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!