Recycled Zakāt Box Tutorial

Last year we made a Zakāt box out of a blank wood box. 

This year we decided to go green and make a recycle box out of materials we already had: we used a Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Pint carton to come up with this box.

Recycled Zakāt Box Tutorial

Supplies
Ice cream pint carton
Scissors
Pencil
12x12 scrapbook paper - 2 sheets
Glue
Rub-on letters
Xacto
Cutting mat

Use the carton to make your template.  Lay it down on the back of the scrapbook paper and mark with the pencil as you roll out the carton.  Cut out the arc on the paper.

 

Start gluing the paper to the ice cream pint carton.

Our second 12x12 scrapbook paper had strips on it, so we used those as a guide to cut out our decorative strips.

Glue the strips to the outside of the carton on top of the other paper.  Trim off the bottom.

We also cut out an extra strip and glued it to the outside of the lip to cover up the black that is on the carton.

I didn't trust my 5 year old with the Xacto, so I did this next step for her.  On the inside of the top of the carton, draw out a rectangle big enough for a folded bill.  Use the Xacto to cut out that shape.

We used the lid as a template and cut out a circle out of the scrapbook paper and then cut out a rectangle in that too.  We wrote out the word Zakat with our rub-on letters and used the tool that came with our letters to rub the letters on the lid cover.

We actually didn't end up using glue on our lid since the paper fit very nicely in the inside of the lip.  But you might want to glue down your paper if you are using a different carton.

Your Zakāt box is ready to use!

Embossed Eid Candle Tutorial

I found these fantastic Ikea square candles not too long ago, and today we stamped them with embossing powder to get ready for our Eid table. 

Embossed Eid Candle Tutorial

Supplies
Square candles
Embossing ink
Embossing pad
Embossing powder
Heat gun
Manila file
Stamp set

Stamp your image in the embossing ink pad.  Make sure you get in all those little crevices.

Stamp your image on the candle.  You won't be able to see the ink as it is clear.  Pour your embossing powder over the stamp image.  Gently use the tip of your finger to get off any excess powder.  We did the embossing powder over the manila file so that when we were done, we simply folded the file in half and poured it back into its container.

Use your glue gun to heat up the powder.  This will only take a few seconds.  Leaving your heat gun on the candle longer will melt your candle!

You are done!  Once the powder is done, it will look "raised" over your candle and gives it a great 3D effect.  My daughter had so much fun making these that she made the whole set to hand out to friends as Eid gifts!

Peace cork coaster

We use a lot of coasters at our house because we have a lot of wood furniture.  We have fun Disney coasters with characters from Florida and serious leather coasters with camels (of course!) from Egypt.  Today we made these custom coasters that have the word Peace written in Arabic on them.  It's the same image that is on my Peace pins that I sell.

Supplies
Cork
Carbon paper
Printed out image
Black sharpie
Silver marker
Tracing tool

If your cork is one piece, you'll need to cut it into 4x4 sizes.  We found this cork already cut into the size we need.  Put your cork coaster down, with the carbon paper on top and the image on top of both.  Use the tracing tool to draw out your design.

Take you silver pen (you might need to shake it to get the ink to come out) and draw out your desgin.

Using the black sharpie, outline your design so you can see it.

Do the same with the other three pieces of cork and enjoy your drink during suhoor or iftar with your custom coaster!