Display Your Menorah Candles in Style

You might think Chanukah is early this year.  However, it's right on time, like it is every year!  According to the Jewish Calendar, Chanukah is always the 25th day of Kislev, which this year coincides with this coming Saturday, December 8th. 

 

It seems to change every year because the Jewish Calendar takes into account both the cycles of the moon and the sun.  To make up the difference between the solar year, which is 365 days, and the lunar year, which is 354 days, the Jewish Calendar adds one extra "leap month" about 7 times every 19 years.  I agree--that's a lot of math to calculate.  Since it's been awhile since my algebra class, let's just move on to the craft project!

 

It's always wonderful to polish the beautiful silver menorah and dust off the colorful ceramic Chanukiot.  However, have you ever thought how drab the store-bought box of candles looks sitting next to the beautiful menorahs?  

 

Here is a crafty way to display your menorah candles in style. 

 

In addition to a box of Chanukah candles, you will need the following supplies:

 

- Libbey 4" x 4" square glass votive holder
- Scrapbook Paper or Gift Wrap
- Ribbon
- Flowers
- Buttons
- Dreidel or Menorah Charm
- Tag punch or ready-made tags
- Chanukah stamps
- Ink Pad
- Mod Podge & brush
- Strong double-sided adhesive tape

Instructions:

Make a template measuring 1-1/2" wide x 13-1/2" long, creating a slight arch. The paper band must arch to accommodate the width difference between the top and bottom circumference of the glass. Wrap the template around the glass to be sure it fits, overlapping the ends. 

Trace the template onto a 12" x 12" scrapbook paper, angling the template to fit the paper and cut out along your traced markings. To save paper, you can cut two sections and piece them together, adding an extra 1/2" for overlap.

Mod Podge the paper band and let dry. Using good adhesive, adhere band to the glass, gently pulling it taut, and overlap the ends. 

Embellish the candle holder using ribbon, flowers, charms, die cuts and stamped images on punched out tags.

Place the candles inside the glass holder, and you have a beautiful way to display the menorah candles throughout the eight nights.

 

These make wonderful hostess gifts. Wrap the entire candle holder with clear cellophane. Tie with ribbon and a matching tag, and it's ready to go!

And for those of you who like to plan ahead of time, next year we will be eating latkes for Thanksgiving, as the 25th of Kislev falls the day before Turkey Day.  Oy!

For those of you celebrating Chanukah, wishing you and your family a very Happy Chanukah full of beautiful light and miracles!


Sharing this holiday project at these parties:

French Country Cottage
Ginger Snap Crafts
Practically Functional 

Keeping it Simple Crafts
A Bowl Full of Lemons
Sewing Barefoot
I Should be Mopping the Floor
Or So She Says

Twigg Studios
Two Yellow Birds
From my Porch to Yours
SNAP!
Jann Olson
Yesterday on Tuesday
Katherine's Corner
House of Hepworth's
Night Owl Crafting
Mine for the Making
Beyond the Picket Fence
Bloom Designs
One Artsy Mama
Answer is Chocolate
My Repurposed Life
Life as We Know It by Paula
504 Main
The Thriftiness Miss
Craftionary
Serenity Now
I Gotta Create
Crafty Scrappy Happy
Alderberry Hill
Doodles & Stitches
Shaken Together
clean and scentsible
This Gal Cooks
The Chicken Chick
Cupcakes & Crinoline
Three Mango Seeds
It's so Very Cheri
Setting for Four
barns and noodles

 

Chanukah Project #4: Not Your Blue & White Tray

Growing up in San Francisco, our winters didn't consist of "dashing through the snow" or making snow angels -- we tried, but there's not a lot one can make out of dense fog.  Unless, of course, you can blow smoke rings out of the chilly air.

One of our favorite things to do, however, was count the Christmas trees we passed while riding here and there.  The holiday trees were so colorful, especially the ones that sat on a turntable, rotating beautiful colors around the window panes.  

We celebrated the eight nights of Chanukah.  Instead of colorful lights, we decorated our home with just two colors: blue & white.  Blue & white hanging dreidels, blue & white tablecloths, blue and white lights around the living room bookcase...you name it, our decor was simple.  

Even gift wrap could only be found in shades of blue and white. Or maybe, silver, if you looked hard enough.

Chanukah decor has changed over the last few decades. Now Chanukah comes in every color imaginable. Gift wrap, menorahs, decorations, tableware, and spinning dreidels come in bright pinks, greens, yellows and more.

So I decided to alter a mundane wooden serving tray in the new "Chanukah colors."   I found bright fuchsia gift wrap in my Chanukah box.  It was perfect. 

I painted the tray with two coats of a dark pink/fuchsia color.  I cut a piece of gift wrap to fit snugly inside the tray and adhered it with "the Podge."  When dry to the touch, I covered it with another coat of MP.  This got me thinking...so I made a tile coaster to match.  (When I have time, I will make another one to match.)

 My tray is ready for company. 

This tray would also make a great surface for playing spin the dreidel.  Which leads me to a question.  When we were kids, we played for a pot of hazelnuts.  When my children were younger, they played for pennies or chocolate gelt.  What do you play for in your home?

Is Chanukah Early This Year?

If you think Chanukah is early this year, you are absolutely right.  And if you think Chanukah is the same time as always, you are also right!

How can both these statements be true?  It's because Jewish holidays are celebrated by the lunar calendar.  Chanukah is always the 25th of Kislev.  Because the lunar calendar has an extra leap MONTH every four years, compared to the secular calendar's extra DAY, the Jewish holidays fall at different times on the secular calendar.  

This year, we begin celebrating Chanukah on the evening of December 1st.  Is your menorah ready?  And equally important, is your furniture protected from the hot wax which will no doubt drip from the burning candles onto the tabletop?  In the "olden days," we placed pieces of foil under our beautiful menorahs.  Although now you can buy acrylic trays and vinyl placemats, they aren't very festive.  So, why not make one that is both festive and uniquely yours? 

Plain, inexpensive charger

Start with an inexpensive, plain silver charger.  (For some reason, it looks gold in this photo.)  I chose a pretty Amy Butler blue and taupe scrapbook paper, and cut a circle the same size as the charger center.  I decoupaged the inside center of the platter and the back of the paper, and adhered the paper to the charger.  

I then scoured my sticker file and picked out some shimmery black letters to spell "Happy Chanukah".  To personalize it, I spelled our family name and year established (our wedding year).   You can spell the names of your children, pets, or write anything you want.  This would also make a wonderful gift for Saba & Safta or your Bubbe and Zayte.  This is also a great project for your children to create for their own menorah.

Using azure and black Staz-on ink, I stamped flourishes and menorah designs on the outer edge of the charger.  I accented the flourishes with tiny silver bead rhinestones.  I also added a coordinating oval shape that I punched from the same paper.  It is hard to see it in the photo, but I added a sticker that reads "festival of lights", which I adhered on top of the oval.  Seal the entire charger with several coats of Mod Podge.  

Where are the candles?

 Here is the completed menorah plate, ready for the kindling of the candles.  

Now where did I put those candles?

Happy Chanukah!

I'm linked up to:

Project Queen Holiday Craft Tutorial Party

 

Creative Therapy

Some call it arts & crafts.  Others say it's time well spent.  I call it creative therapy.

Whatever the name, Altered Artworks provides workshops in a warm, creative environment, giving you the opportunity to awaken your creative muse.  With our busy lives going in many directions at the same time, pause to treat yourself to some creative therapy.

Choose from a variety of altered art projects:  a beautiful clipboard with coordinating pad of paper and over-sized note holder; ceramic tile coaster set, crystal candle holder complete with wonderfully-scented candle, two-panel canvas photo frames, desktop notepad & pen set, personalized journal and a decorative photo box.  View pictures of projects on the right sidebar of this page.  Click on any photo to enlarge it and view the detail.

Each project begins as a plain, bare item.  One embellishment at a time, you will transform this item into a beautiful and useful piece of artwork.  Everything you need is included in the price of the workshop including a selection of designer papers, acrylic paints, ribbons, buttons, metal embellishments, flowers, tags and charms.  You choose your own materials, making each art piece personal and original.

What transpires is Creative Therapy!  Located in the West San Fernando Valley, these workshops are just what you need to get away from it all (for at least three hours anyway). Reservations are a must as space is limited to 8 people per workshop.  Classes are held on selected Friday mornings 10 AM -1 PM and Sunday afternoons 1-4 PM.  In addition, if you get together at least four people, you can plan your own private workshop tailored to your creative needs. Planning a bridal shower?  Make some great votive holders using the bride's wedding colors.  In a book club group? Create reading journals to keep tabs on books and meeting dates. Need a special birthday gift for your BFF? Make a decorative clipboard to coordinate with her office or kitchen.

With the holidays approaching (yikes, already?), it's time to think of all those special people in your life who will appreciate a handmade gift that is useful and doesn't need dusting!  These altered artwork items make great gifts for teachers, coaches, hairdressers, work associates, family and friends.  Once you make it, however, you might want to keep it for yourself, so come and make two!

To register for workshops and get more information, email Doreen at dozeedo@gmail.com.  Looking forward to sharing creative moments together!
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