creative jewish mom

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!

Wooden Fish and Whale Shaped Signs Are Inspiration For Jewish Holiday Crafts!

One of my favorite things about beach towns and rustic vacation destinations is fun signs, and this year I spotted a few great ones during our week in Onset Massachusetts in the Cape Cod area. (More on that in a few weeks, after my Sweden recap!) It occurred to me that a fish shaped sign could be great for Rosh HaShana, and a whale shaped sign is perfect for the Succah, we actually have some Succah whale art, so this is just another fun idea. And of course, this is just inspiration, meaning, look at the photos and if they speak to you, let your mind wander to some fish themed craft of your own. Or simply take the inspiration somewhat literally and make your own using cardboard, and then add the message that suits the occasion. Then again, maybe you have a wood shop and can whip up the wood shapes as easily as cutting cardboard, and if so, good for you!

One of the lovely things about creativity, and allowing your creative mind to speak is that we can find inspiration in so many places, we just have to keep our eyes open! Here's a few more photos, enjoy and let those creative gears turn.

How To Make A Mosaic Planter With Broken Dishes And Tiles

Making mosaics with broken tiles, left over tiles and broken dishes is so very satisfying, and the results always look amazing. I made this mosaic covered urn/planter 17 years ago, and it is still going strong, weathering the elements year round in my container garden! While I do recommend starting with covering a small plant pot, like the one on the left in the photo above, making a statement piece is totally doable, just certainly not in one sitting, and more likely over the course of several weekends or a few summer days. Now is the perfect time for a mosaic project like this one, as it is advisable to do it out of doors, or at the least in a space where you can make a mess! I did cut the squares and long rectangles with a manual tile cutter, but I only purchased that tool after making many mosaics, For starters all you really need is a hammer, goggles, tile/broken dishes, tile glue and grout. Give mosaic a try, it really is truly wonderful!

Plastic Berry Baskets Woven With T-Shirt Yarn

We eat lots of mushrooms, and I just can't resist saving those plastic baskets! The last bunch I sent off to a nursery school, and now I have a few more that need a creative solution. So dear readers, introducing a fun summer recycling craft that looks amazing and could be used to hold little treasures: woven plastic berry baskets, or maybe you'd prefer to call them embroidered plastic baskets. or plastic basket needlepoint with t-shirt yarn? This is actually the third plastic basket craft I'm sharing with you, the first was a crocheted t-shirt yarn berry basket, the second was a simple t-shirt yarn woven berry basket, and now, ta da, this one! This fun recycling craft uses t-shirt yarn which gives the basket a contemporary look, and of course any project using t-shirt yarn always looks great, so go for it. If you have some very chunky yarn you'd like to use, that could work too, as could light weight rope, so have fun experimenting, just be aware that the baskets themselves are not so sturdy, so too much experimenting or trying to use something too thick can result in breakage of the gridded plastic. Ah yes, I just realized that for those out there where plastic bags are still a part of life, using plastic bag yarn, or plarn, could also be fun. At the end of the day thought, the smooth graphic results with the t-shirt yarn just don't compare, then again maybe I'm wrong, surprise me! Okay, lets get started....

Fringed Woven Placemat IKEA Hack With T-Shirt Yarn

I love t-shirt yarn, and have been thinking about using it for macrame and embroidery, not just crocheting! Industrial-waste t-shirt yarn also supports eco consciousness, as it is made from odds and ends of fabric left after the pieces for making clothing is cut from the yardage. What I found after making these fringed and embroidered placemats/wall hangings is that t-shirt yarn is a great way to add color to a project that might have called for rope of some kind, and it works great for fringe, tassels (see my t-shirt yarn tassels) and more. So if you're looking for a simple and stylish summer project, this is it! These placemats work great placed on round side tables or outdoor tables or anywhere to add some flare our protect a wooden surface. Ah yes, and of course you can easily make some wall hangings, which I truly am going to do as I have a bunch more of these placemats to craft with!

Embroidering With T-Shirt Yarn!

Ever thought about embroidering with t-shirt yarn? I am always looking for ways to do intricate yet lovely crafts in a quicker way, so embroidery with t-shirt yarn is certainly one way to do that, right? With ethnic wall hangings and baskets still popular in the home decor arena, now is the perfect time to make some fun summer accessories for your home, with some t-shirt yarn and some woven placemats or baskets. I actually made the example here as a wall hanging, though it has not yet made it to the wall, it is propped up on a bedside table under a window for now, and maybe forever until I make something new! Okay, ready for a few tips to get those creative gears turning? Read on......

How To Make Simple Paper Pinwheels While Cleaning For Passover

At this point most folks have done the bulk of the necessary cleaning for Passover, (or maybe they are closing up their homes and heading to family or on vacation) and if not they are certainly not taking time to peek at my blog, as Passover starts on Friday night and there is soooo much to do for this 7 day (8 days outside Israel) holiday. So if you are reading this, either you don't celebrate Passover, or you are ready to do some quick crafting before the holiday, so lets do it! While of course pinwheels aren't exactly traditional Passover symbols, why not? The spinning of the pinwheel represents the cycle of life and the 4 seasons, both themes which relate to Passover, namely the notion of passing down our traditions from generation to generation, and the fact that Passover always occurs in the Spring, which is why, despite having a lunar calendar, we also have a leap year to keep Passover as a Spring holiday, phew! Okay, lets make some pinwheels to add some fun to your home this Spring/Passover!

Paint The Kotel In Rainbow Colors For The 17th Of Tammuz !

I have pulled this post from the archives, as it is truly a perfect one.

Today is the 17th of Tammuz, a solemn fast day on the Jewish calender which marks the beginning of a three week period of mourning for the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash, (The Holy Temple/King Soloman's Temple.) So with the boys home from school early, and my daughter just starting her summer vacation, there is no time like the present to try and get back into our crafting groove which I have missed greatly! So today I pulled out the watercolors, and grabbed a white corrugated cardboard box, and we all spent some time painting the stones of the kotel, and I just love the results!

Yes, my boys smirked when I told them to use bright and beautiful colors for the stones that they know as beige, but I explained to them that we were painting the stories that the stones had surely witnessed, and all the beautiful prayers whispered in front of these stones every day by countless individuals from both near and far.

DIY Striped Candles Are The Perfect Summer Craft!

Remember making candles at summer camp? I sure do, especially the ones we made at the beach in milk cartons! Candle making can be on the messy side, but is a perfect craft to do especially when you have a few hours on a lazy summer afternoon, and a bunch of kids (or kids at heart) in need of some creative fun! The candles you see here were actually made by some of my students in a candle making workshop for which I was the substitute teacher. Unfortunately I did not have the time to take photos of all the projects as my students stayed for two hours rather than one, and then needed to hurry off to their bus, so be it! Now I'm hoping to find some time to make some striped candles myself. I'm thinking that a remake of my remember Jerusalem sand jars would be perfect with striped candles, just in time for the Three Weeks.

Ah yes, and best of all, making candles has never been simpler, so lets get started!

DIY Tin Can Pots Ten Ways: A Round up

Tonight is the beginning of the very festive (around our neck of the woods) holiday called Lag B'Omer, though for the moment (a quiet moment before all the guests, action, etc.) I am dreaming about making a festive tin can garden for the next big Jewish holiday, Shavuot! Tin cans of all sizes can be up-cycled to make the most adorable or fashionable tin can garden or centerpiece. Check out the ideas I've assembled for you here thanks to a bunch of talented folks, and don't dream, collect those tin cans and enjoy!