creative jewish mom

Simple Origami Rooster Craft For Yom Kippur

Introducing the cutest origami rooster ever, that also happens to almost the simplest origami out there, with great results! And the rooster or chicken not only stands up, but is folded perfectly to insert colored paper crowns, beaks and that thing that hangs down from the beak, sorry forgot what it is called! These origami roosters were made with the upcoming holiday of Yom Kippur in mind, as chickens and roosters (preferably white) are symbols of the holiday. And who exactly made these origami masterpieces you might ask? Ah yes, my beloved group of 4th grade boys that have been coming to my home every week for a few hours of crafting. So far only paper and glue because 9 year old boys and paint in my house might be a recipe for disaster......but we aren't lacking believe me, as there is so much one can do with paper! So get out some paper yourself, and start making a whole barnyard full of white roosters and chickens, they are truly a delight!

Last Minute Rosh HaShana Table Decor: Giant Origami Apples!

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Rosh HaShana is tomorrow night, but maybe you can still squeeze in a few origami balloons that can be made into apples? Go for it!

I am re-posting 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!

TP Tube Vases With An Origami Butterfly & Flowers Craft For Kids

I've already shared with you the toilet paper tube vase and separately, the magazine flowers, that I made as an example for my students, and now it is time to share their work! This was truly a fun and successful project for 8 to 9 year old boys, who then proudly took their projects home with the instructions to give the vase to their mothers and say "Ima, thank you so much for everything!" I'm not sure how many actually followed through, though one mother reported that her son left the present on her pillow and the next day thanked her for something that he would ordinarily not. "Now I know it was because of you" she said.....and that of course totally made my day, and is just added proof that when you get together with a group of kids and talk to them about many things, not just the project at hand, you can truly make a difference in their lives! And yes, it is true that this group of 3rd graders are a handful, but loving every minute and it is so wonderful to hear back from their mothers (most of whom are friends of mine) how much they look forward to our crafting session. Okay, lets take a closer look at the results of the project!

Modular Origami Starbursts Make Perfect Succah Decorations!

Yes, you are reading correctly, modular origami starburts make great succah decorations, and now is the perfect stress-free time to delve into all kinds of paper crafts that can then be neatly saved and hung in the succah in a few months! I taught a group of 10 to 12 year old boys how to make these yesterday, and while it was difficult for some, others breezed right on through and took home something that looks like mine, though not quite as perfect, but still wonderful! I taught them that after we make something that we love, we feel joy from it and we should say ahhhhh! This was a new concept to them, but the boy who worked diligently at the table next to me did just that when he crossed the finish line! So friends, if you craft with children, don't forget to teach them to feel the tangible satisfaction and joy!

Origami is such a vast world with so many options from beginning to advanced, and I especially love the modular origami projects that start to seem like lego of sorts! Keep on reading for tips for making this modular origami starburst that looks great anytime!

Simple Origami Sailboat Craft For Kids

Stand up origami sailboats are fun to make and wonderful as a group project, as they look great together! Learning origami is a great summer activity for kids, and this sailboat is simple enough for 7 or 8 year olds, or even younger. Paper sailboats can be used in wall hangings, as cake toppers or as fun decor on a shelf somewhere, with the help of a tp roll stand! I've started a small crafting class for a group of 8 to 9 year old boys, and they loved this craft, and especially adding the flag at the end!

Origami Pyramids For Passover Craft

Dusting this one off from the archives as it is truly a good one! Make pyramids in any color scheme or even from drawings or paintings your kids have made.....so many ways to go with this one! And I just realized that one could also fold paper napkins into pyramids? Here is what I wrote previously:

Passover is around the corner, and now is the time to start thinking about how to make your holiday meaningful for the whole family. The telling of the Passover story via the Passover seder is first and foremost in order to pass on the tradition ot our children, so a fun Passover table is a must for creating great memories! Origami pyramids in all sizes can look great on any table, just use colors or patterned papers that will match your table, be it super elegant (go for metallics) or modern (go for brights.) Once you get the hang of making these simple pyramids, you can make a whole bunch to march them down the table. And maybe even keep it a surprise until you set the table, they can be stored flat until then!

I made these colorful versions four years ago, but am now revisiting this idea myself as my kids are interested in origami these days, and so am I. I'm thinking about trying these in large sizes, wouldn't it be great to have some to put on the floor around the table? Kids could certainly use them to re-enact the Passover story, right?

Origami Butterfly Medallions With Pom Poms Party Decor

Last year I created hundreds of origami butterflies for Purim, and our community Purim party, and then ended up making many pom pom bordered medallions with some of the butterflies. After using the medallions to decorate my own home for Purim, I packed them away nicely in a box, and tadah they were ready for use once again this year! The major change that I made, was that I realized that the butterfly medallions would look so much better on a dark blue background as opposed to the light blue from last year, and phew I was right!

The fabric used is disposable tablecloth material, which yes, is shame and somewhat wasteful, and maybe I ought to sew some sleeves for these room dividers that we use on either side of a makeshift stage, hmmmmm, great idea, maybe next year? This year, and last year as well, I used a hot glue gun to attach the medallions to the disposable fabric, which actually works quite well. Hot glueing the fabric to itself though does not work, and this year I actually used a yarn needle and yarn to secure the panels so they won't fall down, which happened last year when only tape was used, yikes!

Origami Standup Horses Make Great Party Decor And Gift Basket Additions!

Pulling this one out of the archives from just last year, as it is truly fabulous, and I may just have to make some more!

While origami butterflies were truly the theme this Purim, I did sneak in a bunch of origami horses which I ended up using in the festive food baskets for friends and neighbors, called mishloach manot. And yes, I did dress my horses up a bit, but keeping that to myself for the moment as who knows maybe I will get around to those Jewish craft books afterall and I need some unpublished material! That said, this horse, while involving many folds is just adorable, and looks especially great when done using origami paper or wrapping paper or large sheets of craft paper that are color on one side and white on the other. Also, because of the many folds, using wrapping paper, namely a square made out of the whole width of the wrapping paper, results in quite a sturdy horse, so use what you have on hand! While I was thinking that the horse is a great symbol for Passover, as it does represent freedom, the horses mentioned in the Passover story did not survive the crossing of Red Sea together with the Egyptians, so never mind that, horses can just be a fun party decor theme anytime and would be great cake toppers as well. So enjoy! Okay, lets get folding.....

Origami Butterflies Party Decor

Reposting this from last year, because with more time for Purim decorations this year, since we have a whole extra month of adar, you can make more butterflies than you'd ever dream of, so get to it! Mine are nicely packed away from last year and patiently waiting to fly off to this year's Purim celebrations!

So it turns out friends, that folding origami butterflies is something that one can do for days.......well that is what happened here at CJM headquarters this week, and I did it all by myself, so it can be done, though get a few folks to do it with you! I made hundreds of origami butterflies, some with pipe cleaner antennae, in a few sizes, for our annual women's Purim party, and phew, the butterfly theme flew! Not so happy about the disaster in my house post party, just from all the crafting that went on, not the actual party, but at least I now have a bunch of Purim decorations for my own home, and most of them can be used again next year, nothing like being ready a year plus ahead! I will share with you most of the decorations once I hang them again in my house, but for starters, just a bunch of origami butterflies with mettalic pipe cleaner antennae look fabulous hung as a garland, and just clip them up with wooden clothes pins and the clothes pin looks like the body, fabulous! Okay, lets get crafting!

Giant Origami Apples For Your Fruit Themed Party!

I am reposting this giant origami apples tutorial because today is Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish New Year for fruit bearing trees, it is just to wonderful not to share again. Make apples to enjoy anytime, really! 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!