I grew up in a home with a gorgeous wood Sukkah that my parents built themselves (yes, they still have the same one!) I always took for granted how easy it was to hang decorations in the Sukkah.

Many years later and my first (and current) Sukkah is actually a canvas one! Canvas Sukkahs are possibly the most challenging to hang things in.

I decided to share with you some ideas for hanging all sorts of posters and decorations in different types of Sukkahs.

While this post is focused heavily on the HOW to hang Sukkah decorations, if you’re looking for WHAT to hang, I’ve shared that in the past! You can check out my favorite DIY Sukkah decorations for every age group or my favorite cool Sukkah decorating ideas in general.

How to hang posters in the Sukkah

This section focuses exclusively on wall decor, one of the most challenging things to hang in slightly different Sukkahs.

When hanging, keep in mind the weight of your decoration. A large poster can get quite bulky. A small kids’ craft that’s a paper size is usually lighter. Foam board creations are light but bulky, and wood panel crafts, like these Sukkah welcome signs or this pomegranate string art can be their own challenge.

Things that are breakable need to be more secure. It’s kind of expected that a few things might fall here and there, but you don’t want that with heavier or breakable items. With all that in mind, here are some of my favorite tips for how to hang decorations in a Sukkah of every type.

Hanging things on the walls of a wood Sukkah

• Use picture hanging hardware or nails for anything with a natural hook on the back. Heavier items can be reinforced with a mounting tape (see below).
• Use binder clips on nails for flat items like posters. This is a great solution for nails that are left in the wall from previous wall art.

• Use thumb tacks to hang flat items – you’ll need to hammer them in. This is one of the most secure methods and you may even want to leave items in place from year to year because they can be challenging to get out!

• Or, go a bit prettier with fun push pins. This will work with softer woods (you can’t really hammer these)

• You can even go with push pin hooks that you leave in place from year to year, just hanging the decorations!

Another great method for hanging heavier items is to attach two screw-in eye hooks to the top/back of the art and a string between them. Hang it from a nail but wind the string around the nail a few times to reinforce it. It’ll have a bit more hold than a simple alligator hook.

Ideas if you don’t want to put holes in your Sukkah walls:

• Try nano gel tape – that super strong but non-permanent mounting tape that’s super popular! look for a waterproof variety and test it with heavier items in advance. It may pull off some paint finishes so again, test it in an area you don’t care about.

• Another option with the same caveat as above: outdoor-friendly command tape. This mounting tape is often used indoors for pictures and there’s no reason that a water-resistant variety wouldn’t work outdoors as well.
• On that note, command hooks are a great option instead of nails. Again, make sure to get a variety that is water resistant, and graded for the weight of your artwork.

• Velcro strips are a great way to create a “template” to add removable posters. They’re not necessarily “renter-friendly” so again, test ahead of time.
  

Plastic Sukkah decorating tips

Those plastic Sukkah walls come in so many varieties, it’s hard to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution! Some have ribbed walls making it even harder to hang things. Here are some ideas, and I hope you find one that works well for you!

Similar to wood you can try:

• Nano gel tape – you’ll have less of a problem of stripping paint, unless yours has an external printed finish. On ribbed finishes, it may work but it might be a bit less secure.

• Command tape – again, mounting tape can be a great solution. If it leaves residue, you can always try Goo Gone. You have the same caveat with ribbed finishes.
• Velcro strips – These will probably work even better even if your Sukkah is ribbed! It Should be able to catch and hold if it’s not crazy heavy, even if it’s in increments.

• You can also try making use of the metal supports if your plastic Sukkah has those! Magnets come in the form of clips and hooks, and you may be able to glue some magnets directly onto the decorations themselves. Be careful with magnets around kids; they are extremely dangerous if swallowed. And they may blow down in extreme weather, but that’s somewhat expected.

• You can also try suction hooks on smooth walls – but get good ones!

Hanging Wall Decor in a Canvas Sukkah

Yes, this is the sukkah of my own experience, and it can definitely be a challenge! But we’re all up for that challenge.

Most of my ideas will use the poles or roof/schach:

• One of my favorite methods of hanging all the kids decorations is using a beaded clothesline tied from pole to pole.

• Hang posters or other wall art from the ceiling using invisible fishline to “drop” it to wall-level.
• You can use strong magneticnclips and hooks from the pole frames – especially the upper ones, if they show. This is a bit more awkward but it’s a way to do it without tying or finagling anything. Again, magnets are extremely dangerous if your toddler finds them. And it won’t be as secure as tying methods
• You can also hang decorations against the walls from poles using most of the ceiling/schach hanging methods below.

If you want to hang it from the walls, there are ways, but you’ll be adding weight to the canvas. Make sure the poles can handle it.

• Something that I haven’t yet tried personally: you can use large safety pins to pin items to the canvas wall, but it’ll be a bit more challenging, and it can tear cardstock posters.

• If you feel like a bit more DIY: Grommet kits can be used to to add reinforced hanging holes to canvas walls. You’ll want to do this in pairs and thread a ribbon or something to hang your posters from. Be careful not to add too much weight to your canvas this way.
  
• You can also try magnets on both sides of the canvas but be careful if you have young kids around – strong magnets are extremely dangerous if swallowed.

How to hang things from the Schach (Sukkah Roof)

The schach – or roof – is one of the easier ways to hang decorations in a sukkah! Here are some favorite methods.

• My favorite is zip ties – it’s the easiest – and so affordable! You’ll need to cut the decorations off when it’s over, and make sure to trim the ends.

• Ribbon or string is the most obvious method of hanging things from schach.

• And once again, you can use fishing line for that invisible suspension look. This is great for lower suspended items.
• Rubber Bands – These can be used to wrap things onto poles by doubling it over through a hole on the decoration and looping both ends over the end of the bamboo pole.

If you want a less disposable solution, try these:

• If you’re looking for something easy and aesthetic, try metal S-hooks. They won’t be as secure if it’s windy but they’ll look great.

• You can also use shower curtain rings. They may slide around a bit but they add a fun decorative touch.

More tips for hanging decorations in the Sukkah

• Try group hanging methods to make things go faster. For example: a bulletin board with multiple items pinned on.

• Test things in advance so you don’t end up with a Sukkot surprise!

• Clean your base first with rubbing alcohol when using adhesive methods. Otherwise, the dust and oils there get in the way of the adhesive. Alcohol evaporates faster, making it ideal for cleaning, but if you need to clean large surfaces, you can mix it with water.

• When searching for supplies, search for outdoor or “water resistant” options.

• Understand that in especially stormy seasons, things just might not stay perfect if you decorate as you want.

• Trim down any loose ends – ribbons, zip ties, etc – for a neater look.

• Hang heavier items strategically, and add extra fasteners.

Got any more tips for how to hang decorations in a Sukkah? Comment below!

The post How to hang decorations in a sukkah appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

The pomegranate motif is a gorgeous one and perfect for the Sukkah! We love crafting DIY Sukkah decorations, and this one is a win.

String art is a mid-level craft: you don’t need experience to get started, and beginners can do it, however, it does require some level of dexterity. The results, though, are amazing – and yes, they are art!

The cool thing is that with a template, anyone can do this, including older kids and up. You need to be of the age that can be trusted with some hammers and small nails. The biggest challenge is getting the string looped around the nails and in place. Otherwise, we kept the wrapping simple and crisscrossed it in random patterns for a fun, layered look!

Choosing your materials for pomegranate string art

The wooden base

String art is typically created by hammering nails into a wooden foundation. I hit up thrift stores for mine, and found this really fun shadow box that was perfect for string art! Since I can’t exactly link what I used, here are some ideas:

• A wood art board – you can even flip this backwards for the shadow box effect.
• You can even use live-edge planks for a more unique look
• Or go for wood crafting bases in fun shapes, such as a circle or oval
• Thick chipboard is a great base
• Foam board is a great option for younger crafters (but they still need to be trusted with the nails)
• A canvas can work as well, but is slightly less forgiving.

When looking for wood, pine is ideal as it’s a soft wood. Mine was hard and a bit tougher to work with (though it looks fab!)

If you’re hanging this in the Sukkah, you will want to consider waterproofing it (such as sealing the wood with outdoor Mod Podge or a similar product). Don’t worry about the string absorbing water – it won’t ruin it. Just make sure to dry it well before packing away! (Be prepared for some color bleed – you can hand wash your skein first if you want to minimize this.)

And if using an unfinished surface, you’ll definitely want to paint it first!

Which string to use

You do not need to stick to a specific string type, though you DO want something with a bit of traction like yarn or embroidery floss (and not totally slick like plastic lacing).

Keep in mind that if you’re using very small nails closely spaced, you’ll want something with a maximum thickness of embroidery floss. You can use fluffier yarn with larger nails spaced more widely apart than on the template. Just place them at every other dot.

Other fun ideas can be metallic floss for adding that extra sparkle or thinner threads for a finer look. Think outside the box with color, since pomegranates have a distinctive enough shape to move away from nature. I stuck to shades of red, but you can totally deviate.

You can even use rustic materials like cotton twine or jute for a rustic look.

How to make pomegranate string art

You’ll need

• A wood base (soft pine is fabulous – I used a thrifted shadow box). The template fits an 8.5×11 paper, so something that size or larger is ideal.
• If the base is unfinished: paint, paintbrushes
• If hanging it in the Sukkah – outdoor Mod Podge or some other waterproof sealer
• The template (print it at the end of this post) printed on paper, not cardstock
• Washi, masking, or painter’s tape
• A hammer – I used a rubber-ended mallet
• String art nails – I used these, you can go for slightly longer ones if you want it to be a bit easier to string
• Recommended: serrated jaw needle nose pliers
• Embroidery floss (I used shades of red, but you don’t have to)
• Scissors
• A bit of glue (most glues would work) to finish your knots

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.

Process

1. If your base isn’t finished, go ahead and do that first, and allow it to dry completely.

2. Place your template where you want it on the base and tape it in place.

3. Protect your surface in case you hammer nails through to the back by mistake. Place each nail on the corresponding dot on the template. Hold it in place with pliers if needed.

4. Tap it straight down a few times to nail it in place. It should be nailed just enough to hold securely, but not so deeply that it penetrates the back. Most of it should stick up for easier wrapping.

5. As needed, use the pliers to straighten out the nails as you go along.

6. Add nails around the pattern until it’s complete. Fix it up, make sure all nails are straight and secure.

7. Start removing your template slowly, tearing it off from around the nails. You want to pull back, not straight up, to avoid removing any nails.

If any do come out, you should have a mark there and you can replace them – a little deeper this time!

8. Now the fun part can begin! Start by tying an open knot at the end of your string and placing it over the first nail.

9. Tighten it around that nail.

10. Knot again to form a double knot.

11. Start wrapping around the perimeter of your string art pomegranate. Go once or twice FULLY around each nail for security and then move on to the next.

Keep pulling the string taught as you go along to avoid it popping right off.

12. If you’re having a bit of trouble in tight areas, use the pliers to hold it down between the previous two nails as you string up the next.

13. Keep on going all the way around the edge to define your shape.

14. Now, start crisscrossing within your design to “fill it in”! Keep it within the design and don’t go between two nails on the outside of the crown.

15. You’re wrapping at random the same way – once or twice fully around each nail so it holds.

16. You can switch threads in the middle if you run out or want to change colors. Just triple tie the string around your final nail, glue the knot, and trim it (I recommend trimming with a one-inch tail until the glue dries – you can trim it later).

Start the next color like you did the first and keep wrapping until you’re happy with how your string art pomegranate looks!

Your string art pomegranate is complete! Where will you be hanging yours? Comment below!

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You’ve probably guessed that my favorite part of Sukkot is decorating the sukkah to make it beautiful. You may have already seen some of my sukkah decoration craft tutorials. But this post is a little different – instead of making new decorations from scratch, I’m going to share my favorite ways to enhance your sukkah decor using items that are already made and easy to find.

I’ve shared peeks into my own sukkah before – and this list of sukkah decorations is definitely inspired by some I’ve picked up – but you’ll also find loads of other ideas (some of which I hope to add to my collection over time).

These products from around the web will give you a huge head start, whether you’re planning to add your own handmade sukkah decorations or if you just didn’t have the time to do it yourself yet. This is such a busy time of year and we could all use a little (or a lot) of help!

The key to sukkah decorating is to be as weather-proof as possible. When buying decor items, look for things that are made for outdoor use OR use outdoor-friendly materials. They are outside for short periods of time – so they don’t need to be perfectly weatherproof, but they should not disintegrate with some rain.

On the flip side, some of these decor ideas can also be used for other outdoor spaces or events – the sukkah is just the beginning!

I’m going to start with some general ideas that work well outdoors, and then I’ll lead you to some more specific sukkah-themed decor I love – including gorgeous art banners from Israeli artists.

Cool Outdoor-friendly Sukkah Decorations

Not every Sukkah decoration needs to be designed as such! Here, I go over some basic materials and products that make for fabulous sukkah decorations that you can buy anywhere.

I do lean towards autumn colors for the Sukkah but you definitely don’t need to follow my lead on this!

Felt Garlands

Felt may not look so outdoorsy, with its soft fabric appearance, but it actually can hold up well in the rain. I absolutely love felt for sukkah decor – its soft texture gives it such a warm, organic feeling to make you feel cozy in the Fall. It’s a whole different vibe than the tinsel and plastic we usually go to for waterproof.

You can use felt to make your shapes, look for premade felt garlands (like this citrusy one that is perfect for Sukkot!), or opt for pom poms!

If you can find felt that’s made of acrylic that is ideal – but not a must. Wool felt absorbs more water than felt, but I’ve still found it to hold up enough.

It will still be a little more drippy than materials that don’t absorb any water at all, so you might not want to hang it directly over where people may sit or stand. But overall I find felt well suited for the sukkah, and – did I mention? – absolutely gorgeous.

One thing to watch out for is that some felts have colors that bleed. Try getting a small part of your felt wet at home to test the colorfastness before hanging it outdoors.

You always want to make sure your sukkah decorations are thoroughly dry before storing them, but that goes double for felt – since you can’t simply wipe water off the surface, give it some extra time and attention to make sure it’s REALLY dry before you put it away. We wouldn’t want your beautiful decorations to get smelly or moldy by next year.

Wooden beaded garlands

Wood is another versatile material that can often handle the outdoors. You might find wood decor that is designed to be used outdoors. Alternatively, beads that were made for jewelry are usually coated with a water-resistant sealant. Or, coat them yourselves using an acrylic sealer to give it some extra resistance.

You can buy garlands that are made for decor, or you can string together chunky beads on your own. I know, this is supposed to be the easy, non-crafting post – but stringing some beads is still pretty easy!

Of course, you’ll need to thoroughly dry these before storing – even if coated, it’s likely that some dampness will seep into the wood and can’t simply be wiped off. Give it some extra time and space before wrapping it up to store.

Fabric Tapestries

Fabric does get wet in the rain, but it still holds up well – it won’t fall apart the way paper does, and it still looks more sophisticated than plastic or laminate. So fabric tapestries are an excellent way to add artwork to your sukkah or outdoor space.

You can spray fabric with a sealer such as Scotchgard to help prevent it from getting soggy. Just note that it could wash off after repeated uses – you may need to reapply after an especially rainy Sukkot. But it should help your fabric decor hold up for a nice amount of time.

Faux Florals (and real ones)

Flowers made of plastic are very outdoor-friendly. Plastic doesn’t absorb any water at all, so it dries out more quickly after a rain and won’t drip all over your guests. You can buy flowers in different arrangements depending on your preferred decor look, or you can arrange loose flowers into these shapes yourself.

You can, of course, also display real flowers! Any hanging flower decor should be gotten as fresh as possible and may shed some petals towards the end of the holiday. I do highly recommend using a cheap vase and getting a gorgeous bouquet of flowers for the center of your Sukkah table, though – there’s nothing like it!

• Garlands These long strands of flowers or leaves can be strung along walls or just under the schach. They come in a huge variety, from plain leaves to flowers to hanging fruits. You can also stick to simpler vines to add some green.
• Wreaths (just not the Christmas ones) A circular wreath of flowers looks very elegant on doors or walls – and you can find some beautiful fall-themed options.
• Clusters A bunch of flowers here, a bunch of flowers there, we love flowers so how could you go wrong?

• Balls –  Balls of flowers look so sophisticated hanging from the cross-beams. Try for a few variations of size or color (within the same color family) and hang them at slightly different heights.
• Hanging faux wisteria can create a real “wow” effect distributed across one or more walls of the Sukkah.
• Hanging potted faux plants Those that hang along the walls are my favorite. They also won’t obstruct the view of the starry night.

Suncatchers & Hanging Wind Spinners

You can get suncatchers and spinners that are made for the outdoors, so they’re already perfect for the Sukkah. Wind spinners will have extra impact in an open space where they can catch a lot of breeze, but they’ll be pretty anywhere – even the gentle air movements of regular life will be enough to highlight the spinners.

Wind Chimes

Wind chimes have a special place in my heart – I will always remember the wind chimes in my grandfather’s sukkah, and how excited I was to see – and hear – them again each year as a kid. Now I get to enjoy the nostalgia for my childhood as I create memories for my own family with our Sukkah traditions. 

You and your family will also surely enjoy the two-in-one decorative and melodic wind chimes. Be careful in placing them out of the way where people won’t bump into them and set off the chimes. In a larger sukkah this should be simple. If your sukkah is smaller and runs a higher risk of people bumping into the wind chimes, you might want to ask your rabbi before hanging them.

String Lights & Lanterns

There are a whole variety of lights that are made for gardens and perfect for the sukkah. I love the look of clear edison bulbs, and there are also plenty of other options if you like a softer glow.

You can use decorative lights as your main lighting, or just to supplement your regular lighting system. If you’re depending on these for light as well as decor, measure your space to help gauge how many lights you’ll need.

In addition to lighting up the inside of your sukkah, consider using a string of lights or lanterns to light the way to the sukkah. Half of the holiday meals take place at night, so having lights along the path is very functional as well as pretty (we use our Edison string lights for this purpose).

Outdoor Rugs

Most people don’t pay attention to the floor when planning their sukkah decor, but don’t underestimate it – a nice rug can add a lot to the overall look of your sukkah, and will make your Sukkah feel like home!

Metal wall sculptures

If you favor a bright, maximalist aesthetic, check out metal wall art such as these butterflies. They’re made strong enough for outdoors, and come in a whole range of different designs.

Sukkah Decorations from Israeli Sellers

What better way to decorate your sukkah than to support Israeli artists and businesses at the same time? Here are some products from Israel that caught my eye – just make sure to check the shipping times so you get them in time for the holiday! Check out Etsy for more options!

Please don’t order Judaic art from unknown sellers, especially on sites like Temu or AliExpress – they are most likely made with stolen artwork (yes, they’ve stolen mine!!). I’m sharing some verified links to legitimate sellers, but if you want to look for more on your own please make sure to support honest businesses and artists.

• 7 Species Vinyl Banner – This one needs at least 2.5 weeks to ship in time for Sukkot but you’ll be rewarded with a boldly colored banner featuring the 7 species of Israel with both Hebrew and English titles.

• Hallel Banners – Israel | US This set of three banners features meaningful phrases from the Hallel prayer overlaid on a background featuring the 7 species.

• Ushpizin – This unique, richly colored design by Yael Harris Resnick combines two favorite Sukkot themes – the seven ushpizin and the 7 species.

• Israel Sukkah art banners Judaica artist Alex Levin sells latex ink prints of his gorgeous paintings in a wide selection of themes and sizes.

Sukkot Decorations -in Sukkot Themes with Quick Shipping

If you don’t have time to order banners made-to-order or from Israel, and want things beyond wall decor for your Sukkah, these ideas are for you.

Double check the shipping times before ordering! They were available on the quick side when I checked, but these things are subject to change. Again, watch out for fraudulent sellers of Jewish art – the links I’m sharing are safe.

• Pomegranate garland
• Pomegranate branches
• Faux Pomegranates (realistic) – Place some in a bowl or use them to make hanging decorations. Try it with lemons too – their bright yellow is a treat for the eyes, and from a little distance they can even pretend to be etrogs.
• Artificial lemon garland
• Grape clusters and/or vines
• Grapevine ball – hang it from the beams. You can also use hot glue to add a few flowers for a different look.
• Olive branches
• Ushpizin poster – This one includes a traditional prayer in addition to artwork
• Sukkah tapestry – This link includes a number of designs by different artists.

Got any favorite Sukkah decorations to share? Please comment below with your ideas!

The post 25+ Sukkah Decorations You’ll Fall in Love With appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

I absolutely love the idea of flowers for Shavuot! What better way to celebrate Spring?

While you may pick up a bouquet or two at your local grocery, school fundraiser sale, or even Trader Joe’s, I wanted to share with you some tips and ideas for incorporating greenery (or, if you’re going modern, beigery) into your home decor.

The cool thing about these Shavuot flowers is that you can buy them to honor the holiday… but they’ll last way beyond!

Why flowers on Shavuot?

So why is there a tradition to have flowers specifically for Shavuot?

Every year while planning Shavuot crafts, I even struggle with creating anything beyond flowers, because that’s honestly what kids make in school! It’s so part and parcel of Shavuot, much like cheesecake, that even my two year old is talking about flowers.

The reason we all learned had to do with Mount Sinai and the battle of the mountains. FYI, I even made a set of puppets to go with that – you can download them here.

The story goes: every mountain was battling and boasting as to why the Torah should be given there. However, Mt Sinai was humble and small and did not join the boasting. So when the Torah was finally given, G-d made flowers and grass grow on it to honor it.

Another reason is seasonal: Shavuot celebrates the beginning of the harvest and the first blooms. This is when Bikkurim – first fruit – were brought to the temple. The baskets were decorated with florals.

Chabad shares a few probably more well-sourced reasons you’ll want to check out.

Regardless, Shavuot flowers are super fun to incorporate in your home, and definitely make things feel springy, cheerful, and festive.

6 Ideas for Shavuot Flowers for the Modern Home

Here are some pretty arrangements, sourced from my own home that I wanted to share. Some are less on the colorful end of things – mostly neutrals that are loaded with texture rather than color – to fit with most modern homes.

I absolutely love filling pretty vases with dried plants and mixing and matching fake flowers, and therefore have worked on so many centerpieces and arrangements over the years. These are a few of my favorites, with the more recent ones first and moving onto the slightly older ones.

Where the actual supplies I used are available, I linked them. Otherwise, I linked to similar. In case you can’t get what I did (if it’s not available or you can’t order from the US retailers), I did share tips for creating your own so that you can pick up on it on your own.

1. Mixed Pampas and a Textured Glass Vase

If you love decorating with texture, but want to bring in a hint of color in an incredibly on-trend display, this one is for you!

I purchased it for the Pesach tablescape that I plan to share next year (I got it too late for this year’s blog post!) The mixed pampas spray has hints of mauve and various shades of creams, beiges, and tans. It’s exploding with personality and so much variation.

The vase itself is also gorgeous. While the inexpensive pampas (that costs less than you’ll probably spend on a bouquet) might be more trendy and less timeless, the glass will have a much longer shelf life – and it’s affordable too.

It’s a very muted navy blue, with variated texture and a subtle curved shape. I absolutely love it, and I’m so happy with the purchase. It’s one of those things that I really enjoy looking at – it makes me smile – every time I place it on the table, or sit near it.

The scale is similar to that of a vase of flowers – it’s not a statement centerpiece. You might want to intersperse three on a larger table – as long as they sit on a runner. Or, place it on a smaller sideboard or mantle.

One word of warning: the pampas SHEDS!! I knew this when I purchased it and chose it anyway. I tried arranging it while holding it in a bag and it didn’t work. What did work was doing it on an empty floor to make vacuuming afterwards easy. It’s worth it, though.

2. Simple Bunny Tail Spray in Earthy Ceramic Vases

I had these simpler bunny tail stalks sitting as part of a mixed centerpiece (the eucalyptus you’ll see below, with another item) and finally decided I don’t like the look.

I also had these two earthy ceramic vases sitting empty on my windowsill. I did play around with the look before settling on filling the back one at various heights and leaving the front one empty.

These are mini vases that I picked up at Michaels ages ago – so they wouldn’t be carried there anymore. I linked a similar one here so that you can get the look. It’s actually very hard to find the color combo, but the main thing is to look for something earthy, rustic, and handmade-looking.

They are small and sit on my kitchen window sill.

They are fabulous additions for adding Shavuot flowers to bookcases and other open shelves.

You can also try to replicate this look in jumbo using larger pampas and similar mixed earthy vases.

I recommend looking for handmade vases that have all the texture and variation that gives them character, rather than a stale and clean look.

3. Colorful and Cheerful Silk Floral Spray

My dining room has a LOT of brown going on and I wanted something colorful to sit as a centerpiece. While I sort of fell in love with the first pampas, this definitely has more color. I do often move it to the top of a bookcase or a sideboard to make way for others, but wherever it is, it adds a hit of color.

The vase is a very simple bluish-green tinted vase in a modern silhouette. It’s a fabulous size for bouquets too. I had a hard time finding one that’s very similar to link, but the main features to look for is:

• Transparent barely-tinted glass
• A simple, unfussy shape
• A narrow neck, so that the sparse arrangement holds together and then sprays outward nicely.

This one looks like a great choice.

The florals themselves ere kept simple: mises of yellow-heading-into-orange, peach, and deep red mixing in. You have the small flowers, the three larger feature ones, and the sprinkle of red roses mixing in. A simple/sparse cluster allows the shapes to shine and keeps it looking modern and collected.

You probably want to assemble this in person to get the look you want.

This is also on the scale of a vase of flowers. You can go bigger by using a taller vase, but having the branches reach the base will help the look.

To turn it into a permanent bouquet, I’d pour a few inches of clear resin on the bottom. You can also use water for a less permanent but slightly more realistic look.

4. Farmhouse Cotton in a Glass Bottle

I actually have the cotton sitting in a totally different vase on my counter, but that is growing tired. I was thinking of a way I can freshen it up for you for this post, and this stopper bottle (link is for similar) was perfect. It has a collected look.

It’s a fabulous way to pick up on pre-existing blue tones without going overboard with blue, and fabulous for an are where natural light will reflect through the glass.

You can reuse a wine bottle for this one, or go for any bottle, jug, or can look. Just make sure it’ll fit the scale of the cotton – base it on measurements!

Cotton stems are an easy, affordable find that can last for years. It’s neutral and doesn’t shed.

Keep in mind the scale you want to work with. I usually have these in a very tall vase which makes it more of a statement piece, but downsized it to a bottle to share with you.

Regardless, the overall scale of this is tall and narrow, and perfect for when you want to keep the table clear but have something that stands out.

5. Huge Eucalyptus in a Milk Jug

This is the eucalyptus that I mentioned above that I had waiting to repurpose for some time. I love the generous, tall eucalyptus. The milk jug was a galvanized metal (here’s similar) that felt tired and lacked contrast. So I redid it, painting it white with black handles.

You can work with a galvanized metal milk jug but I do recommend getting a white or light colored one to help the eucalyptus feel dramatic and not messy.

My milk jug is about 14 inches tall, a challenging size to find, but you can definitely scale it down.

This one looks great – it’s a fabulous look and somewhat smaller than mine.

The size of this is nice as a permanent centerpiece or as a floor vase. I did stuff the jug with newspaper to prop up the eucalyptus, so you can definitely go with a smaller jug.

6. Minimalist Vase of Sunflowers

These Shavuot flowers are actually different in that they’re real flowers, not faux! But of course, you can pick up realistic flowers.

This rectangular vase has featured in my Rosh Hashanah centerpiece as well as my Sukkot centerpiece.

My favorite way to display florals in it is a very sparse bouquet lying down.

If using fresh flowers, do it close to the holiday, as they don’t grow as naturally in this position, The arrangement lasted a few days. You can also do this with faux sunflowers. Get as realistic as you can when choosing your florals.

And you can, of course, use any flowers to do this – not just sunflowers. To make it look more realistic with faux flowers, add water. If that feels too ick, or you want to make it permanent, use clear resin to finish things off.

Assembling your own Shavuot Flower Arrangements

Want to create something different? Did none of these fit your vibe? Here are some tips for making your own, and keeping them looking neat, clean and modern.

Real Flowers

Real flowers are the absolute prettiest, but you want to keep them from looking like a hodge podge grocery store bouquet!

Here are my tips for accomplishing that:

• My favorite look is to keep it simple: get one statement flower type and stick it in a vase! Tulips are elegant and homely. Hydrangeas are dramatic and shoot off major spring vibes. If you feel it needs more, complement it with ONE filler.
• Want more of a mixed bouquet? Stick to a simple color palette of one color in different shades, plus a neutral. You can also do two or three colors, but be careful – the more color variation you add, the more likely you are to head into grocery bouquet zone.
• Vary the scale. Start with a statement flower – with a few stems – add a medium size one in a similar tone or color family, and then fill it in with filler.
• Avoid overly bright, artificially dyed tones, unless that is the only look you’re bringing in – and you stick to one.
• Choose the right vase. Even when choosing from your home selection, make sure that the vase fits the flowers. You can go for the sparse look – make sure the stems reach close to the base of the vase and the neck is narrow enough that they’ll “spray”. Or, make it full, but make sure the vase is large enough with an opening large enough to allow them to sit comfortably.

When in doubt, simpler tends to gain better results! You can choose one color family, and instead of mixing them in one vase, place them in smaller vases around your home. Choosing a matching filler can make it all cohesive.

Here are a few bouquets I’ve loved in the past:

Just one type – look how tall, elegant, and stately it is:

White lilies with coordinating baby’s breath – also a statement centerpiece. This photo was taken when the bouquet was pretty old.

Tulips with a simple coordinating accent (no, I have no idea what it’s called). Not an exact match, but it picks up on the color of the tulips without compromising their beauty. they’re smaller and contrast in size.

Craft Store Flowers

With craft store flowers, I’d recommend going along the same lines as above. HOWEVER, your variety is MUCH bigger. Be careful not to go too random and to follow the guidelines.

In addition, make sure they don’t look too fake. Avoid flat colors – look for color variation, imperfect petals, and things like that. Pay attention to the stems too, and avoid combining too many of the same flower type.

Even better faux flowers, that tend to have variation between the petals in the bunch, will be the same across different bunches. Once flowers look identical, they look fake.

Note that I did NOT link to the faux flowers above. I really REALLY recommend doing that bit in-store, with the flowers in your hand.

Dried Florals

Dried florals are my favorite, as they are real and low-maintenance. Sometimes they shed. I don’t avoid those that shed, because sometimes they are the prettiest. It’s the perfect mix of permanent without the artificial nature.

If mixing different dried florals, I do recommend buying a pre-made mix as you can see how it looks in advance. If you are mixing your own, stick to a specific category. I wouldn’t mix cotton and eucalyptus and pampas all in one. I have mixed eucalyptus and bunny tail in the past, but I don’t recommend that look anymore.

For those with lots of stems, choose a vase that’ll hold it tight. If it’s just a few stalks, choose a vase with a narrower neck that’ll allow it to spray naturally.

As usual, sticking to a simple color palette (with the neutral nature of dried plants, that’s easy) is the safest way to go. You can get lots of variation in texture and color by sticking to simple.

Got any other tips for displaying Shavuot flowers in the modern home? Comment below!

The post Shavuot Flowers: 6 Modern Florals Anyone can Assemble appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

The Shivat Haminim, or the seven special species of Israel are celebrated all year, but especially on Tu B’shvat many people enjoy eating those fruits!

While I did design this as a Tu B’shvat decoration, I also wanted to include the non-fruit species – wheat and barley – to make the set complete.

Consider this a “choose your level” Shivat Haminim craft!

1. Simply print the ready-to-go fruit, cut, and assemble into a garland.
2. Print the outlined version, color, cut, assemble into a garland.
3. Print the layered version, cut out the layers, assemble each one, and assemble the garland. This gets you something between an easy, printed craft and a cool, layered look.
4. OR, use it as a template, cutting it from cardstock or another material for the best, most upscale look – and the most work, of course.

Originally I wanted to make this from felt, and you definitely still can. The reason I didn’t is simple: time!

I ended up not even matching the colors of cardstock to the layers, and simply printing it out as layers, cutting them, and putting it together. The size allowance is smaller this way.

While you can make this Shivat Haminim craft with a variety of materials, this tutorial will show you how to print and then cut the various layers with your Cricut OR by hand, so that you don’t have to find matching paper.

Alternatively, you can make this from felt, layered vinyl on a cardboard base, or colored cardstock.

Feeling really lazy? I also included a version where you can simply print the fruit already in layered images to just cut out and throw onto a string for an instant craft!

Want to hang it in the Sukkah? Just laminate each fruit – or use a water resistant material like acrylic felt.

What you need to make this Shivat Haminim

• The template – above
• White printer cardstock
• A good quality color printer (the better your printer, the nicer your garland will come out)
• Alternatively: a good variety of shades of felt, cardstock, or vinyl
• Glue – tacky, this glue pen, or glue dots
• String
• Masking tape

For Cricut users:

• Blue LightGrip mat (or the green StandardGrip mat that’s not as sticky as it used to be 😉 )
• Fine point blade
• Recommended: brayer for adhering it well to the mat
• Cricut Maker or Explore families

How to cut it by hand:

1. From the Shivat Haminim PDF Printables folder, print out the PDF file that says “Shivat Haminim Printable Layers” on cardstock. I recommend also printing out the reference page.
2. Cut out the outermost outlines. Make sure to keep your parts in place. If you’re finding the seeds difficult, you can punch those out of coordinating paper, or leave them off. They’re not totally necessary.

How to cut with your Cricut

Design Space Setup:

1. In a new project, click upload. Upload your image.

2. On the next screen, choose complex

3. Just continue on the next screen since PNG is ready to use. On the next, choose Print then cut

4. Repeat with each image. Select all your images and insert

5. With all the images still selected align left and top.

6. Resize the width to 6.75.

Cutting it:

1. When you “Make it” you’ll be prompted to send your project to the printer. Print it out. I recommend that you read more about what is print then cut on Cricut if you haven’t tried it yet.

2. Place your printed page right side up on the top left corner of your mat. Use the brayer to adhere it well.

3. Load and when prompted hit “go”. It’ll first scan the border/registration marks and then cut in the right spot. If it doesn’t cut accurately, you need to calibrate your machine.

4. Unload and carefully remove your parts, organizing them as you go along.

How to Assemble a Paper Fruit Garland

1. Organize your pieces. I included a lot of layers in this for this cool, textured look, however you don’t need to use all. The main point of the background layer is to serve as a solid base for all your parts.

2. Use the reference page – or keep this post open – to assemble your parts.

3. For items like the wheat, barley, I recommend leaving it on the mat in place until you glue so that you remember the order. Or place it on a piece of contact paper (right side up so the wrong side is on the sticky part) in order and remove as you need it.

4. If you need help with your seeds, you can cut out the outline and use that as a template. I did that, marking it with a pen and then gluing in those spots. Tweezers would help but mine were lost. Oh well!

5. Place your fruit in order but flipped over, spaced apart as you’d like them. Tape a piece of twine or string on the top back.

Hang, and enjoy!

Happy Tu B’shvat!

The post Shivat Haminim Craft – Paper Fruit Garland appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Years ago, when I first started blogging, I wanted to help fill the world with cool Jewish craft ideas. I created a menorah from old baby food jars.

I had much less crafting experience then, especially when it comes to different mediums. Sometimes I had creative ideas but either overdid it, or didn’t come up with as polished or smooth a craft as I could have.

Ironically, although it wasn’t so well-made, my baby food jar menorah was really popular. I realized that people liked it as a large centerpiece more than a menorah.

With a new baby eating food out of jars, I decided it’s the perfect time to remake it and stage it as a much nicer centerpiece! And stage it I did.

I love how this variation came out, so I decided to recreate the whole tutorial right here in this space. You can still see the original here.

My main modifications:

• I simply placed the Shamash on another cap to raise it up a little. I felt like it’s more stable this way.
• I skipped spray painting that mist on the bottom. I felt like keeping it simple was the way to go here.
• I didn’t spray paint the Shamash – I just made it a little bluer to help it stand out.

A word of caution: always be careful when crafting for fire! Make sure you use non-flammable paints (most spray paints are highly flammable when wet, but not when dry, as the solvents evaporate.)

Another thing: I staged it on a wooden cutting/serving board with fake foliage – obviously not a smart move if there’s even a chance of it coming off! So if you’re using it as an actual menorah that stays lit until it finishes, don’t do that. Put it on a glass or ceramic tray instead in that case. The same goes if you are using it with children around.

If you plan to supervise (for example, using it as a menorah-inspired centerpiece on a party table) just be careful around it. You can also use LED lights if you’re using it as a centerpiece.

I also wanted to note: these might store well from year to year, but they might not. Unless you could figure out how to make an opening in the center of the jar lid (I tried but couldn’t) you can’t drain and dry them, so they might mold.

You also need a really good seal, and I’m not sure that E6000 or the hot glue gun I tried is good enough.

Either way, it’ll make a beautiful centerpiece to last you through the holiday.

What you need to make this menorah Chanukah centerpiece

• Baby food jars – or other jars if you can’t get those. Milk bottles also have fantastic size lids for a slightly different look. You need 9 jars plus a tenth lid. FYI you CAN purchase baby food jars, if you’re willing to invest in this.
• Spray paint
• Food coloring or any water based paint to color the water
• E6000 glue – works great for gluing two smooth surfaces
• Cups for mixing

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How to make a tea light Menorah centerpiece

1. Start by spraying the top of your lids in a well-ventilated area. Even though this side is glued down, you want to spray paint it, so that no bright green (or whatever color you have) shows through the glass or around the edges.

2. When they’re dry to the touch, flip them over and spray paint the inside. You don’t need to do this with the bonus one that’s propping up the Shamash. Allow it to dry completely (dry time varies by spray paint brand).

3. Mix some food coloring with water in a cup. I recommend using a larger cup and making a concentrated version of the color you want, so that you can use the same base for all jars. This ensures they’re the same color. I used a few drops of blue with a drop of green to make a slightly less harsh blue. (I was actually aiming for teal, but felt it looked too green so I blueified it.

4. Pour a little bit into each jar. If you want you can mix up a separate color for the Shamash – helper – candle.

5. Fill them up the rest of the way with water. I filled until the ridges – overfilling will just make a mess.

6. Glue the lids onto the jars upside down. Glue the shamash onto another lid to raise it up a bit.

When you’re done, simply arrange the jars in a row to make a menorah!

Your Chanukah centerpiece is complete. How will you be staging yours? Comment below!

The post Chanukah Centerpiece – DIY Jar Menorah appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

There’s nothing like some natural decor to spruce up your sukkah. But what better way to spruce up your Sukkah than with an actual Sukkot themed item?

First, you’ll want to learn how to dry Etrog slices. When you’re done and you have dried Etrog slices to use, come back here and follow the tutorial for these really cool DIY Sukkah decorations.

What to do with your Etrog after Sukkot

Many people will pierce cloves into the Etrog to make a fragrant fruit to smell at Havdalah. Others use them to make infused scented oils.

We always grew up with Etrog jam for Tu B’shvat. That was the classic go-to thing to do with an Esrog once the holiday of Sukkos was finished.

Today, that is a controversial thing to do. Many people say that these are NOT grown for eating and have excessive amounts of pesticides. Others day that the amount you eat is negligible.

I don’t really have an opinion on this. But I figured that it’s worth offering another option for those who want to know what to do with the Etrog after Sukkot. And I simply couldn’t think of a more appropriate thing to do than to make DIY Sukkah Decorations. Because I also can’t think of more appropriate Sukkah decor.

I did dry last year’s slices too so that I can share another idea, hopefully next year. This is from Etrogim from two years ago, and the decoration was made last year.

Making Sukkah Decorations from your Post- Sukkot Etrog

I started with an embroidery hoop to make a classic wall hanging.

The full slices were used as the main pieces hanging from the threads. The smaller slices were also fantastic for embellishing it further.

Unfortunately, this is not the best idea for classrooms, unless you fake it with dried lemon slices. If you’re a teacher, you’ll need to think in advance, and collect as many Etrogim as you can when people are done with them. I’d say you need an average of an Etrog per Sukkah decoration.

The original plan was to thread the slices, but I decided to hot glue it instead as I was afraid of ruining my precious slices. You can definitely give it a try if you’re willing to risk it.

Materials for Etrog Slice Sukkah Decorations

• Etrog slices, dried
• Embroidery Hoop
• Sisal Twine or favorite string
• Hot glue gun and sticks (I have this heavy duty one and love it)
• Wood beads with large holes
• Leaf ribbon or similar embellishment

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How to Make a Dried Etrog Wall Hanging

1. Separate your slices and choose the most beautiful ones to hang.

2. Place a little bit of glue on the back of your slice and stick on a piece of twine.

3. Plan your layout. String your beads on as you’d like.

4. Start by tying your center string on the external hoop of your embroidery hoop ring, at the height you want it to hang.

5. Continue tying your strings at the height you want them to hang. Don’t worry about excess string. Insert the inside ring of your embroidery hoop. You may need to force it a little – that’s okay.

6. Take the extra/overhang twine from each one and wrap it around both rings of the hoop. Glue to secure.

7. Starting at the base, start wrapping your leaf cut ribbon around the hoop, gluing in place at the ends when you’re finished. I recommend wrapping more at the base, and doing it more vine-style sparse on the top half.

8. Take your smaller slices and glue them in place at intervals on the bottom portion of your hoop.

9. Attach a hanger to the screw of your embroidery hoop. Your dried Etrog Sukkah decorations are complete! Now hang them in your sukkah to enjoy and celebrate beautifully!

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The post DIY Sukkah Decorations from Dried Etrog Slices appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Math is REALLY not my forte but somehow I ended up dabbling in a highly mathematical craft. The good news is: I did all the mathing and stuff for you.

Last year, I shared a dreidel himmeli craft but I actually made that one AFTER these himmeli hamantaschen Purim centerpieces. I just had to get to sharing with you.

Just to recap: Himmeli is a traditional Scandinavian craft that uses straw (as in the natural variety) and reeds to make abstract geometric sculptures and decorations. I adapted that here using paper straws with much simpler geometric shapes that are inspired by holiday imagery. Today, most Himmeli artists use brass or copper tubing to make beautiful modern sculptures.

To decorate my own Purim table, I made Himmeli-inspired Hamantaschen using paper straws. Because Hamantaschen are a balanced geometric shape, they were the perfect candidate for this craft!

My Chanukah dreidel was made out of silver paper straws. For Purim hamantaschen, I used copper paper straws – to match my copper, gray and white tablescape.

Paper straws are available to match any color scheme, but metallic ones add a little glam and almost look like metal tubing.

That killer vase in the center of the table was an old, disgusting dirty acrylic vase that I updated using concrete and brushed copper texture paints from FolkArt. I already shared the painted vase makeover as well as more details on my tablescape.

To make your himmeli shape, you’re going to string your straws onto wire. You restring the wire through straws to hold things into specific positions. So when you complete any step, you’ll fix it in place by drawing the wire through the closest straw that’ll work.

When you’re done making these hamantaschen, try coming up with your own shape, or make abstract sculptures to complement these!

What you need to make Himmeli Hamantaschen

• Paper Straws
• 24 gauge craft wire
• Wire Cutters
• A craft knife
• A ruler
• Cutting mat

How to make these Purim centerpieces

1. Use a craft knife to cut your straws to size. The proportion is more important than your actual measurements, but use a ruler or cutting mat to measure according to the size of your straw.

You need: 6 full-size straws, 9 half-size straws, and 6 quarter-size straws.

2. String 3 full-size straws on your wire.

3. Thread the wire back through one of your straws to close your triangle. 

4. String on your wire a quarter straw, a half straw and then another quarter.

And then draw it through one of your straws from your first triangle, so that it ends up by the empty corner.

5. String on a quarter straw and then a half straw. 

Thread your wire back through the half straw from the previous step. 

6. Thread on a half straw.

Then thread it back through the adjacent quarter straw so that your wire ends up by an outer corner.

7. At this point, it’ll be helpful to twist your wire once or twice through the internal wire to secure your first half of your Hamantasch. Trim your wire off your spool but leave about 1-2 feet “tail” in place.

8. Repeat the above process to make a second hamantasch shape.

9. Now it’s time to connect your two pieces to make a centerpiece! Lay your two hamantaschen side by side. Take one of your remaining half straws. String it onto one of your wires that are connected to the hamantaschen. String that wire through one of the long sides of the other hamantasch.

10. String another half-straw to the wire attached to the other corner.

Repeat with the last corner, and thread through the opposite Hamantasch so that they face each other, threading the wires back through any straw. Since these are your final steps, it doesn’t matter where the wire ends up.

11. Wrap your wires a few times around the internal wires that stick out between straws, making sure it’s secure.

12. The cool thing about working with wire is that it can be manipulated however you like it. At this point, you may need to bend it at the corners, so that your Hamantaschen stand nicely. Use pliers if you need a little help. Play with it and bend until it stands really nicely.

Make a pair if want, and display them proudly! They work beautifully for when you want to add a touch of metallic to brighten up a neutral tablescape!

Your Purim centerpieces are complete. Got any other Purim ideas to share? Comment below!

Don’t forget to spread the love by pinning any of the images in this post!

The post Purim Centerpieces – Himmeli Hamantaschen appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Since I like to be realistic with crafts, I’m going to preface this one by saying: it’s not easy and it’s very fail prone.

But I like the idea, so I want to share it. Play around, give it a go for your own  home, but don’t plan it as a group activity until you’ve tried it a few times. I will share a few tips for success. Plus, the supplies are super cheap so you can experiment.

I wanted to make a dreidel decoration in the Himmeli style. I did something like this Purim time (and I’ll share it closer to then) so I wanted to replicate it for Chanukah.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Himmeli is a Finnish craft that uses reeds or straw to make geometric mobiles and decorations. They can get quite elaborate, but if you’re a beginner, you’ll want to keep your design simple.

Many makers will use metal tubing for gorgeous modern takes on traditional himmeli that lasts well.

Since I’m more of a “keep it simple” kind of crafter, I decided to use paper straws. They are affordable, and easy to work with. And they don’t require special equipment. I hope to one day move on to metal designs, but for now, paper straw it is!

The trick if you’ve never done Himmeli before is to keep it simple.

But in this case, simpler might not be easier, because the design needs to hold. I made this as a simple outline, but I’ve been wondering if I could have made it stronger by adding a horizontal straw at the top of the dreidel – below the stick, and at the bottom – above the point.

Another tip is to be very accurate. Keep a ruler on hand and make sure all your measurements add up.

And finally, I’ve been considering making  this as a flat dreidel garland – by just making flat straw dreidels and string them up. I need thicker aluminum wire to try that, so I haven’t yet, but if or when I do it will definitely be added to my never-ending “to share some day” list.

Either way, this dreidel decoration is perfect for a party centerpiece -you’ll just need to play around a little to get the balance you want so it stands on its own.

What you need to make this Himmeli Dreidel:

• Paper Straws
• Wire
• Scissors/Craft Knife
• Wire cutters
• Optional but helpful: serrated jaw pliers
• Ruler

How to make this dreidel decoration:

1. Start by determining the total size you want to your dreidel decoration to be. Your right and left straws should be about half that size. This is a guesstimate and not an exact science. Your parts should however line up mathematically 🙂 So Cut both a right and left that are exactly the same.

2. Cut your bottom point. Err on the side of longer – your dreidel decoration will stand up better this way. Note: I cut mine into mathematical points as you can see and actually regretted this. I’d recommend you only do that if you’re a math genius or engineer because it’s better to just cut straight ends than to try with angles and get it wrong.

3. Here is where it’s really critical that you get the proportions right. Cut straws to fit your top of your dreidel. Start by cutting a straw that’ll fit across the width of your dreidel. Split this into 3. Decide how tall you want the top handle/stick to be and cut two exactly identical straws for that.

See how mine is sitting? If you want your dreidel decoration to look right, it should not look like this. It should all be symmetrical and straight. This is why you’re better off not cutting angles at the ends of your straws (I eventually cut mine off).

4. Wire them up in the right order.

5. Twist your two ends of your wire around each other, making sure it’s secure.

6. Bend and manipulate your wire to form your dreidel shape. You may need to create sharper bends in your wire where the straws meet.

7. Create another flat straw dreidel that matches up exactly.

8. You now need to cut “connector” straws for each point of the dreidel (9 in total). This should be at least as big as the bottom two straws – the ones that form the triangle at the bottom.

9. Cut a long but workable piece of wire. Thread it through one of your straws on your dreidel.

10. Thread it through one of your “connector” straws and back through one straw on the other dreidel.

11. Continue through the next straw, add a connector straw, and go through the next straw on the other half of your dreidel. Your dreidels are still connected in a flat layout – you’re about to make it 3D.

12. Keep on stringing through both dreidels with connector straws in between. If you run out of wire, simply finish off the previous wire by winding it around the main wire a few times tightly, and star a new wire by winding it around as well. Hide all ends as well as you can.

13. When your dreidels are connected at all points, finish off your wire by winding the working wire around the interior one and making sure it’s tight.

Your Himmeli-inspired dreidel decoration is complete, but you’ll still want to reshape and make sure it stands well.

I made two different sizes and placed one inside the other. Mine stands at an angle on one of the “triangle” sides at the bottom point.

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The post Dreidel Decoration – DIY Himmeli Style Dreidel from Paper Straws appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

I love creating a beautiful table for Shabbos and one of my favorite ways to do that is using pretty napkin rings. I used to make elaborate beaded creations as gifts, but I wanted something simpler and more modern for myself and I FINALLY got around to it.

I used simple copper wire to hold an array of ceramic beads in coordinating tones. I chose three different types of beads in my set to add interest to the table.

What you need to make DIY napkin rings:

• 12 gauge copper wire (I go for real copper, aluminum is easier to manipulate but the final result won’t be as secure).
• Large (20-30mm) porcelain and ceramic beads – have a few extras as some break in the process! (you might do best shopping around for this in person, finding something cool because this will be the focal point of your piece.)
• Nylon jaw pliers (so you don’t nick the wire)
• Wire cutters

Shop the tablescape:

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How to make DIY napkin rings:

Measure your copper wire about six inches long. Mine ranged from 4-6 inches, so if you plan to use paper napkins you might want to stick to four inches. They don’t all have to be the same – that’s part of the charm of this! Use wire cutters to snip it. Note: I used my regular jewelry cutters. I made a deep notch and then broke the piece off. If you want a clean cut, you’ll need heavy duty cutters.

Use nylon jaw pliers to bend it up about 3/4 inch from the end.

Continue to form your ring shape. They don’t have to be the same, once again – part of the charm is the assorted shapes that form when making these as a set. The main thing is to have those two prongs on top that will poke into your bead and the shape beneath it to contain a napkin.

Use the pliers to shove one side at a time into the sides of the bead.

And then use your hands to secure the bead. Since the wire is a hard, strong, thick wire it should be enough just to make sure that the opening when you shaped your ring is smaller than the size of the bead. On some of my DIY napkin rings I heard a “click” when the sides overlapped but that’ not necessary.

Make a bunch using coordinating beads in different shapes. They’re cheap and quick so you can make enough even for large events!

Roll up and insert a napkin, place it on your plate, and take pride in a beautiful Shabbat table!

How many of these DIY napkin rings will you be making? How do you upgrade your Shabbos table? Comment below!

The post DIY Napkin Rings for your Shabbos Table! appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.