creative jewish mom

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!

DIY Tree Of Life Wall Decor Nature Craft

The tree of life is a universal Jewish symbol, and this year it is center stage in our succah, as a DIY tree of life nature craft! I'll admit, I didn't plan this at all, though husband had requested something new for the succah, for which my reply was a groan, NOW? Meaning a day or two before Succot, with so many things to do? Generally I do create at the last minute, but this year I had thought about just being ready days ahead, ha ha ha. And I am so grateful that I was open to letting the creativity sneak in as I just love this tree of life craft, and it is perfect in our succah! And I'll let you in on another secret, after this one, I made an even bigger and more colorful one, that I'll share with you next week, no time for that now, and I need to get one of my sons to climb up on the ladder and hang it in any case. This DIY tree of life nature craft is perfect for fall or winter or any season really, as there is something about a crafted tree, using a real tree branch that is just downright charming! Now, you will have to start taking nature walks and looking around for the perfect dead branches calling out to you, but that is part of the wonderful process! Okay, let's learn how to make a tree of life with golden leaves!

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!

Summer Camp Crafts: Pine Cone Pineapples

 

I have taken this craft out of the archives and dusted it off as it is a great partner to my pine cone animals post. Plus it truly is one of the cutest nature crafts ever, right? And pineapples can be any color, not just yellow as long as you have a few yellow ones in the bunch. Best of all, you'll hopefully have to take a nature walk to collect the pinecones, so enjoy!

I have been wanting to make pinecone pineapples for a few months now, and even painted the pinecones yellow before Passover, and finally found the time to give this fantastic summer craft, that would be a perfect summer camp craft a try. And wow, the results are so adorable you'll want to make a whole bunch, I know I do! You can use your pineapple pinecones as decorations for part of a tropical party, or as whiimsical decorations any time. Line up a few on a shelf and you'll smile every time you see them, or hang some mobile style. And of course if you want to be a little bit different, how about hanging some pineapple pinecones in your succah? Succot is among other things, a fall harvest festival, and in Israel that means pomegranites and dates, but it could certainly mean pineapples as well, right?

Regardless of whether you have a plan for your pinecone pineapples, gather some pinecones and get crafting, I'm sure a great idea will come to you. If not simply display them on a little shelf which is where mine are sitting right now, looking as cute as ever! Best of all, once you get the hang of how to make these, you really could whip up quite a few, even as fun Bar or Bat Mitzvah, birthday or wedding centerpieces, so lets get crafting! (Note: If you do plan on making a large quantity, I would paint them by dipping them into a large container of paint, so much easier!)

Painted Rock Garden Project For Rosh HaShana!

Yes, it is certainly true, you won't likely find any other painted rock projects in the Rosh HaShana crafts category anywhere except here. And yes dear readers that is because here at CJM creativity is the name of the game, which means we needn't be constricted by standard ideas when it comes to making projects for specific holidays! So yes, apples and honey, carrots and fish, and shofars do represent Rosh HaShana, but then again so does a rock garden filled with hopes and dreams and prayers for the new year! 

So, while I did not create this lovely rock garden, rather photographed it in the Bunker HIll neighborhood of Boston, at the Harvard Kent School, I have now realized that rock gardens are amazing anytime, meaning, namely really truly one can make a rock garden for every occassion and write messages on the rocks that correspond to ideas at hand. I do wish I had time to make my own rainbow colored rock garden right about now.......I'd write little messages to my children and husband, and brothers around the world, and say thanks to my mother for being so wonderful. I'd pick some key words that represent how I'd like the New Year to look, as well as goals and wishes and goodness all around. Then I'd use my little rock garden as a reminder of sorts throughout the year! Come to think of it, one could really do the same thing in a bowl for the coffee table, right? Or if the messages are private, so stuff a whole bunch in a jar and put it on a high shelf where you can enjoy the colors without having to share the thoughts? Ah yes, painted rocks can be so many things other than paper weights!

Printing With Leaves Is A Perfect Fall Craft

Once upon a time, I posted about printing with leaves as a perfect Spring craft, and I still stand behind that, only now after coming across this photo of some leaf and pod printing I did for a Jewish journal, I'd like to add that printing with leaves is a perfect Fall craft, especially when one omits the bright green and uses deep purples and blues! And if you're really adventurous, after trying your hand at printing on paper, get some fabric paint and make a gorgeous rustic table cloth or even a runner. So, depending on where you ilve, and whether there are leaves year round, now might be just the time to give this craft a try. Make prints to use as holiday cards, make tiny prints to use as place cards for your next formal get together, and if you make a particularly great one, take a photo of it, as I did in this case and use it many times over!

There are several ways to make leaf prints, and as you can guess I have tried them all, with the exception of actually hammering the leaf onto the fabric.......Ready to give this a try?

Pineapple Pinecone Craft Is My New Favorite!

I have been wanting to make pinecone pineapples for a few months now, and even painted the pinecones yellow before Passover, and finally found the time to give this fantastic summer craft, that would be a perfect summer camp craft a try. And wow, the results are so adorable you'll want to make a whole bunch, I know I do! You can use your pineapple pinecones as decorations for part of a tropical party, or as whiimsical decorations any time. Line up a few on a shelf and you'll smile every time you see them, or hang some mobile style. And of course if you want to be a little bit different, how about hanging some pineapple pinecones in your succah? Succot is among other things, a fall harvest festival, and in Israel that means pomegranites and dates, but it could certainly mean pineapples as well, right?

Regardless of whether you have a plan for your pinecone pineapples, gather some pinecones and get crafting, I'm sure a great idea will come to you. If not simply display them on a little shelf which is where mine are sitting right now, looking as cute as ever! Best of all, once you get the hang of how to make these, you really could whip up quite a few, even as fun Bar or Bat Mitzvah, birthday or wedding centerpieces, so lets get crafting! (Note: If you do plan on making a large quantity, I would paint them by dipping them into a large container of paint, so much easier!)

Paper Leaves On Real Branches For Shavuot Or Any Time!

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!

Ten Pine Cone Crafts For All Ages

Kids and adults alike love collecting pine cones after a nature walk, and they tend to be aplenty at many forest locations of day camps and sleepover camps, so pine cone crafts are a perfect summer craft, as long as one stays away from red and green felt if you know what I mean? Keep reading for links to all these projects, and hopefully I'll have time to use those pine cones I just found in drawer during our Passover/Spring cleaning, now seriously underway. Lucky for me the pine cones are already painted white, so maybe there will be some pine cone penguins in our near futures!