Happy Arab Mother's Day 2015

For most in the Arab world, today is Mother's Day!

Arabic Mother's Day Handmade Card

Youm Umm Said (Arabic for Happy Mother's Day) to all my friends!  (just a reminder for next year, I have a number of choices in my Zibbet shop to send your mom a little love.)

Check here to view what dates you need to memorize to celebrate other Mother's Day(s) all over the world.

I found this great video and wanted to share it with you and ask that you take a little time to share it on your social medias also.

Jazak Allah Khair everyone, and don't forget to hug a mom today.  Doesn't matter if she gave birth or not, or if she belongs to you via blood or not, just give her a hug.



Norooz Mubarak 2015

I want to wish everyone a happy Norooz!

Norooz Mubarak!

Norooz, or Nowruz, is a holiday celebrated each spring equinox to welcome in the Persian New Year.

Norooz Mubarak from the garden of ACraftyArab

I took photos of some the flowers in my yard today for my daily #mkbpicaday challenge on Instagram. Those are daffodils, a white hyacinth, and forget me nots above.  I then went on a weekly walk with a friend at a local park.  While there, we were surrounded by more beauty in the cherry blossoms that are blooming and floating to the ground like snow.

Afterwards, I visited a friend who just moved into a new home.  Her husband was Persian, so I gave her a new plant to welcome the new year.  I also brought over other treats, including pastries for her toddler, who shared a few bites with me.  But only after she rubbed them into her knee.

I love those little pudgy fingers.

I got a tour of the lovely home.  After a few minutes, I started looking for secret places to stash a sleeping bag so I can squat without being seen. We ended at these adorable chicks that were just hatched and awaiting their move into their new chicken hut.

One of these chicks is not like the other. Can you spot it?

Then it was off for a play date and accounting (aka "fudging of numbers to make it all make sense") meeting to wrap up my work as girl scout cookie manager for my youngest daughter's troop.  This was my first year as cookie manager and I must say, hats off to those that have done this in the past.  Wow.  I had no idea it was so painful.  Next time you see a mom standing behind a girl scout at a table selling cookies, give her an extra nod of recognition.  Or a spa gift card. 

Hours and hours later, okay, it just felt like that looking at all those numbers, I took my tired 8 year old home. We all made dinner together so I could also spent some time talking to my older girls about our upcoming 30 Days of Ramadan Crafty Challenge that will be starting in less then 90 days!!  I know, so much to do, how can Ramadan be so close already?!?

I ended the night at a comedy show with girlfriends and we laughed so hard we cried.  Seriously.  Funny.


The beautiful and hilarious comedienne Marilyn Gibbs.

I hope your Norooz was filled with flowers, friends, food, family and fun too!


Norooz Mubarak Handmade Card

Tissue Paper Allah Framed Art Tutorial

I was feeling a bit low about my art work being rejected from a juried show, so my daughter and I decided to make some art together that was uplifting. 

I hope that by putting this artwork in the hallway, it would help remind me that sometimes there are downs, as well as highs, in life.  But if you keep Allah* in your heart, He opens windows when doors are closed.

*Allah is the Arabic word for God and used by Arabs all over the world, regardless of their religion.

Supplies
Picture frame
Cardstock with a word printed on it
Xacto knife
Cutting mat
Tape
Tissue paper in various colors

We printed out the word Allah very large on beige cardstock. Next to it, we also added a little heart. Cut out the word very carefully with the Xacto knife.

Once all your letters are cut out, be sure to save the insides of any letters that you use, flip your paper over.

Start playing around with the color and design of your tissue.  Rather then just have each color cover one letter, we decided to make them diagonal.

Don't worry about how you tape down the pieces once you are happy with your design.  This will all go in the back and be unnoticed.  I would recommend cutting the tissue with Xacto, but as you can see, my daughter got too excited about the design and used her hands to tear.

We turned the paper over and added the middle of the two A's with tiny pieces of folded over tape.

We also made sure to add a little pink tissue for the heart.

Your frame is done and ready to hang!

Regular readers to my blog will recognize the frame from our Begin Everything With Bismillah Frame we made last year. 

Truth of the mater is that I love these picture frames from IKEA and always buy them in bulk.  They instantly add color to your artwork and we use the blue and red in our home quite extensively.  Feel free to use different sized frames and words for a montage in your home!

For more handmade artwork celebrating Allah's name, please visit
I Love Allah This Much Card
Allah Monogram Button Art Tutorial
Painters Tape Allah Canvas Art