fledged plant and you can transplant
it to your garden. Next year, you can
make latkes out of the sweet potatoes
your have grown yourself. Or, if this
is too healthy, just eat lots of choco-
late coins.
#4) It's In The Cards
You will need:
sturdy paper
scissors
crayons
(D Children can color in this picture,
then affix to sturdy paper and
mail as a Chanukah card to
friends and family. Make your
own messages inside, or con-
sider these thoughtful expres-
sions:
Draw and illustrate the picture of a
dreidel or menorah on construction
paper. On the back, write "Happy
•
Chanukah!" (or perhaps "Happy
Pesach!" if you think it's fun to confuse
your friends and family) and a brief
message.
First, cut out the dreidel or meno-
rah. When you're done, cut this
shape into about 12 pieces (depend-
ing on size of your creation), like a
puzzle. Mail as a holiday card to a
pal, who will get to read your mes-
sage once she puts the card/puzzle
together.
- "Dear Grandma and
Grandpa: I love you very
much, and I'm not just say-
ing that because I would
like 100,000 bags of
chocolate gelt from you for
Chanukah. Really. I mean
it."
"Dear Mom: Since
Chanukah is a time of
miracles, what do you
say you let me leave my
room a mess for the rest
of the year?"
"Dear Teacher: Like
Chanukah, you light up
my life with your wis-
dom and insight." (A lit-
tle sappy, yes, but it will go over
well. Trust me.)
Fun Projects
For Bigger Hands
#3) Let's Get
Cooking
You will need:
white apron,
available at craft stores
pencil
tracing paper
masking tape
permanent fabric paints
#2) Read All About It
You will need:
paper
pencils
photographs (optional)
#1) You'll Be Puzzled
You will need:
construction or other strong paper
felt-tip markers
•
scissors
paced life of a professional journalist!
(Above all remember this important
phrase: "Give me a byline!")
Whoever gets to be the editor of this
paper should assign family - members
to write about or draw pictures show-
ing various aspects of the Chanukah
story. If Mom reads The New York
Times, she probably would be best to
give the hard news, a straight report
on what's happening with Judah
Maccabee. If Dad likes People, have
him do an interview with some of
those at the scene. Younger members
of the family could dress up in cos-
tume and pose for photographs. Ask
relatives for recipes
and cartoons, too.
When you're
done, photocopy
and send to every-
one who helped
make The Chanukah
News. Won't it be
fun when those whom
you accidentally for-
got, or who don't like
the placement of their
stories, call and threat-
en to cancel their sub-
scriptions?
Don a great hat with a card that
reads "Press" sticking out of the front,
put a fake cigar in your mouth, place
a pen in your pocket and you're
ready to experience the exciting, fast-
Here's a great gift to give
to whoever is going to be nice
enough to peel all those potatoes,
squeeze out the liquid, then fry up
a hearty batch of latkes.
First, draw an appropriate design
(this may sound crazy, but you just
might want to consider sketching a
menorah, or a dreidel, or even the
words, "Happy Chanukah"). When
you're done, copy the design onto
tracing paper. Next, tape pattern to
a light table or to a window where
you can see sunlight. Tape apron
over paper and trace- pattern onto
apron.
Using permanent fabric paints,
color in your design.
(Important note: Before beginning
this project, be sure to ascertain
whether the chef is actually making
latkes from scratch, or whether she's
secretly opening a box of frozen
ones and trying to pass them off as
her own. If the latter is true, she cer-
tainly does not deserve this glorious
apron.)
#4) We See Through You!
You will need:
permanent felt-tip markers of various
colors
vegetable oil
paper
a one-gallon plastic bag
paper towels
black, felt-tip permanent marker
Here's an easy way to make
beautiful, stained-glass-like pictures
to hang in your window for the holi- .
day.
Begin by using a pencil to sketch
your picture. Use black marker to
trace pencil lines, then fill in with
colored markers. Allow the picture
to dry for a few minutes.
Place about three tablespoons of
oil on a paper towel (you may
need more, but start small), then use
to cover entire paper. Allow to dry
for about an hour.
Place completed art work in a
plastic bag for protection, then
hang on your window. When the
sun shines through, the drawing will
look like real stained glass.
A fun thing to do is tell neighbors
that your picture is a new kind of
stained glass that's really popular
with hip celebrities like the cast of
"Friends," then offer to sell it to them
for only $500. If they balk, drop
your price to $450, but under no
circumstances should you go any
lower than this. ❑
12/12
1997