Hey Heyyy Happy Hanukkah, to those who celebrate, Tamiko here!! Before anyone asks, no I am not Jewish but I do believe in world that a has diverse population, with that diversity comes a plethora of beliefs and right to religious expression (as long as these acts cause no physical harm to anything live or once living and don't express hate). My good friend used to tell me.. I don't believe what you believe, about God or the bible. I would always smile back and assure her.. it was in fact ok. So while most everyone closest to me is celebrating Christmas, allow me to introduce you to friends, who are like family and their celebration of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is the celebration of lights, often represented by the lighting of eight candles, of the menorah. This year it happens the evening of Dec. 2nd, through Dec. 10th. This leads to my project, check it out!! It's huge and is about 17 inches plaus or minus a 1/2 inch. Of course I did not go traditional design. I added loads of mixed media elements and layers.
Supplies needed:
Helmar Crystal Kote Fixative (optional)
6- 6×6 corrugated board Squares
4- Isosceles triangles with a 6 inch base from corrugated board
4- 2×5 rectangles of corrugated board.
Gesso
Gelatos/Paint/metallic watercolors
a stiff brush
water
flat back rhinestones
scissors
guillotine paper cutter
threads/fiber
cardstock in 2 inch strips
watercolor paper
I began first by cutting all my pieces of corrugated board with my guillotine cutter. Then taking the squares of corrugated board and connecting them by adhering the 2 inch wide piece of cardstock, with Helmar's Super Tac Glue, like a hinge, between each square.
Before I connected the 4th square with the first one, I connected the same side of each squares with the 6 inch side of each of the four triangles using more cardstock hinges and Super Tac Glue. I used Super Tac Glue in this case because it is strong enough to allow a strong and fast cohesion between the cardstock and the corrugated board. The piece almost resembles an accordian house assemblage. Once I connect the fourth square and triangle section back to the first set of square and triangle.
After all the main pieces are connected. I look through the base of dreidel and decide I wanted my hollow section to be accessible. so before I adhered the top on.. I doubled the thickness of the board by gluing 2 corrugated boards together together and replacing the cardstock with a piece of the much sturdier corrugated board.. as a hinge and I used Helmar's 450 Quick Dry Glue. I chose this glue because since I was solely dealing with the stiff corrugated board and the 450 Quick Dry is super durable and equally flexible, which is needed for the hinge.
Before I put the glues all away I took a moment to cover the dreidel with gesso and gelatos and mica watercolors till I had a mixed media look I liked most. I didn't think to add coating of Helmar's Crystal Kote Fixable spray when I created this, but I definitely will use it if I gift this away! I also used Helmar's 450 Quick Dry to secure the closure for the simple twisting with fibers to keep the lid close to the Dreidel. The mock buttons I made allow me to twist my fibers around it and secure the box.
After I secured the buttons, I drew the symbols, on watercolor paper, that show you how to play Dreidel, painted them and stuck them down with Helmars 450 Quick Dry.
I then decided to add just a lil bling, because I like BLING!! (hahaha) I watered down the Super Tac Glue and brushed very little on the symbols and added the rhinestone for sparkle!
I really hope you enjoyed my take on the the Dreidel, it was my first, but I can tell it won't be my last! I can see hundreds of ways on how to improve the design, a number of goodies to include inside it and just as many Helmar USA items I could use to make any changes or improve it.
Happy Hanukkah and Season's Greeting to YOU and YOUR FAMILY, from ME and MINE!!
