Libya Collage Pin {Tutorial}

May 18, 2019May 18, 2019 | acraftyarab

Libya has been on our minds a lot lately due to the recent turmoil. My daughter made this Ramadan craft as a pin so she could wear it to school.

While she was making it, we talked about the Libya flag and what the colors stood for. It consists of a white star and crescent on a triband red-black-green design, with the central black band being twice the width of the outer bands. The flag fell out of use in 1969 and effectively reinstated as the country’s national flag on 3 August 2011.

The crescent is symbolic of the beginning of the lunar month according to the Muslim calendar and the star represents our smiling hope. The red was selected for the blood sacrificed for the freedom of Libya, black to remember the dark days that Libyans lived under the occupation of the Italians and green to represent its primary wealth, agriculture.

We found a stamp of the Libya flag and used it as part of a collage to make the pin, adding green & yellow arabesque patterned paper, plus dimensional glittered Mod Podge for a little sparkle.

Supplies

Paintbrush (2)
Mod Podge
Glue
Pin backing
Foam core
Stamp image
Patterned card stock
Xacto
Glittered Mod Podge

My daughter started her craft by using the Mod Podge to attach the stamp to the pattered paper.

She let the paper dry before flipping it over to figure out where the foam core is placed. She cut the corners at an angle before attaching the paper to the foam with Mod Podge.

My daughter added more Mod Podge to the edges of the paper and firmly folded it over so that it was snug.

To add a little bit of sparkle to the pin, my daughter added glittered Mod Podge around the outside frame of the stamp.

My daughter let everything dry for a few hours before adding the pin backing with glue.

Let the pin back set for a full 24 hours. If you would like to make another pin for your backpack, visit these other tutorials

Couscous Heart Pin {Tutorial}

Ramadan My First Fast Award {Tutorial}

Stop by A Crafty Arab on Pinterest to see other activities that teach about Arab countries.

Gallery Glass Zakat Minaret {Tutorial}

May 17, 2019May 17, 2019 | acraftyarab

We love to make a new zakat collection container every year for one of our Ramadan crafts.

Zakat means “that which purifies” and in Arabic it is pronounced as زكاة‎ or zakāh. It is one of the 5 Pillars of Islam and required of all Muslims who are able to participate. Some view it like a self-imposed religious tax.

In the past, we have made our zakat boxes out of ice cream containers, wood boxes, picture frames, food containers and even a wicker basket. This year I found this container that reminded me of the minarets in Morocco, which all had flat tops.

I brought it home and used Gallery Glass paint to turn it into a minaret with a door and two windows. The only other supply I needed was stickers to spell out the word zakat, so my family knows what to put into the container. At the end of the month, we will donate the money to a local charity.

Supplies

Gallery Glass in green, blue & pink
Black lead paint
Letter stickers
Porceline container

I made sure my container was clean before I got started. I first placed the stickers on the side and then added the doors and windows with the black liquid leading. I also added an outline around the top lip.

I filled the door and window space with the green and blue colors and added the pink to the top.

I left my zakat collection box lying flat for a full 24 hours for everything to dry before placing it by the front door.

If you enjoying learning how to make this zakat box, make sure you stop by A Crafty Arab on Pinterest to see more.

Moon and Star Bookmarks Card {Tutorial}

May 16, 2019May 17, 2019 | acraftyarab

Now that we are third of the way through Ramadan, we are starting to think of Eid Al Fitr, the holiday at the end of the month.

Today’s Ramadan craft of this Eid card is so easy to make that it can be easily replicated to give out to several friends and family. My daughter took only a few minutes making it.

Once they receive the card, make sure they know that the moon and star bookmarks can be taken out to be used to hold their place in their favorite book or Quran.

The star and crescent was used in various historical contexts but most well known today as a symbol of the former Ottoman Empire and, by popular extension, the Islamic world. The crescent moon and star are used in 21 country flags.

Supplies

Beige card stock
Wood moon & star cut outs
Pen
Xacto
Printed card stock
Double sided tape
Glue
Ruler
Solid blue card stock

My daughter started by cutting two perpendicular slits in the bottom of the card, each about 2 inches across and one inch away from each other. She made these on the left side of the card so that it opens the Arabic direction. You can put your slits on the right side of the card if you want to open the card in the other direction.

She then cut two pieces of long stripes from the printed card stock, about one inch across and about one inch shorter than the full length of the card.