Passover Crafts

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Fun holiday crafts for the whole family.

Excerpted from Crafting Jewish: Fun holiday crafts and party ideas for the whole family.

1. Seder plate

The Seder plate holds pride of place at the Seder table. Here's your chance to create your own modern-day heirloom.

What you will need:

  • glass charger or serving plate
  • 5-lb. bag of sea glass pieces, found in the floral decorating section of craft stores and WalMart
  • E6000 adhesive
  • paper towel
  • small plates or bowls

How to do it:
1. Working with a 2-inch section at a time, spread a thin layer of glue on the plate's upper rim. Glue down the glass shards, fitting them together in an artistic pattern. Continue gluing on more pieces in the same manner until the rim is completely covered. You will need to hold down the glass for a few seconds so that the pieces don't slide around.

2. For a second layer, spread a small amount of glue on the back of each piece and attach it to the top of the first layer. You can add as many layers as you like in the same manner.

3. Clean up any glue drips with a damp paper towel. (The glue gums up and can be pulled off easily.) Let dry for at least 24 hours before using.

4. Place small plates or bowls onto your seder plate to hold the symbolic foods.

Note: Hand-wash after use.
Estimated time: 30 minutes – 45 minutes
Drying time: at least 24 hours

2. Afikomen bag

Quick! Hide the afikomen!
At the seder, it's traditional for a piece of the middle matzah, called the afikomen, to be hidden by either the head of the Seder or by the children participating. In either case, when the matzo is found or returned, the children receive (or are promised) a gift. This is all done in good spirits, to keep the children interested in the seder until the end, when the afikomen is eaten. Hide the afikomen in this beautiful bag that can be crafted to match your seder pillow — and let the fun begin!

What you will need:

  • 1/4-yard polar fleece
  • (we used the leftover fabric from the pillow on page 170)

  • tape measure
  • pencil
  • pinking shears
  • needle and thread
  • sharp scissors
  • 26" length of 1/2-wide ribbon
  • 2 tassels
  • sequins or rhinestones, optional
  • craft or fabric glue, optional

How to do it:
1. Measure and mark a 9"x22" rectangle on the back of the fleece. Cut out with pinking shears.

2. Fold the fleece in the middle, lengthwise, with the right side facing in. (If you are using fleece without a pattern, there is no right or wrong side; just make sure that the pencil marks are on the outside.) It should form a 9"x11" pouch.

3. With the needle and thread, or sewing machine, stitch the fleece together to form a pouch, leaving the top open.

4. Fold the top of the fleece pouch down so that there is a 1" cuff around the top.

5. Use your sharp scissors to cut 1/4"-deep slits into the fold of the cuff, cutting through both layers at the same time. Cut 9 slits spaced 1" apart around the top of the pouch. Unfold the cuff.

6. Turn the pouch right-side-out. Thread the ribbon through the slits. Knot a tassel to each of the ribbon ends.

Optional: Decorate the front of the bag by gluing on rhinestones and/or sequins with craft glue or fabric glue.

Estimated time: 30 minutes – 45 minutes

3. Matzo tray

On Pesach there is always a stack of matzot on the table during the holiday meals.
This etched-glass matzo tray is a beautiful holder for the matzot everyone loves to eat.

Please note all the precautions listed on the bottle of etching cream before using it.
Always wear gloves when you're handling the etching cream, wear an old shirt or apron, and work in a well-ventilated room. Be sure to store the etching cream away from small children.

What you will need:

  • large round or square glass plate or charger
  • contact paper or printer sticker paper, or die-cut sticker letters and design (we used the Provo Craft Cricut machine)
  • permanent marker
  • scissors
  • disposable gloves
  • etching cream, such as Armour Etch
  • 1"-wide foam paintbrush
  • paper towels
  • How to do it:
    1. Photocopy the matzo word template and design (page 262) onto the printer sticker paper. Or, photocopy the template onto regular paper, cut out the letters and design, and trace the cut-outs with a permanent marker onto contact paper. Or, use die-cut sticker letters and design.

    2. Carefully cut out the letters and design so that the edges are smooth, and arrange on the front of the plate. When you are satisfied with the layout, peel off the backing and rub the cut-out letters and design onto the plate so hat they stick firmly. Smooth out any air bubbles with your fingers.

    3. Put on the disposable gloves. Following the instructions on the bottle of etching cream, brush a thick coat of etching cream onto the entire front of the plate, covering the letters and design completely. Let set for five minutes.

    4. Wearing the gloves, wash the plate under running water to remove the Armour Etch from the plate, and peel off all the stickers. Make sure there is no trace of etching cream left on the plate. Be sure to wear gloves when washing the paintbrush, as well, or discard brush without washing.

    5. Dry the plate with paper towels.

    Note: Hand-wash only.
    Estimated time: 45 minutes

    4. Matching game with the Plagues

    The plagues with which the Egyptians were punished
    because they would not allow the Jews to leave Egypt are called the makot.
    This fun matching game will help children remember the names of the plagues
    as well as what happened to the Egyptians during that time.

    This game is quick and easy to make as well as to play. Laminating the cards
    will make them more durable; this can be done at a local copy shop.

    What you will need:

  • 3 (8 1/2"x11") sheets white cardstock or thick paper
  • 3 (12"x12") sheets colored cardstock or scrapbook paper
  • scissors
  • markers
  • glue stick
  • How to do it:
    1. Fold one sheet of white paper in half. Then fold the paper in half and then in half again. Unfold the paper. The folds will have divided the paper into 8 equal rectangles.

    2. Repeat step one with the other two papers. Cut out the rectangles; you will only need 20, so there will be four extra.

    3. Draw a picture of a different plague on ten of the rectangles or download a clip art picture from your computer and glue to rectangles.

    4. Write or print the Hebrew and English names of each plague on the other ten rectangles.

    5. Fold the 12"x12" papers in the same manner that you did the white paper. Cut out the colored rectangles.

    6. Center each white rectangle on each colored rectangle and glue into place, centering the white rectangles so that a colored border is visible.

    Optional: Have the cards laminated at a copy shop or office center. Punch a hole in the top right corner of each card and place on a metal ring for storage.

    Note: The makot cards pictured here were made using color copies of illustrations in the ArtScroll Children's Haggadah; used with permission.

    Estimated time: 45 minutes

    Click here to purchase your copy of Crafting Jewish.

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