It’s time for. . . sukkah decorations!

No, we didn’t skip a page on our calendars. We know that Sukkot is still six weeks away.

BUUUUUT, those six weeks will fly by as school starts, and Rosh Hashanah approaches. So, if your kids are getting bored in the waning weeks of summer or are stuck inside on a rainy day, Sukkot projects may be the perfect activity.

We’ve put together a list of six DIY projects using inexpensive, easy-to-find materials you may already have at home.

DIY SUKKOT SCRATCH-OFF ART

Some kids call this “black magic!”

Supplies:

• 8 x 10 paper or cardstock

• Markers

• Black crayons

• Stylus, skewer, or toothpick

• Small Hebrew letter stencils (You can make them yourself by printing the letters and cutting them out.)

1. With the markers, completely cover a piece of paper with different colored stripes or designs.

2. Use a black crayon to completely cover the paper with a thick black layer. It may help to peel the wrapper off the crayon and rub it on its side.

3. Take your pointy object and trace and fill the letters of a Sukkot saying on your paper. (For example, ברוכים הבאים or ושמחת בחגך) When you scratch off the black crayon, the colorful bottom marker layer will show through.

SCHACH BUBBLE PAINTING

This art technique is loads of fun. Just make sure your kids know how to blow out instead of suck in!

Supplies:

• Cardstock paper

• Dish soap

• Green and brown tempera paint

• Straw

• Scissors

• Glue

1. In a shallow pan or bowl, mix two parts dish soap, two parts tempera paint, and one part water.

2. Using a straw, BLOW into the bowl until you have a crown of green bubbles. (It’s VERY important to blow, not suck! You can have the kids practice by blowing bubbles in milk.)

3. Gently place paper on top of the bubbles to make a print.

4. Once the paper dries, cut into large leaf shapes.

5. Use the brown paint to make sukkah walls and glue the leaves on top. Now get creative! Add mini-decorations or a picture of a family eating.

Variations:

● Make the leaves different fall colors. Use a separate paint/soap mixture for each color.

● Use this same technique and cut the paper into the letters of a Sukkot saying.

SUKKOT SCENE FOIL ETCHING

This project is simple to do but produces a WOW effect.

Supplies:

• Foil (If you have time to plan ahead, you can order special craft foil. If not, heavy-duty aluminum foil will work.)

• Masking tape

• Pen or sharp object like a skewer

• Sharpies (optional)

1. Print or draw a Sukkot picture. Keep it simple; black and white line drawings like these work best.

2. Cut a piece of foil slightly larger on all sides than your picture.

3. Lay the foil flat, keeping it as wrinkle-free as possible. Put the picture on the foil and gently tape it down with masking tape.

4. Trace the picture, pressing down firmly with your pen or sharp object.

5. Untape the picture and lift it up. Admire your etching! You can color it with Sharpies or leave it as is.

CLOUDS OF GLORY CRAYON MELTING

If you haven’t tried this technique yet, now is the time. It’s a great way to use those half-finished crayons that accumulate from year to year.

Supplies:

• Blue crayons

• Canvas or cardstock

• Hot glue

• Blow-dryer

1. Take the paper wrappers off the crayons. All kids love doing that!

2. Choose a sturdy material for your background. Canvas, cardboard, or even heavy cardstock will work.

3. Draw or trace a large circle or square in the middle of the background. Glue the crayons spiking out around the shape.

4. Blow-dry the crayons OUT toward the edge of your canvas. It’s very important to blow them in the right direction!

5. Draw or glue a picture of a sukkah in the middle of the “ענני הכבוד.”

Variations:

●  Use all different colored crayons and draw any Sukkot saying in the middle space.

●  Arrange the crayons at the TOP of the page. Using masking tape, make a square in the middle of the page. Blow dry the crayons down the page. Once the crayons are set, lift the masking tape. You now have a blank space for a Sukkot picture or saying.

SUKKOT COLLAGE

This freestyle project will bring out your children’s creativity! Even preschoolers can cut and glue, and the supplies are so simple you can whip out this project on a whim.

Supplies:

• Colored paper

• 8 x 10 paper or cardstock

• Scissors

• Glue

1. Cut or rip different colored papers into small squares. Use solid colors or cut up old magazines.

2. Glue the little pieces onto a paper to make a lulav and etrog, torah (for Simchat Torah), or any other simple Sukkot picture. (It will help for you to make an example first. But encourage the kids to use that as a springboard for their own ideas and not just copy.)

SHINY CD HANGING DECORATIONS

Art project + housecleaning. This is a great way to use those old CDs that are gathering dust.

Supplies:

• CDs

• Hot glue

• Ribbon

• Sharpies

• Decorations (beads, stickers, yarn, pompoms, etc.)

1. If you have unlabeled CDs, you can use them as-is. If the CDs have a label or writing on one side, hot glue two CDs together with the blank sides facing out.

2. Decorate the CDs with sharpies or hot glue on your decorations.

3. Tie a long ribbon through the cd hole to hang it from your schach.

Have fun and enjoy the process. Sukkot will be here before you know it for you and your children to enjoy their creations.