PAPER PLATE GROGGER

Get ready to make some noise with this fun and colorful Purim craft! Just put some beads, buttons, or little bells in a paper plate; put another paper plate on top of it; staple (or glue) all around; decorate however you want; and voila — you have a festive grogger for Purim! I love this craft because there is endless room for creativity; plus, what would Purim be without some noisy homemade groggers?! Chag Sameach!

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

-Paper plates — you’ll need two of them (please note that “regular” paper plates don’t hold up as well with paint, so if you want to paint your plates, use a sturdier paper plate and preferably a recycled one)
-Craft stick (I used a jumbo size craft stick)
-Paint in whatever color(s) you like; alternatively, you could use markers or crayons
-Beads, buttons, bells, paper clips, plastic caps — anything you can put in your grogger that will make noise
-Stapler or glue
-Sequins, feathers, pom poms, gems, and/or whatever doodads you’d like to include
-Purim Grogger Circle Graphics PDF (this free PDF has graphics that say “Purim Sameach” in Hebrew and in English, “Grogger” in English and Hebrew, and “Raashaan” in Hebrew (that’s the word they use in Israel instead of “grogger”)

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

(1) For this example, I painted the paper plates first; alternatively you can put the plates together first and then decorate after if you wish — either way works great! (2) Paint the outside (meaning not the side where you would put food) of two paper plates and allow them to dry. (3) Next, flip over the plates, and paint just the inside rim of both plates (see photo). If you don’t do this, you’ll notice those unpainted areas after you join the plates together. (4) Once everything is dry, flip the plates back so that they are in the orientation for putting food in them. (5) Put a small handful of beads, buttons, or bells in one of the plates. If you want to have a craft stick handle, now is the time to add it. I used some tape just to steady it in place before joining the plates together. (6) Next, flip the other plate over and put it on top of the plate that has the beads. (7) To secure the plates together, you can either staple all around, or you can put glue all around the inside frame of the plate with the beads and then join the other plate on top of it. (8) Once everything is dry, you can decorate your grogger however you like — make sure it’s extra colorful and cheery to create lots of Purim joy!