted apples, as there are so many options!

Now Is The Time To Get Crafting For Rosh HaShana!

Sometimes I feel like I might just be the only Jewish crafting coach in the world, and that dear readers is why I am posting some photos of what is going on right now on my kitchen table, namely to get you inspired to use this very last week of the Jewish year to engage in creativity, while at the same time making decorations for Rosh HaShana and Succot to boot! This last week of the year is a very introspective and important one, as we have the ability to make amends for things that didn't go quite as planned during the year, whether it be with relationships, mindset, reaching goals, setting proirities, making wise food choices, among the many aspects of life that we can control. So while you may wonder if creativity has a place, I say that it most certainly does, and especially if your home is lacking in creative activites......turn up the heat and get those creative gears turning, and while you are crafting, you can certainly fill your crafts with great intentions and talk to those you may be creating with about some of the things I've mentioned here. Or maybe it is just about spending time with some loved ones who many need just a little bit of extra attention this week? Or maybe it quite simply about your own well being and your need for creativity, which should never be shoved into the closet. Okay, enough said, less thinking and more doing, at least when it comes to crafts and creativity! Let's take a closer look at what is going on here at CJM headquarters! Wishing everyone a meaningful and productive last week of the year!

8 Tips For Safely Using A Chainsaw On A DIY Project

We are in the middle of an extreme heat wave here in Israel, so it doesn't really feel like Fall, but with Rosh HaShana in less than two weeks, and the Jewish holiday season to follow, that means it is basically Fall, cool weather or not! So that said let's start thinking about bringing some nature indoors this coming Fall and Winter season with wood slice crafts! Wow, there are really so so many DIY crafts that make amazing use of wood slices, whether it be thick sticks or huge trunks, you name it, there's a DIY to go with it! (Think anything from fridge magnets to coffee tables.) For those who live near forest areas or have property with trees that need thinning now and again, DIY wood slice crafts are certainly an amazing way to use some of that wood. The rest of us can buy already-cut wood slices to our heart's content and maybe dream about someday having a yard full of fallen tree parts, that with the help of a chainsaw could become great DIY material. While this article is really about how to safely use a chainsaw, I thought I'd combine it with inspiration for DIY wood slice projects that can be relevant to us all! So, chainsaw, or not, enjoy this inspiration and happy Fall crafting!

Cross Stitch Apple Embroidery On A Foam Tray!

I have dusted off this project from my archives, as it is truly one of my all time favorites! And this apple is just the beginning, collect styrofoam trays (from non-meat items) and have fun thinking of all the possibilities!I have a box with a bunch of trays in the basement, so if and when I get around to dreaming up some more cross stitch projects you'll be the first to know! I just got a big batch of embroidery thread that is calling my name, so you never know! Here's the old post that was written a week before Rosh HaShana, this time around we have more like a week and a half. Ah yes, and I've finally begun to realize that apples are a great symbol for the succah as well, so this craft can be enjoyed as decor indoors and then hung in the succah!

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!

Plastic Bottle Apples To Make For Rosh HaShana Gift Giving And Succah Decorating!

Plastic bottle apples, namely apples made from recycled plastic bottles are something I've been making for quite a few years. They make great little gift boxes or treat boxes, are quite simple to whip up, and everyone loves them. Not to mention that you help create awareness of recycling and minimizing waste, and, this project is at its best when no spray paint (big yuk, bad for health and environment!) is used, rather the bottle is filled with something red. While an apple is generally thought of as a symbol for Rosh HaShana, many have the custom of hanging apples in the succah, as it is a fall harvest fruit, and Succot does certainly include the fall harvest!

At Rosh HaShana we always liked to give little gifts of appreciation to the teacher, and my kids very often prepared a small treat with a New Year's card for all the kids in their class. I like to give little gifts to neighbors, and this plastic bottle apple is perfect for tucking in a small treat (in a red wrapped) and a note, because I'd rather spend time crafting than baking! I have seen this idea or something similar made with a zipper, though I have not succeeded with that as great looking as it is. Simply punching a few holes and tying the top and bottom together with a ribbon makes this craft one that can truly be made in quantities, assuming you have been saving plastic bottles! Okay, now is the time to get crafting, let's make some plastic bottle apples!

Simple Rosh HaShana Cards That Look Like Art

I made these Rosh HaShana apple cards two years ago, and I still love them, so I'm reposting this family oriented craft to help you rev up those creative gears. Wishing friends, neighbors, and loved ones a Happy New Year, and a healthy one to boot, is an especially nice act of kindness, so get to work and make a bunch of cards, even for those who may not celebrate Rosh HaShana, believe me they'll be so happy you included them! Note to self: hey this applies to you too, namely making a bunch of card, um of course! Here's the post from 2018, enjoy!

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!

Fun Decoupage Fabric Apples Last For Years And Are A Crowd Pleaser!

Six years ago I had the idea of decoupaging (is that a word?) fabric strips onto styrofoam apples to make fabric strip apples, and those very same apples are still holding up despite lots of wear and tear and years stuffed in a box in a damp basement! This year we didn't find the decorations I had made last year, so called upon a bunch of old favorites, and these apples were one of the things that guests asked about repeatedly! So there you have it, crafters, these decoupage fabric strip apples are a winner! You can use them to make a centerpiece, which I just realized I have done previously here or hang then eiither one by one, or as a garland of some kind. Of course, I'd recommend making them for Rosh HaShana (or a great teacher appreciation gift!) and then enjoying them for the entire Jewish High Holiday season. Then again, make them in pastel patterns and they'd be perfect for a baby's room or how about in black and white patterns and use them for a baby mobile. As you can see, there is really no end to all the ways one can use these charming apples, so do make some! I have photographed the apples in our succah, just before the succah was taken apart......truthfully we don't use this lovely Moroccan mosaic table in the succah, but it does make a great backdrop for these photos! Keep on reading for a few more glimpses of these fun apples, and pick up some fat quarters or tear up some warn clothing — I was just thinking that plaid apples could be perfect!

Accordian Folded Paper Leaves

With Rosh HaShana now under our belts, it is time to think about Succah decorations, and this year I think I'm going to make  a large number of accordion folded paper leaves for some artful vines to cover the Succah walls. Well that is one of my plans at the moment, but don't hold your breath as that could change between now and the time that I actually start the heavy duty crafting! Nonetheless, these golden leaves are simple to make, and can be made any size you desire (meaning large, folks!) and have a very sculptural modern look to them. I'm dreaming of lots of vines running up the walls of my Succah using these paper folded leaves and wire or possibly rope as the stem. Hmmmm, hot glueing the leaves to rope is a possibility, and if the rope happens to be more like wire, that would be perfect. But first things first, lets learn how to make these leaves!

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!

Giant And Elegant Origami Apples Are Perfect For Any Fall Occasion

Origami apples are so simple to make and are the perfect craft to whip up right now! Fill a basket with them to use as a centerpiece, use them as place cards, hang them mobile style or make a bunch and scatter them around the house. (Or save this idea and gift a whole basket full to your teacher!) The best part is they look great everywhere and any where, and would make cute little Rosh HaShana gifts as well. Attach a tag that is a card and you'll surely warm the hearts of all your recipients! I used these very apples as apple centerpieces for a Rosh Chodesh party, and then a neighbor borrowed them as centerpieces for a Brit, and depending on the colors you choose they can look elegant or playful, or both. So take my advice and get crafting dear friends, the Jewish New year is in less than 3 weeks, with Succos to follow so a barrel of origami apples will serve you well, promise! And yes, you can of course make these in a smaller size and in a variety of colors to represent a wide range of fruit, as I've done here with my origami fruit, cute as can be!