creative jewish mom

Notes To Self For Passover Next Year!

Above: A look at the shelves in my kitchen this Passover, where the art is usually displayed, and will return shortly!

Phew we made it, Passover is over, and the complete Passover set of dishes and pots and kitchen items is safely packed away until next year! The holiday was wonderful, but simply put went way to fast! This year I decided to make things more practical by emptying out fewer cabinets and therefore there was not need to send my mixer and other food items down to the basement, they stayed in a locked cabinet in the kitchen. And, because of this more practical approach and the fact that I bought a new stove just before Passover, out Passover clean up and packing up was completed in just 1 1/2 hours. Now, generally speaking, we would then have made the traditional Mofleta (Moroccan flat bread) but since we didn't have the ingredients and husband didn't feel like going out at 10:30 pm, and because in any case celebrations like the traditional Mimouna have been cancelled due to the war situation in our country, I didn't push it. Hopefully there will be peace next year and we will remember to set aside ingredients like butter and jam, that my daughter felt were needed in order to make the effort. (Many Moroccans make a nice selection of jams just to serve with the Mofleta after Passover!)

Okay, back to my list of things to buy ahead of time for next Passover! And a note to self, shop in January when things are all on sale, especially frying pans!

DIY Passover Seder Ten Plagues Cards Craft

Our huge investment in the wonderful holiday of Passover is about to pay off when we sit down together at the Passover Seder table tomorrow night, phew! Almost there with of course lots of cooking left to do, but things are mostly under control with just last minute errands and household organizing to do. And of course, Passover wouldn't be Passover without a little something fun for the kids at the Passover Seder table, so this year I've created three sets of ten plagues cards that are just as cute as can be, and of course can be saved for years to come! And friends, this was also a recycling craft for me, as I used the metallic gold cardboard trays that were left at my door by an anonymous neighbor cleaning out their cabinets! Okay, ready to make some of your own cards, and yes maybe in the future there will be a printable, but for now you can simply download some clip art, right?

Origami Jumping Frogs Passover Seder Craft

Dusting this one off once again, because it is truly a good one, and hoping I might squeeze a bunch in myself? Interesting to see what i wrote two years ago, and yes, once again the studio is a major eye sore, but partially because the painters did a job that needs re-doing, and made a huge mess, so now I'm lagging behind, and so it goes! Happy Passover prep!

With the Jewish holiday of Passover arriving on Saturday night, ready or not, now might be the time to spend just a few minutes making a cute craft to grace your Passover seder table? I'll admit, despite high hopes of totally cleaning out my studio, I am exhausted right now and will settle for almost organized, not including cabinets! And of course there are other areas in the house that need attention, not to mention the container garden, though I don't think I'll get to that before the holiday, we have been having huge rain and dust storms for two days! As far as that studio of mine, it will never organize itself, so I'd better finish this post! Passover is the holiday is which we not only remember our deliverance from slavery historically, but also work on not being slaves to things in our lives today, in my case all the stuff!

This origami frog craft is a perfect last minute craft, which I posted last year around this time as well, but you can never have anough frogs at the Passover seder! Enough babble, enjoy this origami frog craft that I did 8 years ago! You can find the complete instructions here.

And wishing you lots of energy to finish up all the preparations, and then enjoy!

Cleaning Product Art For Passover To Make It Fun?

I have to admit, these cleaning product pieces, which are a part of my Daily Object series, sure are fun! Hmmm, maybe if I look at them long enough I can convince myself that the deep cleaning of the kitchen that I need to be right now is fun? Sure why not? So draw some cleaning products and color them in, and then get to work friends, time is of the essence. Ah yes, and of course you could download some clip art of cleaning products for the little ones to color in, and then get them to cut them out and make a wall hanging, garland, mobile or you name it. And then ask them to make one for all the neighbors in order to keep them busy, and some more for next year as well? Happy Passover prep, whatever that may mean for you!

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?

Ten Plagues Placards Craft For Passover

Reposting this one once again, as it is something one could do right now, and bring great joy in a little over a week at the Passover seder. This is what I wrote last year:

A reader just asked me about this craft, and I revisited it, and i see that it has actually been five years since I've shared it and almost 12 or 13 years since I actually made it. Wow, it must be time to make it again! Okay, maybe next year, in the mean time, there are plenty of days before Passover to get crafting, or keep the family busy with crafts, and this one is a keeper. Here is what I wrote in 2018:

I made these ten plagues placards for my kids for our seder eight whole years ago, and since they are still looking good (in the photos that is) I thought I'd pull them out of the archives to share them with you, as truly this a craft that will make memories for the kids (and fun loving adults) at your Passover seder table! Truthfully, while I love these ten plagues placards, they are on the large size and so I did a smaller version of this craft with some of the neighborhood boys, using skewers instead of dowels, and you can take a look at that craft here. Regardless of what size works for your family, do take the time to make some of these ten plagues placards, you won't regret it, promise!

In the photo above, from left to right I have depicted the first four plagues: Blood, Frogs, Lice, and Wild Animals. Keep on reading to see most of the other plagues.......

Ten Plagues Passover Card Craft

With the Passover seder and the wonderful week-long holiday of Passover quickly approaching, now is a great time to get out a craft to keep the kids busy, and help them create something fun for the Passover seder, or to decorate your home. Introducing Ten Plagues Cards that you can use in so many ways! I have plans to make milk carton frogs, and with these cards to make ten plagues placards (affixing each card to a wooden skewer) for 3 young children. Since I need three sets, after I add color to these illustrations I'm planning on making copies, since in any case these works are a part of my ongoing Daily Object series that you can see on instagram at @sara.rivka.dahan

So, draw images that represent the ten plagues, in my case including a lice comb for lice, and a pint of blood for blood, and footprints for wild animals, and get creative! You can also choose to make copies and give those to the kids to color, or even better, give kids cards and maybe or maybe not, some inspiration, and let them draw the symbols themselves, the best idea of all!

Jewish Holiday Recycling Crafts For Kids

With Purim in just a week, and Passover to follow, now is the time to start thinking about a top to bottom yearly cleaning and organizing of our homes. While you may be tempted to toss it all, I recommend looking at your "garbage" with a eco-friendly eye on creativity, and as a way of collecting great supplies for future craft projects! Proceed with a plan of course, if you want to stay sane, and also depending on how much storage space you may have. That said, many of the things I save really don't take up that much space, and believe me, when you are in need of a good craft, and the supplies are on hand, you'll thank me! So plan ahead and create wonderful Jewish holiday crafts in the coming year with recyclables that you've set aside during your spring cleaning! Such a great feeling to manifest creativity by planning for it, right?

It is true, all that cleaning and organizing can be a huge task, so why not motivate yourself and your family with a reward of some stunning new pieces of Judaica for your holiday table from Nadav Art Judaica, like a new silver or anodized aluminum kiddush cup or even that gorgeous honey bowl you've always wanted for Rosh HaShana.

Okay, lets get those creative gears turning with some great crafting ideas for all the major Jewish holidays, ready?

Giant Cardboard Seahorse Craft For Rosh HaShanah

You might be wondering what sea horses have to do with Rosh HaShana, and yes I might too! But lets face it, every Jewish holiday is packed with so much meaning and symbolism that using the same symbols and visual cues does seem a bit repetitive to someone like me! So while the actual seahorse may be stretching it, certainly the sea and fish make great Rosh HaShana symbols, so if some sea horses happen to be hanging out to enjoy the show, why not? Sea horses are such wonderful creatures, and at the least remind us to appreciate the amazing natural world in which we live, and appreciation and gratefulness are wonderful mindsets for the holiday, so there you have it! How about getting one of the kids to dance in as a seahorse during the meal or creating a little skit about tashlich? Either way, adding some seahorses to your holiday will certainly be memorable, I can guarantee that! And of course you should make some giant cardboard waves as well, right? Suddenly I'm visualizing seahorses with apples and pomegranates on their heads, namely one pomegranate like a crown, could be great!

Watercolor Cut-Out Sea Animals Craft For Rosh HaShana!

Did you know that the fish is actually a aymbol for Rosh HaShana? (We want to be like the head of the fish, not the tail!) With that in mind, and the fact that we say the prayer of tashlich preferably next to a body of water with fish, why not make some sea life themed crafts this year? Keep everyone on their toes since they'll be expecting apples and pomegranates! (Though I'd make some of those too!) Here is what I wrote when I shared this as a Passover craft:

Need a perfect craft idea to keep the kids, in a range of ages, busy right about now? This is it my friends, make sea creature cut outs to use as Passover decorations, and the more the better! I'll be using these for table decor on Shevii Shel Pesach, the 7th night of Passover when we celebrate the crossing of the Red Sea, but they are certainly also appropriate all holiday long. Ah yes, and if you are looking for ocean themed birthday party decor, or sea themed birthday party decor, well this is perfect as well! These cute sea animal cut outs are perfect for garlands, mobiles, cake toppers, napkin rings, gift tags, and for a fun Passover centerpiece, that I'll be sharing shortly. Okay, ready to get started, time is of the essence!