PURIM FEATURE (4) Preparing Purim `props’ can be a family activity

NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (JTA) — Here are some ideas to get the family ready for this festive day.

Shalach Manos Cups

Supplies:
3 1/2-inch white, hard, plastic birthday cups, available at party supply stores
paint markers in various colors
pencil
roll of cellophane paper or netting fabric
ribbon
With a pencil, sketch the words “Happy Purim” around the cup. Draw pictures of an open Torah scroll, a Purim mask, hamantashen and so on around the cup. Go over the words and pictures with the paint markers. Fill with Purim treats. Cut a piece of cellophane or netting large enough to wrap the cup. Gather cellophane or netting at the top and tie with ribbon. Note: These cups are for decorative purposes only. Do not use them for drinking.
Decorative Masks
Supplies:
plastic eye mask
pompons
sequins
glitter
glue To decorate masks, glue pompons, sequins and glitter onto the mask. Coordinate the colors to match a child’s costume.
Cardboard Costumes
Supplies:
cardboard box
pocket knife
spray paint
glue
buttons
paint markers This project contains no dimensions because the dimensions will be determined by the size of the child. The cardboard box should be long enough to hit above the child’s knees. Using a pocket knife, cut an opening in the top of a cardboard box. The opening should be large enough so that it can comfortably fit over a child’s head. It should not be so large that it falls off the child’s shoulders. Cut out an armhole in each side of the box. The bottom of the box should be left open. Spray-paint the box the color to match the desired costume. Wait until the paint has thoroughly dried before adding any embellishments.

Silver paint — Robot
Paint the box silver. Glue on buttons of various sizes to give the illusion of knobs and dials on the robot.
Black paint – Dominoes
Paint the box black. Take a white permanent marker and draw a straight line that divides the front of the cardboard box in half. Then, draw several dots above and below the line.
White paint — Dice Paint the box white. Using a black marker, draw circles to simulate the number of the dice. (If you want to further embellish the dominoes or dice boxes, glue some real dominoes or dice onto the costume using regular white glue and let it dry.)
Graggers
Supplies:
3-inch clear, plastic, separating ball (usually found in the Christmas ornament section of a craft store)
paint markers
glue
package of 1/4-inch jingle bells
Easter grass
glitter
ribbon Decorate the outside of the ball. Use the markers to draw random shapes (even bright dots, dashes and squiggly lines work). Put a few drops of glue on the center of the ball and shake on some glitter. Be creative: The more colors, the better the gragger will look when it is finished. Put three jingle balls and a small handful of Easter grass in the ball. Close the ball. Make sure the ball is securely closed. (Many of the balls have a small circle on the top that string would fit through. If your ball has this, make sure that the two “tops” meet up.) Cut a length of ribbon to fit around the seam where the two parts of the ball meet. Glue ribbon over the line. Let the glue dry. Listen for the word “Haman” and shake.