These 5 Pesach mazes are a super fun Passover activity for kids – and include a free printable as well! Check out this Kids’ Interactive Haggadah Craft Template as well! This post contains affiliate links.

It can be hard to find tabletop activities for kids who are a bit less crafty, but puzzle-type activities that require a bit of brainwork are often a big winner. For Passover, when neat boredom busters are often in high demand, I figured that some Pesach mazes are in order!

Get the Pesach Mazes

I created a total of five Pesach mazes for you to download and print. They cover various cleaning and Pesach themes. I’ll explain more in-depth on each below, but meanwhile, here is where you can get them.

I decided to offer the first one for free – the “A Chametz Maze.”

Get the Full Bundle

The full bundle includes all five mazes as well as printable solutions – “spoilers”. That is the Chametz maze (the one available for free as well) a 4 cups maze, an Afikoman maze, a Seder Plate maze, and an exodus themed maze.

The full bundle of Pesach mazes is available for a few bucks in my shop, on Etsy, 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 homes, educators, and parents.

Get the free printable Passover Maze

The free maze is a challenge to “bag” all the ten pieces of Chametz. It’s in the shape of a piece of bread. some pieces are off the solution path and are detours, some are along the way. It’s highly educational, and serves as a pseudo “bedikat chametz” (searching for Chametz) activity for kids.

Download your free maze! 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.

More about the 5 Pesach Mazes

My 9 year old, Y, is very into mazes and he tests them for me. This is important because he HAS found mistakes that I then went and fixed.

All my mazes are hand/digitally drawn using graphing paper and a very simple (but painstaiking and long) technique. In a world of AI, I hope you can appreciate it!

The designs

A 4 Cups Maze is one of my favorites. It has multiple entry and exit points, and you need to figure them out! Y took a few tries but he got it. If you have a child who doesn’t love that concept, you can simply look at the solutions (spoilers) pages and make arrows for them. But I wanted to add to the challenge and switch things up a bit.

An Exodus Maze is the only one that really focuses on the story behind Passover. It’s shaped in a kind of tapered squiggly rectangle intentionally to symbolize a journey. The maze starts at the pyramids (for Egypt) and ends at the date palms (for Israel.)

A Ke’Arah (seder plate) Maze is a simple shaped maze that uses the circles of the “bowls” on the seder plate as part of the maze. The pathway goes through some of the circles.

An Afikoman Maze focuses on the kids’ favorite part of the Seder – finding the Afikoman. Solvers need to help Moshe unearth the Afikoman before midnight.

A Chametz Maze has a really cool twist – and is the one you can download for free above. I added some pieces of Chametz (mostly bread, but a few others too) througout. Some were added along the solution pathways, and some are detours. All pieces must be collected.

It sounds hard, but it’s not! Kids can complete the whole maze, circle pieces as they pass them, and then go back along the path (starting from the solution) to collect the ones they miss. The goal of this one was twofold: 1. They learn the basics of Bedikat Chametz (searching for Chametz) and Biur Chametz (they collect the pieces and bring them to a dumpster fire) 2. They get a bit of a review of different foods that in their standard wheat form are Chametz.

Tips for solving and completing it

I don’t REALLY have a system for “grading” the mazes. I have a system for drawing them to make sure they are solvable one way and not too easy. I switch between grid sizes and try to add a little twist to switch things up.

My best system for doability is my 9 year old. He gets excited when I’m done a new set and does them right away.

My goal is to have him need to use a pencil, but able to solve it with minimal frustration. So I definitely recommend doing this with a pencil – as I encourage him to. That way, it can be erased and restarted. Of course, since it’s printable, you can always print a new copy if needed.

When the maze is completed, I usually encourage him to outline the final path with a marker. I used to color in my maze solution pathway totally.

Since I also provide Spoilers with your purchase, you can also provide hints for kids as needed. And of course, when complete, kids can always color them in too!

If you didn’t get get the Pesach mazes in my shop, on Etsy, and on TpT.

The post Pesach Mazes to Print – 5 Medium Passover Maze Printables appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Tu B’shvat is such a fun chag to celebrate. It’s also easy to gloss over it and miss it, as it comes between Chanukah and Purim, two of the kids’ favorite holidays.

However, it really is a cool one, and while not as serious (no one tried to kill us), it’s a wonderful opportunity to show gratitude for the world around us.

M preschooler and toddler both LOVE making hats in school, so I thought I’d design a hat craft for them. Then I realized… why not do a birthday hat, instead of the traditional crown-style hat? It is, after all, the trees’ birthday!

I designed this as a free printable coloring craft that you can download at the end of this post. I illustrated it digitally in a fun, kid-friendly way.

Tips for crafting the Tu B’shvat Hat

Choosing your hat

To keep this open to all, I made three hats for you to choose from. One is blank with no text – just the drawings of the trees. One says on it “Tu B’shvat” in Hebrew. And one (my favorite” says “Happy birthday to the trees!” along the bottom.

Finishing it off

To add a really playful touch, I topped my hat with a pom pom. The one I used was a DIY one (learn how to make pom poms from yarn here) but you can also purchase large pom poms to top your hat with – recommended if doing this with young kids.

I also attached some colorful elastic to the bottom. You can swap that with ribbons, flat elastic, or even glue it onto a headband.

Different ages variations

I totally had this Tu B’shvat hat in mind for the preschool stage, however, after I illustrated the trees, I realized that they might be slightly more complex than I had intended.

However, I find that young kids don’t necessarily stress about filling in all the lines anyway. Younger kids generally enjoy the overall image and then color in larger areas.

If you want to make it more little kid friendly, you can:

• Give them a more specific way to color the small areas – like dotting paint with a cotton swab.
• Give them a more specific way to overcolor the whole thing – like Do a Dot markers or watercolors (where they won’t try to color in the lines and get frustrated)
• Or just encourage imperfection, focus on the process, and provide a sample of one with larger areas colored in as they would do it.

More creative preschoolers can color in the lines with sharpened colored pencils.

A closer look at the free printable Tu B’Shvat Hat craft

The trees included

One of the reasons that my tree details are somewhat fine is because I wanted to be accurate with my trees! I focused on fruit that grown in Israel as that’s where the holiday is centered.

On the hat you have:

An orange tree – while not one of the seven special species of Israel (Shiv’at Haminim), Israel is famous for its Jaffa oranges.

Olives are one of the Shiv’at haminim, and engrained in Jewish practice thanks to its use to light the Hanukkah Menorah (and, of course, the one in the Holy Temple, historically). Its gnarly trunk gives it a distinctive look that dots the Israeli landscape.

The date palm is another tree that produces one of the Shivat Haminim and can be seen throughout Israel. Its presence flanks the historical sites and of course, its fruit is a treat used both in traditional cooking and as a honey.

Bringing it together with Tu B’shvat

Tu B’shvat is a holiday that is best celebrated by… eating fruit! You can try making these dried fruit chocolate lollipops as part of your celebration. Make a whole birthday party with fresh or dried fruit as the centerpiece, and of course, these birthday hats!

Play some Tu B’shvat music and of course, celebrate the trees!

How to assemble your Tu B’shvat hat craft

Supplies needed

• The template, printed on cardstock
• Markers. I used these more big-kid style markers. Crayola SuperTips, colored pencils, or any coloring supplies work!
• Scissors
• Hot glue (adults only) and/or double sided tape. I recommend hot glue for the pom pom and glue lines/double sided tape for the hat assembly.
• Optional: a bone folder if you have one to make your crease sharper
• Large pom poms (or make your own)
• A hole punch (if you have a 1/16th inch one it’ll look prettier, otherwise use a standard 1/4 inch one).
• Elastic – I used braided elastic cord in fun colors

Step by step tutorial

1. Color in your hat.

2. Cut it out around the solid line edge.

3. Fold it along the perforation.

4. Apply double sided tape or hot glue along the extra tab next to the dotted line. Form your hat into a cone. It can be a bit hard to glue around the tip. I find that flattening the hole design and putting your hand inside to apply pressure helps. You’ll just need to reshape your hat after.

5. Punch two holes – one on each side of the hat. They should be opposite each other, with the seam in the back.

6. Measure the elastic you need to fit around the child’s chin (or the back of the head – it can be more comfortable). Add an extra inch or so to each side. Insert it from outside to inside and tie a knot inside the hat.

7. Glue on a pom pom on top of the hat.

Your Tu B’shvat hat is complete and ready to wear!

Download your free printable Tu B’shvat hat

Download your free template! 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.

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Last year at this time of year, I was running Sunday craft groups for preschoolers. One of our hit Chanukah crafts were these adorable lacing dreidels! I modified the craft this year to make a template and to make it more versatile.

I created a single free dreidel template (download at the end of this post) and share two creative ways to use it.

One is a soft felt dreidel plushy that you “sew” using simple lacing stitches that preschoolers can do – and stuff with poly fil.

The other is a flat lacing card dreidel, perfect for little kids who are not ready for real sewing yet. A lacing card is simply a sturdy shape with holes around the edge that kids “sew” through with yarn or laces.

Both versions work beautifully in the classroom, at home, or at a family party, and they sneak in a lot of fine motor practice and hand-eye coordination while kids just think they are having fun.

Why a Dreidel Sewing and Lacing Craft Is Perfect for Chanukah

This project gives kids something to touch, hold, and work on while they hear the Chanukah story, instead of just sitting and listening. It is low prep for adults, but it feels very special for kids, like their own tiny Chanukah keepsake. It’s low-mess, low guidance needed, and a real skill-building craft for preschoolers.

And since it uses a single template, you can decide on the spot whether today is a felt day or a lacing card day, or set up both as stations.

A hands-on way to teach dreidel and Chanukah

There is something about building the dreidel shape with your hands that helps the idea “stick” for younger kids. While they sew or lace, you can talk about the Hebrew letters on the dreidel and what they stand for, or about the miracle of the oil that lasted eight nights.

It is a nice time to share the rules of the dreidel game, and how it’s played.

Just like with the Hanukkah Menorah Crown printable craft, the project itself becomes a little teaching tool. You are not only talking about Chanukah, you are giving kids something they made that connects to the holiday.

Fine motor practice that feels like play

Sewing and dreidel lacing give kids a chance to practice:

• Holding a needle or lace in a steady hand
• Finding the next hole and going in order
• Pulling the thread through without yanking

The lacing card version is especially friendly for preschool and early elementary kids. It gives them the feeling of sewing, but the holes are big, the yarn is chunky, and nothing can really go wrong – even if they miss some spots.

For Hebrew school teachers and busy parents, this is the kind of low prep, high impact activity you can use again each year. Print a stack of templates once, keep them with your Chanukah supplies, and you are ready every time the menorahs come out.

Tips for Using This Dreidel Craft in Classrooms and at Home

You can keep this project very simple, or turn it into a more detailed hand-stitching lesson for older kids. A little planning makes it easy to run with a whole group.

Adjusting the project for different ages and skill levels

For preschoolers, treat the lacing card as the main project. Pre-punch the holes, give them thicker laces or yarn wrapped with tape at the end, and let them go in any order they like. They do not have to follow a pattern to get the benefit.

For older kids, the felt dreidel can be much more detailed. You can:

• Encourage them to make smaller, closer stitches. Punch extra holes in my templates
• Have them sew two colors of felt together
• Add felt letters or decorations on top

Very young kids can “sew” with a plastic needle and no knot at the end. Even if they pull the yarn all the way through with each stitch, they are still learning the motion and building confidence. Tie on a starting bit of yarn for easier crafting. A (age 5) did make a copy of this on her own – the felt pillow version – and she nailed it.

You an also adapt the felt project for younger kids as follows: hot glue the two pieces and pre-stuff it inside the stitches. They an then “sew” the edges together on a premade pillow.

Ways to send the craft home and extend the Chanukah fun

In a classroom, it helps to think about what happens after the bell rings. You can:

• Laminate the lacing cards before they craft it. Slip finished lacing cards into a folder, along with extra yarn so kids can relace at home. Make it a “lacing toy” that can be repeated.
• Let children take home their stuffed felt dreidels to keep near the menorah or on their pillow. Add googly eyes and a mouth for more of a “plush toy”.
• Attach a tiny note explaining what they practiced and how families can talk about the dreidel letters together.

This is similar to sending home the extra candles from the Menorah crown project so kids can keep adding pieces with their family each night. The idea is the same, you are stretching the activity into home time.

Supplies for making your Sewn Dreidels

The best part here is that you get two projects that use the exact same dreidel template. Print it once, and either turn it into a lacing card or use it as a pattern for felt.

If you plan to use it as a lacing card, print directly on cardstock. If you are making stuffed felt dreidels, print on regular paper and cut it out to trace onto the felt.

What you need for the felt dreidel sewing project

Here is a simple supply list for the soft felt version:

• Printed dreidel template (download at the end of this post)
• Soft felt fabric sheets in your choice of colors
• Embroidery floss or yarn. Use embroidery floss is if you’ll be skipping the holes and sewing it more properly. Yarn if you’re punching holes and lacing.
• Large blunt needle – metal embroidery needle if not punching holes, plastic for younger kids, if punching.
• Good fabric scissors
• Recommended: Power punch 1/16mm hole punch for pre-punching holes for kids.
• I also used a hot glue gun to glue on the letter.
• Sewing clips (optional) makes it easer for kids and adults.
• Optional fabric marker or chalk to trace the template
• Small amount of poly fil stuffing per dreidel

You can match your colors to your other Chanukah decor, or let kids choose from a pile of felt and make wild, fun color combos. For group settings, adults or older kids can pre-cut the felt dreidels from the template.

What you need for the dreidel lacing card

For the flat dreidel lacing card, you will need:

• Printed dreidel template on cardstock – I printed it directly onto colorful cardstock, but you can also go with white and allow kids to decorate it.
• Scissors
• Standard hole punch
• Optional: craft knife and cutting mat (adults only)
• Yarn, ribbon, or colorful shoelaces
• Optional laminating sheets, clear contact paper, or thermal laminator and 5mil sheets

Laminating or covering with contact paper makes the cards sturdier, especially useful if you want this as a “toy” to keep. This version is very flat, so it travels well in a backpack or folder.

How to Make the Felt Dreidel Sewing Craft (With Free Template)

This is a relaxed project that kids can handle with a little support. Adults can help with cutting, tying knots, and threading needles, then let kids do most of the sewing.

I did cut mine using the SVG file and my Cricut. However, I found that it took a really long time for the machine to cut each hole using the rotary blade (which is what I like to use for soft felt).

Step 1: Print, cut, and trace your dreidel template

Print your free dreidel template and cut out the shape as neatly as you can. Place the paper dreidel on your felt and trace around it.

Cut out two matching felt dreidels. They do not have to be perfect twins. A loose cut still works and it all comes together once it is sewn and stuffed.

Punch your holes through both halves of the dreidel at once.

Step 2: Add any decorations or letters before you sew

Before you sew the two pieces together, decorate the front one. This is the time to:

• Embroider the dreidel letter if you want
• Glue on felt letters (I used a hot glue gun for this)
• Add a simple happy face with fabric paint, googly eyes, or whatever.

Doing the details now is so much easier than trying to sew or glue on a stuffed shape that keeps rolling away. Let kids decide whether they want a simple classic dreidel, or one with lots of personality.

Step 3: Sew around the dreidel and stuff it

Clip the two sides together, matching up the holes.

Thread your blunt needle with yarn or embroidery floss and tie a knot at the end. Alternatively, you can tie the end to the first holes.

Stack your two felt dreidels so the edges match and start sewing around the sides with a basic whip stitch (around the edge of the dreidel) or running stitch (in and out). Keep sewing, leaving the top open.

Leave a small opening, then gently push in some poly fil. Use a pencil to push it all the way to the point if needed. Don’t overstuff – since the edges are not fully sealed, you’ll get some leakage. The holes are close enough that it will hold it if not overstuffed.

Close the opening with a few more stitches and tie a good knot. Imperfect stitches are part of the charm here, the goal is for kids to feel proud and a bit more confident.

How to Make a Dreidel Lacing Card for Kids

Now let us turn that same template into a quick dreidel lacing activity. This is fast to prep and great to set out as a calm table task.

Step 1: Print, cut, and prepare your lacing card

Print the dreidel template on cardstock and cut it out. If you want it to last through many classes or siblings, cover it with clear contact paper or run it through a laminator.

You can leave the card plain, write “Happy Chanukah,” or add each child’s name.

The template has a plain dreidel and one with a gimmel. These can be used on their own, but I decided to layer them.

I cut the gimmel out of the top layer using a craft knife so that it shows the darker blue bottom layer through.

Step 2: Punch lacing holes around the dreidel

If making a double layered lacing dreidel, tape the two layers together.

Use a standard hole punch to create holes around the edge of the dreidel. I’ve marked the spots for the holes at decent increments to make it easier.

Adults can prep this step before class so kids can start lacing right away.

Step 3: Show kids how to lace the dreidel

Cut a length of yarn and tape one end to the back of the dreidel, or tie it around the first holes.

Show kids how to go in and out of the holes. A bright yarn color makes the “stitches” stand out nicely.

There is no wrong way for them to lace, as long as they are going through the holes and practicing the motion. It makes a quiet, calming activity for a Chanukah party, circle time, or early finishers who need something meaningful to do at their seat.

When they are done, you can either tie it shut and trim, or make it “reusable” and leave it untied.

Download your free dreidel lacing craft templates

With one free template, you get two Chanukah projects in one, a soft felt dreidel to sew and stuff, and a simple dreidel lacing card for younger kids. Both are easy to prep, build fine motor skills, and give children a hands-on way to connect with the holiday story. Download the template, try it with your class or family, and then peek around for more Jewish holiday projects to keep little hands busy and happy all season long.

Download your free template! 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 post Dreidel Sewing and Lacing Craft for Kids – Free Templates appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

For some reason preschoolers just love crowns, and I figured, why not design one for Chanukah?

A had lots of fun with this one (yes, I colored it, and then she refused to take it off!) There are so many ways that you can use this on Hanukkah or before and I’ll share them below. The printable files are free and available at the end of this post.

Tips for using the Hanukkah Menorah Crown Craft

Variations

I wanted this crown to be cool for everyone to use. Normally I get out of control writing a Happy Hanukkah, Happy Chanukah, Chanukah Sameach in Hebrew and English… this time I decided to simply offer a blank crown in addition to the Happy Chanukah one.

You can choose which one you use, and even add your school’s logo or family name if doing it at a family party…

The blank version has a variation on the candles, that has a number on each candle to add a counting element to it.

Assembly all at once or a candle a day

I designed this Hanukkah Menorah crown craft with the candles as a separate cutout so that it can be used different ways. Kids can cut out the candles and then add another one each day!

This can be done by prepping it in advance with double sided tape/glue lines (leave the adhesive backing on until it’s ready to use). Kids can take the candles home in a ziploc bag on the first day of to finish off each day as the family lights.

Or, just put them all on at once and have a ready crown!

The exact shape of the candles can be challenging for young kids to cut – but they really don’t need to cut it exactly. It can be cut loosely and it’ll still work.

I included strips, but you can also cut out the full Menorah and paste it on premade crown strips.

How to make a Hanukkah Menorah Crown Craft

Supplies used

• The crown, download at the end of this post, printed on cardstock
• Crayons or markers
• Scissors
• Recommended: double sided tape

Process

1. Print your crowns and choose which one you want to use. The Shammash is already in place. It looks equal to the other candles, but they will be placed a bit lower over the edge of the Menorah branch.

2. Color it in.

3. Cut out the hat and hat strips. Cut out each candle.

4. Add some double sided tape to the bottom back of each table. On the correct day (or all at once) add a candle to the crown.

Enjoy your Hanukkah Menorah crown craft and Chanukah Sameach!

Download the free printable Hanukkah Menorah Crown Craft

Download your free template! 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 post Hanukkah Menorah Crown Craft – Free Printable appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

As we welcome guests or family into our Sukkah this year, why not greet them with a pretty sign?

My original idea in sharing this was to start with a wood panel (live edge, of course) and woodburn it! The template was designed with this in mind.

But not everyone is going to pick up a woodburning tool to do this, so I decided to make this a 2-in-1 tutorial and also show you how to do it with paint markers on canvas! That makes it accessible to more groups of people, too! It uses the same template and basic transfer technique.

2 ways to craft a DIY Sukkah Welcome Sign

The wood-burning way

I absolutely love the process of wood burning, and while yes, I do own a laser engraver that could have done this mechanically, you lose the art that way!

If you’ve never woodburned before, you can still do this (I’m hardly an expert) – you can even check out some woodburning tutorials for beginners posts I had someone guest post on my main blog years ago.

Woodburning should only be done by an adult or someone old enough to be responsible, and should be done with extreme care, as the tip is HOT. You need to be careful to hold the tool above where you’d normally hold a pen. Work slowly and methodically. I recommend practicing on a scrap first.

Coloring in a woodburned Sukkah welcome sign is optional, but it really adds a lot. I used watercolors.

For the baseboard, you have options, but a softer plywood works best. I used these basswood planks with live edge because they add a little character.

This version of the craft is fabulous for adult workshops or older teen group crafts, or to make yourself at home.

Paint markers

Since woodburning requires a lot of care and a level of responsibility, it’s not ideal in all settings.

While not as pretty, it’s much more relaxing and requires less skill and care. And yes, you can make it quite beautiful!

Paint marker quality does matter, so while you might not want to invest in something as pricey as Poscas, it’s worthwhile and will last better than cheaper options (yes, I’ve owned quite a few). I am not paid to promote them – I purchased these and do wholeheartedly recommend them. You want something that will last, won’t leak, will have consistent coverage, and will be nice, rich, and opaque.

If you can’t spring for those, try alternatives from brands like Ohuhu (dual-tipped acrylic markers) or Sharpie Creative markers (not the regular ones – those won’t look so nice here.)

I did not prime my canvas or anything, but you definitely can do that for a nonwhite background!

More ideas for making a Bruchim Haba’im sign with this basic process

If you love the look of the wood but aren’t about to start woodburning, you can definitely do the paint marker variation on the wood board! It would look fabulous, and while a bit more of a splurge than canvas panels, it’s worth it!

You can also paint these with actual paint, making a color-in type pre-printed canvas using the carbon paper. Then, use artist’s acrylics and the template as a framework to paint a more art-style Sukkah welcome sign. You can even frame it!

And yes, you can also paint on the wood.

Using your Sukkah welcome sign in the Sukkah

Hanging tips

While I didn’t think too deeply into how to hang these, generally, you will need to add some sort of hanging hardware to the back. Since every Sukkah is different, the hanging method will be different.

For a wood sukkah, I’d recommend a classic picture hanging hook on the back. You can then hang it from a nail. If your Sukkah is made of other materials (such as plastic or fabric), you may want to instead add two eyes to the top and hang it from the ceiling against a wall. That’s what I plan to do with mine.

You can, of course, also use mounting tape to hang it flush against the wall; however, the resilience of that will depend on the sukkah.

Weatherproofing tips

One big challenge we face with both DIY Sukkah decorations and purchased ones is weatherproofing them. The canvas has a wood backing that is absorbent. The wood panel is unfinished.

Ideally, you’ll also want to finish all wood elements with a waterproof wood finish. If this isn’t something you can do, you can really just pray for a little less rain and let things dry out very well before packing them away.

Either way, you’ll want to seal them with some kind of acrylic sealer. While the paint markers are permanent, if banged up a lot, they can get scratches as they don’t fully absorb. And the watercolors are totally water-soluble!

How to make a Sukkah welcome sign

You’ll need

For both

• The template, printed on regular copy paper (cardstock is too thick). Download it at the end of this post.
• A ballpoint pen
• Carbon paper
• Acrylic spray sealer
• Hanging hardware (see notes above).
• Low tack tape (such as painter’s, washi, masking)

For the canvas sign

• An 8×10 (or close to that) stretched canvas
• Paint markers (I recommend Poscas)

For the wood-burning sign

• Live edge wood panels (or anything like it)
• A wood-burning tool (you can do it with just the kit, but the wider tip that I used came in a separate set).
• Watercolor paints
• A thin but absorbent paintbrush

Step-by-Step Tutorial with Photos

Transferring your design

1. Tape your template onto the base, with the carbon paper sandwiched face down in between.

2. Using a pen, trace over the design, pressing down as you go along. With the canvas, don’t press so hard that you poke through – just a firm, confident stroke.

3. Once you’ve gone over the design, remove the carbon paper. It doesn’t have to be perfect – it might have some wonky spots. You can also move it around between tracing different parts, so that the flowers are placed closer to the edges if the sizing doesn’t match up perfectly.

The paint marker sign

1. Start by filling in the main parts. You can see that I started with an Ohuhu marker that was really too sheer. I moved on to more opaque Poscas after. Color each part in -you should still faintly see the carbon paper markings.

2. Go ahead and outline the carbon paper strokes with black or a darker color.

I used a darker color on the flowers and did the text in black.

3. When you’re done, spray it with an acrylic sealer and allow it to dry before hanging.

The wood burned sign

1. Transfer the design as instructed. I moved my carbon paper so that the left flower comes out of the edge.

2. Go over the design slowly with a wood-burning tool. I used a pretty thick tip for this.

I went a little quicker over the inner details to make thinner strokes, and let it sit at the end of the curly bits for a second to make a darker dot.

3. When you’re done burning your entire design, go ahead and fill it in with watercolor paints! The ones I had had a bit of a chalky finish that showed over the designs, so if you have one that doesn’t prioritize that. (I have like five watercolor palettes and this is the only one that would do that, but I didn’t test it and only saw when it dried!)

I recommend using a pretty thin wash and a thin brush so you don’t spill over your design too much. You just want to tint it.

4. Allow your design to dry, seal it, attach the hardware and hang it with pride!

Your Bruchim Haba’im sukkah welcome sign is complete!

Download the Bruchim Haba’im sign template

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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!

Get the string art pomegranate template

Download your free template! 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.

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Enjoy these fun Rosh Hashanah mazes, featuring a free printable sample of the Rimon (pomegranate) maze! When you’re done, check out my Purim mazes too. This post contains affiliate links.

Y, my 9 year old, loves it when I make new mazes so I’m all in! Today, I’m sharing with you five new Rosh Hashanah mazes for the Jewish New Year! It’s a fun brain-building activity for slightly older kids who might not be as crafty and creative but love taking pen (or pencil) to paper.

Y tests out every single one for me and sometimes he does find mistakes which I then go and fix. Each one of these mazes was digitally illustrated by me with the whole path plotted out and planned.

Since I like to offer regular free printables, but something as work-intensive as this can’t realistically be given away for free, I have been choosing one page from my maze bundles to give for free. From this one, you get to download the pomegranate maze as a free printable at the end of the post.

If you have the budget to “donate” to keep this blog alive and going, and/or want more mazes, you can get the full bundle of 5 Rosh Hashanah mazes – on Etsy, in my shop, or on TPT. You’ll get this maze included, and four more fun designs. You’ll also get a printable solution page with it.

Each maze is unique and was individually hand-designed with no shortcuts taken.

About the Rosh Hashanah Mazes

These mazes are mid-level mazes – not too easy, but Y figured them all out in decent time with a few tries.

Since you can print them out multiple times, they make for great fun pages for the classroom or to put out at Rosh Hashanah and back to school workshops and events. Just print out a pile and put out pencils too, and you have a cool activity!

The 5 Rosh Hashanah mazes included in the full bundle are:

1. A Rimon (pomegranate) Maze
2. A Shofar Maze
3. An Apples ‘n Honey Maze
4. A Dipping Maze
5. A Shul (synagogue) Maze

The dipping maze features a new style with less organized lines Most of my mazes use graph paper to build it. On that one, I decided to add some interest by making swirls and curves instead. This gets the brain working slightly differently to adjust to the new format.

The final page shows the solutions.

I’ve been working on dot to dot (connect the dot) pages as well and hope to eventually continue that series but for now, I need to streamline to get mazes out for every holiday. I hope you enjoy them!

Download the Rosh Hashanah mazes

Get the full bundle

The full bundle of 5 mazes (plus solutions)  is available for a few bucks on Etsy, in my shop, or 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.

Pages include the Rimon, shofar, apples n honey, dipping maze, and shul maze, plus solutions.

The free printable sample

Download your free Rimon maze! 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.

Enjoyed this resource? Which Rosh Hashanah tutorial or activity would you like me to share next?

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Tissue paper suncatchers are one of my favorite preschool crafts. While it does require a minimum of prep, the actual “coloring” part is so easy that even young toddlers who can’t yet do stickers can do it! And it’s hard to make it NOT come out nice.

I’ve shared suncatchers as sukkah decorations and for Purim and Hanukkah in the past. While those holidays are more focused on things like decorating, I decided to go for some Rosh Hashanah motifs as well – both for the decorating aspect and to combine with Sukkot!

Yes, you can totally hang these in the Sukkah too! So if you’re looking for more designs to add to your Sukkot stash, try these. Either way, they’re super fun.

I recommend starting with pre-cut tissue paper squares. Go for small (1-inch) ones so kids have more area to fill. These things are so cheap and come in good, big, multi-color packs. It’s not even worth cutting it yourself because these are so affordable.

I’ve been sticking to black paper for contrast on all of these. You can definitely use colored paper, but I find that if you want something that’ll look pretty no matter how kids do it, black is your best bet.

While you might think that older kids are better at following directions, that isn’t always the case. As A gets older and more independent with her crafts, she follows instructions LESS. The cool thing about these Rosh Hashanah suncatchers is that it just doesn’t matter.

A decided that she needed to scrunch up the squares before putting them on. And it added a fun little dotted effect. That’s totally fine! (You can see that I did the apple more carefully).

When it’s on a window, the sun shines best through the flat, translucent tissue paper, but it looks great on the entire thing.

How to make Rosh Hashanah Suncatchers

Supplies

• Black paper or cardstock
• Tissue paper squares (or sheets, cut into pieces)
• Clear contact paper
• Scissors (or cutting machine such as Cricut) Tip: if hand cutting, use a pencil to trace on black – it shows up beautifully!
• If using in the sukkah: Laminator with pouches OR cold laminating pouches
• Rosh Hashanah suncatcher template (free download at the end of this post)

Process

1. Print out the template and cut the shapes out of black paper. Or, upload the SVG and cut using your Cricut. If you want both sides to look pretty, make two copies of each shape.

Tip: Older kids can make this too – and do the tracing and cutting part as well! For younger kids, an adult can prep the outline.

2. Choose one template piece to start with – I’m using the Shofar. Cut a piece of contact paper a little larger than the template picture.

3. We’re using the hinge method here. Peel the backing halfway. Place your shofar on the exposed part.

4. Continue peeling the backing away, pressing down the shofar as you go along. Once you’ve applied the whole shofar, stop peeling – leave the rest of the backing on.

5. Press the backing back into place. This makes it MUCH easier to cut.

6. Cut around the edge of the template so that you’re trimming your contact paper to size. Note: since the backing won’t adhere to the edges once you cut it (because the black paper outline is blocking) you’ll find it peeling away – that’s fine.

7. Store it cut out with the backing on until it’s ready to craft. When it’s ready, peel off the backing, and give it to kids sticky side up with tissue paper to apply. This is the prepared “craft kit” that kids can now make.

8. Kids can now apply tissue paper squares to their Rosh Hashanah suncatchers. They can do it by color and neatly or just randomly. The main thing is to have fun!

9. It’s ideal for them to cover ALL the exposed sticky parts. While this will take a few minutes for some kids, others will sit and work with it for a while. Overlap doesn’t really matter – the outline will still show the shape. Like I said, this craft is FORGIVING and always looks nice.

If there’s any overlap sticking outside the whole design, an adult (or older kid) can trim it away with scissors afterward.

10. Flip it over and see your beautiful design!

If you’d like, you can laminate the whole thing for durability or to make it weather-proof.

Now make the other designs!

Download the free printable Rosh Hashanah Suncatchers

Download your free template! 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. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of my emails. I respect your privacy and the law, and won’t share or sell your email address.

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One of the coolest things about the internet is that there is a solution there for virtually anything.

If you’re looking for a printable or cut file for just about anything in life you’ll probably find it… unless it’s a Jewish thing.

One of my goals is to provide resources for Jewish homes that might not exist, and so the “DIY” version of kosher kitchen labels was a must.

To make things more accessible, I created both free and paid versions of this product. All are linked at the end of this post, but if you want quick access to the full bundle, you can get it here:

About the Kosher Kitchen Labels

I try to make my resources work for as many people as possible, so I created a few versions. That includes the various “vernacular” used to describe the categories of dishes.

I included Hebrew (Chalavi, Besari and Parve) , English in two styles (Dairy, Meat, Parve), and Yiddish (Milchig, Fleishig, and Parve).

I created each one as both an SVG to cut from vinyl and a PDF to print on printable vinyl for a good quality sticker or as paper signs.

I also included white background PNG files for you to lay out your own desired sizes and print as you wish, as well as to Print then Cut using your Cricut.

And since some people are on a tighter budget, I do offer the PDF version of the script/English Kosher Kitchen labels as a free download at the end of this post!

Different ways to use these Kosher Kitchen labels

There are so many practical uses for Kosher kitchen labels but here are a few of my favorite.

Printables

Printables are designed to be printed on any kind of paper, but my favorite is glossy vinyl. This can be washed and is quite permanent if adhered to a clean adhesive-friendly surface (so nothing non-stick).

You can hand or machine cut these – whichever you prefer. I didn’t want to limit these to a printable label template so I kept it to a sticker sheet.

Cheaper sticker sheets tend to have poorer adhesive and paper surfaces. They are a good match for longer term storage (such as on boxes for moving or packing away for Passover) but not for dishes.

If you want to label actual cabinets, I recommend digging deeper into what won’t damage paint. I would probably just print it in small on cardstock (or photo paper for a glossy finish) and use Command products to mount it.

SVG/cut files

The SVG files are the real win here, and the reason I really created these kosher kitchen labels.

Just a note: when using an SVG file, the color will depend on the materials ued.

I have two identical mixing bowls in meat and dairy, and so I used blue vinyl to label the dairy one as dairy. I used red vinyl to label my meat mugs as such (we drink tea after meat meals in them).

I used my Cricut to cut out the vinyl and transferred it to the back using transfer tape.

They both have held up to multiple dishwasher runs. I used Cricut permanent vinyl for both and let it sit for a while before using.

You can also use these in laser engravers if you’re that fancy. I’ve engraved wood mixing spoons with the meat/dairy designation so that I don’t forget. I hope to engrave more metal items around the house, too.

Download the Kosher Kitchen Labels

Get the full bundle

The kosher kitchen labels are available for a few bucks in my Etsy shop. 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 homes, educators, and parents.

Get the free sample

Download your free printable Kosher kitchen labels! 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.

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With Shavuot around the bend, and Spring here in full force, we are filling our house with flowers! I wanted to use shrinky dinks – yes, that nostalgic childhood craft – to bring this home (literally).

Today, I’m going to be sharing with you some fun, colorful Shrinky Dink flowers, ideas for what to craft with them, templates, and alternate ideas.

These are NOT the realistic-looking single petal flowers, so I apologize in advance, if that’s what you’re after, this isn’t the right post for you. But if you’re just looking for a fun, playful craft that virtually anyone can do, I have your back!

Tips for Crafting Shrinky Dink Flowers

The process for making these is quite simple: trace a template, cut it out, and shrink it. I decided to stop the shrinking short to allow the petals to curl a bit. While you can shrink it in a toaster oven, I find that I have more control with a heat gun (or a blow dryer will do).

This is one of those crafts that are hard to get wrong, but there’s definitely a lot you can do to make it come out much better! Here are my best tips.

Which markers are best for Shrinky Dinks?

To make these Shrinky Dink flowers, I used Posca’s acrylic paint markers. When it comes to paint markers, quality does matter, and nothing I’ve tried compares to Posca. If you’re on a budget, this pack from Ohuhu is a strong choice.

Acrylic paint markers give you that rich, opaque color. They shrink nicely with one caveat: if you lay it on too thick (for example, if you allow it to pool) they’ll crackle. Otherwise, they’re my top choice. If I make a mistake, I can wait for it to dry and carefully color over it.

You CAN also use permanent markers such as Sharpies for this. The biggest difference is that you’ll have more of a translucent finish. It can be hard to see what you’re coloring as you do it, but the colors get much stronger when you shrink it. It works best if you outline it in black after, so if you’re doing this with a group, make sure to get a few extra blacks.

Sealing your shrinky dinks

One advantage of using Sharpies on Shrinky Dinks is that it absorbs much better into the plastic. However, both Sharpies and especially paint markers can scratch off.

This doesn’t matter if you’re making your shrinky dink flowers as a quick, just-for-fun craft, however, if you’d like it to last, I recommend sealing it. Leaving shrinky dink flowers partially curled will make sealing it a bit more of a challenge, however, it’s still quite doable.

Some ways you can seal it include:

• UV resin – probably the most durable and nicest, but also a bit of a to-do.
• Clear nail polish – the paint marker absorbed a lot of this, but it worked well after a few layers. This is a great solution if you are just making this yourself and want to use available supplies.
• Mod Podge Dimensional Magic – a fabulous solution that gives a resin-like finish without using resin. You do need to allow it to totally dry before using, or it’ll streak. You’ll also want to leave plenty of dry time after applying it.

These were the three that I tested, and all of them work. You’ll find lots more hacks online – just make sure to check the photos too – some say “hey this worked great” and show it all streaky or not so pretty looking.

What to do with your finished flowers

After I decided I was making Shrinky Dink flowers for Shavuot, I went ahead and made them quite small. I used this template (and the free one you’ll see attached) and thought I’d turn it into a bouquet.

If you’re making yours into a bouquet, it’s honestly better to go big, but you’ll need lots of Shrinky Dinks – especially if making this as a group craft. So do what’s best – I ended up making a mini bouquet that looks quite cute in a baby food jar with some pebbles to ground it (I didn’t photograph it – sorry!)

Some more ideas – some of which I should have gone with:

• Make them into pendants by punching a hole on a petal before shrinking.
• Make them into earrings by making a pair of one of the smaller flowers and punching a hole in a petal before shrinking.
• Turn them into hair clips by gluing them onto barrettes or flat pad bobby pins.
• Turn them into keychains by punching a petal before shrinking and adding a keychain.
• String a few of them and hang them from a dowel to make a wall hanging.
• Turn them into wind chimes by combining them with beads.
• Turn them into napkin rings – one way you can do this is by gluing a ribbon to the back and tying it onto the napkin. I would have done this if not for the fact that I was already making toilet paper roll napkin rings for Shavuot.

There are really endless things you can do, and even more ways to turn it into a bouquet. I wanted to stick to accessible materials and techniques, so I turned it into this mini bouquet using chenille stems.

Some I managed to punch a hole in the center of, some not, so I finished it off accordingly.

How to craft Shrinky Dink flowers

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.

Supplies Needed

• Shrinky Dink sheets
• Paper tape
• The template at the end of this post, printed on paper
• Posca or other good quality marker (see notes above)
• Scissors
• Heat gun, hair dryer, or toaster oven
• Something to peg it down with (I used a paper piercing tool)
• Hole punch (I used the 1/16th inch Crop-a-Dile Power Punch)
• Chenille Stems
• Hot glue gun
• UV resin, silicone brush, and UV lamp OR Dimensional Magic (see notes above) for sealing your shrinky dink flowers

Process

1. Tape your shrinky dink paper to the template so you don’t accidentally shift it and start coloring your design in. I chose to do a darker color on the inside first.

2. And then I filled in the thick outline with a lighter color.

3. Make a few flowers.

4. Carefully cut out your flowers. I recommend cutting between the petals too so that they shrink and curl, and separate. You can also punch holes as needed at this stage.

5. Place your flowers on a shrink-resistant surface and use something that can handle a little heat to pin it down. Start shrinking them.

I stopped it before it was fully done while the petals were still a bit curled.

6. Seal your flowers using nail polish, UV resin, or Dimensional Magic.

7. To finish them off as flowers, start by twisting the end of a chenille stem and poking it through the hole in the center of a flower.

8. On the back, coil up the stem to fix it in place.

9. Thread the end of the chenille stem around the coil, and through the center of it.

Pull it out. This helps “hold’ the coil.

10. To attach an undrilled flower: coil the end of a chenille stem.

11. Thread the end of the stem through the coil

12. And pull it through to hold the coil.

13. Add some glue to the coil.

14. And glue it to the center back of the flower.

You can also glue the ones that have a hole to help secure it a bit better.

Gather your shrinky dink flowers into a cute little bouquet!

Download the Shrinky Dink flower templates

I made these using a template I created for these paper flowers, but decided to offer the ones that I used in this craft as a free download so that you can make it as well.

But if you want more options, definitely go ahead and get the bundle! It also gives you the larger size options.

The full bundle

The full set of flower templates in multiple sizes 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 homes, educators, and parents.

The free sample

Download your free templates – the sizes and styles I used in this tutorial. It’ll arrive right in your inbox. By downloading, you’re subscribing to our FREE newsletter with updates on cool printables like this, and more. Choose which topics interest you! 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.

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