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.

The post Pomegranate String Art – Free Template appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Rosh Hashanah is the holiday when we eat lots of sweet treats and symbolic foods, including dates… and honey! So why not combine the two into a sweet treat, inspired by the ancient Roman stuffed dates?!

If you’re making this for Rosh Hashanah, they go beautifully with these printable simanim picks. Note: please be aware that some people have the tradition not to eat nuts on Rosh Hashanah, so verify this first.

The traditional recipe requires crushing nuts with a mortar and pestle, and combining it with cracked black pepper before frying the nuts in straight honey for like a minute.

I mixed it up a bit – I kept the nuts whole like I remember my great aunt doing with walnuts. I omitted the pepper. And I fried it in honey WITH water, so that I can go a bit later, and really let it soak in.

Variations on nut stuffed pecans + prep tips

Can you make stuffed dates with almonds or other nuts?

I stuffed my dates with pecans, but you can definitely replace it with virtually any nuts. I imagine pistachios would be incredible, but my son is highly allergic so I couldn’t make it that way.

Hot honey vs. regular honey

When you have something like this that’s super sweet, adding some heat can really add depth to it. I made some with hot honey and some with regular. You don’t want to put too much hot honey here – just a kick is perfect!

Regular honey is perfect for those who DO like it endlessly sweet and avoid heat.

Finishing it with sea salt

You don’t need to finish it off with flakey salt… but it adds so much! It really helps cut the sweet a little and works both on the hot or regular version!

Kosher salt works perfectly, and just sprinkle it on right before serving

Storing your nut stuffed dates

For short term use

If you’re making this for immediate use, you simply need to store it in an airtight container on the counter. None of the ingredients need refrigeration, and if stored well, they should last up to a week.

You can also fridge them for up to a week – and they’re incredible cold!

Freezing ahead

These also freeze quite well. The nuts lose their crunch a bit when they fry, so you don’t need to worry about that.

I recommend storing them in a container or pan with sheets of parchment between the layers. Place that pan or container in a freezer storage bag and seal it so that it’s airtight.

You can also gift these nut stuffed dates! They make a fabulous food gift. Just place them in a gift box lined with something food-friendly – they make a fabulous hostess gift!

I like to recruit a bored kid to help me cut them open and stuff them – if they’re old enough to use a knife (or a cutlery knife for younger kids).

How to make honey fried nut stuffed dates with pecans

Ingredients

• Medjool dates
• Pecan halves (or whole)
• 1/4 cup honey
• Optional: replace a portion of the honey with hot honey (depending on how hot you want it)
• 1/2 cup hot water (it doesn’t need to be hot but it’ll make things easier if you have it easily available)
• Flaky sea salt or Kosher salt

Equipment

• A frying pan
• Measuring cup
• Mixing spoon
• Mixing spoon for frying

Process

1. Pit and stuff your dates: cut each one the long way but only on the front – on one side of the pit – leaving the back of the date intact. Remove the pit, inspect for bugs and worms. Place a pecan in each and stick the two halves back together.

You can also cut them completely in half and add a pecan and just squish the date around the bottom half of the pecan for a more boat-style nut stuffed date.

2. Dissolve your honey in some hot water (with some hot honey if you want heat). If you don’t have easily ready warm water, I recommend just starting the honey and water in your frying pan ahead of time and dissolving it in before adding the dates.

3. Heat up your honey mixture in a frying pan over medium heat so that it’s just starting to bubble up. Lower your heat a little, adjusting it as needed to keep it at a gentle foam. Using a spoon, carefully drop your dates in one at a time, trying to fit all of them in one batch as your honey might begin to burn after the first.

Move them around a little – gently to coat them and let them fry in the gently bubbling oil for a few minutes (I like to do 3-5) but make sure it doesn’t burn.

If it seems to be burning, you can add a little more water. Having water mixed with the honey allows you to get away with frying it a bit longer.

4. Remove your dates using a slotted spoon and place it directly onto a plate or your storage containers (no paper towels – it’ll stick!!)

5. Sprinkle on some sea salt right before serving.

Your honey fried nut stuffed dates with pecans are ready to serve and enjoy as a nibble-worthy snack!

Yield: 12

How to make stuffed dates with nuts

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Rosh Hashanah is the holiday when we eat lots of sweet treats and symbolic foods, including dates... and honey! So why not combine the two into a sweet treat, inspired by the ancient Roman stuffed dates?!

Print

Ingredients

• Medjool dates
• Pecan halves (or whole)
• 1/4 cup honey
• Optional: replace a portion of the honey with hot honey (depending on how hot you want it)
• 1/2 cup hot water (it doesn't need to be hot but it'll make things easier if you have it easily available)
• Flaky sea salt or Kosher salt

Instructions

1. Pit and stuff your dates: cut each one the long way but only on the front - on one side of the pit - leaving the back of the date intact. Remove the pit, inspect for bugs and worms. Place a pecan in each and stick the two halves back together.
   You can also cut them completely in half and add a pecan and just squish the date around the bottom half of the pecan for a more boat-style nut stuffed date.
2. Dissolve your honey in some hot water (with some hot honey if you want heat). If you don't have easily ready warm water, I recommend just starting the honey and water in your frying pan ahead of time and dissolving it in before adding the dates.
3. Heat up your honey mixture in a frying pan over medium heat so that it's just starting to bubble up. Lower your heat a little, adjusting it as needed to keep it at a gentle foam. Using a spoon, carefully drop your dates in one at a time, trying to fit all of them in one batch as your honey might begin to burn after the first.
   Move them around a little - gently to coat them and let them fry in the gently bubbling oil for a few minutes (I like to do 3-5) but make sure it doesn't burn.
   If it seems to be burning, you can add a little more water. Having water mixed with the honey allows you to get away with frying it a bit longer.
4. Remove your dates using a slotted spoon and place it directly onto a plate or your storage containers (no paper towels - it'll stick!!)
5. Sprinkle on some sea salt right before serving.

Notes

• I stuffed my dates with pecans, but you can definitely replace it with virtually any nuts.
• I made some with hot honey and some with regular. You don't want to put too much hot honey here - just a kick is perfect! Regular honey is perfect for those who DO like it endlessly sweet and avoid heat.
• Flakey salt adds a lot but is optional. It really helps cut the sweet a little and works both on the hot or regular version!
• Store at room temperature for up to a week, in the fridge for longer. Freezes nicely with parchment between layers.

Did you make this recipe?

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

The post Honey Fried Nut Stuffed Dates with Pecans appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

These printable Jewish prayer bookmarks are perfect for placing in your Machzor or prayer book – after you color them, of course! When you’re done, check out these I’m sorry cards for kids. This post contains affiliate links.

There are so many super sweet prayer bookmarks out there, but in honor of the upcoming High Holidays, I wanted to find quotes from Jewish sources to make a set appropriate for the Jewish woman.

The idea is to color these inspirational bookmarks in advance, to gain a bit of insight into various hashkafically appropriate prayer and teshuvah (repentance) concepts. Then, place them into your machzor (holiday prayer book) to provide inspiration during prayer.

Each prayer bookmark’s quote was researched and properly sourced (including the translations), then the text formatted, sketched, with supporting designs, and then the whole thing was illustrated.

Get the Jewish Prayer Quote Bookmarks

I share a closer look and more details below, but meanwhile, you can get the prayer quote bookmarks in my shop, Etsy, or TpT!

The prayer bookmarks are available for a few bucks in my shop, Etsy, or 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.

A few quick “specs” notes: the lines are quite fine, making this a detailed coloring page, ideal for using with small mediums. They are “jumbo” bookmarks, to allow the text to be legible, but are usable with average prayer books.

A closer look at the Prayer Bookmarks

Deciding on these prayer bookmark quotes took a very long time. I wanted to find everything from the source and a good translation. Full credit goes to Sefaria‘s extensive library for the translations.

The prayer bookmarks are as follows:

• “Before they pray, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will respond.” (Isaiah 65:24)
• In the place where penitents stand, even the full-fledged righteous do not stand. (Berachot 34B).

• “True sacrifice to G-d is a contrite spirit; G-d, You will not despise a contrite and crushed heart.” Psalms 51:19
• “You will search for Me and find Me, if only you seek Me wholeheartedly.” Jeremiah 29:13
• “The L-rd is near to all who call Him, to all who call Him with sincerity” Psalms 145:18

• “For your G-d is a compassionate G-d Who will not fail you nor let you perish.” Deuteronomy 4:31
• “Seek the favor of G-d and He will grant you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4
• “Come, let us reach an understanding, says G-d. Be your sins like crimson, they can turn snow white; be they red as dyed wool, they can become like fleece.” Isaiah 1:18

These are sourced primarily from Tanach – including a few from Navi (prophets) and Tehillim (psalms).

Tips for using these color-in printable prayer bookmarks

Coloring tips

These prayer bookmarks have very fine lines. They are what you’d call “complex” coloring, and I do think it’s important that you know this before you start!

I really had teen girls in mind with this, as well as women. It can be relaxing to color and fill in the lines – no shading or artistic skills are needed.

I used this set of gel pens – a top brand and worth investing in if you’re getting your own craft supplies, as they last far longer than the cheap gel pens. If you’re getting this for a one-time group activity, a big pack of cheap pens is your best bet.

Another favorite choice for this is fineliner pens. As with most art supplies, brand DOES matter. Some favorites are Stabilo, Staedtler, and even Crayola’s fineliners are great. Very cheap “knockoff” ones can be dry and aren’t recommended. If you’re doing a one-time activity and don’t need it to last, get a knockoff with a LOT of good reviews.

I highly recommend printing them on cardstock and then laminating – ideally with 5mil laminating pouches to help them last a long time, through lots of prayers!

Using them for the High Holidays

I designed these as a classroom activity – or something individuals can do to prepare – before the High Holidays. Jewish law advises us to refrain from acts of creation on the Sabbath and Holidays, and that includes coloring.

My recommendation is to color these in the days and weeks leading up, to get in the “prayer and repentance zone.”

Then, place them in a few strategic spots in the machzor (holiday prayer book) where you may want that extra boost.

I hope you enjoyed these prayer bookmarks! In case you missed it, you can download them in my shop, Etsy, or 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 post Machzor Forgiveness & Prayer Bookmarks – Coloring for Adults appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

With Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year around the bend, honey is all the rage! This hot honey chicken recipe is perfect for when you want a twist on the tradition, and a small break from all the sweet.

Hot Honey Chicken Tips, Storage, and Variations

How to serve it

You can totally control the heat of this, since the hot honey is actually added after cooking and before serving. That means that you can omit it for family members who are a bit more finicky with their spice.

Serve this with any Shabbat meal – whether it’s Friday night dinner, or Shabbat lunch. You can serve it during the week with pasta salad or rice and of course, your favorite air fried veggies.

Can you do this only in the oven or on the stove?

This hot honey chicken recipe calls for searing the chicken and then baking it. You can do it completely on the stovetop if you prefer, or bake it “high and fast”. When baking chicken breast in the oven, unless you brown it first, you need to go high and fast to retain the moisture.

I usually do it at 425 for about 20 minutes (checking of course for readiness before taking it out.)

How to store the hot honey chicken – and can it be frozen?

While this hot honey chicken is really best served fresh and hot, you can reheat it – just don’t overheat it or leave it on for too long, or it’ll dry out. You can freeze it but it won’t be nearly as moist. I always try to avoid freezing cooked chicken, and if I must, I use it in salads or sandwiches when defrosted.

You can also serve it cold or at room temperature as a “cold cut” type of meat but it won’t be quite the same!

Whether you’re making your hot honey chicken for Rosh Hashanah or for everyday eating, it’ll be an instant family favorite!

If you’re looking for more ideas for Rosh Hashanah, try these honey roasted chickpeas too! Then give this roasted beet salad with pomegranate arils a try and try making pomegranate lemonade too!

Hot Honey Chicken Breast Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, or more as needed
• 2 Chicken Breasts, approximately 1.5lb
• 2 Tablespoons Hot BBQ Seasoning or Chili Seasoning
• Salt and Pepper
• 1/4 cup Flour
• 2 Tablespoons Hot Honey, or more as needed

Note: if you don’t have hot honey, you can infuse regular honey with a diced jalapeno or 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce of choice.

Equipment

• Recommended: a cast iron skillet (or a sheet pan if only baking)
• Instant read meat thermometer
• Flat and wide bowl

Process

Preheat oven to 450F.

Place a skillet over medium heat.

Cut your chicken breasts through the middle to create 4 thinner chicken filets. Season each chicken filet with 1/2 teaspoon bbq seasoning, salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a shallow dish, combine flour with remaining bbq seasoning.

Dredge the chicken filets in the seasoned flour mixture until completely coated.

Place the oil in the preheated skillet and once oil is hot, add the chicken filets.

Place skillet in the oven to finish cooking, about 8-10 minutes until an inserted meat thermometer reads 165F.

Immediately after the chicken is removed from the oven, drizzle with the hot honey. Makes 4 servings.

Yield: 4 cutlets

Hot Honey Oven Baked Chicken Cutlets

Prep Time: 6 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes

With Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year around the bend, honey is all the rage! This hot honey chicken recipe is perfect for when you want a twist on the tradition, and a small break from all the sweet.

Print

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, or more as needed
• 2 Chicken Breasts, approximately 1.5lb
• 2 Tablespoons Hot BBQ Seasoning or Chili Seasoning
• Salt and Pepper
• 1/4 cup Flour
• 2 Tablespoons Hot Honey, or more as needed.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. Place a skillet over medium heat.
3. Cut your chicken breasts through the middle to create 4 thinner chicken filets. Season each chicken filet with 1/2 teaspoon BBQ seasoning, salt and pepper. Set aside.
4. In a shallow dish, combine flour with remaining BBQ seasoning.
5. Dredge the chicken filets in the seasoned flour mixture until completely coated.
6. Place the oil in the preheated skillet and once oil is hot, add the chicken filets. Brown for about a minute on each side.
7. Place skillet in the oven to finish cooking, about 8-10 minutes until an inserted meat thermometer reads 165F.
8. Immediately after the chicken is removed from the oven, drizzle with the hot honey. Makes 4 servings.

Notes

• While this hot honey chicken is really best served fresh and hot, you can reheat it - just don't overheat it or leave it on for too long, or it'll dry out. You can freeze it but it won't be nearly as moist. I always try to avoid freezing cooked chicken, and if I must, I use it in salads or sandwiches when defrosted.
• Serve this with any Shabbat meal - whether it's Friday night dinner, or Shabbat lunch. You can serve it during the week with pasta salad or rice and of course, your favorite air fried veggies.
• This hot honey chicken recipe calls for searing the chicken and then baking it. You can do it completely on the stovetop if you prefer, or bake it "high and fast".

Did you make this recipe?

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

The post Hot Honey Chicken Recipe appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

With Rosh Hashanah around the bend, what better time could there be to craft some I’m sorry cards for kids? When you’re done, check out these color-in Rosh Hashanah cards too! This post contains affiliate links.

I’ve been trying to think of more ways for kids to really explore the concept of making amends – a valuable lesson that they can really put into practice around the Jewish New Year and Yom Kipur. These I’m sorry cards for kids are the perfect approach, fusing creativity with the important lesson of asking forgiveness.

I’m going to give you some background, practical application, instructions, and a peek at all the cards, but in case you’re short on time:

I offer the full bundle of cards as a premium download in my shop, on Etsy and on TPT, and I offer one adorable sample as a free download at the end of this post.

How to use the I’m Sorry Cards for kids

Including them in lessons on repentance

The concept of Teshuvah (repentance) is a fascinating one. For sins between man and G-d (IE, not eating Kosher), one needs to ask forgiveness from G-d through prayer, and commit to not repeat the sin. However, for sins between a person and their peers, forgiveness must be asked of the peer, and it’s at least of equal importance.

In kid-focused settings, this often leads to some silliness, with kids running around saying “do you forgive me” without really meaning it much. And there are some kids who don’t really feel comfortable. However, doing it in writing is a great way to carefully formulate words so that they don’t cause further harm. Doing it with a card adds a touch of personal care.

That’s why these I’m sorry cards for kids are so fabulous for this time of year!

Kids can craft them and give them discreetly, giving them an entry point into facing their mistakes in a doable way.

Using them in any classroom or home

Even if you’re simply teaching social skills or kindness in a classroom unrelated to Rosh Hashanah, these are a fabulous tool!

They are a great way for kids to make amends. If your classroom is having issues with meanness, this is a great exercise. Have students color them and apologize in a non-confrontational way.

Siblings can use it as well to make amends with their brothers and sisters.

A peek at the I’m Sorry Cards for Kids

The full bundle

I created six designs in all – one of which I offer free (and as part of the full bundle).

In the bundle, you have one that says “I made a mistake” with a pencil and an eraser. The pencil is writing “Let’s fix this!”

Acknowledging wrongdoing is an important step, and this one acknowledges that.

One says, “Please forgive me” (straight to the point) with a sun peeking out over a stormy sky.

Another “Please forgive me” features a regretful puppy offering a rose. This can be given with an actual rose as a gesture of friendship.

The next says, “Will you please forgive me?” and features a bouquet of flowers.

One says “I’m so sorry” and is text-focused. It’s a bit of a more “mature” design, perfect for slightly older kids who want a more mature coloring experience.

The free printable

One of my favorite designs is the sad heart sitting with a band-aid on its booboo. It sits atop the words “I’m sorry”. This one is available as a free download at the end of this post.

Assembling the “I’m sorry” cards for kids

This is designed to be a really easy color & craft project. The cards are formatted as 5×7 cards, one to a page. They have a solid outline to cut them out and a dashed line for folding in half.

Simply print them out on cardstock…

Fold them in half…

And color them in! Write a personal note on the inside.

Download the I’m Sorry cards for kids

Get the full bundle

The full I’m sorry cards for kids bundle 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 sample “I’m sorry” heart card

Download your free card! 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.

I hope you enjoyed these I’m Sorry cards for kids! Which is your favorite? Comment below!

The post I’m Sorry Cards for Kids to Color & Craft appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

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I love taking holiday crafts beyond the basics, and so I figured – why not make an air-dry clay drip tray for honey?

Our preschoolers tend to come home with a laminated apple to place under the honey, but I wanted something that older kids and even adults can make that can look as nice as you choose to make it, and as good as your skills are.

So I made this simple rimmed air-dry clay drip tray in a pomegranate shape. Beyond Rosh Hashanah, it can be used in other ways, as I’ll list below. But meanwhile, it’s the perfect accessory for these air-dry clay honey stirrers and these etched glass honey dishes!

Whether you’re making these for Rosh Hashanah or any other occasion, these air-dry clay drip trays are super fun to craft and use.

The basic process of making an air-dry clay drip tray

There are so many ways to use air-dry clay to construct functional items, but here’s my basic process for this one.

Using a template

Did you know that you can use a template as your starting point for any air-dry clay project? Just print out the shape you’d like your project to be and cut around the template with a knife!

I prepared a free pomegranate template you can use at the end of this post, but you can really work with any simple shape you’d like.

Or, freeform it – and you don’t even need to do a shape. You can also make yours round or abstract, and if you’d like, paint Rosh Hashanah motifs on it.

Building a rim

A rim is a great feature to have on an air-dry clay drip tray, because it just contains those drips a tad better.

It DOES up the level of your craft a bit. Connecting clay isn’t as simple as just putting it together. You need to connect it using various techniques, which I will share.

There is more than one way to do it. I used the “coil” technique, where you create a rope to go around it and then incorporate it into your project. The advantage of this method is that it’s easier to control the height of the end and stay consistent. It’s also easier to stay true to the shape of your air-dry clay drip tray.

This is the preferred method for slightly more skilled crafters.

The other way would be using the pinch pot method, where you pinch up the ends. The advantage of this is that you don’t need to worry about clay connecting techniques (and creating slip). This is preferred for crafters who are younger, elderly, or have special needs, where the end result is more forgiving and the process itself needs to be simpler.

How to use your air-dry clay drip tray

Using the pomegranate tray as a honey drip tray for Rosh Hashanah

I had this in mind as a honey jar tray for Rosh Hashanah, and so I made it in a Rosh Hashanah theme. The size is also perfect for a standard honey jar.

It has plenty of space to rest the honey wand. If you do this, keep in mind that you’ll want to clean it and not leave it sticky overnight to avoid ants. You’ll also need to worry about whether or not your finish is food safe if you use it in direct contact with food.

More fun ways to use it

There are other ways you can use this air-dry clay drip tray!

• As a base for candles
• As a glorified coaster
• Without the rim, it can make a great trivet too
• As a drip tray for salsas and other dips
• As an ashtray (note: make sure materials aren’t flammable)…

This is one of those crafts that follows a simple enough structure that really anything goes!

Coloring and completing your air-dry clay drip tray

The finishing touches are everything, but the way you do them can vary, and there’s no right or wrong way!

How to color it

I chose to use watercolors to paint my air-dry clay drip tray. Watercolors absorb right into the clay, leaving whichever finish you have on the tray very visible. In fact, it tends to gather in any grooves, highlighting them.

That makes watercolors the perfect finish for when you have a texture you want to highlight, and the worst finish for when you have one you don’t want to highlight.

For this air-dry clay drip tray, it was a fabulous way to get a beautiful, mature, and organic finish. However, I did need to work it a few times, and overworking it becomes problematic as it very much wets the clay. (You can read more of my tips for watercolors on air-dry clay here.)

For a more beginner-level finish, you can simply paint it with acrylic paints! This acrylic paint finish sits at the surface and is much more forgiving. You can also mix paints into the wet clay itself if you prefer.

Finishing off with a gilded edge

Gilded edges are a popular design choice for many crafters, and I figured it’s a great way to complete this project, too! It dresses it up a little too!

You can, of course, skip it, or paint your edges a solid color just to add a little interest.

Sealing your air-dry clay drip tray

If you’re using this as a drip tray in real life, you’ll need to seal it. Sealing it with thorough layers of dishwasher-safe Mod Podge or with resin on all sides will allow you to properly hand wash it. You can put it in the dishwasher with Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge; however, I don’t recommend it – it requires 28 days to fully cure to dishwasher safe, and even then, if you missed a microscopic spot, the whole thing will melt…

You can also seal it to make it “wipeable” using other finishes, such as glossy acrylic paint, outdoor Mod Podge, hard acrylic sealers, or clay glaze.

How to make a pomegranate air-dry clay drip tray

Materials used

The supplies list on this one is a bit long, but you should be able to repurpose, pull from what you have already for some of them. I’ve broken it up into sections for which part of the project they’re needed for.

For forming the clay tray

• Air dry clay – I like DAS brand for an easy-to-use and durable finish. Other good brands include Sculpey Air. Crayola will work, too, but I find it to be a bit more brittle.
• The template – download at the end of this post – printed and cut out.
• A rolling pin dedicated to clay
• Clay height guides (thin books of the same height can work)
• A protective surface (I use a large silicone mat)
• A craft or utility knife (I recommend dedicating a cheap one to clay since it gets residue on it).
• A jar with a bit of water
• A small, cheap paintbrush dedicated to clay (or that you can toss after)
• Clay tools (I have this set from DAS)

For finishing your project

• A scrap of coarse sandpaper
• Watercolor paints (I like PRANG’s inexpensive basic palette – it has good, rich color)
• An absorbent watercolor paintbrush
• A bowl or jar of water for your paints
• Optional: a heat gun to expedite drying
• Masking tape
• Gold paint (I used FolkArt Brushed Metal)
• A flat paintbrush for the acrylic paint
• Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge or your favorite sealer for clay

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

Shaping your pomegranate tray

1. Pull off a fistful of clay (about the size of a baseball).

2. Place it on your surface between two clay height guides. Roll it out large enough for your template.

3. Cut out the template and place it on your clay. You may want to move the clay around a little as needed if you need more in some spots to form your pomegranate – just make sure to smush it into the rolled out clay well enough that it becomes part of it, and roll that part out again.

4. Cut around the shape of the template.

5. Pull away the excess clay.

6. Roll the extra into a rope. It shouldn’t be crazy thick – maybe about 8-10mm in thickness – but should be mostly even all the way around. It should be long enough to fit all around your pomegranate – extra is better.

7. Using a craft knife or rake clay tool, distress the edges all around your pomegranate.

8. Paint on some slip (make this by thinning clay with water until it reaches a paste-like consistency).

9. Now comes the most challenging part: creating the rim. Start connecting your coil to the edge using the slip as a “glue”. This will work better if you distress the coil side as well, but that can be challenging and isn’t a must. Smooth the edges together with water as you go along.

10. When you reach the end, trim your coil and distress the ends, connecting the two ends of the coil with a slip as well. Then, using water and a clay tool as needed, smooth the coil into the base.

Work carefully, as while the slip is wet, the coil can shift a bit – if it does, just wiggle it back into place. You can use your tools to get into the corners.

You’re done when all your seams are smoothed together.

11. Allow your air-dry clay drip tray to dry thoroughly on both sides. Depending on atmospheric conditions, you’ll probably want to let each side dry overnight separately. When flipping it to dry back-up, I recommend propping the center so that it doesn’t droop (as it’s not fully dry) – I used paper towels folded to the necessary height to do this.

Finishing off your air-dry clay drip tray

12. When it is totally dry, sand around the base of the tray where you’ll have some spread from the wet clay. No need to go crazy making this perfect – just take off those main pieces that stick out – it should take a minute.

13. Paint your tray! Wet your palettes and mix up some of your favorite shades of red with touches of purple, orange, and yellow.

14. Paint your tray, being careful not to allow too much to pool. If you’d like, you can zap it with a heat gun to help it dry faster. Wait until it’s completely dry before proceeding.

15. When it’s dry, tape off your edges. Use a craft knife to trim the tape in the crown of the pomegranate.

15. Paint a layer or two of gold paint around the edges. This is layer one:

And a second layer gave it a nice, opaque finish.

16. Peel off the tape while the second layer is still wet.

17. When all your paint is totally dry, seal it with two layers of dishwasher-safe Mod Podge (allowing for appropriate dry time in between).

Your air-dry clay drip tray is complete!

Download the free 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. 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.

The post Air Dry Clay Drip Tray – Pomegranate Shaped! appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

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?

The post Rosh Hashanah Mazes – With a Free Pomegranate maze! appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

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.

The post Rosh Hashanah Suncatchers – Free Templates appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

This year, I wanted to share some really cute and functional Rosh Hashanah crafts, and one that I really picked up on was honey wands!

I decided to design my own cute little honey wands by adding clay toppers in Rosh Hashanah themes to basic wood ones. I painted them and sealed them for durability.

I used mini honey wands, but in hindsight, I’d definitely use larger ones! Read on as I go through the process and my tips for making these DIY clay honey servers.

Tips for making DIY clay honey servers

Food safety of your supplies

One of the first challenges with making anything food-adjacent is food safety.

Since it comes in contact with food, you’ll probably want your materials that you use to be food safe.

Disclaimer: I am NOT an expert on food safety and encourage you to do your own research. I am only providing good-faith information based on what I’ve been able to find out.

Generally air air-dry clay remains porous and can harbor bacteria, making it not food-safe. The brand that I used is DAS, which is non-toxic. However, it’s not food grade.

You’ll need to decide if this matters for small contact with honey.

You’ll also need to seal your creation, and you may want to know that the paints and sealants are food safe. Personally, the most important issue here is the sealant (though I do look for non-toxic supplies for the layers underneath, too).

The best option to make a fully food-safe clay honey server would be:

• To seal it with a food-safe resin, such as Alumilite Clear Cast Epoxy resin. The biggest challenge will be getting the right volume and letting it air dry without dripping.
• To leave the bottom part that’ll touch the honey “naked” and undecorated. I recommend this regardless. It can be a bit challenging with a shorter stirrer.

If you’re very concerned about all of this, you can make it purely decorative.

Blending the clay into the dipper base

The next challenge: you need to blend the clay into the base of your dipper to make it look nice. It needs to hold well, so you can’t just plop it on.

This makes it so that more of the handle is covered in clay and paint. If you want to make sure you have more “naked wood” for food safety, use a longer dipper. You can also make standalone toppers with a hole in the base to fit the topper, and then glue it on when you’re done crafting.

Connecting clay parts

Connecting clay parts isn’t as simple as sticking them together – they’re not self-adhesive. The trick to doing this is to distress both sides and then use “slip” – that is, a paste made of clay and water – to glue it together.

It’s very easy to make slip and you can save it from project to project if you store it in an airtight jar.

Since these DIY clay honey servers are shaped using a few small parts, you may want to practice this technique a bit before trying it on the wand.

Finishing things off

A project like this one is all about the finishing touches. The paint is what brings what might otherwise look like “blobs” of shapes to life. Craft acrylics are a win here, and you can add small details (like I did on the bee) using fine-tipped paint markers.

You can bring in a little sophistication with more muted colors than I used and metallic paints.

I finished my design off with UV resin for a high-gloss finish. Of course, this is not food safe and should only be used on the top clay portion, not the part that touches the food.

You can also use clay glaze or a hard finishing Mod Podge (such as Outdoor or Dishwasher Safe) – with the same caveat.

How to make DIY Air Dry Clay Honey Servers

Supplies Needed

• Wood honey wands – I used 3-inch wands, but I recommend getting larger 6-8-inch ones
• Air dry clay – I used DAS brand
• Clay tools – great for helping you shape your clay
• If you don’t have a good tool for distressing clay (making scratches in the surface), have a toothpick handy
• Slip: Make this by mixing a little water into your clay until you have a paste.
• A garbage paintbrush to use with the slip.
• Acrylic paints
• Fine paintbrushes and a palette
• Acrylic paint markers to add smaller details
• Optional: masking tape if you want to block off the portion that’ll touch the honey, not to be affected by the craft for food safety reasons.
• Glaze – see notes above. I used UV resin with a silicone brush and UV lamp

YouTube 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 with Photos

1. If you’d like, before you start, you can “block off” the portion that’ll actually touch the honey at the base – and part of the stick – using masking tape, to keep it food safe.

Start by taking a small ball of clay and sticking it at the top of your honey wand. Figure like you’re making a pencil topper. Smooth it out on the bottom so that it blends with the stick but doesn’t go too close to the dipper part that’ll touch the honey.

2. Flatten it out at the top, creating a surface to add your decoration. Don’t use too much clay since that’ll make it too heavy, but use enough to cover the top and form a flat base.

3. Make your design by creating each of the elements and connecting them. I’ll demonstrate it on the bee, but you can follow the same concepts for the apples and honey and pomegranate.

Form the bee’s body: make an egg shape and pull out the end to form a point.

4. Make two leaf shaped wings.

5. Use a pointed or “rake” tool to distress the connection points on the body of the bee and on the wing – where you’ll be attaching them.

6. Paint a little slip to use as a glue and attach the wings.

Note: I purposely didn’t crop out the pomegranate from these photos – you can see how I propped it and positioned it to allow it to dry correctly.

7. Repeat the process of distressing and gluing with slip to attach the bee to the top of the honey wand – on the clay base that you made.

8. Try different Rosh Hashanah themed motifs! I did a pomegranate (a circle with a “crown”) and an apple and honey (made as an apple from clay – with a leaf – and I’ll paint the honey on.)

Let it dry completely – I recommend giving it overnight, flipping it over, and giving it a second overnight. How long you really need will depend heavily on environmental factors.

9. Paint your designs! Just a little tip: keeping it a flat color won’t look as nice as if you mix things up a bit on a palette and add a little shading.

As you paint, you’ll probably want to paint over the portion where you blended the clay with the wood to make it more seamless. However, for food safety reasons, I do recommend that you don’t go so close to the base. On the bee wand, I can only dip the end, and need to be careful not to get the painted portion in the honey.

If you’d like, add more details using paint markers.

10. When it’s dry, seal your design. I used UV resin on one side at a time and cured it as I went along. It is NOT food safe and should only be used on parts that don’t touch the food.

Your DIY clay honey servers are complete! Which designs will you be making? Comment below!

The post DIY Clay Honey Servers – Dipper Sticks from Air Dry Clay appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

When I plan new crafts for the holidays, I always try to create a balance of more DIY-intensive items, and things that you can do on the fly.

This color-your-own honey wand craft is perfect for quick crafting and a huge variety of age groups. I’ll share all my tips below, including the best supplies to use, crafting it in groups and with younger kids, and more!

Choosing materials for this honey wand craft

The honey stirrers

I purchased these honey stirrers to make this DIY etched glass honey dish into, well, a honey dish.

They are small and were purchased to fit inside the jar with the lid shut (bye, ants!) They offer quite a small working area. If you want to offer more opportunities for decorating, you can purchase larger ones as well.

Wood is a pretty, affordable, absorbent material that holds markers well, and so I recommend sticking to that.

Which markers should you use?

I used Ohuhu’s double-tipped acrylic paint markers for this. That allows me to add both finer and broader detail.

It’s also an affordable option when putting this out for a group.

I did also test the craft using Sharpies, and yes, it’ll work! You don’t get the same opaque color, but it works great and is another affordable option, especially when crafting with younger kids.

You can even use washable markers such as Crayola Supertips on this, however, it’s much more likely to leech when finishing or if it gets wet. An initial test did not produce any smudges.

I don’t recommend paint sticks for a project like this, as it doesn’t absorb into the wood like other materials do. And while acrylic paint is a great option, it can get messy, and you don’t want it to get on the “edible” parts.

Sealing it

A project is always more secure once it’s been sealed, but it’s really not a must. In the process, I recommend covering up the parts that get close to the actual honey with tape to protect them. When crafting food-adjacent items, you always want to make sure that parts that touch the food are food-safe.

There are loads of wood sealers (look for butcher block sealers) that are food safe. I’m not sure how well they’d perform over paint. However, you can first seal your paint and then go over the whole thing with an additional sealer.

I used Mod Podge to seal mine just over the paint. You can use clear resin for a more professional finish that is food safe (if you use a food-safe resin, such as Alumilite ClearCast). Then, you can go over the whole thing – just don’t put too much over the server part so that you close off those ridges!

Color-your-own Honey Wand craft tips by crafter-type

Creating it in a group

This honey wand craft is so fabulous for group crafting, because you can just spread out supplies and let people craft with little instruction.

Set out a good selection of markers and honey stirrers and a few sample patterns, and watch how creative people get! You may want to cover up the stirrer part with tape in advance so that people don’t color over those – unless you plan to seal the whole thing in a food-safe finish for them.

The tricky part will be sealing it for group crafts. You can skip that part, share tips for how to do it with your crowd (a small handout works great), or have them leave their craft for finishing on your part.

Making it with young kids

When crafting with young kids, it’s harder to work with very specific instructions. So the whole food safe/sealing bit will go over their heads.

I recommend just letting them have fun with it, covering up the bottom portion in advance. You’ll also probably want to offer full-sized honey stirrers instead of the mini ones that I used to make it easier for their more primitive fine motor skills and give them more surface area to color away from the serving point.

Big Kid & Adult crafting tips

For older kids and adults, you can really get creative (and seal it properly).

Try this:

• Write “Shanah Tovah” along the wand handle.
• Go beyond patterns into images – pomegranates, apples, bees, or even a “honeycomb” print.
• Personalize it with the family name.
• Personalize them as name cards for each spot, like I did for this Rosh Hashanah tablescape

That’s just a few ideas – there are so many others where these came from!

How to make this color your own honey wand craft

Supplies needed

• Wood honey wands – I used these, but you can go for bigger ones
• Paint markers
• Masking tape
• Mod Podge or a food-safe sealer
• Paintbrush

YouTube 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. Especially if crafting this with young kids, tape off the parts that should not be painted.

2. Draw your design. I recommend mixing larger filled areas with finer details.

3. Important: allow your paint to dry completely before proceeding, or it’ll smudge. Gently paint over it with Mod Podge (or a food-safe sealer).

Peel off the tape when you’re done – and your color-your-own honey wand craft is complete!

DIY Honey Wand Craft

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $10

Color your own honey wand to make a super fun craft for Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year!

Print

Materials

• Wood honey wands
• Paint markers
• Masking tape
• Mod Podge or a food-safe sealer
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Especially if crafting this with young kids, tape off the parts that should not be painted.

2. Draw your design. I recommend mixing larger filled areas with finer details.

3. Important: allow your paint to dry completely before proceeding, or it'll smudge. Gently paint over it with Mod Podge (or a food-safe sealer).

Peel off the tape when you're done - and your color-your-own honey wand craft is complete!

Notes

I used Ohuhu's double-tipped acrylic paint markers for this. That allows me to add both finer and broader detail.

I used Mod Podge to seal mine just over the paint. You can use clear resin for a more professional finish that is food safe (if you use a food-safe resin, such as Alumilite). Then, you can go over the whole thing - just don't put too much over the server part so that you close off those ridges!

When creating in a group, set out a good selection of markers and honey stirrers and a few sample patterns, and watch how creative people get! You may want to cover up the stirrer part with tape in advance so that people don't color over those - unless you plan to seal the whole thing in a food-safe finish for them.

For older kids and adults, you can really get creative (and seal it properly).

Try this:

• Write "Shanah Tovah" along the wand handle.
• Go beyond patterns into images - pomegranates, apples, bees, or even a "honeycomb" print.
• Personalize it with the family name.
• Personalize them as name cards for each spot, like I did for this Rosh Hashanah tablescape

Did you make this project?

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

The post Color Your Own Honey Wand Craft appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.