Hanukkah in a Jar

Any which way you spell it, the Festival of Lights will be here before you know it.  This year, Chanukah begins Sunday night, December 6.  It's just three weeks away, but you have plenty of time to create unique Chanukah decor and gifts. 

One of the most popular projects on my blog is "Chanukah-in-a-Jar." So, I thought I would share it again.

I used a clear plastic pail 6" tall with a 4" diameter.  It has a lid and handle, which lends itself nicely for attaching colorful ribbons and tags.  However, you can also use a mason jar or repurposed spaghetti sauce or jam jar.  You just want to be sure it's tall enough to hold the Menorah candles.

Start by gathering craft supplies to embellish the container. Go through your stash or stroll down the craft aisles looking for printed and solid scrapbook or gift wrapping paper, ribbon, punches, stamps, ink, tags, charms, metal labels, etc.  

 

Cut a strip of cardstock 2" x 18".  If using 12" x 12" paper, cut two pieces and tape them together.  Then cut a coordinating piece of printed or gift wrap paper to 1-1/2" x 18."  Using tape adhesive, tape these two pieces together, one on top of the other.  Adhere ribbon to center of strip.

Using 2-1/2" circle punch, cut a circle with glitter paper.  Punch out two smaller circles (I used a scalloped punch, too) from the solid cardstock.  Stamp image on smaller circle.

Adhere long strips to pail.  Then adhere the circles to the pail, covering up the seams.  (This then becomes the front of the pail.)

Using varied textures and widths, tie 6" strands of coordinating ribbon to handle.  Cover the center of the lid with paper using decoupage sealer.  When dry, adhere label printed on cardstock and metal label holder to lid.  Tie charm to metal holder.

Stamp "Happy Hanukkah" and "To/From" images on tags.

You can find wooden dreidels at most party stores or in the Hanukkah section of your local large store this time of year.  Punch or cut a 1-1/4" square from coordinating paper.  Punch a small hole in center of the paper square, which will fit over the dreidel stem. Decoupage to dreidel top.

Then choose the "ingredients" for your jar.  Include:

[Box of] 44 menorah candles 

(enough candles for each night), 

the large dreidel, 

small box of matches

[embellished to match]

chocolate gelt, and

candle blessings. 

For the Chanukah blessings, I printed the Hebrew, transliteration and translation on both sides of a 4" x 6" cardstock, rolled it up and tied it with blue & white twine.

Arrange the candles and other "ingredients" inside the pail. 

That's it!

Here is the completed Chanukah-in-a-Jar:

If you would like a copy of the blessings document, leave a comment with your email, and I will send it to you.

These Chanukah-in-a-Jar make great gifts for children, grandchildren, teachers as well as hostess gifts.

While you're in the festive handmade spirit, 

you may also like these holiday projects:

Display your Menorah Candles in Style

Add Color to your Blue & White Decor

Sharing at these linky parties:

Romantic Home

Diana Rambles Pin Me Linky Party

Life as We Know It

Be My Valentine

I l.o.v.e. this time of year. 

Rainy days, hot popcorn,

catching up on movies,

and

crafting!

Right around early February, I invite friends over for a Valentine's craft-fest, also known as Creative Therapy!  I provide inspiration and all the supplies they need to create an altered art project. 

Next week we're going to make this adorable Valentine's gift, embellished with ribbon, rub-ons, wood hearts, tags, stamps and, of course, CHOCOLATE!  [I thought that would get your attention.]

Starting with a plain tin "take-out" style box (which comes in red, white and silver), I added an "only YOU" rub-on to the front of the container. Then I glued a wooden red heart to the clasp that locks the lid in place. I found some puffy stickers, and adhered a "Be My Valentine" sticker on this heart.

Ribbon adds so much color and texture to a project.  I gathered a combination of red, white and black ribbons, and tied about a dozen 5" strands to the handle.

Then I stamped "sealed with a kiss" onto a circle tag, embossed it, and tied it to the handle as well.

The last step is adding the chocolate kisses! I lined the bottom of the tin with shredded paper, and then filled it to the top with red & silver Hershey Kisses. 

I got a GREAT DEAL: when the holiday candy went on sale [50-75% off], I bought several large bags. After eating removing the green pieces, I used the red & silver wrapped kisses for this Valentine's project. [No one will be the wiser.]   If there are any leftovers, I'll save the green kisses for St. Patrick's Day!

The best part of these craft-fests is that everyone has their own style when it comes to choosing their ribbons and embellishments.  This means that every project looks different, making it truly unique.  I love spending a few hours together with my friends while we relax, chat, and craft.  Creative Therapy is just what the doctor ordered!

 What are your crafting plans over the next few weeks?

Want more Valentine's ideas? 

I [Heart] You Mailbox

 

You Had Me at Hello

A Coordinated Ensemble

Find me having fun at these linky parties

and

Life With Lorelai Home Matters

French Country Cottage

Art is Beauty

Organized 31

I Gotta Create

From My Front Porch to Yours

Knick of Time Vintage Inspiration Party

Fox Hollow Cottage

Cupcakes & Crinoline

Whipperberry valentines-day-link-party

One She Two She

An Original Belle

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

They say you can take the girl out of the country, but you cannot take the country out of the girl.  Well, in this case, the city.  You can take me out of San Francisco, but you can never take San Francisco out of this girl.  Or something like that.  Let me explain it better with an altered art project.

Recently, as you baseball fans all know, the San Francisco Giants won swept the 2012 World Series.  It was an exciting week, as long as you were rooting for the orange and black uniforms.  To celebrate their win, I created a keepsake using a recycled tin can and a few embellishments...and chocolate kisses. 

I used the same technique as my Pull Tab in Case of Chocolate Emergency altered can.  This project is easily adaptable to any sports team, holiday or event!  It's very easy.  Start with a can of pineapple chunks, soup, beans, or whatever canned food you have around the house.  Be sure the can's bottom has the sharp edge just like the top.  Turn the can UPSIDE DOWN, and using a can opener, remove the BOTTOM "lid."  Eat the contents, then wash the can really well and let air dry.



I used black cardstock paper and a Giants logo that I printed off  their website.  I decoupaged the paper and the logo onto the can, remembering to work UPSIDE DOWN.  I'm repeating this base on experience because it's easy to forget that the bottom will be the top when you are finished.

Since it's Autumn, I found a package of chocolate kisses that were orange, silver and red.  I knew the orange and silver ones would be great as they match the Giants colors.  What to do with the leftover red ones?  Save them for a later project!  [Who am I kidding?  Just eat them.]

I decided to make several of these Giants cans, so I only filled half of the can and used white shredded paper to fill the remaining space.

 

Then glue the "bottom" lid back on.  Last time I made these cans, I used hot glue, but the lid didn't lay flat.  This time, I used the decoupage medium, and held the lid in place for a few minutes.  It created a perfect seal.  No one will be the wiser.  That's the fun thing about this gift.  The recipient will not know how the chocolate got into the "un-opened" can.

Then I added embellishments including orange & white twine [found in the craft aisle for a dollar at WalMart], foam baseball, bat and cap [found an entire package at the grocery store in their dollar bin].  The decoupage worked great for adhering the embellishments as well as sealing the can.  I tied a large orange ribbon to the tab, but felt it needed one more embellishment.

 

 I stamped "SF" onto a small white tag

and tied the tag onto the ribbon.

My niece is a huge fan of the Giants, so I'm going to send this altered can to her.  Maybe in return she'll send me a 2012 Giants World Series baseball cap.  Let's see if she reads my blog!

Editor's Note: 

If you're reading this post in or after September 2013, it is safe to say our beloved San Francisco Giants [will] clinch the division title again...this time, for last place [sigh]. #toomuchpressure

You might also like this project:

Father's Day Photo Canvas

Partying with: Organized31, I Gotta Create, restoration redoux throwback thursday, 733 blog, Making the World Cuter Monday, The DIY Show Off, The Girl Creative, Thrifty Decor Chick, Sarah Dawn Designs Pintastic Monday, Today's Creative Blog, The Gunny Sack, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Home Stories A to Z, Blackberry Vine, A Bowl Full of Lemons, So I Married a Craft Blogger, Sugar Bee Crafts, Romance on a Dime TIOT, Young and Crafty,Polka Dot Giraffe, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Uncommon Designs, Two Yellow Birds Decor, Someday Crafts Whatever goes Wed., Saving 4 Six Think Tank Thursday, I Gotta Create Wildly Original Linky Party, Momnivores Dilemma Creative Juice Thursday, House of Hepworths, Glued to My Crafts Thursday Obsessions