I wanted to share a doable tutorial for DIY Purim tags to supplement the slightly more complex sewn paper tags I shared a few years ago.

I decided to go a little rustic and create some fun Kraft tags that anyone can make. This does require a little more confidence and illustration, but with a little guidance, anyone with a bit of a creative streak can doodle these!

Each tag takes just a couple of minutes to doodle, making them perfect for making a pile of tags. They’re also great for doing at lettering workshops, in the classroom, or for a Mishloach Manot exchange. I feel like it’s a great way to incorporate a bit of skill learning in a regular Purim craft workshop – that is, hand lettering.

Tips for making DIY Purim Tags

Here I’ll walk you through my material choices and more tips for success. You’ll find a step-by-step process at the end of this post.

Kraft Board vs other materials

I chose Kraft board as a sturdy and rustic looking material. It can match many different package types and is really easy to find. Keep in mind the weight (thickness) of the Kraft board that you use.

If you want to go even quicker with this, you can use pre-made tags. You can find that in all sorts of materials. Black is a great option for a really chic look. Avoid patterns or anything busy.

The best markers to use

I tested my full range of markers for these DIY Purim tags, and my main discovery was really in color. Look for markers that are well-pigmented (brand DOES matter, though mid-range markers will work well here.)

You want an OPAQUE (not see-through) marker like an acrylic marker – not something that’s meant for layering like an alcohol or classic water-based marker.

For a high quality option that’ll last you a long time, try Poscas (the 3M size is a good in-between size that’s fine enough for some detail but thick enough for coverage.) For a mid-range option, Ohuhu has a few lines that will work. These brush tips are great for brush lettering (and were really a favorite for this craft), and these are great for both bold and fine lines.

And finally, gel pens look great on this. I recommend Gelly rolls (again, cheaper gel pens are often disposable, but you can get a small pack with just/extra blacks or whites for this.)

The colors you choose will matter. Test the colors in advance on your chosen paper.

Cutting your tags

I cut my tags myself. While, as I mentioned above, you CAN buy pre-made tags, it’s really easy to cut a basic tag shape.

A few options for cutting neat tags:

1. I used a paper trimmer to cut the rectangles, and a quick snip with scissors for the angled top.
2. A 2-2.5 inch circle punch makes a fun round tag.
3. Or cut square tags and use a corner punch (I use this on my business cards) to give it a polished feel.
4. You can even get a tag-shaped punch.
5. If you’re a Cricut owner, they have tons of base tag shapes you can use.

Tips for lettering your DIY Purim tags

Hand lettering is a whole art in itself, but it’s surprisingly simple. I like to advise that it’s not about your handwriting – it’s about drawing each letter.

If you’re doing this on your own, definitely watch a video or two on some hand lettering tips before getting started. But, unlike traditional calligraphy, you don’t need to really learn and remember a large variety of fonts.

Setting up the structure

If you’re concerned with your DIY Purim tags looking neat, penciling in lines can help. I simply imagined the main square (minus the top portion) and started from there.

You can definitely pull out a ruler and make some grids to show where you want to place your letters. To avoid having to map out each letter, you can start your words from the center. For Purim, for example, R is the center letter and should be centered. But because there’s a narrow I, make it slightly to the right of center.

Decide where/if you want doodles and borders and work from there.

Lettering tips and inspiration

Lettering is about drawing the letters instead of just writing them. I played with many different types of lettering. You can definitely practice some ideas on scrap paper before taking it to the tags.

Some specific ideas I like to play with:

• “Bubbles” or rectangles for only one downward stroke of each letter
• Filling with doodles vs. leaving blank vs. filling in blocks
• Tall and skinny with very short top-portions of letters (like the semicircle on the P) or very fat and chunky letters with exaggerated top-portions of letters.
• Playful all-caps
• My favorite: brush lettering. Start with very basic script and the following rules:
  • Up strokes are skinny, down strokes are thick.
  • DRAW, don’t write, your letters.
  • Work slowly

You can definitely play with alphabet stickers, “Ransom note” magazine cutouts, etc.

Doodles, borders, and more!

To add a little pizzazz, I switched between doodled borders, images, and both! I really like simple pattern borders the most. This can be around the whole tag, around the focal “square” of the tag, around just the words, top/bottom, etc.

Hamantaschen are the easiest to doodle and so appropriate for Mishloach Manot. Dont’ just stick to Purim – think flowers, paisley, butterflies…

And if you’re not confident with your doodles, pull out the craft stash!

Think: adhesive bling, Purim stickers, dot sticker borders (cut in half) with added doodles around them…

How to make DIY Purim tags for Mishloach Manot

Obviously, I’ve shared so many variations above, but this will take you through the basic process that I followed.

You’ll Need

• Kraft board
• A paper trimmer
• Scissors
• Paint markers and gel pens in white, black, off white, etc. I used a mix of Posca, Ohuhu direct ink brush markers, Ohuhu double tipped markers, Gelly roll gel pens, etc.
• Hole punch (standard 1/4 inch is best)
• Twine

Watch the Video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Step by Step Tutorial

1. Cut your tags to size. Decide how large you want them (about 2×3 inches is great). Cut your Kraft board into strips the correct width and then cut the strips to the correct height.

2. Snip off a small corner on the top.

3. Flip that corner over to measure and cut the second corner. A quick, confident snip will get you the neatest cut.

4. Punch your holes. I tried to do 1/16th inch holes at first, but ended up punching them larger when my twine didn’t fit, so I do recommend going with a standard 1/4 inch punch to begin with.

5. Choose your markers. Test them on your corner scraps.

6. Start lettering! Opt for high contrast where possible, but light beiges that show up really milky will look amazing too!

Start with some lettered text.

Or start with your borders.

Mix up bold and thin strokes. Mix images with patterns.

Try doubling up and adding patterns. Images don’t have to be Purim-themed.

7. Add a string. Cut a length of twine about 4-5 inches long. Loop the center through the hole from back to front.

8. Put the ends of the strings through the loop you formed on the front and pull tight.

Your DIY Purim tags for Mishloach Manot are complete!

The post DIY Purim Tags for Mishloach Manot appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

My 8 year old, Y, loves dot to dot sheets and is always asking me to find some to download for him! Since Jewish resources that are true to Judaism are harder to find, I’ve been trying to make some for him.

My first set was these Hanukkah dot to dot sheets, and I do love how they came out! However, each time I do something, I streamline the process and learn new things.

On that one, I hand lettered the numbers, on this one I typed them out – mainly because it’s easier to adjust the sizing if needed. On the Hanukkah sheets, I made the letters too small and needed to totally redo them.

I did, however, like the handmade charm of those and I’m curious to hear what you think (so drop a comment if you have an opinion).

I decide to offer one Purim dot to dot sheet free at the end of this post, and the rest are a premium download available in my Etsy shop and Teachers Pay Teachers.

Check out the Purim Dot to Dot sheets

About the pages

I illustrated these by hand using Adobe Fresco on my Surface pro. That means that I did all the drawing from scratch using a digital pen on digital paper – giving you the quality of something truly hand drawn.

They are meant to be coloring pages as well, with plenty of detail to color in once the outline of a basic shape has been created by connecting the dots.

It’s always a dilemma how complicated to make these sheets, and I opted for a somewhat intermediate level on some, and easy on others. I think Y likes doing these with minimal challenge because it’s satisfying to connect those dots and he feels like he’s contributing something more meaningful to the artwork than “just” coloring it.

All that is accomplished with something simple – and then younger kids can do it too.

Pages included

I decided to make these Purim dot to dot sheets a mix of Purim traditions and iconic moments from the Purim story. Each page was designed specifically for this and is only available as of now in the Dot to Dot version.

• A rabbi reading the Megillah in shul
• Three hamantaschen
• A hand holding a Mishloach Manot basket
• A hand giving charity – one of the 5 Mitzvot of Purim that is often neglected in educational materials – and I wanted to highlight it!
• A boy wearing a mask (this is also the free sample you can download)
• Esther being coronated
• A hand extending a scepter
• The signet ring stamping a document

Download your Purim Dot to Dot Sheets

The free printable boy-with-mask dot to dot

I chose this one to offer free because it’s pretty universal and relatable for kids!

Download your free worksheets! It’ll arrive right in your inbox. By downloading, you’re subscribing to our FREE newsletter with updates on cool printables like this, ideas to simplify Jewish life, and more. Unsubscribe at any time at the bottom my emails. I respect your privacy and the law, and won’t share or sell your email address.

The full Purim dot to dot bundle

The full bundle of 8 page is available for a few bucks in my Etsy shop and on TpT. Purchasing premium products from me enables me to keep doing what I do, to give more focus to my Jewish blog, creating authentically Jewish resources for educators and parents.

The post Purim Dot to Dot Printable Worksheets for Kids appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Can you believe Purim is coming up already? Whether you’re here for a head start or coming in at the last minute, you’ll find the perfect mask in this epic master list of DIY masks.

Wearing DIY masks is both a fun and meaningful Purim tradition. From Esther coming to the king’s palace as an unknown stranger to Mordechai parading in the king’s costume as his reward, the Purim story is full of real-life “dress-up.” And overarching it all, we remember the hidden nature of the miraculous ending no one saw coming. We are reminded to see the hidden miracles of our lives, when we don’t even realize what’s there.

Dressing up is definitely the highlight of the day for young children, and their excitement is even greater when they get to have a personal hand in making the magic happen. Most of the DIY masks below are perfect for kids to either make or help out with.

I haven’t forgotten about you, though – you’re never too old to go all in on Purim dress-up! Scroll down and see how sophisticated masks can get.

One of my favorite crafting secrets – ok, actually not such a secret – is that the same craft can work for both kids and adults, depending how you use it. For example, take a simple coloring page – or, for today, a color-in mask! A child can enjoy coloring it in with large areas of crayon or marker. They can embellish it by sticking on their favorite colors of pompoms, sequins, or glitter. It will be fun, keep them busy, and look adorable. 

An adult or teenager can take the same template, and use either the same markers or a finer art material to make more intricate designs or to fill a pre-made design with more types of texture and shading. They can add embellishments in a more sophisticated, directed manner; perhaps making a delicate pattern of sequins or glitter.

The project is equally stimulating and enjoyable for each age group, and the results can be age-appropriate and fabulous!

These DIY masks can all make a statement on their own, but for those planning a bigger costume, I’ve collected some ideas that can be the perfect finishing touch.

DIY Paper Masks

Looking for DIY masks that are low-prep and that everyone can access? It doesn’t get more universal than paper. These simple, inexpensive, lightweight crafts are perfect for parties – you always want to have something on the table ready for early arrivals or other downtime.

Color-in DIY Masks by Moms and Crafters

This fun printable collection includes both simpler (kid-friendly) and complex (teen/adult) designs in mardi-gras/masquerade style. There’s a free sample of each in the post, and a link to get more when you’re ready.

Scratch Art Masks

If you really want zero prep, a fun activity, and pretty results, you should absolutely grab this. Scratch art is fun for all ages (not toddlers – the scratcher can be pointy) and leaves no mess. This kit comes with everything you need for 27 crafters – pre-cut masks, elastic bands, scratch-art tools, and even extra goodies to stick on – at a price you’ll barely notice. Older kids have fun doodling advanced doodles on this too.

Cat Masks by Moms and Crafters

This is a similar concept to the color-in masks above, but in cat motif. These DIY masks are also available to print in full color – if you don’t have time to DIY all the way, you can just print, cut, and go. Whether or not you care for cat, read through the post for some great coloring inspiration and tips to use with any design.

Purim Masks in full color or Color-in

This set of printable masks features nine characters from the Purim story, making it an excellent educational supplement as well as dress-up accessory. You can print a blackline for a coloring activity, or get them ready-made in vibrantly colored designs. Make them by cutting them by hand, or upload the PNG files and “print then cut” using a Cricut.

Unicorn Masks by It’s Always Autumn

For the child (or inner child) who loves to dabble in fantasy, here’s another simple but well-done DIY mask design to print, cut, and color. You can have a child color in the simple outline, or use it as a base for making your own more intricate designs.

Fox Masks by Mommy Made That

Same idea, different character – but absolutely too cute to pass up! This one comes in both colored and color-it-yourself versions.

DIY Masks for Specific Costumes

Looking for the perfect finishing touch for your full Purim costume? Here are some DIY masks with popular costume motifs. These crafts use a variety of materials to add that special effect to your theme. If you haven’t chosen your costume yet, maybe these will give you some ideas!

Bird Mask by Blue Bear Wood

Learn how to apply real (or realistic) feathers to bring your bird costume to life! You can use different types or colors of feathers to evoke the right type of bird, whether you’re dressing up as a parrot or blue jay or something else. To get this fantastic effect, you’ll need to plan for a bunch of extra time to put on your costume.

Dog Masks by Red Ted Art

Though it’s based on a humble paper plate, this tutorial will show you how to turn it into a 3-D work of art! They’ll never know how simple it was. You can also find links to other mask posts in the same blog.

Egg carton bird mask by Crafty Art Ideas

This is an upcycling activity your kids will love getting involved in, with a final product that is sized right for your young helpers. 

Leaf Mask by Small Friendly

To be honest, I haven’t seen many costumes that require a leafy face, but this mask is so great it’s getting me thinking – you can dress up as the four seasons, perhaps? The Mitzvah Tree? A leaf pun? As a grownup, I often wear just a mask or hat instead of a full costume – this one is sure to impress with its originality and striking design.

Sheep mask by Danya Banya

Anyone dressing up as farm animals this year? Maybe you should. This sheep/lamb mask is a multisensory craft doable at any age, not to mention adorable – and the texture brings your dress-up to the next level! Bonus: this mask doesn’t cover the eyes or nose, so it’s a great pick for the sensitive wearer.

Superhero DIY masks by Moms and Crafters

Back to the print-and-go concept, but this time with a ready made theme! If you’ll be saving the world this Purim, you can choose from four colored or color-it-yourself superhero mask designs to complete your look.

Super Hero Masks by The Homes I Have Made

Another option for your superhero theme, this tutorial uses some cricut magic to get spot-on details of your favorite hero characters. Make them out of soft felt so your kids can wear them all day (ok, we know they won’t – but it’ll last longer than paper, anyway)

Woodland creature felt masks by A Beautiful Mess

Is there a bear, owl, or fox in your family? These felt woodland creature masks with stitched details are worth the extra effort. They’ll be a treasured addition to your dress-up play long past Purim. If you love the idea but really don’t have time to sew, you can still use the templates and glue the pieces together for a simpler but still sweet look.

Masquerade DIY Masks

Ready for something more involved than the paper crafts, and not tied to a specific theme – these mask crafts use different materials and can be customized to whatever look you like, whether it’s a random design or built to match your outfit. Creating these DIY masks is a great craft activity for your Purim or pre-Purim party, too – put out the supplies and some samples, and your guests will have a great time and a personal creation to bring home and use!

DIY Masquerade Masks by Red Ted Art

Ready to level up? Bring out the papier mache because this is not a print-and-play mask! It’s infinitely customizable, beautifully 3-D, and strong enough to enjoy again and again.

Masquerade hand masks by Hunny I’m Home DIY

Maybe holding second place to Purim, nobody does masks like Mardi Gras! If you don’t want your Purim mask to scream Mardi Gras, you can change up the colors while following the instructions in this post for an easy, sparkly accessory.

Mask decorating activity by Jewish Moms and Crafters

Set up a mask crafting station full of base masks and more for a super fun decorating activity! Cut masks out of felt, fabric, and paper, and then put out LOTS of feathers, ribbons, craft gems, and flat elastic to finish off decorate them with!

Egg carton mask by Pickle Bums

This is a more general, open-ended version of the egg carton bird idea above. Fun for little ones, sized for little ones, and a cute, funky result. Low prep, low budget, mixed media, what more could you want?

Got any DIY masks to add to this list? Comment below!

The post 18 DIY Masks for Purim or Any time! appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

I started designing this Origami Torah last year for Simchat Torah, and just couldn’t get it right. Then, while creating a different Origami, I had a breakthrough when I noticed that the first few steps took me where I needed to be to finalize this project.

So in time for Shavuot – and perfect for any time – here is a fun Origami Torah for you to fold.

Making an Origami Torah scroll

There are so many different things you can do with your final project! My main goal was simply to challenge myself. But this origami Torah scroll would make perfect place cards for your Shavuot table or decorations for holiday greeting cards. You can also pull it out for other occasions such as a bar mitzvah, upsherin, or anything really!

This is an intermediate level origami tutorial – it has a lot of steps, but I’ve tried to make them clear for you to follow. Some of the folds are small, so they require a fair level of fine motor skill, and very young crafters may need help. It took me a few tries to get this one right, but the final result is so rewarding!

I’ve given approximate measurements for some of the folds, but don’t worry about being exact. The most important thing is to have fun, and the project will still look great even if it’s not perfect. It’s perfectly fine if your Torah scroll appears more or less open, or if the handles are taller or shorter – just like in real life. Relax and enjoy the process!

You’ll see that in the photos there are many different variations to this origami Torah. That is because I made it a number of times before I got it right, as I was designing the project from almost-scratch. So I played with the proportions and other factors.

You can definitely vary the rolled up part as I did, and I shared a tip for doing that below. But otherwise, your Origami Torah scroll should look mostly like the purple one pictured. I included the others in the shoot to make the photos more fun.

Choose a thin paper for this project – origami paper is best, but if you choose a different paper just keep it thin. You’ll be folding the paper over a number of times and you don’t want it to get too bulky to fold, especially at the corners.

It would also be helpful to get out a bone folder or plastic ruler to help flatten your folds. You can use these tools for any origami craft, but it’s especially helpful when there are numerous layers of folds. Smoothing them out to be flat and sharp will make the next steps easier as well as giving your finished project a nice, crisp look.

I prefer a bone folder – a really cheap and handy tool – because the curved edges are designed to glide smoothly over paper, whereas other tools (a craft stick, a ruler) can work but may pull at the paper’s fibers.

What are you waiting for? Grab a paper and start folding! When you’re done and ready for more, check out these flower crafts to add to your Shavuot decor.

What you’ll need

• Origami paper, about 8×8 inch square (or cut copy paper to size)
• Bone folder (optional but helpful)

How to fold an Origami Torah

I created a YouTube video – a full narrated tutorial – to teach you how to fold an origami Torah. I highly recommend that you watch it if you can! Origami tutorials are full of heavy-worded descriptions but they are simply clearest on video. If you can’t, follow along here:

1. Fold the paper in half horizontally (fold the top down to the bottom) and open.

2. Fold the bottom edge up to the center fold. Fold the top down to center fold.

3. Fold it in half the other way (side to side) to locate the center, then unfold.

If you want the torah less open then fold in thirds instead of half

Fold the right and left sides in to the center.

4. Flip over the project so you are looking at the smooth side

5. Unfold that last set of folds temporarily.

Fold the left side toward the center, about 1 cm past the fold that you just unfolded.

6. Now fold it right back on the fold that you had just made.

7. Repeat with on the other side

8. Flip the project over. Now the center is sticking up toward you, and you can see the edges of the paper. This is the back of your origami Torah.

9. Fold the top down and the bottom up about ½ inch. Smooth it down with a bone folder or ruler. It’s important to make this crease sharp, even though you’ll be unfolding it, so that you have a strong mark and your origami Torah comes out nice.

10. Unfold these top and bottom folds.

11. Focus on your center rectangle now. You’ll be folding all four corners down and inward to the horizontal line you just made. Be careful not to fold it too far; you’ll be able to feel if it starts pulling at the corner. Do this on all four corners of the inner rectangle.

12. Invert these folds.

13. Take the top side in the middle, and fold it down on the temporary horizontal line you made previously. Flatten those inverted corners into a larger triangle as you fold. Repeat on the bottom edge. You can actually do this step while inverting the folds in the previous step, but I broke it down for you for your first time.

14. You have a rectangle on the right and left of your paper. For each of these rectangles: fold it inwards, about halfway, aligning with the edge that sits behind the center segment. You can peek at the other side of the project to see if you like the way the size looks for the rolled up parts of the Torah – they should be about the same as each other. Then flip it back to the work-in-progress side.

15. We’re now going to be doing the same thing to the right and left rectangles. Fold down each corner (you should have a total of eight – four on each side) to the horizontal line you formed in steps 9 and 10. You want to keep it small to create a rounded effect, so that the sides of your Torah don’t turn out sharp and pointy. So if you’re getting the “pointy” effect, your horizontal line was too low down. Just fold your triangles a bit smaller, keeping them proportionate to each other.

16. Take one of the posts and lift it a bit gently. Take the inner corner, which you folded as part of step 15, and tuck it beneath the center rectangle (the “open” part of the Torah) – you’ll be kind of inverting a previous fold as well as you do that. Flatten that center bit over the tucked corner.

17. Now, take the outer corner of the same post. Invert that fold, tucking the corner inside as you re-close the post horizontally. The top of that top layer tucks in naturally.

Repeat, inverting all the corner folds the same way.

19. Finally, finish the project by tucking the loose corners of the posts underneath the center part of the Torah. This helps everything stay in place in addition to giving you a neatly finished appearance. Depending on your proportions, you may also simply be able to fold it under the top and bottom flap on the center portion of your Origami Torah.

Flip the project over to admire your finished origami Torah scroll!

The post How to Fold an Origami Torah Scroll appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Purim is in the air, and we’re getting ready to celebrate with friendship and giving! These charming handmade baskets are perfect for treats and small gifts. Even young kids can make them and get into the spirit of the holiday while feeling personally involved – and having fun!

They’ll lend a special personal touch to your mishloach manot while keeping the kids busy, and you’ll hardly spend anything because they’re 100% paper (with a touch of glue).

Making your own woven paper baskets for Mishloach Manot is a fabulous activity for classrooms and for exchanges. Kids can craft, fill it with food, and hand it to a friend. Teachers can create it as a classroom activity and then give kids the snacks to fill it with in lieu of their own Mishloach Manot.

Isn’t it amazing how versatile good old construction paper can be? We’ve done a lot of creative things with paper together, including some fabulous origami projects.

Today we’ll be exploring a different way to work with paper in 3-D: weaving! This craft is excellent for grade-school level crafters – especially those who may already have tried weaving strips of paper on a flat surface and are now ready for thenext level. These instructions will make the 3-D weaving simple enough for children to learn, while the activity itself is also engaging enough for more advanced crafters.

You can use regular copy or construction paper for this craft, since the instructions include doubling it over to make it stronger. You can also use cardstock or other craft papers for even better durability.

If you choose to use something really thick, you can skip the doubling over step  and just make narrower strips in the first place. The right paper can give this simple craft a really upscale look – try scrapbook paper in different patterns for different artistic effects or glittery paper for a fancier touch.

You can even repurpose magazines or newspapers!

If you’ve chosen a solid colored paper, you can decorate your finished product with glitter/glitter glue, ribbon, or stickers. Or just stay classic with the solid basket weave.

These small baskets are perfect for a class mishloach manot exchange, giving your child a chance to showcase their unique personality and handiwork without extra expenses. You’ll enjoy the process of making them, as it’s both engaging and simple. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll probably want to make more. You can even skip the handle and use them around the house as catchall bowls to hold trinkets or desk supplies.

What you need

• Colored paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Ruler

How to make a woven paper basket

1. The basket is made of 8 identical strips. You can use a letter-size sheet of paper and cut it into strips of equal width. The ones we used run the short way of the paper and are about 8.5 inches by 1.375 inches.

2. Take any strip and fold it into half the long way to form one longer, skinnier strip. Use glue to secure it.

3. Repeat for all the strips.

4. Line up 4 strips side by side on a flat surface.

5. Take one of the remaining strips. Weave it over and under the 4 that you laid out, near the middle.

6. Take another of the leftover strips and weave it in and out in the opposite pattern – under/over instead of over/under. Slide it right next to the previous strip.

7. Weave the last two strips next to the first two. Arrange all the strips so that the woven part is in the center and all the strips stick out about the same amount. Use a little glue on the outer squares to secure the weaving.

8. Use a pencil to outline a diagonal square on the base, as shown. This will be the bottom or base of the woven basket.

9. Start with any side. Hold the two center strips of that side.

10. Since the two strips are side by side, one is under its last square while one is on top. Move the bottom strip over the top strip, bending them to form a 90-degree angle.

11. Now take the next strips on either side of the ones used in the previous step, and weave them over and under the first ones and each other, still holding the corner at a 90-degree angle. This is the first corner of the basket.

12. Use glue on the outer parts of the weave to secure the first corner in place.

13. Turn the basket to the next side, adjacent to the first finished corner.

14. As you did in steps 9-12, start with the center strips, weave the lower one over the top one, and then continue to weave all four strips of that side over and under each other. Secure it with glue.

15. Weave the next side to form the 3^rd corner. This is what the pattern should look like from the bottom after weaving the 3^rd corner.

16. Finally, weave the last side to form the 4^th corner of the basket and secure it with glue..

17. Let’s work on the top part of the basket now. We will weave over and under with all the strips now. 

18. Weave any remaining loose ends over and under each other until you get to the end of the shortest strip.

19. Take the shortest strip that’s sticking up from the outer layer, and fold the end toward the inside of the basket, folding it over the strip behind/below it.

20. Take that bottom strip (under the one you just folded) and fold it over the first strip into the inside of the basket, giving the edge a finished look. Secure both strips’ ends with a little glue.

21. Repeat these steps to finish off the next pair of overlapping woven strips.

22. Continue repeating to finish and secure all of the open ends.

23. Use another strip of paper or a ribbon to make a handle for the basket. You can make it any size you like. Fold it over as you did for the strips at the beginning to make it stronger.

24. Glue the ends of the handle strip to the inside of the top of the basket.

Your Purim woven paper basket is complete! What will you use yours for? Comment below!

DIY Woven Paper Basket

Print

Materials

• Colored paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Ruler

Instructions

1. The basket is made of 8 identical strips. You can use a letter-size sheet of paper and cut it into strips of equal width. The ones we used run the short way of the paper and are about 8.5 inches by 1.375 inches.
2. Take any strip and fold it into half the long way to form one longer, skinnier strip. Use glue to secure it.
3. Repeat for all the strips.
4. Line up 4 strips side by side on a flat surface.
5. Take one of the remaining strips. Weave it over and under the 4 that you laid out, near the middle.
6. Take another of the leftover strips and weave it in and out in the opposite pattern - under/over instead of over/under. Slide it right next to the previous strip.
7. Weave the last two strips next to the first two. Arrange all the strips so that the woven part is in the center and all the strips stick out about the same amount. Use a little glue on the outer squares to secure the weaving.
8. Use a pencil to outline a diagonal square on the base, as shown. This will be the bottom or base of the woven basket.
9. Start with any side. Hold the 2nd and 3rd (the two middle) strips of that side.
10. Since the two strips are side by side, one is under its last square while one is on top. Move the bottom strip over the top strip, bending them to form a 90-degree angle.
11. Now take the next strips adjacent to the ones used in step 10, and weave them over and under the first ones and each other, still holding the corner at a 90-degree angle. This is the first corner of the basket.
12. Use glue on the outer parts of the weave to secure the first corner in place.
13. Turn the basket to the next side, adjacent to the first finished corner.
14. As you did in steps 9-12, start with the center strips, weave the lower one over the top one, and then continue to weave all four strips of that side over and under each other. Secure it with glue.
15. Weave the next side to form the 3rd corner. This is what the pattern should look like from the bottom after weaving the 3rd corner.
16. Finally, weave the last side to form the 4th corner of the basket and secure it with glue..
17. Let’s work on the top part of the basket now. We will weave over and under with all the strips now.
18. Weave any remaining loose ends over and under each other until you get to the end of the shortest strip.
19. Take the shortest strip that’s sticking up from the outer layer, and fold the end toward the inside of the basket, folding it over the strip behind/below it.
20. Take that bottom strip (under the one you just folded) and fold it over the first strip into the inside of the basket, giving the edge a finished look. Secure both strips’ ends with a little glue.
21. Repeat these steps to finish off the next pair of overlapping woven strips.
22. Continue repeating to finish and secure all of the open ends.
23. Use another strip of paper to make a handle for the basket. You can make it any size you like. Fold it over as you did for the strips at the beginning to make it stronger.
24. Glue the ends of the handle strip to the inside of the top of the basket.

Did you make this project?

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