Geometric Dreidel Art

Have some fun with dreidel shapes!

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I was playing around with ideas for a new Chanukah project and cut out a bunch of different sized dreidels. I was trying different arrangements on the page when I realized that there were so many different ways to combine the shapes and create unique patterns and designs. I gave the shapes to my kids who started moving pieces around and coming up with designs of their own.

A menorah made of dreidels! This one didn’t quite fit on our paper!

The fun in this project is more in the play than the final product! We used 4 large, 4 medium and 4 small dreidels and I suggest using at least this amount. More will only increase the possibilities! Use different colors or make each size it’s own color. Try using tinfoil instead of paper for a shiny effect! Placing them on a dark background will give a dramatic effect as well. Cutting the shapes out of Chanukah wrapping paper can be fun idea too. Start playing – see what you can come up with!

Looking for more Chanukah projects?
Mixed Media Menorah
Edible Menorah
Pipe Cleaners and Straws Menorah
Menorah and Dreidel Snowflakes
“Light” a Paper Menorah
Nature Menorahs
“Spinning” Paper Dreidel
Decorate a Dreidel…with a Dreidel!

Time:
Active: 15-20 minutes
Age: 3-10

Materials:
Construction paper, tinfoil or wrapping paper
Scissors
Glue

Process:
Sketch or trace images of dreidels on your chosen paper. Ours were 4″, 3″ and 2″. Use a variety of sizes. Have fun trying out different patterns before gluing down your favorite!

Did you do this project? Share your pictures on our facebook page!

Paper Bonfire

Stuck at home? Make a paper bonfire this Lag Ba’Omer!

I am very proud that my 9 year old daughter is here this week as a “guest columnist.” She dreamed up this project and executed it all by herself. In her own words: “Hi! I have never been to a real bonfire, so I was thinking about a way to make one in my own house. I love making things out of paper (I recently made a dollhouse from a cardboard box and a whole castle out of paper!) so this was a fun way for me to have a bonfire on Lag Ba’Omer. I hope you will try it yourself, so you can have fun too.”

Time:
Active: 15-20 minutes

Age: 5-9

Materials:
Red, orange, yellow and brown construction paper
Scissors
Tape or glue
Index cards or cardstock
Pencils
Cotton balls

Processs:
Starting with the red construction paper, draw a flame shape. I used 6 flames. Cut them out. Then, using the orange construction paper, draw 6 smaller flames and cut them out. Use the yellow construction paper to make 6 even smaller flames and cut them out. Layer the flames with the largest flame on the bottom of the stack. Tape or glue them together.

Cut the index card or cardstock into small strips. Bend them in half. Tape or glue one end of the strip to the back of the flame stack. Repeat for all flames.

Cut a large circle from the brown construction paper. Tape or glue the other end of the index card strip to the edges of the brown circle.

To make logs, wrap a pencil in brown construction paper. Use the cotton balls as pretend marshmallows.

Did you do this project? Share your pictures on our facebook page!

A Splitting Paper Sea

Split the sea in your own home!

Why is this Pesach different than all other Pesachs? I’m sure I don’t even need to begin to tell you. With Coronavirus spreading and most of us holed up at home, for many, almost nothing will look the same. My kids are continuing to learn about Pesach with their teachers via Zoom, and we are making Hagaddot, but I think many of us are looking to expand on their learning at home and really bring the holiday to life. This will be our first time making a Seder and we are trying to make it special. (Paroh hat has been ordered!)

We always decorate a wall in our dining room with seasonal crafts, including school projects and our own additions. We made the Yam Suf this year and plan on putting pictures of our family in the center! We used a variety of colors for the waves, since my supply of blue paper is limited at this point. I translated that wall mural into a fun craft you can do on a smaller scale. I googled “splitting of the sea coloring page” and picked a version that was not too elaborate for our center scene. You can also draw your own, or print out pictures of your own family like we are planning.

I am honored to once again to have this project featured in the Pesach edition of The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in the Kid’s Link section. Pick up a copy if you are local or check it out online.

Looking for more Pesach projects?
Kriyat Yam Suf Diorama
Paper Seder Table
Seder Placecards
Chametz Hunt with Peek-a-boo Doors
Pesach Puppets

Time:
Active: 15-25 minutes

Age: 3-7

Materials:
2 pieces of white paper
Blue paper of any type, we used construction paper and tissue paper
Markers, crayons or colored pencils
Glue
Scissors
Clear tape (packing tape works well)

Processs:
Cover one sheet of white paper with blue waves. You can cut them out and glue them on or draw them, or a mixture of both! When gluing, I recommend starting with the wave that will be overlapped (likely higher up the page) rather than the one at the bottom so you don’t need to lift and tuck them in.

Allow a few minutes to dry and then cut the paper in half and set aside.

Using the second sheet of paper, create a scene of the Jews walking through the sea. Print a coloring page from google or create your own!

Using a strip of clear tape, attach the two halves of your waves page on top of the scene.

Did you do this project? Share your pictures on our facebook page!

Mixed-Media Menorah

Use everything and anything to make a menorah!

Looking for a craft for a Chanukah project but don’t want to spend a lot on supplies? Go raid your craft cabinet and make these mixed-media menorahs! Set out small bowls with whatever you have on hand and let the kids mix it up. 10 mismatched buttons, a small piece of ribbon and some leftover beads from another project work great here. No one menorah branch needs more than a little of each type of supply, and the greater the variation, the more interesting the creation!

My one caveat here is the lay the whole design out on you page before gluing it down. Otherwise you can run out of space and not end up with enough room for all of the menorah branches. Also, you can move your items around until you get the “perfect” design and order. We drew on the flames and a base with marker after we finished gluing for similar reasons.

I am honored to once again to have this project featured in this week’s edition of The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in the Kid’s Link section. Pick up a copy if you are local or check it out online.

Looking for more Chanukah projects?
Edible Menorah
Pipe Cleaners and Straws Menorah
Menorah and Dreidel Snowflakes
“Light” a Paper Menorah
Nature Menorahs
“Spinning” Paper Dreidel
Decorate a Dreidel…with a Dreidel!

Time:
Active: 15-25 minutes

Age: 5-9

Materials:
Buttons, sequins, ribbons, yarn, pipe cleaners, pompoms, feathers or any embellishment you have!
Glue

Processs:
Lay out a design using a variety of embellishments and glue into place.

Did you do this project? Share your pictures on our facebook page!