When I was going through my Purim stash last year, I realized that we were surprisingly short on Graggers. I don’t usually keep projects beyond the year they were made, and I like to offer my kids choices. I ended up shopping around a little and thought I’d share some favorites with you

I’ve organized this list of graggers for Purim by purpose – including graggers that you’d probably choose individually to have at home, novelty-style graggers and noisemakers that are more bulk-buys for parties and classrooms, and a handful of DIY ideas, focusing on easy-to-find materials.

I tried to include some unique finds as well, to give you ideas beyond the traditional ratchet gragger.

Fun and Pretty Graggers for Purim

Wooden Graggers

Last year, I picked up a jumbo wooden gragger (I believe at Amazing Savings). These are so much fun and great for older kids. They feel more mature and a little story-book like. While the one I got is not available online (or at least I couldn’t find it). This is a similar idea. – it’s just painted differently.

Or, go with something more artsy, like this Jerusalem scene one.

You can also go for a simpler plain wood one, that can be fun to decorate, or classy to leave as-is.

Musical Instruments as Purim Graggers

Anything that makes noise is a gragger! And we all know how noisy the kids’ musical instruments can be. Just make sure it’s something that can be stopped and started as needed so that the Chazzan can continue reading the Megillah.

Some ideas of musical instruments that can be used as graggers for Purim are:

• Tambourines
• A mini Djembe
• A more full-size spin drum (or Monkey drum)
• Or any easy to transport drum, like this wearable kids’ drum
• A harmonica

Gag Graggers that are loads of fun

There are so many gag noisemakers out there, and those are my kids’ favorites to choose every time. These are more on the creative end of things, and are really fun as a Purim gift or Purim carnival prize.

Air horn

I’m not gonna like, I hate this one – but the kids love it. An air horn makes a really loud blast of noise, and as long as the child knows when to stop, it’s fun to use.

The kids do fight over this one. It makes the kind of noise that stands out and is recognizable among the cacophony of noises when Haman’s name is said.

More fun “prank” noisemakers

One of my personal favorites is a hand bell. It’s a really fun one to bring to Megillah and to use. Years ago, I had a ceramic one from a friend that I liked to use for this purpose.

Depending on shul-style, audience, a game buzzer button can be a super fun way to X out Haman’s name in a way that kids can relate to.

A stadium horn is another fun noisemaker with big drama.

Party Favor/Bulk Graggers for Purim

If you’re a teacher or institution looking for graggers for Purim or other noisemakers to hand out, these are some fun traditional and non-traditional picks! These are great as party favors, as non-candy Mishloach Manot add-ons, and even as Purim sensory bin toys.

Traditional Gragger Favors

I picked up these graggers for my Purim sensory bin, and it’s a great one to have handy for all sorts of Purim needs! While not so pretty, they’re bright, colorful, and kid-friendly.

You an also get metal noisemakers for a bit of a more nostalgic feel – in a generic theme, or with fun Purim pictures.

Bulk novelty instruments

We have this fun light-up half tambourine that we keep as a dedicated Purim gragger. It adds a little party spirit to our Purim. In general, instruments give the whole gragger setup a more festive vibe.

Wood Maracas in a Purim theme or any plastic novelty maraca. Harmonicas in fun patterns also come in affordable bulk packs.

A few more musical instrument graggers for Purim that you can get in bulk as favors and group handouts:

• Plastic cymbals
• Mini trumpets
• Finger castanets make really fun instruments for little kids
• And another favorite is jingle bell shaker sticks.

More unique noisemakers that can be bought in bulk

These novelty noisemakers are super kid-friendly! Some also cross the line into instruments, but in a more approachable, kid-recognizable way.

• Clappers are a classic go-to
• Spin drums
• Party blowers (great if you need a lot and very cheap
• Train whistles

DIY Graggers for Purim

I created a big list of DIY noisemakers and Graggers for Purim, but here are a few favorites:

Guess the Sound Gragger Game

Make a few simple graggers and fill them with different fillings. Challenge people to guess what’s inside. It makes for a really fun Purim game – and it’s a gragger!

Pillow-Style Paper Graggers

These color & craft graggers can be crafted and assembled so many ways! They sandwich a filling (I used poly pellets) and are fun for kids to color and craft.

DIY Hand Drum Craft

And just to round things out, here’s a DIY instrument you can make: a DIY hand drum!

The post Graggers for Purim – 28 Traditional & Unique Noisemakers appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

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

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

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

Tips for making DIY Purim Tags

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

Kraft Board vs other materials

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

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

The best markers to use

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

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

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

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

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

Cutting your tags

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

A few options for cutting neat tags:

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

Tips for lettering your DIY Purim tags

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

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

Setting up the structure

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

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

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

Lettering tips and inspiration

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

Some specific ideas I like to play with:

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

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

Doodles, borders, and more!

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

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

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

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

How to make DIY Purim tags for Mishloach Manot

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

You’ll Need

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

Watch the Video

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

Step by Step Tutorial

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

2. Snip off a small corner on the top.

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

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

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

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

Start with some lettered text.

Or start with your borders.

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

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

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

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

Your DIY Purim tags for Mishloach Manot are complete!

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

Paper plates are the perfect medium for making masks – because you have the round shape, in the right size, and the curvature that fits over the face! Today I’m going to share with you some of my best tips for making them with kids of all ages.

We’re going to explore different shapes and ways to cut it out, how to use the ridged edge as elements, and even show you what my kids came up with! I’ll be sharing our art supply experimentation and recommendations based on our successful results.

We tested this with kids ages toddler (2.5) through 9!

These are great for the classroom, Purim parties, and even make a great Purim carnival booth idea!

Tips and Variations for crafting paper plate masks

Crafts like this are very open-ended and I highly recommend allowing room for creativity. Here are some of our experimentations, as well as ways you can take it to the next level.

Different ways to color it

One of my favorite ways to color paper plate masks is using paint. However, with limited dry time, I wanted to give paint sticks a go. They are my go-to paint solution for any time a project needs paint, so why should this be different, right?

However, I ran into one major issue? they were too wide and clumsy for the textured paper plate!

So while they worked, control was challenging.

On round two, I pulled out two more mediums to try: watercolor paints and gel watercolor crayons. They both worked fabulously! The watercolor crayons are similar in texture to paint sticks, fast drying (although you’ll need more time if you’re watercoloring over them) and have finer tips that allow for much more detail.

Watercolors are just EASY – especially for younger kids. They can do a simple wash or paint in additional details.

They can also use markers to add details afterwards.

We also used paint markers (I recommend instant ink ones when crafting with kids). Those are fabulous, especially for older kids who will want to add real detail.

Playing with Shape

The shape of the paper plates really lend themselves to adding pretty designs – especially if you’re making the paper plate masks for Purim!

We cut some with a crown edge to make different characters.

You can also simply play up the shape of the plate to make half masks. I like outlining the eyes in a winged shape.

And my 9 year old got really creative! He traced one of my masks on his own to make a template and cut it out entirely on his own. He added cat eyes and whiskers – and it was all his ideas.

More Decorating Ideas

There are more ways you can craft this and here are some tips and pointers. I’ll also offer different styles of setting up this paper plate masks craft based on group size and age later in this post.

• Use colorful plates with permanent/paint markers for a bright, colorful effect with less coloring needed.
• Add feathers to the center of the forehead.
• Add stick-on gems around the eyes and to the crowns.
• Bring on the foam shapes!

How to turn it into a mask

There are a few ways to turn anything into a mask. One of my favorites is to stick a dowel on the side. A paper straw or craft stick does the job too. These handheld masks are more fun for kids to use as a toy – it’s less uncomfortable to wear.

Of course, you can also go the traditional route and use elastic! Opt for 4mm round braided elastic. You can get it in white or in fun colors, or get pre-made mask elastics with metal stoppers at the ends.

Making Paper Plate Masks with Kids

When you’re crafting this, so much of what you might want to do/how you do it depends on the size and age of the group! Here are some pointers for making paper plate masks for Purim with different group types.

Tips for younger kids vs. older kids

Since we crafted this with a nice range of age groups, I can share some pointers based on personal experience.

• Toddlers – Precut the masks and keep the shapes basic. Use watercolor gel crayons if possible, stickers are great too. Use washable paint if you’re brave. You can use regular crayons but the color will be very faint.
• Preschool – Precut the masks. You can incorporate simple shapes like crowns, cat ears (one-piece). Some kids will use it, some won’t. Stick-on embellishments like foam shapes and gems are great here too. They can watercolor or use gel crayons, paint sticks, paint, etc.
• Grade school – Older kids can cut their own masks. Younger ones will need pre-cut. You can offer a mix of options. They can use paint markers (as long as they’re wearing junk clothes) for more detailed drawings. Or allow them to play with watercolors, gel crayons, etc.
• Tween and up – Just hand them the supplies (the more sophisticated the better) and let them explore!

Tips for small groups vs. large groups

When crafting this with a smaller group, you can go more detailed with the instruction, and higher end with the materials. You can also wait and see if they need help with cutting out the masks.

For larger groups, you will really want to have everything set up and self-serve. Precut masks. Offer more bulk of more basic supplies. Go for paint markers if you can as it’s easier to spread out for a group (but get cheap ones and plan for them to be “used up” in this craft session.)

I also recommend instantly drying materials only for larger groups since it’s harder to track which project belongs to which kid. And stick-on embellishments are a win for large groups.

How to make fun paper plate masks

You’ll Need

• Paper plates
• If possible, grab a mask you have handy to trace
• Scissors
• Coloring supplies. My top 3 are: watercolor paints, watercolor gel crayons (fine tip but instant dry if not actually watercoloring), and paint markers
• Optional: embellishments like stick-on gems, feathers, and foam shapes
• Hole punch: if you can swing a 1/16th inch one that’s ideal, otherwise use a standard one
• Elastic or pre-made mask elastics
• OR use a hot glue gun (adults only) or tape to stick on a dowel, jumbo craft stick, or paper straw

Watch the video

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

Step by Step Instructions

1. Cut your mask from the plate: Use a mask (or a nearby child) to figure out eye placement. Sketch out and cut your mask. Keep your first mask as a template to trace more masks.

On average, you can fit two masks to a plate.

Try using the plate in different directions and ways for a bit of variety.

2. Color your masks. Try outlining the eyes and adding detail based on the winged eye shape.

Use paint markers to get around the ridges, and use the ridges as a crown shape.

Add facial details like eyebrows and lashes if you want.

3. Turn it into a mask. Punch holes on each side and add an elastic. Or tape or glue on a dowel.

Your paper plate masks for Purim – or anytime – are complete! Which styles will you be crafting next? Comment below and then check out this fun mask decorating activity.

The post Paper Plate Masks for Purim appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

When I was making my triple chocolate hamantaschen a couple of years ago, I realized that it would be so cool to practice on air dry clay! I decided to craft these quite simple clay hamantaschen this year as a fun little Purim craft that’s fabulous for kids and adults.

Adults can make it for little kids to play with, and kids can make it to just have fun and learn the basics of how to make perfect hamantsachen. Well, it won’t quite take them all the way to perfect, but they’ll have fun making it.

The idea is that they can get really hands on and do it “for real” but not on food, and without dealing with messy jelly!

Including DIY Clay Hamantaschen in your Purim prep

I figured before I dive into the clay Hamantaschen tutorial, I’d share with you some ways you can include them in your classroom or home pre-Purim prep.

What to do with them when you’re done

I made these having in mind my kids’ play kitchen. I love updating it with seasonal supplies and I know that many classrooms convert their play kitchens seasonally. We did this with felt hamantaschen in the past, but clay really does mimic the real thing better.

FYI the kitchen toys I have pictured are from this set – a favorite in our house.

Just a word of caution: if making it for younger toddlers, or any kids who might try to eat it, you’ll want to closely supervise it at the very least. J tried taking a bite out of it, and he didn’t manage to, but he did break it. Air dry clay can mimic ceramic when cured so it’s not exactly a shatterproof toy. It’s more likely to crumble, and really just a corner came off, but again, young kids might abuse it .

They are still totally functional, just not as nice!

Some more fun ways to use these clay hamantaschen after you craft them – beyond the play kitchen:

• Use them as part of a Purim sensory bin.
• Have them as a seasonal bowl filler that almost looks real.
• Or add them to a tiered tray.
• Play Purim jokes “shtick” with them (on the right people).
• String them up into a garland (either by folding it around a string and letting it dry that way or by hot gluing a string to the back.)

Adapting this for younger kids’ crafts

This was a mom-made craft, but it’s totally the type of thing that older kids can nail. In fact, if you’d consider offering your kids to help assemble hamantaschen, they can definitely help craft these!

If you’re doing these with younger kids, here are some adaptations:

• Definitely pre-color your filling – that’s a very messy part of the process. Just make sure to store it properly until it’s ready to craft with.
• Work together with them, one-on-one to fill the hamantaschen.
• Do the pinch-corner style and not the overlapping corner style of folding.
• Skip the glitter!
• Consider making a small mark (such as by pressing in a toothpick to make a line) at the corners so they know where to pinch.

More tips for making clay hamantaschen

Here are some tips for success. These are designed to help you understand a little more about the process and my material choices so that you can make it work for you.

Coloring and painting options

There are so many ways you can color air dry clay (which typically comes in white or terra cotta colors). One of the absolute messiest ways to do it is to add paint ot your clay. That’s probably how you want to paint your filling, because you will have a hard time painting it when you’re done!

For the outside, watercolor paints just look so cool – like freshly baked hamantaschen. You can also use acrylic paints – or washable paints. You can even color it with paint markers, but it may ruin the marker, so get cheap ones for one-time use.

There are also all sorts of things you can press in. I really wanted to do the chalk pastel shavings method that I had done in the past on these seashell necklaces, but I couldn’t find my pastels (time to purge the craft room!)

I instead pressed in glitter. Glass glitter works the best for this (and doesn’t get on everything), but I also used tinsel glitter and microbeads.

Sealing the clay Hamantaschen

I chose to seal my clay hamantaschen with outdoor Mod Podge for a water resistant finish. You can use dishwasher safe Mod Podge as well (it takes 28 days to cure but will be playable after a few days).

If I had the time, I’d seal them with UV resin for a real hard finish. I think that would have made it more durable and less crumble-able.

Whatever you use, choose something non-toxic if you’re using it as a toy.

How to make clay hamantaschen

What you’ll need

• Air dry clay – I’m a big fan of the quality of DAS brand
• Acrylic paint in red, purple, etc.
• Optional: glitter
• Rolling pin dedicated to clay
• Watercolor paint
• Paint brush
• A bowl/glass about 3 inches round to trace – and a clay-dedicated craft knife (if it’s a good, straight edge glass, you may be able to just press it in to cut it) – or a cookie cutter that shape and size
• Hard finishing Mod Podge (such as Super Gloss, Outdoor, Dishwasher Safe) or UV resin to seal it.

Watch the video

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

Step by Step tutorial

1. Protect your surface. Start by softening your clay if needed (just knead it in your hands a bit) and separate small bits of clay for the filling – a bit bigger than a marble.

2. This part is messy: add a glob of acrylic paint to your filling and mix it in. It’ll be very diluted in color.

3. Roll out your clay to about 1/8 inch thick (don’t measure! It should be thick enough to be durable but not crazy thick).

4. Trace and cut out your circle.

5. Carefully remove the excess.

6. Place your filling in the center of the circle.

7. If you’d like, you can add glitter on top.

8. Assemble your Hamantasch! There are two ways to do it. One way is to fold over each third of your circle towards the center.

Overlap the sides – each side should go over one side and under the other.

Give a little pinch at the corners to secure them. Make sure the center opens up a bit to reveal the filling.

9. The less-neat-but-easer method is the pinch method. Pinch each corner (fold up the sides of the circles in three spots to form these corners.

And pinch them together to form your triangle.

10. Allow your clay hamantaschen to dry completely. How long it takes will depend on your environment – temperature, humidity, etc. Then, paint it with a wash of brown watercolor paint.

11. When the top is dry to the touch, flip it over and paint the back. Just a tip when doing watercolors on air dry clay – don’t overwork it or make it too wet.

12. Allow it to dry completely (an hour or so) and seal it with your choice of sealer.

Your clay hamantaschen are complete and ready to be played with!

The post How to Make Clay Hamantaschen from Air Dry Clay appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

This paper gragger craft for Purim is so much fun to color and assemble – and you have eight designs to choose from! If you want a more traditional shape Grogger craft, try this. This post contains affiliate links.

One of the reasons that I love turning coloring pages into crafts is that kids can really get busy with it, playing a meaningful part in the “design”, and then come out with a functional creation.

Sometimes I create something that requires a bit more assembly – more of a complex template. With this paper gragger craft for Purim my goal was the opposite: keep assembly as simple as possible and leave room for creativity there too.

I’m going to share loads of assembly tips and ideas, plus a closer peek at this, but first, you can download it here.

Download the Paper Gragger Craft for Purim here

The paper gragger craft for Purim 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.

About the Paper Gragger Craft for Purim

The design of this craft is meant to be a simple “pillow” gragger. You have two designs back to back (identical deigns mirrored) and sandwiched between them is a filler that makes noise when shaken.

They’re like mini paper stuffies.

Different ways to craft it

I wanted to keep assembly versatile and assembled it a few different ways. The clown was crafted with a craft stick as a handle for easy shaking.

The Gragger style was designed with a stick in mind. I used a dowel in the same color as I colored the stick.

The tambourine I kept flat – it leads less into having a stick or anything like that. All of these were glued shut.

On the Hamantaschen, I wanted to show you how you can lace these. I punched around the edge and laced it up. It’s purely decorative – you don’t want your filler to fall out so it’s anyway glued around the edge.

The versions your craft comes with

To make this paper gragger craft for Purim fabulous for everyone, I’ve included repeats of the ones with text in Hebrew as well as English.

These are PDF files, with each design on one page to make it really easy to hand out. You can put these out at a shul event or workshop, let everyone choose, and finish it off different ways. Provide a simple printout of instructions, the supplies needed, and a few crafted samples.

Each Gragger has a secondary border to allow for a bit of a border around the project so the actual image can stand out. You can cut that border off if you don’t like it.

8 Styles to choose from

To keep things creative, I provided eight styles of Gragger – that way everyone can craft the one THEY want. These are fun illustrations made special for this craft.

Some can be crafted in more unique image-specific ways. For example, the Gragger can be crafted with a stick that “continues” the illustrated one. Maracas would be filled only at the rounded point, with the base glued together.

The Gragger styles included are:

• Gragger top
• Clown
• Megillah
• 3 Hamantaschen
• Single Hamantasch with text
• Tambourine
• Maracas with text
• Different maracas without text

How to Assemble the Paper Gragger Craft for Purim

You get a printable version of instructions with your download.

You’ll Need

• The templates (get them in my shop, on Etsy, and on TpT) printed on paper
• Markers, crayons, etc.
• Filler – I used plastic pellets. You can get more ideas in myPurim gragger game instructions here.
• Glue – if an adult is assembling it, hot glue is best because of the fast dry time. Otherwise school glue works, Tacky glue is better.
• Optional: yarn and plastic needle for lacing.
• Optional: hole punch for lacing
• Optional: Sticks – dowels or craft sticks

Assembly Instructions

1. Print your chosen templates on paper.

2. Color it in. I skipped coloring the extra border.

3. Cut it out around the outer border.

4. Glue it most of the way around, leaving an opening. If you’re not using hot glue you’ll want to let it dry.

5. Fill it with about a tablespoon of plastic pellets.

6. Glue it shut.

7. If you want to lace it, you can follow the same process as above. But make sure to glue it on the inside perimeter of the border, so you don’t poke holes in the actual container that’s holding the pellets.

8. Punch holes around your border.

9. Tie on a piece of yarn.

10. And sew around the edge!

11. To add a stick: First, glue your stick in position on the back of one piece.

12. Glue around the edge, leaving an opening, and glue securely over the stick so it totally seals.

13. Glue the corresponding side. You may need to smush it down a bit so it seals around the edges. Fill and glue the last bit.

14. Do a craft stick the same way – but you don’t really need to glue along the hole thing. A dowl needs more secure gluing or it’ll poke through.

Your paper gragger craft for Purim is complete! Just a reminder that you can get it in my shop, on Etsy, and on TpT

The post Paper Gragger Craft for Purim appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

I’m not gonna lie: making hamantaschen is not for the faint of heart. It is a slightly more intricate project that gets spread across the counter and takes an afternoon. Not quite your “dump mix ‘n bake” recipe.

But it’s a longstanding tradition – and one that just doesn’t yield the same results when you buy it. In fact, I never liked hamantaschen at all – until I tasted the homemade variety, and then started making my own.

Today I’m going to be going over the tradition of Hamantaschen on Purim, as well as tips and tricks for yielding perfect batches, where all your hamantaschen look fabulous and stay closed.

Hope this helps!

Why Eat Hamantaschen on Purim?

Haman’s hat or his ears?

Hamantaschen translates in Yiddish to “Haman pockets” and is said to be reminiscent of Haman, the main antagonist of the Purim story’s triangular hat. In fact, you’ll see that any time I illustrate a Purim craft, like Purim puppets or megillahs, I make Haman with a kind of cushioned triangular hat with a bump in the center.

However, in Hebrew, they’re called “oznei Haman” – or Haman’s ears. And just think about it: the evil guy with the sneaky face -and triangular cushioned ears. So which is it? And why would we labor (of love) over cookies that are the evil dude’s presumed hat – or ears?

Various storied origins

The truth is, there are a number reasons for this, and a fusion of the Ashkenazi and Sephardi exiles mixing with the Mizrahi. You’ll find European and Middle Eastern influences, just like in much of middle easter cuisine.

There are sources that point to Haman’s pockets filled with bribes.

The most common Ashkenazi sources share that it’s from the Yiddish word for poppy seeds – mohn. Hamantaschen were originally baked with poppy seeds inside – and sometimes still are.

There are those that say it refer’s to Esther’s youth (seeds, fertility…)

Chabad.org shares that it can refer to Hatach who may have been the prophet Daniel, who was Esther’s loyal servant that served as a go-between between Mordechai and herself. It is said that he ate seeds when in the King of the House of Babylon.

In fact, Esther presumably subsided on beans and seeds as her source of protein as she tried to keep kosher while essentially being held captive in the palace.

Or, it may have been a pastry already eaten, but because “mohn” sounds like “haman” people fused it into Purim cuisine.

So in a nutshell: the Ashkenazi iteration of Hamantaschen is literally seed pocket pastries and the seeds have loads of symbolism for Purim. Chabad.org shares more reasons – I do encourage you to look through it if you want more, deeper meanings to hamantaschen, however for me, explaining to the kids that the source may have been the seeds that Esther (and maybe Daniel too) ate in the palace is spot on.

But what about the Sephardic “Oznei Haman” – Haman’s ears? Those were quite different – they were twisted, fried pastries (sometimes filled with nuts, etc) in the shape of ears. Those were most likely referring to Haman’s defeated ears (picture him with head bent, ears down) when he learned that Mordechai will be honored by the king and not him.

A fusion of tradition

As exiled Jew meets exiled Jew from across the world, our traditions blend. There is so much overlap despite having been separated by so many years and miles (think of the tradition of slow-cooked Shabbat foods).

I think that there must have been an original source of a Haman-inspired pastry from before the exile, perhaps even eaten at the time of the Hanukkah story. And then it separated and gained influence based on the local diaspora flavors. But I don’t have a source for that…

Just think of how many different Hamantaschen recipes and styles there are today. We make pizza ‘taschen and taco ‘taschen – and many others influenced by diaspora flavors, a true testament to our survival, and our ability to work with the hand that we were given.

And of course, they tried to kill us, and we won, so we need SOMETHING to eat.

Top tips for How to Make Perfect Hamantaschen

Choosing your dough recipe

To make hamantaschen, you have two components: the dough and the filling. And they do NOT need to come from the same recipe!

Personally, I’ve chosen a dough and then worked with different fillings when making hamantaschen in the past. Especially when using premade fillings (more on that below) it’s not that hard to make a spread with variety.

Some doughs need refrigeration before cooking so keep that in mind when looking for a recipe. This makes sure it doesn’t expand too much and fall apart.

Bakery hamantaschen usually have a cakey outside – and that’s probably why I never liked them. I personally prefer a crunchier cookie dough. And while that might not look as “bakery perfect” it’s quite tasty and definitely something you should try!

For years, I made Tori Avey’s Parve (non-dairy) dough for my sweet hamantaschen (no refrigeration needed), and then this year I tried this recipe too.

For savory, I often use premade doughs. These savory veggie hamantaschen are fabulous with a wonton wrapper dough (just eat them super fresh, and make them right before you put them in the oven).

I often use pizza dough rounds as well. They are not as easy to keep folded but they’re so easy to use.

Filling Choices

Hamantaschen fillings are almost an “anything goes” scenario. You can use so many different things, but test them first to make sure they work. Some things will expand and spill over (for example, I’ve had that happen with peanut butter).

Hamantaschen fillings can be savory or sweet – we’ve done pulled beef, fried pastrami, veggies as shared above, pizza (cheese and sauce)….

For sweet fillings, I usually use a premade filling (besides for the brownie version shared at the start of this post).

Some more favorites include (note: I always check for Kosher symbols in product listings and reviews – but double check me!)

• Jelly bellies – this started as a joke when my son thought his Morah said that we put jelly beans inside instead of jelly. It’s not perfect but it works.
• Lotus butter – I can’t make these anymore because I eat them all myself…
• Nutella – or parve versions of the same.
• OR Hashachar Cocoa spread (I used this in the photos of the white dough hamantaschen shared here)
• Chocolate chips

Some more ideas that aren’t personal favorites but are common are:

• Poppy seed paste – of course, this is the classic/original
• Jam – I’m not a jam fan myself, but this is a pastry classic
• Pie filling – these can be runny so beware
• Lekvar (date/prune filling) is a traditional one

Putting it together

Start by choosing your favorite recipes for dough and then mixing it with a matching filling! You may not want to go full chocolate with a fruity filling, but it’ll be fabulous with Lotus.

You can use non-sweet doughs for sweet fillings to minimize the sweet a little, but be careful when choosing sweet doughs for savory fillings. It CAN work (think of a corned beef filling in a slightly sweet cakey dough). Just approach with caution.

Hamantaschen look like artisan pastries when you drizzle them or dip them. And they are much less effort than the hamantaschen themselves!

Try these:

• Drizzle melted chocolate chips
• Or mix in some peanut butter and drizzle that
• I don’t love just drizzled PB but sometimes for a two-tone finish, I’ll drizzle chocolate and peanut butter in separate lines.
• Dip one corner in chocolate – or chocolate with some peanut butter
• Dip in chocolate then nuts
• Dip in chocolate then cookie crumbs

The possibilities are truly endless.

Folding Styles – How to make sure they don’t unfold

The biggest question on how to make perfect hamantaschen is folding styles. You’ll spend a Sunday laboring over a big batch and half of them are hardly “pockets – more like pizzas!

The trick is simple: you want to do an overlap fold. You’re not pinching corners like many people do (and I used to). You want to fold it like you would the top of an open cardboard box: overlapping sides while alternating which one is on top.

However, with younger kids, especially less skilled ones, you’ll want to show them to pinch it. I recently made hamantaschen with my eight year old and his friends, as well as my four year old (don’t ask – I don’t recommend it…) and the best way was to show them to pinch it at the corners and let it hang half-open.

They felt that they made it themselves and that’s MUCH more important than making them perfect.

Another very important tip for making perfect hamantaschen is not to overfill the dough! This is probably the MOST common mistake. You want a marble size of filling – about half a heaping teaspoon (in that shape).

The Step by Step Tutorial for How to Make Perfect Hamantaschen

Note: the tutorial was recorded on a chocolate dough with brownie filling – the final hamantaschen is a vanilla dough with chocolate filling.

You’ll Need

• Your favorite dough recipe
• Your favorite filling
• A circle cutter about 3-4 inches in diameter (a standard drinking glass should work)
• A work surface (such as a baking mat)
• Flour
• A rolling pin
• An APRON – yes, wear an apron for this!!

Process

Flour your surface evenly.

Roll out your dough to about 1/4 inch thick give or take.

Cut out circles as close together as you can. You’ll rework the extras, but each time you’ll be adding flour to the dough so it’ll eventually get too dry and crumbly. So try to fit in as many as you can in the first few runs.

Take the extra, roll it out again, and cut more circles, until you can’t anymore. I usually take that last bit, roll it into a ball, and flatten it to make one last hamantasch.

Place a small dollop of filling as dead center as you can. Do not overfill. I find that about half a rounded teaspoon works best.

Start by folding one side that covers about 1/3 of the circumference of the circle over the filling.

Bring the second side (another 1/3) over the filling so that the corner overlaps with the first.

Repeat with the third, but tuck the part that meats your first fold under that first folded side.

Gently press on each corner not quite enough to make an indentation, but enough to fix them together.

Bake according to dough instructions. With this process I get a near 100% success rate – I hope it works as well for you!

You’ve successfully learned how to make perfect hamantaschen? Comment below if you have any questions, tips, suggestions, or filling/dough recommendations!

The post How to Make Perfect Hamantaschen appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

This preschool Megillah activity can be done as Do a Dot art or coloring pages and is great for preschool OR toddlers! When you’re done with this, you can check out these free printable Purim coloring pages too. This post contains affiliate links.

A while ago, I created these Purim Do a Dot pages, and they have been quite popular. But they were simply pages with random drawings. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I wanted something that works as an actual Megillah to follow along with the story of Purim for little kids.

So I designed a completely new set (and yes, the old one is still available) as a Preschool Megillah. Some of the drawing subjects will overlap, but everything was created from scratch.

This is a printable product – a premium download available in my Etsy shop or on TPT – get it there or scroll down for more info!

About the Preschool Megillah

Not only are the drawings totally new, but the style totally changed. This one is graphically-created for lack of a better way to say it. That is, I built it out using shapes in Illustrator so that it’s designed to really fit well with the Do a Dot spaces and is much simpler. The shapes stay more recognizable that way, perfect for the littlest kids.

The do a dot Preschool Megillah contains an age-appropriate storyline rather than the official Megillah text. It is in the sequence of the Megillah itself, so if you have a kid-friendly Megillah reading, you can flip the pages and follow along.

I also had in mind that it works well with this Megillah craft – tape it together and roll it into an actual Megillah! It does NOT include every Purim theme possible, though I did weave in some general Purim-related images at the end, with the storyline.

This is a bit different to my other Do a Dot coloring pages (such as my Tishrei pages and my Hanukkah ones) in that it’s only in English. There is no title on each page (I debated doing this but it got too complicated). Since I felt that this needed a storyline and I’m not a native Hebrew speaker or typist, I kept it to English. I tend to get out of control with what I include in these things and had to call it a draw somewhere.

I did, however, create two styles of pages: one with dots and one just a regular coloring page without the circles so you can use it as a coloring book Megillah too!

And finally, I created a guide for teachers/parents to use to help craft it complete with ideas, variations, and page descriptions.

Pages/Outline of the Do a Dot Preschool Megillah Activity

I like to always share the exact outline of the pages you get with a download so here it is:

1. Cover [Megillah]
2. Meeting Achashverosh [king]
3. Introducing Shushan [castle]
4. The Party [goblet]
5. Vashti refuses [defiant queen]
6. Esther is chosen [shy queen]
7. Meeting Mordechai [bearded man]
8. Meeting Haman [mean man]
9. Mordechai refuses to bow [man standing]
10. Haman’s decrees [ring]
11. Esther goes to the king [scepter]
12. Esther’s feasts [plate and spoon]
13. Haman’s gallows [gallows]
14. Mordechai’s ride [horse]
15. Esther tells [Queen & speech bubble]
16. Haman’s punishment [man & X over him]
17. New decree to protect Jews [scroll]
18. Purim joy [clown]
19. Purim traditions [hamantaschen]
20. Reading the story yearly [gragger]

I tried to include all the key moments if not in imagery then in the text.

Ideas for how to complete this preschool Megillah activity

There are a three favorite ways you can complete Do a Dot pages:

• Dot stickers – get the 3/4 inch dot stickers, and if you’re giving each kid a sheet, make sure to get the kind that has a different color on each page.
• Bingo “Do a Dot” markers – brand does matter here, and my Do a Dot brand ones have held out better than the other (store brand and no-name) ones that I tried.
• Cotton balls – You can use a clothespin as a “handle” for cotton balls or pom poms and dip them into paint.

Get the Do a Dot Preschool Megillah

The printable preschool megillah  is available in my Etsy shop and on TpT. Purchasing premium products from me enables me to keep doing what I do, to give more focus to my Jewish blog, creating authentically Jewish resources for educators and parents.

The post Preschool Megillah Activity – Do a Dot Art appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

This is a link roundup you’ll turn to all year, but I bet you can figure out why I’m sharing it before Purim! There’s SO MUCH to look forward to on this holiday, and I’m here to help you with all of it – see the full collection here. But first let’s make some noise! 

For the most part, kids are noisy little things that aren’t always well received. So it’s a real marvel when grown-ups actually encourage them to be loud – in shul (synagogue) no less! 

Noisemakers, traditionally called groggers, engage children in the reading of the megillah, the Purim story. When the name of the villain, Haman, is read, listeners make a racket to drown out his evil name.

Every year, my kids can barely wait for this. Channel that excitement into action by making your own DIY noisemakers, shaker, musical instrument, or traditional grogger using one or more of the links below. Most of them require only simple, everyday materials and just a little adult supervision, while others are great for when you have time to get into it.

Another plus – many of the ideas linked below are sensory-friendly. As exciting as it is, grogger-ing can get LOUD! Whether it’s you or the kids who get overwhelmed, you may be more comfortable with some of the gentler materials suggested here. 

Ok, enough about the fun and excitement. Did you know that noisemakers are also an amazing educational and developmental tool?

At the most basic level, using an instrument to make noise teaches the youngest learners about cause and effect, and how their movements can create action in the world. This is something you need to absorb through experience.

Kids move naturally from there to experimenting with the sounds made by different materials and movements. Even without you saying or teaching anything, they’re growing their curiosity about how the world works and developing their own processes of experimentation. Start building their sense of rhythm, which is linked to a variety of cognitive and emotional benefits.

For older kids, you can use these instruments as a springboard to explicitly teach the vocabulary and principles of sound production. It’s far more interesting and effective to learn about vibration by feeling an instrument under your fingers than any textbook or lecture. Several of the instruments below offer opportunities to explore different sound qualities, like pitch or frequency.

Whichever ones you choose are sure to enhance your Purim experience!

DIY Noisemaker Shakers

Shakers are easy and fun to make and use – even a baby can get some noise going, while more sophisticated players can use them in rhythm. While the basic premise is always the same, variations in material and design set each one of these crafts apart in how they look and sound.

Recycled Soda Bottle Shakers by The Chaos and the Clutter

Upcycle empty drink bottles with this kid-friendly tutorial. The paint and glitter go inside the bottle to limit mess and shedding!

Candy Noisemakers by Happily DIY

These are modeled after party crackers, but they also bring to mind the shape of a classic wrapped candy. They’re DIY noisemakers that are simple to create and make a gentle, soft sound.

Cardboard tube shakers by The Craft Train

This fun craft uses materials you almost definitely have lying around at home and opens them up to infinite creativity. The cardboard tube makes for a somewhat softer, sensory-friendly sound effect.

Egg shakers/Maracas by Red Ted Art

Maracas are actually a legitimate musical instrument, but I’m including them here because they work the same way – rattle them to the rhythm! These egg shakers are really just the top part – but they fit so nicely in the palm of a little hand.

Cup Shakers by Creative Jewish Mom

Here’s a craft designed especially for Purim! It’s simple and classic, and can be dressed up in infinite ways.

DIY Noisemakers Inspired By Musical Instruments

For the more particular player (or one who already has enough shakers), there is a whole range of musical instruments you can make yourself. Get together with friends and you can have a whole band! In addition to the musical instruments below, you can also add maracas which I linked above in the collection of shakers. And yes, you can use these as DIY noisemakers too!

Spin drum by Jewish Moms and Crafters

This is a simple percussion instrument that’s fun to make and use! Hold the drum by its craft stick handle and spin to make the hanging beads bang out a beat. Young crafters may need some help creating it, but all ages can enjoy playing with the finished product.

Hand drum by Moms and Crafters

While at first glance this may look similar to the spin drum linked above, it uses different materials to create a very different (louder) sound effect! The balloon gives off a louder, more drum-y sound. And the dowel handle is easier to spin between two palms. You’ll need some adult skills to assemble the instrument, but kids can help decorate it.

Popsicle Stick Kazoo (and more) by Left Brain Craft Brain

You’ll find the video in this link especially helpful when learning how to make and use this unique instrument. The same post also includes some other noisemaker crafts. 

Cardboard Guitar by Red Ted Art

I’m sure we’ve all played with twanging rubber bands before, but this post takes it all the way with directions to make a guitar that’s impressive in both look and sound. You can easily modify the craft to make it smaller and simpler if needed. It’s a great one for bigger kids who like to tinker to do on the day before Purim.

Drum by Natural Beach Living

In addition to the DIY drum craft, this post includes loads of inspiration for how to use drums with kids, including a wonderful suggested book list.

Upcycled lid mini banjos by The Craft Train

These mini instruments are adorable, fun to play with, and super portable! Same mechanism as the guitar but with itty bitty appeal. This project comes together quickly with everyday items so it’s perfect for crafting on a whim. And it’s quite a doable one for grade school kids.

DIY flute by Left Brain Craft Brain

You won’t believe how this simple paper craft can play real musical notes! The post includes easy-to-read sheet music for a simple starter tune and some great ideas for STEM/STEAM tie-in. It’s a perfect Purim-themed STEM activity.

Bell shakers by Natural Beach Living

This one is easy and basic, but makes such a nice sound and looks super classy. You can use glitter glue instead of the glitter for a low-mess alternative for younger crafters. I put this with instruments because they are kind of like simplified tambourines.

Gragger DIY Noisemakers

I hope you enjoyed all the creative, varied ideas so far. But truly, nothing says Purim like the classic gragger (or grogger). Hold the handle and give it a twirl (or shake) when you hear Haman! Here are two ways to design your own.

Paper graggers by Jewish Moms and Crafters

Color the designs and then build your own grogger with this print-and-fold template.

Paint blank wood ones

If you want the real classic grogger but with a personal touch, use your choice of paints and other materials to decorate wooden noisemakers like these. 

Guess the Gragger Sound Game

I crafted these shaker-style Graggers specifically to play a fun little sound-guessing game and they’re just too cute! You can make them to play the game, or just for fun.

Got any fun DIY noisemakers to share? Comment below!

The post 15 DIY Noisemakers and Gragger Crafts appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

There’s nothing quite as festive as a pretty centerpiece to bring the holiday spirit into your home and I love having something themed in the center of my table.

And if you’re making a larger scale Purim event – whether it’s a big seudah (meal) or an event for your school/shul – you probably want something large and affordable, that’ll really stand out in the room.

What I love about this DIY Purim centerpiece that I’m about to share is that it’s really the framework for a centerpiece for any holiday. In fact, I attached the Purim elements temporarily, so that I can reuse it.

How you can switch up this DIY Purim centerpiece

Explaining my choices

I wanted something that was vaguely Purim-esque and my mind right away turned towards feathers. They just scream “costume” and large ostrich feathers make quite a festive, cheerful, but still classy statement.

But I felt it wasn’t “Purim enough” to share with you as a Purim centerpiece and I have to add masks. I’m sharing this because you SO don’t need the masks, but you CAN add them if you want a real Purim vibe.

I wanted to keep it simple and modern but elegant, but still have a “glam” Purim vibe – which is why I chose gold as the main color. I added the metallic pink for a festive touch but frankly I regret that color choice.

And I also was working on a time crunch and couldn’t wait to order masks to pin around the edges so I cut some on my Cricut, which may have taken away from the polished look a bit.

Ideas for how to switch things up

So here are some “mix ‘n match” ideas for this DIY Purim centerpiece. All these are things I considered before making my final design choice. The vase in the center is totally removable. The main element is the frame and the stand for the vase that you use as the base for any centerpiece.

• Add fresh flowers to the vase – you already have the masks and don’t need the feathers
• Use masquerade masks in any color, shape, style you want
• Skip the masks entirely OR
• Include other Purim elements around the frame
• Wrap vines or florals around the frame
• Prop graggers in the vase (works great with florals around the frame, or combined with florals)
• Skip painting the floral blocks and use an abundance of faux florals the same way you would real to create a floral base. Note: technically you can use real florals but since you don’t have the block in a base, it would leak water. You can probably give it minimal water and put it on a tray but you’ll need to be on top of it and it probably wont’ last as long.

I taped my masks on but you can absolutely hot glue it if you don’t plan to reuse it. You can also attach things with zip ties.

How to make a DIY Purim centerpiece

You’ll need

• Floral foam blocks (this may work with regular foam blocks but I like the smoother surface of the floral block)
• Mod podge
• A wide brush for the Mod Podge
• Acrylic Paint (I used FolkArt Brushed Metal dark gold)
• A small hula hoop – if you go for too large a hoop it’ll throw it off balance. I believe mine is 20 inches. Mine is from the Dollar Tree
• Gold spray paint
• Masks to match – buy or make on your Cricut. I made mine from metallic pink poster board.
• Ostrich feathers
• Straws to match (I used metallic paper straws) will likely be needed to give your feathers height.
• A vase of choice – I used a simple glass vase from the dollar store
• Hot glue, tape, or zip ties to affix masks

Process

Watch the full YouTube video here or scroll down for the step-by-step written tutorial with photos:

There is a fair amount of dry time needed for this, so I’m sharing this not by element created, but in the sequence that I created it to allow for drying time.

1. Prepare your masks if needed. I cut mine on my Cricut.

2. Prime your floral block using a GENEROUS amount of Mod Podge. Floral blocks are super absorbent and they’ll crumble if you try painting straight so just slop on generous amounts of Mod podge on any side you’ll be painting. I skipped the bottom. Set it aside to dry.

3. The hula hoop I used was really a large tube connected with a connector piece that can be opened and removed. If yours is sealed, open it some other way. Empty anything that might be inside.

4. Spray paint the hoop gold and set it aside to dry. I did this in a few batches (it helps to have fast-drying spray paint for this).

5. Paint the block once the Mod Podge is totally dry. Go gentle so it doesn’t crumble. Allow it to dry completely.

6. You should be able to shove the hoop into the two small sides of the block now. It goes in at an angle, so make sure to first see how you want it positioned and then do it. It should be totally supported by the block and easily stand on its own.

At this point, you have the framework for the DIY Purim centerpiece complete and ready to “decorate” however you’d like. This is how I did mine:

7. Insert the feathers into straws so that they are propped up.

8. Place the vase on the center of the base, and add the feathers. You are not necessarily fixing this in place (you probably can if you want to but I didn’t). But you want it placed to do the next step. Look how gorgeous it is.

9. Add your masks, arranging them so that they are balanced and placed nicely around the feathers.

When you’re ready to set it up, place the hoop with base in the center of the table and add the vase on top of the base.

Got any other ideas to switch up this DIY Purim centerpiece? Or any other centerpiece you’ve made for Purim that you loved? Comment below!

Yield: 1

How To Make Purim Centerpieces

Active Time: 30 minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Medium

Craft these gorgeous and festive DIY Purim centerpieces that can actually be customized for any holiday!

Print

Materials

• Floral foam blocks (this may work with regular foam blocks but that's what I had)
• Mod podge
• A wide brush for the Mod Podge
• Acrylic Paint (I used FolkArt Brushed Metal dark gold)
• A small hula hoop - if you go for too large a hoop it'll throw it off balance. I believe mine is 20 inches.
• Gold spray paint
• Masks to match - buy or make on your Cricut. I made mine from metallic pink poster board.
• Ostrich feathers
• Straws to match (I used metallic paper straws) will likely be needed to give your feathers height.
• A vase of choice - I used a simple glass vase.
• Hot glue, tape, or zip ties to affix masks

Instructions

There is a fair amount of dry time needed for this, so I'm sharing this not by element created, but in the sequence that I created it to allow for drying time.

1. Prepare your masks if needed. I cut mine on my Cricut.

2. Prime your floral block using a GENEROUS amount of Mod Podge. Floral blocks are super absorbent and they'll crumble if you try painting straight so just slop on generous amounts of Mod podge on any side you'll be painting. I skipped the bottom. Set it aside to dry.

3. The hula hoop I used was really a large tube connected with a connector piece that can be opened and removed. If yours is sealed, open it some other way. Empty anything that might be inside.

4. Spray paint the hoop gold and set it aside to dry. I did this in a few batches (it helps to have fast-drying spray paint for this).

5. Paint the block once the Mod Podge is totally dry. Go gentle so it doesn't crumble. Allow it to dry completely.

6. You should be able to shove the hoop into the two small sides of the block now. It goes in at an angle, so make sure to first see how you want it positioned and then do it. It should be totally supported by the block and easily stand on its own.

At this point, you have the framework for the DIY Purim centerpiece complete and ready to "decorate" however you'd like. This is how I did mine:

7. Insert the feathers into straws so that they are propped up.

8. Place the vase on the center of the base, and add the feathers. You are not necessarily fixing this in place (you probably can if you want to but I didn't). But you want it placed to do the next step. Look how gorgeous it is.

9. Add your masks, arranging them so that they are balanced and placed nicely around the feathers.

When you're ready to set it up, place the hoop with base in the center of the table and add the vase on top of the base.

Got any other ideas to switch up this DIY Purim centerpiece? Or any other centerpiece you've made for Purim that you loved? Comment below!

Notes

Here are some "mix 'n match" ideas for this DIY Purim centerpiece. All these are things I considered before making my final design choice. The vase in the center is totally removable. The main element is the frame and the stand for the vase that you use as the base for any centerpiece.

- Add flowers to the vase - you already have the masks and don't need the feathers
- Use masquerade masks in any color, shape, style you want
- Skip the masks entirely OR
- Include other Purim elements around the frame
- Wrap vines or florals around the frame
- Prop graggers in the vase (works great with florals around the frame)
- Skip painting the floral blocks and use an abundance of faux florals the same way you would real to create a floral base. Note: technically you can use real florals but since you don't have the block in a base, it would leak water. You can probably give it minimal water and put it on a tray but you'll need to be on top of it and it probably wont' last as long.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post DIY Purim Centerpieces appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

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

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

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

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

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

Check out the Purim Dot to Dot sheets

About the pages

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

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

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

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

Pages included

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

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

Download your Purim Dot to Dot Sheets

The free printable boy-with-mask dot to dot

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

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The full Purim dot to dot bundle

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

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