Home Decor-Jewish Style:

Hi All!

It's Aliza here. I hope you are all enjoying your summer, and that you are getting a chance to relax. Me, not so much, yet. But in a few more days I'll be finished with work (teaching), and then it's off to Israel for seven weeks! During that time, we plan to spend time with family, see the country, celebrate my son's Bar Mitzvah, and I am dreaming of some down time in which to craft, craft, craft. My mom already covered her dining room table so I can scrapbook there. Thanks, Mom!

I'm glad I got to whip up this little number for you all before the big trip. Can't you just see it hanging in a small child's room?

I used papers and elements from the Chanukah and Rosh Hashana collection, and I love the way the blues and oranges complement each other (really, they say nice things to each other all the time). The Hebrew font is Pecan_Sonc_Hebrew Regular. I use it all the time.

Here's to great summer! Enjoy!

-Aliza

Happy Summer

Can you believe it's the first full day of summer and I'm still scrapping my Passover photos? This photos are from the seder at my in-laws apartment in New York City. The photos are poor because the light was streaming in through the window, but you can still get a glimpse of their beautiful view. We don't take photos during the ceremony so we take a nice posed photo before we sit down.

I used lots of glue dots to hold the pleats in the ribbon. It's an easy way to add some dimension and a fun look.

Have a great summer and keep checking back for Hanukkah in July!

Yom Ha'Atzmaut

Okay, I should've posted this ages ago but I've had some serious scanner problems so I figure better late than never, right? 

My daughter's school does something big for Yom Ha'Atzmaut every year.  The past few years it's been a fundraising jog-a-thon.  This year, they students ran to "cities" in Israel.  An obstacle course was set up all over campus and the kids had to run to Eilat, Masada, Kirya Shmona, Haifa, Tel Aviv and everyone ran the final lap into Jerusalem.  At each city, the kids had their passport punched and tried to get to each city at least three times. 

I liked using the Hanukkah papers because of the perfect blue and white colors of the Israeli flag.  I was able to take one of the elements of the borders sheet, cover up the "celebrate the lights" line so that it was usable for another event.  A little vellum for journaling and it was a perfect way to share the story. 

Folded Flower Tutorial

Hey it is Cassie.  I was just stopping by to show you how to make these great folded flowers.  They are easy to make and use only tools that most paper crafters have on hand. 

You will need:

• double sided patterned paper or cardstock (you can also ink or mist the back of single sided patterned paper)
• a circle punch or other circle cutter (any size will do, but the bigger the circles the bigger the flower)
• adhesive 
• a button, gem or other center for the flower.

Step 1:

Using your punch or circle cutter cut out 8 identical circles from your paper or card stock.  Remember the larger the circles the bigger your flower will be and vice versa.  If you want to ink the flower or to add some distressing now is the time to do it.  Just ink and distress the circles.

Step 2:

For each circle fold the circle in half. 

Step 3:

 Unfold the circle and then fold it in half the other way so the other fold line crosses the center of the first.


Step 4:

Unfold the circle again.  There should now be 4 sections to the circle  In the bottom 2 sections of the circle fold the curve in till it makes a straight line on the bottom.  The line should go to just the edge of the two fold lines of that section.

Step 5:

Flip the circle over onto it's back and then fold the flat lines you just folded into the center line of the circle until they meet in the middle.  This will be one of your petals.  Repeat all these steps on each of your circles to get all 8 petals. 

Step 6:

 Using your adhesive pace one flower petal on your project.  In a progression around the circle continue to add one petal at a time directly next to the another one.  Take care to put the petals end to end and not to leave too much space between the petals or to squish then together too closely.  This will ruin the spacing of your flower and you may not be able to fit all your petals in correctly.  Continue until all petals are on your project and your flower is complete.

Add the desired center to your flower with some adhesive and your flower is ready to go.

Celebrate Shavuot with Crafting Jewish Style

On Shavuot it is customary to decorate the synagogue and one's home with flowers to commemorate the way Mount Sinai was abloom with flowers when the Torah was given. I love flowers so this is a great excuse for me to decorate without restraint! Aside for the traditional vase of flowers ( I especially love to cut flowers from the garden-aren't the peonies beautiful?) on the holiday table, I like to scatter arrangements and small bouquets throughout the house. Sticking small sprigs of flowers or greens into drinking glasses, or other interesting containers, and leaving them on night tables or windowsills, add a small spot of color and holiday cheer throughout the house.




Since Shavuot begins tomorrow night we have the perfect project, for this beautiful holiday, that is quick and decorative. Here is a lovely way to get the kids involved in the holiday prep with an out of the ordinary flower arrangement display. It is also a wonderful way to present a bouquet if your gifting flowers to family or friends!

HANGING FLOWER CONE WITH DECORATIVE TISSUE PAPER ROSETTE TUTORIAL



Here's what you will need:

Scrapbook paper
scissors
stapler or double sided tape
glue stick or tape runner
hole punch
ribbon
tissue paper
optional-circle punch
foam or glue dots dots




FLOWER CONE

1. Roll one sheet of scrapbook paper into a cone shape. Staple together and trim the top of the cone.Bend the pointed bottom of the cone up toward the back and tape or staple so that the bottom should be flat.

2. Punch holes in either side of the cone and thread a length of ribbon through it. Knot in place.

3. Embellish the cone to your liking.

This simple paper cone can be dressed up with any sort of embellishments and/or trim.
So as not to detract from the beauty of the flowers, we kept it simple by adding a paper band around the upper part of the cone and affixing a tissue paper rosette to the center with foam dots.




TISSUE PAPER ROSETTE

1. Cut a length of tissue paper approximately 2 feet long and two inches wide. Fold the tissue paper in half width wise.

2. Fold the tissue paper into half or a quarter inch pleats. (See photo of supplies.)
as you fold the tissue paper will naturally curve into a circular shape.

3. Punch a circle out of scrapbooking paper and cover the back of it with a thin layer of glue or adhesive. Gently attach the folded tissue paper to the back of the circle. You my need to tuck it in, in some places, so that the folds lie properly.




This rosette is a great embellishment for cards, layouts or even attached to a skewer or toothpick as a cupcake topper. Here's a quick card I made using this technique. I attached the folded tissue paper to the back of a cardstock sticker. A folded small length of ribbon was added as well to make it look like mini "winning ribbon".




We wish you all a Chag Sameach!

Click here for more information about Shavuot and some super recipes! (Cheesecake anyone?)

We'd love to hear how you celebrate and decorate for Shavuot.
Leave us some feedback-any tips, recipes and pictures are always appreciated!