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closeup picture of girl holding handmade Rosh Hashanah card with painted pomegranate and L'Shana Tovah message

DIY Happy Rosh Hashanah Cards for Kids

By Brenda Ponnay

This year (2024), Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on the evening of Wednesday, October 2nd and ends after nightfall on Friday, October 4th.

Did you know it is customary to send out cards for Rosh Hashanah wishing your friends and loved ones a sweet new year? It may be just another couple of days in September (or in October this year) to everyone else but if you are Jewish it is an important time to reflect on the past and wish everyone a sweet new year to come. It’s even nice if you’re not Jewish.

Smiling girl holding up handmade Rosh Hashanah card in front of her with two painted pomegranates and L'Shannah Tovah handwritten in pen on it.

I thought it would be fun to make some pomegranate cards since the pomegranate is a symbol of Rosh Hashanah.

Pomegranates are eaten at Rosh Hashanah as part of the “new fruit” blessing (they come into season right around the end of September) and because of their layered symbolism and meaning in the Jewish religion. Pomegranates have about 613 seeds which correspond with the 613 commandments found in the Torah.

Opened pomegranate showing seeds laid on top of butcher bock table

And they’re pretty!

bowl filled with many potatoes in background of photo and many pencils with eraser tops so showing to make stamp craft for Happy Rosh Hashanah Cards DIY

Since pomegranates themselves weren’t quite in season when I set out to do this craft (and because I don’t know how well they would work as a stamp) I opted to stamp with some common household items: a potato and a pencil eraser! Probably things you already have on hand at home, too!

picture of two carved potatoes to make stamps for Rosh Hashanah craft

Step 1: First, I cut my potato in half and carved out a simple pomegranate shape like in the drawing below. See example above.

Since potatoes are already naturally oval, it’s easy to create the top fringe or calyx by cutting away the negative space. Just three notches and a little shaving on the sides with a sharp knife. For the inside of the pomegranate just cut the top and sides and then carve a circle in the middle and remove the center with a grapefruit spoon. (Please have a responsible adult do this part of the craft.)

overhead photo of mixing red and brown paint colors on white plate with paint brush and metal paint mixer for Rosh Hashanah holiday card craft

Step 2: Next, you’ll need to mix up some pomegranate-colored paint. I did this by mixing a little brown in with red paint. (Please use water-based children’s acrylic paint.) If you have small children participating, I recommend washable paint and an apron. It’s always good to be on the safe side. Don’t mix your paint too well though, the variegation of color will make the pomegranate stamp look more natural.

overhead photo of cutting card stock on a paper cutter guillotine in the foreground with red bowl filled with large potatoes, pencils arranged in a mason jar, and white paper and envelopes in the background

Step 3: Cut up some card stock that will fit into whatever envelopes you have on hand and get ready for some stamping fun!two side by side photos of girl in pink shirt with heart on it applying red paint to a potato stamp for a Rosh Hashanah holiday card craft

Step 4: At this point, I handed the craft off to the kids. They painted the potatoes and started stamping with very little instruction. It’s pretty intuitive.

picture of child's hand applying red painted potato stamp to paper for Rosh Hashanah holiday card craft

Step 5: Stamp! Stamp! Stamp!

overhead picture of applying red painted pencil eraser to stamp paper and make pomegranate seeds on Rosh Hashanah holiday card craft

Step 6: To imitate the pomegranate seeds, we just stuck a nice new pencil eraser in the paint and stamped with that. Easy!

picture of several kid-made Rosh Hashanah holiday cards with painted pomegranates and wishes for L' Shana Tovah written on the front all lined up on the table

Then let your cards dry and soon you’ll be ready to send some sweet new year greetings!

L’ Shana Tovah!

More Rosh Hashanah Crafts from Alpha Mom:

1. Sweet Little DIY Honey Bee Cards for Rosh Hashanah!
2. Make a Shofar to Celebrate the Jewish New Year

 

About the Author

Brenda Ponnay

Brenda Ponnay is an author and illustrator who loves to craft and make big messes when she’s not working on her books. Whether it’s painting, baking, drawing, making castles out of card...

Brenda Ponnay is an author and illustrator who loves to craft and make big messes when she’s not working on her books. Whether it’s painting, baking, drawing, making castles out of cardboard boxes or just doing the laundry with flair, Brenda Ponnay has learned that what really makes her happy is being creative every single day.

You can read about all her crazy adventures on her personal blog: Secret Agent Josephine.

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