Wooden Ratchet Noise Maker for Purim

When the Purim story ("Meglliah") is read, everyone boos and shakes their graggers whenever Haman's name is mentioned.

Wood DIY  Purim gragger

Here is a wooden ratchet noisemaker we made, also known as a "gragger" when used during the Jewish holiday of Purim. For this one, I used a few scrap pieces of 3/4 inch thick pine, a 1/2 inch wood dowel (less than 6 inches worth), a piece of 1 1/4 inch dowel for the handle (about 5 inches long), and some 3/16 inch dowel for the wooden pegs. 
With everything assembled, you can give it a spin and see how it works. 
Our noisemaker is fairly loud, and it spins freely in either direction. Have fun! 

Purim fun house

The fun house of Purim decorations

1. mini paper mishloach manot
2. Purim paper theatre with characters
3. cardboard King's horse and glitter cup for royal seudah
4. masks
5. Haman's ten sons bowling game
6. handmade felt decorated meghillat 

Terrarium in a jar for Tu bShevat

Terrariums are usually sealable glass containers that can be opened for maintenance and to access the plants inside. However, this is not essential; terrariums can also be open to the atmosphere rather than being sealed. Add a little green to your indoor space  for Tu bShevat with an eye-catching terrarium. Not only are they a great oxygen booster, terrariums are easy to create and can be made in a variety of sizes. You might be surprised at some of the wonderful containers you have lying around the house. You might want to consider making a terrarium out of old jars... 

 

Aloe vera is a succulent plant species. Extracts from Aloe vera are widely used in the cosmetics and alternative medicine industries

Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces.

Growing an Aloe Vera (or most other Aloe species - there are more than 300 of them!) is not a difficult matter, if a few basic rules are followed:
Use a well-draining soil.  

Aloes don't like to be cold and they don't like wet feet.

If in doubt about watering, don't water. Don't forget - they shouldn't be cold and wet. Some aloes will withstand a freeze, but many will turn to mush. No one wants a mushy aloe!

Revisited alarm clock - Ikea Hack

I don’t know about you, but I adore visiting Ikea.  

Some of my favourite things to look at are Ikea Hacks, which are simple ways to modify products from Ikea’s extensive range to more suit your style and taste. Since time to go back to school for children is near, I had a go at modifying one of Ikea’s cheapest products: the alarm clock for kid's room.

The Ticka clock  is a plain white alarm clock, despite its practicality it isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing clock in the world, but it's the perfect candidate for some crafty improvements.

I decided to use an old book pages, I've cut some images such as flowers and birds then glued on the clock as it was a decoupage. I used Mod Podge inside the clock and on the top of it.  I am a hardcore Mod Podge fan. I have used it since I first heard of it and I have always been happy with the results I get from it, The original "Matte" finish Mod Podge, great for all types of projects and most surfaces and the alarm clock is ready