"Glory to Allah" Bird Feeder Craft - 30 Day Craft Challenge

"Glory to Allah" Bird Feeder Craft 
Being Kind to Animals

Salam and congrats on making it to Day 5 of our crafting challenge! Today's craft is sure to spark excitement in your children's eyes. As always, we will be keeping the craft super easy and using items that can be found around your home. In addition to the craft, you will have the opportunity to teach your children how important it is to show kindness to all creatures of Allah (swt), including animals. I was lucky enough to have a book as a reference to further enhance this lesson. We read the book called, "Being Kind to Animals", by my cousin, the talented, Samira Zaidi Rizvi. If you wish to purchase this book, click here. 

We were able to extend our lesson by adorning our bird feeders with the phrases, SubhanAllah, Alhumdulillah, and Allahu Akbar, in Arabic and English text. We talked about how the animals are constantly praising Allah (swt) in their own way. One way of us praising our Lord, is appreciating His beautiful creations, such as the birds with their lovely chirping, and flowers with their vibrant colours and enchanting scents. 

You are free to paint, decorate and create your bird feeder as you wish - the most important part of this activity was the lesson it carries. We found this activity to be short and sweet - took about 30-45 minutes. If you do this activity, please send me a picture through DM on Instagram @WishfulWaufa. 

Materials

• Empty juice/milk carton or small sized cardboard box
• Wooden skewer/wooden spool or plastic straw
• Paint or construction paper to cover the carton/box
• Printouts of the words, SubhanAllah, Alhumdulillah, Allahu Akbar (download)
• Bird seed mix (we made our own with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts and raisins)
• Sharpie
• Scissors
• Tape 
• Glue
• Yarn or string to hang the feeder
• Optional: colouring utensils or stickers to decorate

Steps:

1. Use Sharpie to draw the shape you desire for the opening of the bird feeder (see picture) on two ends of the box/carton
2. Cut them out with scissors
3. Using your scissors, make a small poke in the box below the shape you just cut out, and slide the wooden skewer through to the other side
4. Now it's time to decorate your bird feeder. We covered it in construction paper by taping. However, this isn't ideal for all types of weather. You can also paint it and it would withstand more harsh weather. It was rainy today, so I brought our bird feeder inside for the night. 
5. Once the box is covered, you can glue on the phrases of praise. We put Allahu Akbar on one, SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah on the other. 
6. In order to decorate the bird feeder, we used glitter adhesive paper to put borders around our phrases of praise. 
7. Through the opening on top, we carefully poured in our bird feed mix.
8. Now it's time to use string or yarn to allow our bird feeders to hang. Poke holes through the top part of the box, insert string through those holes on both ends of the box, similar to what we did with the wooden skewers. Tie a knot so that you are able to hang the feeder. 
9. Go ahead and hang the feeder outside! 

These are most of the supplies for today, also need glue!

This is the shape we wanted for the opening

Use scissors to cut it out

Paint or cover the box in paper, be sure not to cover the opening!

Poke a hole with scissors and slide the wooden skewer through

Glue the words of praise on to the box

Decorate as you please

Notice the book in the back!

Carefully pour in the bird seed. We added about 1/2 cup of it.

Poke holes at the top for the string and slide the string through on each side

Hang outside!

We chose to hang ours on a tree

It started to rain so we brought it inside. Will hang it again tomorrow! Hopefully we can get a picture of a bird too!

Thank you so much for joining us again today. I hope you are enjoying the activities so far. Please leave some feedback below. Also, don't forget to subscribe by changing your view to Web Version. See you again tomorrow!

My Prayer Tracker Craft - 30 Day Craft Challenge

My Daily Prayer Tracker Craft
With Free Downloadable Printout
(Click Here to Download)

Salam and welcome to Day 4 of our Ramadan Craft Journey. I've realized that the kids are a bit more appreciative of crafts that have a practical use. After making this type of craft they have a sense of accomplishment. Today's craft certainly meets that goal. After making the Prayer Tracker, our kids will be able to see how satisfying it is to set out a goal and accomplish it through out the day. I've also incorporated some other important lessons in this craft, such as the Sun's daily journey across the sky and learning the names of our daily prayers in both Arabic and English Text. 

My kids are still a bit young but it's nice to incorporate timeliness at a young and impressionable age. In this craft, children slide beads/pasta along as they complete their daily prayers. As a parent you can also reward your children for being able to take all of their beads across at the end of the day.

As with all of the crafts that I've been posting, you may make adjustments and inclusions based on your ease, and what items you have on hand. For example, I would have liked to place our Prayer Tracker in a photo frame (after removing the glass cover). I just haven't been able to get out much these days! Take a look at the crafting process below and please comment as well! 

Materials

• Free Printout (link is above) - works best with thick paper such as card stock
• Scissors
• Heavy duty tape such as packing tape
• Sharpie
• Wooden Skewer
• Beads or Pasta (something that can slide such as penne)
• A cardboard panel to hold up your tracker (if you aren't able to get a frame)
• Optional: Colouring utensils and stickers to beautify the tracker!

Steps

1. After printing the Salaat Tracker, cut along the dotted lines on each side of the horizontal line
2. Insert the wooden skewer on one end of the line and insert 5 beads/pasta on the other side
3. Insert the other side of the skewer through the other cut
4. Use the strong tape to hold the skewer in place from behind
5. If possible, label beads or pasta with letter corresponding to the Salaat (F,D,A,MI)
6. You may also label the rakat count on the corresponding bead (see below)
7. Now is a good time to talk about the journey of the Sun through the sky as the day progresses
8. We made pictures to reflect this journey, you may also use stickers to show the presence of the Sun vs. Moon
9. Optional: Colour or shade in the rectangles
10. If you don't have a picture frame, tape the cardboard panel to the back of the tracker. To do this, bend the top of the panel and tape it both front and back (see image)
11. Lift it up the tracker and allow it to stand 
12. Your child can now slide the beads across! 
13. Tip: if the illustrations of the Sun are a bit faded, feel free to trace with a black pen to increase visibility!

Take a look at the supplies

Cut the two dotted lines and insert one side of the skewer

You may have to trim the skewer in order to fit the length of the paper

Insert Beads

Alternatively: insert pasta

Tape skewers in place, you may want to tape a few times to secure it

We wrote the letter corresponding to the Salaat on each bead

Then we wrote the number of Rakaats to perform on another side 

Be sure to secure your cardboard panel

On the inside as well

Hadi wanted to use gemstone stickers to show the journey of the Sun

Standing nice and tall to display our progress!

Thanks for visiting again! A new addition to my blog is that you can subscribe to get notifications of blog posts via e-mail - please add your email on the right hand side of the web page. If you are viewing this on your cell phone, please switch to web version in order to subscribe. See you tomorrow for our next activity!

My Prayer Cloud - 30 Day Craft Challenge

My Prayer Cloud Craft

Salam crafting community! Given the current worldwide situation - I thought it was important to incorporate prayers in our daily routine with the kids. However, whenever we raise our hands for Dua, the kids are often blanked out. This is why I decided to make a "Prayer Cloud" with them. This way, every time they begin to pray, they can refer to their cloud, and look at the pictures and words that will remind them of who and what to pray for. 

With this craft, the kids brainstorm everyone, and everything that they wish to pray for. "Time for Namaz/Salaat, Hadi"!. "Wait Mama, let me grab my Prayer Cloud"! They can use it as a reference for as long as they please!

Making this idea into a craft was extremely fulfilling and had an immediate visible impact on my children. I hope it will be the same for you!

Materials

• Cloud Cut-Out on white paper (I like using thick Cardstock paper for crafts)
• Scissors
• Glue - we used white school glue
• Markers or any colouring utensils
• Cotton balls (we didn't have any so I cut cotton pads into small pieces)
• Pompoms to add colour

Steps

1. Cut out the shape of a cloud on your white paper. I didn't use a template, I just free-handed it
2. Draw a border about 5cm around the cloud with a marker, make sure the drawings don't cross into the border
3. Hand out the cloud to each child, and sit with them and brainstorm all the people and things that they would like to pray for. They can write words or make drawings depending on their preference.
4. Once the drawings are complete, use the school glue to stick on the cotton swabs and pompoms. These give your craft a fun cloud effect. 
5. Set your craft aside and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Our cotton and pompoms stuck on very nicely!
6. Have on hand for prayer time!

Here's the supply list

Draw a clear border like this

Let the kids get creative!

Of course, Hadi's dad is the first person he wants to pray for.

Lot's to pray for

For drawings that aren't clear, help label so that we remember what they are

Thanks for viewing! Please comment below.

Month of Ramadan Activity Cube - 30 Day Craft Challenge

Month of Ramadan Activity Cube - 30 Day Craft Challenge

Salam once again! Here I am sharing a different way to countdown to Eid as well as a way to make sure we do at least one activity a day. I was lucky enough to have a box in my garage that was an ideal size and shape but any moderate sized box should do the trick! Thank you so much for following us along on this journey. I'll be posting daily reminders on my Instagram account to keep you all in the loop, follow me at @WishfulWaufa.

Materials

• Cardboard box - ours was approximately 30cm x 30cm x 30cm - you can choose any size that works for you.
• Construction Paper
• Sharpie Marker
• Tape
• Scissors

Steps

1. Fold the flaps of your box inside so that they stay inside and the box remains open at all times. Tape if necessary. 
2. Cover the outer parts of the box. We did this by taping construction paper all around.
3. Cut 30 squares of construction paper approximately 10cm x 10cm. 
4. Label each square with the Day. (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc) until you reach 30.
5. Write the craft you wish to do on the inside of each square or directly on to the box. I chose to write the activity on the box. I also write the activity on the day we make the craft. This way I have enough time to prepare before hand. And no one can sneak peak!
6. Tape the top of each square to the box like a flap (see picture below for reference).
7. We were able to fit 8 squares on three sides of our cube and 6 on the last side to equal 30 days in total.
8. Have your children remove the flap right before you begin your craft. Watch the excitement in their eyes!

Note: on the inside of the box you can either keep the craft supplies you'll need each day, or keep the finished products as the days go by. It would be nice on the 30th day for them to look into the box and see all of their marvelous work all together - so rewarding! 

A nice little storage area inside!

Thanks for visiting!

3D Masjid Craft - 30 Day Ramadan Craft Challenge

3D Masjid Craft

Salam fellow crafters and Ramadan Mubarak! Being in isolation with my three kids has pushed me to make this year's Holy Month extra special. After being inspired by the talented accounts of @KidsandThingss and @AcraftyArab on Instagram, I decided to do one simple craft or activity with the kiddos everyday of this Blessed Month. The following craft was inspired by the following Youtube link, click here.

I would love it if you can follow along with me this month! Follow me on Instagram, @WishfulWaufa for daily reminders!

Materials

• Masjid Template (see image below)
• Thick Cardstock x 2 (any colour of your choice)
• Scissors
• Stickers/embellishments
• Optional: Glue to secure the decorations 

Steps

1. Print masjid template (see below). You can also draw your own template.
2. Trace the template on each cardstock paper.
3. Cut out the masjid on each cardstock.
4. On one masjid cut a line right down the middle to its midpoint.
5. On the other masjid cut a line from the bottom up to its midpoint.
6. Decorate Masjid however you please. We used gemstone stickers
7. Once you’re happy with the decorations, slide the masjids into each other through the lines that you cut. (Note: the Masjid should be able to stand on its own)
8. Add this piece to your Month of Ramadan decorations!

Hanging Moon Phase Decoration

Hanging Moon Phase Decoration - 30 Day Craft Challenge

Salam and welcome to Day 2 of the Ramadan Craft Challenge! As many of you know, I have three little ones at home with me. With this new found inspiration to craft once a day with them, I knew that it had to be easy, cheap, short and sweet! After completing this craft today, my eldest son (6 years old) said, "Mama, I am so proud of myself". That expression brought so much joy to me, knowing that he's learning that he can make amazing things all by himself. I hope you are able to follow along and complete this craft with your little ones. Feel free to leave a comment if you would like me to add more information! You can also leave a comment on Instagram on any of the pictures @WishfulWaufa.

Materials

• Paper Bag
• Golden Wrapping Tissue Paper
• Tape
• Cardstock x 1
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Kitchen Foil Paper (cut into 10cm x 10cm squares)
• Thumbtack to hang the craft on ceiling

Steps

1. Trace the different phases of the Moon on the cardstock: New Moon (crescent), Half Moon, Gibbous Moon, and Full Moon. Refer to picture below.
2. Cut out the shapes
3. Wrap the four shapes in foil, tape if necessary - set aside
4. Open up the brown paper bag and flip it upside down
5. Cut your tissue paper in half lengthwise
6. Tape the tissue around the brown paper bag for full coverage
7. Cut slits on the bottom of the tissue all around to give it a floating effect 
8. Tape one shape of the moon on each side of the craft, the bright foil should be visible
9. Optional: Label each of the phases by writing it on the craft
10. Add any additional decorations as you please
11. Poke a hole from the inside of the paper bag (we used the tip of scissors for this), tie a knot on one side of the ribbon and slide it through the hole. 
12. Tape the ribbon on the inside of the craft to secure it in place
13. Find a place to hang your craft, take a thumbtack and slide the pin through the ribbon
14. Attach the pin to the ceiling and watch it float! The craft will rotate as the day goes by.