Classic Cherry Blossom Kid's Craft: Anticipating Spring!

Here's a great Spring/Tu B'Shevat cherry blossom craft project, even for those of you who can't quite imagine that Spring awaits! There's nothing like some pink blossoms to cheer things up a bit! In Israel, we call these almond blossoms, as they are also pink and are the first to bloom, right around the time of Tu B'Shevat! Always very exciting!
I have fond memories of doing these blossom pictures in kindergarten. Okay, my pictures didn't exactly look like these, but the techniques were the same. And I still find it amazing that blowing ink through a straw can produce works of art that not only look like Japanese brush paintings but really mimic a tree with branches.  This is a great project for all ages, and a bunch of them hung together  would certainly look wonderful. And you can leave them in their pure form as I did on the left, or add some tissue paper details for the ground and sky. In any case, have fun!

More Hanukkah Crafting With Buttons!

 
Hanukkah crafting with buttons is a great project for the whole family....okay in my family it was just mom in the wee hours of the morning, trying out an idea that had been kicking around since last year, but I kept imagining that my kids were doing it with me! (Does that count?) Using wire to weave the buttons together is quite simple and the wire is very forgiving— cut it here, cut it there, it still works wonderfully well. You can make little ornaments to hang where ever you please, to give as gifts, or to use a present toppers for that little added touch of handmade. And of course you don't have to go with the wire, you can also do button mosaics on cardboard silhouettes, which would be great for the very little ones.
Now I must admit I had dreams of some gorgeous etherial Chanukah photo which artfully presented these little button creations, but since that has yet to become reality, and time is of the essence right now, I present them to you as is. Do use your own imagination as to how wonderful they could be in your home!

A Family Friendly Hanukkah Craft: Decorating Styrofoam Shapes With Sequins

Look what we found in the attic! Yes, truly, these decorations are at least 7 years old....I made them with my older boys way back when, and they're still looking good. I can't say that I'd make something that looks even remotely similar to this now, using store bought foam Hanukkah shapes, but they're sweet and festive and a nice reminder to the teenagers that yes, I did crafts with them too!
Most kids love applying sequins to foam shapes using plastic sequin pins, and it's actually a great craft for developing motor coordination. This craft is very popular here in Israel, but finding the supplies, even the plastic sequin pins might be a bit difficult for those of you in the United States and elsewhere.

Paper Flower Heart.

I enjoy browsing in stores that sell beautiful paper and stationery and love adding to my collection. Recently I discovered a scrapbooking store that is huge and filled with all sorts of creative goodness (not good for the wallet I know, but good - very good - for the soul). While browsing through the store I spotted some gorgeous little paper flowers and asked the lady working there if there was a class teaching people how to make these flowers. She said that they were so simple to make (at this point I was thinking: yeah right) She explained the process and I had my doubts that it really could be that easy. I had to give it a go, so I bought a 1.5" scalloped hole punch, a stack of scrapbooking paper and some small brad clips. I was set to go.

 Photo below: The first two paper flowers I made and the lady from the shop was right - these really are so simple to make.

Photo below: Supplies needed to make paper flowers - scrapbooking paper, scalloped hole punch, small brad clips and something to apply water to the paper.

Cornucopia of Doom

I loves me some Halloween. My inner goth loves to come out to play and she wants to make something disturbing, but decorative. I took inspiration from Don't Throw It Away! published in 1973. There are many, many wonderfully wacky projects in this book that I want to have a go at, (I can't wait to make the combat boot planter/lamp!) but once I saw the cornucopia with all of its god-awful plastic fruit a-spillin' out, I knew I'd stumbled on the germ of a good Halloween idea- the Cornucopia of Doom! (Great name for a goth band, yes?)

The Hand made by paper

Purse For Personal Items

Stitch a purse for personal items.