Hanukkah Blog Hop: Day 9

Today is the last day of our first ANNUAL Hanukkah Blog Hop! We are overwhelmed with the extremely positive response we have received about this hop and all the amazing projects! We hope you were inspired to create and think outside the box when it comes to Jewish related projects! Watch out for future Jewish themed hops…we’ve already discussed one for Passover which is at the end of March 2013!

Thank you to everyone who have visited the first 8 days of the hop. We hope you have enjoyed all the projects and found lots of inspiration! If this is your first visit, go back and visit Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
 

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Lighting the Menorah is the central Mitzvah of Hanukkah. We light the Menorah to remember the Miracle that happened when the Jewish rebels (the Macabees) took back the Holy Temple from their conquerors. The enemy had done everything that they could to defile the Temple, including bringing idols into the Temple.

The Macabees cleaned and restored the Temple service. They had only one small flask of the special olive oil that was used to light the large golden Menorah in the Temple. Miraculously, the small flask lasted for 8 days.

The Rabbis made this 8 day period into a holiday, now known as Hanukkah. They decreed that it would be celebrated by lighting an 8 branched Menorah, and increasing its lights each day to commemorate how the miracle became greater with each day that the oil continued to burn.

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Festival of Light

All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!

It’s hard to believe we’ve arrived at the last day of the blog hop and the beginning of Hanukkah.   I came across this music video as I prepared for our final posting.  The snowflakes and light in all it’s forms caught my eye.  I invite you to listen and enjoy as you read through the rest of the post.  To let it create the background and “light” as you continue with our Celebration of the Festival of Lights.

As I watched and listened to  this video the importance of light and of miracles, it’s beauty and its many qualities sank into my heart and soul.   As we begin the celebration of Hanukkah…the Festival of Lights and the miracle it commemorates all of us on the hop have chosen to celebrate light and in particular the light of the candle and all it represents in celebrating this special time.  Particularly the shamash.  The servant candle that lights all the others, that does the work so that the others remain a pure and holy expression of the miracle.  A light by which no work must be done (except by the servant candle) or made practical use of.

Here are the close ups and the details:

Light For the World

Light for the World
All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!

Can you tell that the partial die cuts are intended to represent the flame of the shamash and the other candles with the candle itself implied?   That’ what was in my head anyway. 😀    The miracle that  multiplied the oil and kept the  flame burning for eight days.  This is completely my own design though influenced by a sense of kinship with some of my favorite graphic artists from the 60’s and 70’s such as Corita Kent in some of her more restrained work.

Light for the World – Inside
All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!

Supplies:

Stamps: Jewish Celebrations, Hanukkah Light Digital Sheet Created in Word (see linked document)

Ink:  Midnight Muse Classic Ink, Versamark

Paper: Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold Cardstocks, Champagne Glimmer Paper

Punches: 1-1/4″ Scallop Circle, 1-3/8″ Circle, 1-3/4″ Circle,

Other: Big Shot, Window Frames Framelit, Stampin’ Trimmer, Simply Score, Printer, Snips, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, embossing buddy, Dimensionals, Snail, glue dots.

Card measures 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″

Much of the text used was created digitally with Word and the fonts on my computer.  The Star of David is from Jewish Celebrations and is heat embossed with gold (what else would expect with a celebration of light…right?).   The rest is basic layering and die cut pieces using the Window Frame Framelits (some of them trimmed). 

Here’s the file you are welcome to use, play with and alter :

Hanukkah Light – Word document uses Castellar font

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Happy Hanukkah Snowflake Window Frame Card

All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!

Supplies:

Stamps: Jewish Celebrations, Bold Snowflake (single stamp promotion)

Ink:   Versamark

Paper: Midnight Muse,  Brushed Gold Cardstocks, Champagne Glimmer Paper

Punches:  1″ Circle, Blossom

Other: Big Shot, Window Frames Framelit, Stampin’ Trimmer, Simply Score, Snips, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, embossing buddy, Dimensionals, Snail, glue dots, Tombow Liquid Glue.

Card measures 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″

Again mostly die cutting, heat embossing with gold and punching then layering.  The Star of David images are hand cut with the Snips, my favorite hand powered cutting tool (next to punches!).   Lots and lots of dimensionals in this card as I wanted all the various layers to float.  Only the base square of glimmer paper is layered direct to the card with Tombow.  The rest all uses dimensionals.  Tip:  For the narrow frames…cut your Stampin’ Up dimensionals into thirds!  Perfect width!

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What would Hanukkah be without presents right?  😀  Here’s a Gift Card Holder that matches in style and images (to some extent, the Snowflake Window Frame card above.  Works actually for any time of the year.   Saturday at Stamp Camp in fact several made variations for the men in their lives as birthday gift holders.  The pocket inside will hold the gift card in either direction long side or short side.   In many ways this is a CASE of my friend Jackie’s Llama blog Hop Card from a few weeks ago.   You can see that card here.   Next week I’ll share a few more variations along with the directions for the most basic version.

Festival of Lights Gift Card Holder

All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!

All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!

Supplies:

Stamps: Jewish Celebrations, Rejoicing With You, Mixed Medley, Bold Snowflake (single stamp promotion)

Ink:   Versamark

Paper: Midnight Muse,  Brushed Gold Cardstocks, Champagne Glimmer Paper

Punches:  3/4″ Circle, 1-1/4″ Scallop Circle, Blossom

Other: Big Shot, Window Frames Framelit, Stampin’ Trimmer, Simply Score, Snips, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, embossing buddy, Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon, Piercing Tool, Piercing Mat, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Dimensionals, Snail, glue dots, Tombow Liquid Glue.

Card Holder measures 5″ x5″

Again mostly die cutting, heat embossing with gold and punching then layering.  The  large underlayered snowflake is actually a series of the smaller snowflakes cut in half and slide under the window frame die cuts with glue dots.  The small For You is from Mixed Midley (HolidayCatalog hostess) and the inside text is from Rejoicing with You from the Annual Catalog.   The card shape is cut with the largest Window Frame Framlet with the card fold placed just below the cutting edge.   Have you guessed yet that I’m in love with the color Midnight Muse, the Champagne Glimmer Paper and the Bold Snowflake single stamp from the current Single Stamp Promotion?   Both the Glimmer Paper and the Bold Snowflake stamp go away January 2nd.  Make sure you get yours before then!

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And lastly…I’m dating myself with this next music video.   Peter, Paul & Mary have been a part of my  life almost from its beginning.  I’ve sung, cried, learned and grown from their music and its message.   I’ve been privileged to attend some concerts in person too and each time at each concert they shared this song, Light One Candle.   I found this YouTube recording made at Hanukkah time as far as I can tell and the message dovetails perfectly with the song and sentiments from the first video I shared today.    Enjoy this blast from the past…and if you celebrate or find meaning in Hanukkah don’t forget to light the one shamash candle and the others each night of this wonderful Festival of Lights.    Fill your homes and the world with light in your hearts and in your life.     Whatever your faith or leanings we can all use a little light and find meaning in the sharing of it.

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I hope you’ve enjoyed our first Annual Hanukkah Hop.  We’ve all enjoyed sharing the Festival of Lights in all its bright and shining aspects with you.   We’re discussing the possibility of a Passover blog hop as well as what we might have in the works for next year!  

Happy Hanukkah to you all!   Wishing you a year of light, love and joy.  

Blessings – Jean

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Thank you for hopping along with us.
Your next stop is Andi’s blog, where she is going to show you some more great Hanukkah related projects!

Make sure to come back and visit us again on Sunday the 9th, for our final day of our Hanukkah Blog Hop!

  

Here’s a complete list of the Hanukkah Blog Hoppers in case any links don’t work.

1. Andi Potler
2. Yapha Mason
3. Miriam Permut
4. Jean Fitch – YOU ARE HERE!