creative jewish mom

Autumn Inspired Fun: 6 Crafts for the Whole Family to Do During Fall

Fall is a fun and exciting time for the entire family. Changing leaves and crisp autumn weather are the perfect backdrop for fantastic adventures and fun-filled activities. From trips to the pumpkin patch to backyard football games on Sunday afternoons, or even just enjoying cooler weather,  it seems like there is always something to do. And with the kids back in school, those fall days can seem even busier.

Still, there will be times when rain keeps you stuck indoors, or you just decide to focus on making memories at home rather than going out. On those days, autumn-inspired crafts are a great way to keep everyone entertained. Rather than letting your kiddos spend their downtime glued to electronic devices, engage them in arts and crafts to keep their minds and hands occupied while making special family memories. Keep reading to discover a few crafts for the whole family to do this fall.

Watercolor Pomegranates Card Craft

We are ushering in the wonderful holiday of Sukkot tomorrow night, and I am still crafting (of course) so you may also be in need of a sweet way to make some holiday cards or placecards? My daughter made this for me as a Rosh HaShana card, and it is just so sweet I had to share it with you! A branch of apples and pomegranates could work for Succot, or even Tu B'Shevat, the new year for fruit bearing trees, so if you don't have time for it now, keep it in mind! I love the little touch of gold leaf, right?

Okay, lets get started on this, time is of the essence!

Golden Fig Leaf Garland

Golden fig leaf garlands, or golden leaf garlands of any kind of leaf are simple to whip up and look amazing. I choose to use fig and olive leaves for this garland to represent 2 of the 7 holy species, but you can of course do what works for you! Golden monstera leaves would look amazing as home decor, or party decor or in a child's room, right? But right now, of course we need to think about the succah and this is a relatively quick craft with great results, so get some heavy weight gold paper, or light weight gold cardboard, or some cereal box cardboard that you'll paint, and get to work! That empty wall in your succah could use a few of these garlands, and voila, you'll be so happy you spent the extra effort! Okay, lets do this! (Please excuse the grainy photos, this craft is from way back in 2013, when my photograph skills were less developed!)

Nature Crafts For The Succah!

The wonderful Jewish holiday of Succot is on our doorstep, and quickly sneaking up on us, so there is no time like the present to delve into Succah decorations! I very fortunately came across these dried pomegranite branches a few weeks ago in Meron, and to husband's chagrin filled the trunk with them! Of course they look gorgeous as is, but the leaves make a huge mess, and my succah is Moroccan style elegantish, so I'll be doing something with these branches, like painting them gold and leaving the pomegranites as is. Hmmm, but how exactly will they become succah wall art? Your guess is a good as mine, but offering you these photos as inspiration for your own succah decor adventures. It is true, I am no stranger to collecting sticks and branches and making things from them, so I've decided that this week we'll delve into nature crafts for the succah! In the mean time, keep on reading for some links to previous succah crafts using branches and twigs and even some leaves! Take a deep breath and let's get started! (Yes, I know, so much to do, but it will all get done, promise!)

Giant Origami Apples Holiday or Shabbat Decor!

I am reposting this giant origami apples tutorial because it is just to wonderful not to share again. Make apples to enjoy for Rosh HaShana and use as succah decorations as well! So simple and while you are at it, make a whole giant bushel full!

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!

Soda Bottle Treat Box Shaped Like An Apple!

As  you may know one of my great creative joys is coming up with fun craft projects that use recyclables. I have been know to hoard plastic bottles, tp rolls, techina containers, and milk cartons, for starters, all in the name of making just for example, treat boxes, party decorations, centerpieces and even planters. With Rosh HaShana right around the corner in another week and a half, now is a great time to think about sweet treats (healthy or not so healthy, your choice) to usher in a sweet new year! Of course, if you have a birthday, or would like to give a teacher appreciation gift, this soda bottla apple treat box is perfect and truly easy to whip up, even in numbers. Of course, you'll have to have the necessary number of plastic bottles on hand, but if you are short, pop on over, I likely have some extra! If you would like some additional ideas for making party favors, gift containers or baskets from soda bottles, hop on over to my soda bottle recycling crafts category.

Pine Cone Owl Craft With An Artful Twist

Since this week has been all about owls and owl crafts and painted owls, I just had to try making a pine cone owl because pine cones are the perfect shape, right? Not to mention that natural look of belly feathers! Of course I couldn't just whip out the felt and copy someone else's owl pine cone, I had to come up with something just a bit original, realistically because i have no idea where my felt is at the moment, nor if I have anything more than brown and green.....So introducing a pine cone owl with an artful twist, meaning some painted paper scraps and a few little doodads to make it truly original. And while you are at it, make a bunch in all sizes and look into making a whole range of forest creatures such as foxes, porcupines/hedge hogs, mice and more. But first things first, lets make a pine cone owl. And if you are lucky enough to have access to those giant pine cones I grew up with, well make a giant pine cone owl!

A Mixed Media Stand Up Owl Is Perfect For Your Woodland Decorating Theme?

Owl themed crafts are so much fun, and can be done in so many ways, depending on how much time you have to spend and just how many owls you want to make! I am trying to increase my painting skills, so another painted owl, this time a bit more woodsy than my stand up owl with wine cork feet, is what came to be. The only thing I actually planned was that it would be a cut out stand up owl, so I painted it on the back of a piece of cereal box cardboard, and while I am very critical of my own work, I actually really love this gal, she looks to me like a children's book illustration. I do need to paint some big mushrooms to complete the scene, but for now presenting my mixed media cereal box owl! Ah yes, and just by the way, an owl like this could be great for a woodland themed baby shower, birthday party or any fall/winter occasion, plus he is easy to store and enjoy for years to come!

Super Simple Fall Centerpiece With Painted Faux Apples

If you happen to have a bunch of blank apples made for crafting, just waiting for their turn in the spotlight, as I did, paint them in your favorite colors, add some white details with a paint pen, place them in a footed glass bowl, and voila, a fun Fall, Rosh HaShana, Succot, or even Tu B'Shevat centerpiece is born! Ah yes, and this would make a fun teacher appreciation gift as well! Truthfully apples painted in your favorite colors can be used any time to bring joy into your home, so while I did make this for our series of Jewish holidays in the Fall, it would look great any time. And in case you may have noticed, the more the better! Want to make something like this for your table? Lets take a close look.......

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!