Oil Pastel Resist Crescent Moon and Star Banner

Yesterday my husband took my older two daughters to a movie that they have been begging to see.

I'm not exactly sure what it was about as my movie tastes tend to be more independent, but it had something to do with a war in space. Or a trek in space. Oh wait, I'm not suppose to say those two together. As you can see, I'm hopeless.

On a break from cutting pillows for an upcoming event, my youngest and I cleared off the studio table to make this oil pastel resist crescent moon and star banner. She was feeling a little sad she didn't get to go to the movie, but with a PG13 rating, she still had a few years to go. We had a blast thinking of other shapes too so stayed tuned to see what else we can make.

We used watercolor cards to make our banner double sided. If you are using watercolor paper, just fold it in half.

Supplies
Scissors
Moon and star templates
Twine
Double sided tape
Oil pastels
Pencil
Cup for water
Watercolors
Brush
Watercolor cards
Newspaper

 

Start by folding your card in half and placing the moon and star wood templates on the fold. Trace around each, making sure you trace wide around the shapes. Leave extra room at the top around the fold.

Take your white oil pastel and draw different lines all over each side of the card. We stayed inside the pencil lines on the traced side but drew all over the other side.

Use your watercolor paints to paint all over the card.

We chose red and yellow on our blank side and blue and green on the side with the shapes.

Let your paint dry. Fold the card over and cut out the shapes. Stay inside the pencil lines.

Add your twine to the inside of the cards.  We looped it around the stars twice on each end to help them from not slipping.

Add double sided tape to the inside of all the cards and your banner is done.

The intro photo is our banner on one side, here it is on the other side. The nice thing about this banner is that if you hang it in a window, you can enjoy it from outside and inside!

To see more moon crafts, visit our 99 Creative Moon Projects.

No Sew Pillows for Syrian Refugees

No Sew Pillows for Syrian Refugees by A Crafty Arab

I work with a local organization, Salaam Cultural Museum, that sends volunteers to Greece to meet the boats of Syrian refugees landing on the island of Lesvos.

These volunteers are the first contact the refugees have with people after being in the sea for days.

SCM is run solely on volunteers/donations and also runs a hospital at a refugee camp in Jordan.

I have been helping collect clothes and medical supplies for SCM for over a year now and recently received a donation bag of small stuffed animals. At first I was excited about this gift for the kids, then I realized that through the generosity of so many, the children also received hats and wonderful goodies.

Wouldn't it be nice for them to have something to carry all this stuff in?

• Something that might also be used as an extra pillow at night?

• Something that helps keep little hands busy tying and untying knots on long upcoming trips in cars and vans and buses and planes?

• Something that was bright and fun, colorful and warm?

So I had the idea to make no sew pillows from the fleece that is on sale right now at Joann. I'm including a tutorial here in hopes others can join me in making them.

If you are local, contact me for drop off of your completed donations. If you need a shipping address for mailing, check here.

Supplies
Ruler
Fleece - 2 pieces
Sharpie
Scissors

No Sew Pillows for Syrian Refugees by A Crafty Arab

Cut two pieces of fleece 18x18. Do not choose the thickest fleece or it may be hard to work with. Use a sharp pair of fabric scissors to ensure you cut in a straight line. The great thing about fleece is that it is a synthetic fabric that doesn't fray.

No Sew Pillows for Syrian Refugees by A Crafty Arab

Most craft/fabric stores have fleece that comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and it’s a fun idea to do one piece that is patterned and one piece in a solid color.

No Sew Pillows for Syrian Refugees by A Crafty Arab

Cut out the small 4 inch square out of each corner of the fleece. This will take out extra fabric and makes your pillow form tight.

No Sew Pillows for Syrian Refugees by A Crafty Arab

Lay the 2 pieces of fleece on top of each other, aligning them as closely as possible. Start at 1 end and mark the fabric every inch (2.5 cm) starting from the end.

No Sew Pillows for Syrian Refugees by A Crafty Arab

4.  Cut the fabric to create the fringe.

No Sew Pillows for Syrian Refugees by A Crafty Arab

Start tying the fleece together by taking a piece of fringe from each side and double knot it together tightly.

No Sew Pillows for Syrian Refugees by A Crafty Arab

Continue to knot the sides together until you have completed 3 sides. When you arrive at the last side, leave it open so that children can add their items once they receive their no sew pillows.

*If you would like to make an extra pillow for yourself, you can use fiberfill or a pillow form for the stuffing before you close the forth side.

If you would like to make other traveling items for the Syrian children, check out this Crescent Moon and Star Traveling Tic-Tac-Toe or use an old Altoids tin, ribbon, buttons to make this Button TicTacToe game.

99 Arab Children Books

99 Arab Children Books by A Crafty Arab

As an Arab storyteller, I'm always on the lookout for books written about and for Arab kids to use while I'm at work.

Unfortunately, the lack of diversity in children's books is overwhelming and books about/for Arab children aren't even enough to make a statistic chart.

Back in 2010, I compiled a List of Children’s Books about/for Arab Children.  Since then I've branched off part of this list for dictionaries, folktales, and books with strong Arab protagonist. I hope to be working on a list for Muslim children books next.

Now that the original list is almost five years old, I thought it might be time to update it with a few new additions and links, plus take out books I've placed on other lists.

Please feel free to email me at ACraftyArab at gmail if you find errors or would like to make suggestions. If you enjoy lists, be sure to check out my other 99 Creative Projects.

Most of the books below are on my shelves that I use for storytelling to children, teaching Arabic, or speaking at teacher workshops. If you are a visual person, check out the list on Pinterest.

(I recently became an Amazon affiliate member and you are welcome to visit my store here.)

xxx

Abdel-Fattah, Randa. Ten things I hate about me. New York: Orchard Books, 2009.

Abdel-Fattah, Randa. Where the streets had a name. New York: Scholastic Press, 2010.

Abouraya, Karen Leggett. Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt's Treasured Books. New York: Dial Books, 2012.

Addasi, Maha. Time to Pray. Jackson, Tennessee: Boyds Mills Press, 2010.

Aoneh, Roula. My Alif-Yaa Book (K-1). California: Thaqafa Publishing, 2015.

Aoneh, Roula. My Alif-Yaa Book (Pre-K). California: Thaqafa Publishing, 2015.

Azzoubi, Rana. Million Star Hotel. Charleston, SC: BookSurge Publishing, 2009.

Azzoubi, Rana. Through a Mud Wall. Charleston, SC: BookSurge Publishing, 2007.

Bahous, Sally. Sitti and the cats: A tale of friendship. Boulder, CO: Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1997.

Baker, Jeannie. Mirror. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2010.

Barakat, Ibtisam. Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007.


Blanchard, Anne. Arab Science and Invention in the Golden Age. New York: Enchanted Lion Books, 2009.

Boueri, Marijean. Lebanon 1-2-3: A counting Book in Three Languages. Exeter, NH: Publishing Works, 2005.

Boueri, Marijean. Lebanon A to Z: a Middle Eastern Mosaic. Exeter, NH: Publishing Works, 2005.

Butler, Sean and Shannon. Issa and the Coin. London: Stacey International Publishers, 2007.

Carmi, Daniella. Samir and Yonatan. New York: Arthur A. Levin Books, 2000

Climo, Shirley.  Egyptian Cinderella, The.  New York: HarperCollins, 1992.

Clinton, Cathryn. A Stone in my Hand. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2002.

Cohen, Barbara. Seven Daughters and Seven Sons. New York: HarperTeens, 1994.

da Costa, Deborah. Snow in Jerusalem. Morton Grove, IL: A. Whitman, 2001.

Dennis, Yvonne Wakimand Maha Addasi. Kids Guide to Arab American History. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Review Press, 2013.



Devine, Barbara. Elvis the Camel. Northampton, MA: Crocodile Books, 2002.

Durkee, Noura. Animals of Paradise, The. London, UK: Hood Hood Books, 1996.

Ellis, Deborah. Children of War: Voices of Iraqi Refugees. Toronto, Canada: Groundwood Books, 2009.

Ellis, Deborah. No Safe Place. Toronto, Canada: Groundwood Books, 2010.

Farmer, Nancy. Clever Ali. New York: Orchard Books, 2006.

Fayad, Susan Daniel. My Grandfather's Masbaha. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2013.

Fayad, Susan Daniel. Stomp the Ground: Build a Home. Self-Publish, 2015.

Geyer, Flora. Saladin: the Muslim Warrior who Defended his People. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2006.

Gray, Nigel. A Balloon for Grandad. New York: Orchard Books, 1988.

Hamilton, Martha. Well of Truth: A Folktale from Egypt, The. Atlanta, GA: August House, 2008.

Hawes, Louise.  Muti's Necklace: The Oldest Story in the World. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006.

Heide, Florence Perry and Judith Heide Gilliland. Day of Ahmed’s Secret. New York: Clarion, 1990.

Heide, Florence Perry and Judith Heide Gilliland. Sami and the Time of Troubles. New York: Clarion, 1992.

Heide, Florence Perry and Judith Heide Gilliland. House of Wisdom, The. New York: DK, 1999.

Henderson, Kathy.  Lugalbanda: the boy who got caught up in a war. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2006.

Henty, G.A. Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt, The. New York: Dover Publications, 2002.


Hickox, Rebecca. Golden Sandal, The. New York: Holiday House, 1998.

Hill, Eric. Boby Yazhab Ilal Madrasa (Spot Goes to School). New York: Interlink Pub Group, 1988.

Hughes, Vi. Aziz the Storyteller. Northampton, MA: Crocodile Books, 2002.

Husain, Shahrukh. Wise Fool, The. Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Book, 2011.

Hussain, Asim. Khadijah goes to School. Toronto, Canada: LogixPlayer Inc. 2011.

Hussain, Saima S. Arab World Thought of It, The. Canada: Annick Press, 2013.

Ichikawa, Satomi. My Father's Shop. San Diego, CA: Kane/Miller Book Pub, 2006.

Johnson, Julia. A Gift of the Sands. London, UK: Stacey International Publishers, 2005.

Johnson, Julia. One Humpy Grumpy Camel. London: Stacey International Publishers, 2006.

Johnson, Julia. Saluki, Hound of the Bedouin. London: Stacey International Publishers, 2005.

Johnson, Julia. Pearl Diver, The. London: Stacey International Publishers, 2003.

Johnson-Davies, D. Goha The Wise Fool. Cairo: Hoopoe Books, 1995.

Johnson-Davies, D. Stories from the Arab Past. Dokki, Cairo: Hoopoe Books, 1997.

Kimmel, Eric A. Joha makes a wish: a Middle Eastern tale. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2010.

Knight, Margy Burns Africa is Not a Country. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 2002.

Krebs, Laurie. We're Sailing Down the Nile. Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Books, 2007.

Laird, Elizabeth. A little piece of ground. Chicago, IL: Haymarket Books, 2006.

Letts, Elizabeth Alalou. Butter Man, The. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2008.

Lewin, Ted. Storytellers, The. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard, 1998.

MacDonald, Margaret Read. How many donkeys? Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman and Co., 2009.

MacDonald, Margaret Read. Tunjur Tunjur Tunjur: A Palestinian Folktale. Cavendish, Marshall Co., 2006.

Makhoul, Reem. The Girl Who Lost Her Imagination. New York: Ossass-Stories, 2015.


Marston, Elsa. Olive Tree, The. Bloomington, Indiana: Wisdom Tales Press, 2014.

Matze, Claire Sidhom. Stars in My Geddoh's Sky, The. Park Ridge, IL: Albert Whitman & Company, 2002.

McGraw, Eloise Jarvis. Golden Goblet, The. New York: Puffin Books, 1986.

McGraw, Eloise Jarvis. Mara, Daughter of the Nile. New York: Puffin Books, 1985.

Mobin-Uddin, Asma. My Name is Bilal. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2005.

Morris, Ann. Grandma Hekmatt Remembers: an Arab-American family Story. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 2003.

Munshey, Sana. We're Off To Make 'Umrah. Leicestershire, UK: Islamic Foundation, 2010.

Nagda, Ann W. Dear Whiskers. New York: Holiday House, 2000.

Nicki, Peter. Crocodile, Crocodile. Northampton, MA: Crocodile Books, 1976.

Nimr, Sonia. Ghaddar the Ghoul and Other Palestinian Stories. London: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2008.

Nye, Naomi Shihab. A Maze Me: Poems for Girls. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2014.

Nye, Naomi Shihab. Honeybee: Poems and Short Prose. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2008.

Nye, Naomi Shihab. Turtle of Oman: A Novel, The. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2014.

Nye, Naomi Shihab. Habibi. New York: Simon Pulse, 1999.

Oppenheim, Shulamith. The Hundredth Name. Honesdale, PA: Boyd’s Mill, 1995.

Osborne, Mary Pope. Season of the Sandstorms. New York: Random House, 2005.

Raatma, Lucia. Queen Noor: American-born queen of Jordan. Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point Books, 2006.

Rosenberg, Liz. Silence in the Mountains, The. Chicago, IL: Orchard Books, 1999.

Rumford, James. Traveling Man: The Journey of Ibn Battuta. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001.

Sales, Francesc d'A. Ibrahim. New York: Lippincott, 1989.

Salim, Dana. Dreamland with Mommy.  China: Self published, 2015.

Shalaby, Alaa. Geemo and the Missing Egg. Mckeesport, PA: ShalabyMedia, 2008.

Sharafeddine, Fatima. Servant, The.Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books, 2013.

Sharafeddine, Fatima. Amazing Travels of Ibn Battuta, The. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books, 2014.

Shefelman, Janice. A Peddler's Dream. Austin, TX: Houghton Mifflin, 1992.

Sheffield, Marilyn. Fizza the Flamingo. Northampton, MA: Crocodile Books, 2003.

Shulevitz, Uri. The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005.

Simpson, Juwairiah J. L. A Wicked Wazir. Plainfield, IN: American Trust Publications, 1990.

Simpson, Juwairiah J. L. The Four Daughters of Yusuf the Dairy Farmer. Plainfield, IN: American Trust Publications, 1984.

Simpson, Juwairiah J. L. The Jinn in the Clock. Plainfield, IN: American Trust Publications, 1990.

Simpson, Juwairiah J. L. The Princess Who Wanted to Be Poor. Plainfield, IN: American Trust Publications, 1987.

Smith, Chris. One City, Two Brothers. Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Books, 2007.

Spalding, Elizabeth and Sarah. Dahman: The Mystery of the Champion Arabian Horse. Saudi Arabia: Al Mutawa Press, 2006.

Stamaty, Mark Alan. Alia's mission: saving the books of Iraq. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004.

Stanley, Diane. Saladin: Noble prince of Islam. New York: HarperCollins, 2002.

Stolz, Joelle. Shadows of Ghadames, The. New York. Delacorte Press, 2004.

Dee S Tóth-Jones, Dee S. Street Cats of Marrakech, The. West Bengal, India: Chiaroscuro Books, 2013.

Whelan, Gloria. Parade of Shadows. New York: HarperCollins, 2007.

Wildsmith, Brian. Animals to Count. Long Island City, NY: Star Bright Books, 2009.

Wilkes, Sybella. Out of Iraq. London, UK: Evans Brothers Limited, 2010.

Zeman, L. Sindbad: From the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights. Toronto, Ontario: Tundra Books, 1999.