creative jewish mom

Paper Leaves On Real Branches Looks Amazing!

I came up with this simple idea six years ago for my son's birthday just before Shavuot, and I still love it, so I'm dusting it off to share with you as a fabulous last minute craft that includes a nature walk to collect the sticks! Enjoy. Here is what I wrote back then, this year Shavuot is on Sunday night.

Paper leaves on real branches is a super quick craft that results in some fun decorations that can be used for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot or really anytime! I actually made these branches as part of the giraffe birthday party that I'm still in the middle of sharing with you all, though I did have in mind that they would be also be great for Shavuot, in which we decorate our homes with greenery to celebrate the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, which was  very green and lush.

With shavuot staring Saturday night, right after shabbat ends, many of us are now preparing for two days of holidays, so I'm sure glad to already have made these fun branches which are currently hanging from the chandelier over the dining room table. (Those who observe shabbat outside of israel are now preparing for a three day holiday, as Shavuot is two days outside of Israel, and I'm sure those of you to whom this applies wish you had some of these branches already to go, right?

What I'm really trying to say is that a super quick craft like this one is the perfect thing to tackle right now, so lets get to it!

DIY Rope Or Twine Wrapped Plant Pot

Since I've been talking about gardening this week I thought I'd share a super simple way to turn a basic plant pot, even a plastic one straight from the nursery, into a show stopper! If you are like me and you love houseplants, keeping them all in nice pots can be costly not to mention downright inconvenient, especially when you start getting interested in propogating, which results in even more plants! So regardless of your budget, this simple DIY twine wrapped pot is a great little trick to pull out of your sleeve when you want to make rustic centerpieces, give a plant gift, (to someone who may plant it outdoors) or spread the joy with all the baby plants you've created from cuttings! There are so many ways to go when it comes to making your plant collection look great, and sometimes that means adding a pot or two that are quite different from the rest. So, lets learn how to transform a simple pot into an ethnic/rustic/boho inspired one!

Easy Garden Craft Projects For Kids

Fall is here and with cooler temperatures, now is a great time to spend more time outdoors! We will be spending 7 days in our Succah, which is part of the Jewish holiday of Succot, starting this Friday night, so that certainly qualifies as "outdoors!" There are so many ways to develop crafting/art skills, as well as gardening know-how with creative projects that can include anything from more complicated mosaics to very simple pots for cuttings using milk cartons. Right now those who celebrate succot are busy with succah decorations, which in many cases are similar to garden crafts, so this post can be inspiration for just about anyone right about now.

Getting creative and creating things for the garden or any outdoor area, as well as the succah, is an especially fun activity, as kids love showing off their efforts to all those who might pass by! From simple drawings, paintings, or even small woodworking craft projects for kids, any hands-on activity has a lot of benefits and gives your kids a break from screen time. And for those who are home-schooling, getting outside and doing activities away from the computer is crucial for mental health and overall well being. So get outside and make something while the weather permits! Here are some ideas to get you started, so no excuses, plus you can take the mess outdoors as well, enjoy! Now if you'll excuse me, my succah needs some attention!

 

DIY Mosaic Planter Is The Perfect Summer Craft

Since it looks like there will be no summer adventures outside of Israel for us this year, I realized that I should take a closer look at all the amazing things happening practically outside my door, and photograph them to share with you! For starters I just noticed this lovely mosaic dove and chamsa planter that is just as sweet as can be and the perfect theme for the three weeks, because the dove is a Jewish symbol of peace, healing and hope for a better world. Given the size of the vines in the planter it has been there for several months, gasp! So I can't believe I just noticed it!

The good news is that mosaic projects like this one are really quite simple, I know because once upon a time I also covered ceramic pots and urns with tile, and two of those pots are still in my container garden, going strong 17 years later! You can see one of the pots here and check out all of the many varied and exciting mosaic projects and inspiration that I've posted over the years on m blog here.

Enjoy, and consider giving a mosaic of some kind a try! It is the perfect summer craft as it really should be done outdoors, and it is also the kind of project that could be done together as a family, so all the better! Keep on reading to see more photos of this mosaic planter, as well as nice photos of the stone and cobblestone alley where it resides!

Garden Crafts: DIY Rustic Tomato Cage From Sticks

While I have never grown cherry tomatoes, I do know that tomato plants of all kinds generally need support as the tomatoes can get quite heavy, causing the plant to fall over or even break otherwise. So, while the organic tomato seedlings I bought from a local homesteader a month or so ago have yet to actually grow to their expected 1 meter height or provide us with cherry tomatoes just yet, I figured I'd get started on a DIY cherry tomato cage made from sticks, as then hopefully the plant will have more confidence to keep on growing! And even if I wanted to run to the garden supply store and simply buy one of those commercially made wire tomato cages that are everywhere in the USA, well no such luck (fortunately). Instead I get the pleasure of whipping up my own MUCH lovelier version, and I am very happy with the results. I collected a huge bunch of sticks and my husband nearly threw them all out, as it took me over a week to actually get to the this project, but in the end together with the rustic stick garden trellis, I actually used up everything and need to collect some more to make a second tomato cage!  Ah yes, and of course this structure, which isn't exactly a tomato cage, but more like a garden obelisk, can be used for any plant that needs support or something to climb on. This is such a simple project, and will add a nice touch to your container garden or actual garden, so collect those sticks and make a bunch, you'll be very happy that you took my advice, promise!

Garden Crafts: DIY Trellis From Sticks

This year with all the time spent at home as a family, I've had time for some simple upgrades to my container garden due in part to the help of a few teen aged boys! At long last I planted some seeds right before Passover, though the only ones that actually sprouted were the morning glory seeds. This is fortunate as my built in planter (that had to be emptied to deal with water leakage) was looking quite empty, despite returning two standard rose buses to their original spot. Morning glories are trailing vines that need something to grow on, so I collected some long sticks in the forest area near our home, and made several low rustic DIY trellises to encourage the morning glory vines to fill the space below the rose bushes, well initially anyway! Not sure how large the vines will get, so we'll just have to wait and see if additional trellises or vertical supports will be necessary. At the moment the stick trellises are a bit empty, but I suspect that in a few weeks they will be filled with leaves, and maybe even some flowers? In the mean time I'm enjoying their rustic design, and am dreaming of some ladders and other rustic stick structures for my container garden. Want to make some yourself, it is as simple as can be, so lets do it!