| How to Make a Menorah Dec 6th 2012, 20:00 A menorah is a term for a branched candelabra. Most people think of a menorah when they really mean a chanukiah, which has eight branches and one additional branch at a different level. The Chanukiah is used for celebrating the holiday of Chanukah. Making a menorah is simple and easy. A menorah can be made of any material that can safely hold a candle. One of the simplest ways to make a menorah is by using polymer clay (like Fimo) that is baked in your home oven. - Buy polymer clay such as Fimo or Premo at any craft store. Lay down a piece of wax paper on your work surface––you don't want raw clay touching surfaces you may later use for food.
- Wear gloves. Some clay colors can slightly stain your hands. Alternatively coat your hands lightly with hand cream to make cleaning up easier.
- Cut a block of the clay into eight evenly sized cubes using a craft knife. (A craft knife will make good straight, thin cuts for the cubes and is recommended over a regular knife.) Make sure that all eight structures have a flat, stable bottom.
- Elongate another piece of clay into a rectangle that is slightly thinner and taller than the eight cubes.
- Wrap a small amount of aluminum foil around a small thin Chanukah or birthday candle and around the candle's base. This covering will prevent the candle from sticking to the clay as you make candle holes.
- Push this wrapped candle into the top center of each of the eight clay cubes to create the hole to hold the candle. Make this hole of equal width and deep enough to securely hold the candle.
- Remove the candle but leave the foil intact as you'll need it again later.
- Line up four of the cubes in a row. Keep them flat on the work surface.
- Firmly press four of them together one by one to create a solid unit. You should now have one straight row of cubes of equal height, displaying four equally-spaced holes on top.
- Smooth the edges, making sure that this structure is firmly stuck together.
- Check that the bottom of the four-holed structure is still flat and stable
- Repeat with the other four cubes. You will now have two units of clay, each with four holes.
- Create a candle-sized hole in the top of the remaining rectangle of clay, again using the aluminum-foil wrapped candle. Check that the base of the rectangle is flat and stable.
- Make the Chanukiah menorah structure.
- Take one unit with four holes and locate on one side of the rectangle.
- Place the other unit with four holes on the other side of the rectangle.
- Press the rectangle from both sides to join it to the four holed units. Press firmly to ensure joining and make smooth seams by rubbing the clay together with your fingers or a clay tool.
- You should now have one long, solid unit of clay with nine holes in total: four holes of equal height situated on either side of the middle candle hole, which will sit slightly higher.
- Make the structure stable by adding a base and support beams as you see fit.
- Check again that the unit is stable and that all bases are flat. If needed, flatten each cube and rectangle slightly to make it stable, being careful not to close the candle holes. Make sure that the unit holds together as one long piece.
- Transfer the unit to a flat baking tray. Bake according to manufacturer's instructions, being careful to judge baking time by the thickness of the cubes. Cool according to manufacturer's instructions. Note: If you plan to decorate the menorah, please read the next step first prior to baking.
- Optional: Decorate. If you choose to decorate, read the manufacturer's instructions for any tips related to the specific clay you're using, such as sticking pieces together or using paints. This determines whether painting should be done before or after baking. There are lots of techniques for decorating clay prior to baking with common tools, such as toothpicks and toothbrushes to create textures. A six-pointed star made of overlapping triangles is a traditional symbol used on menorahs.
- Use. See How to light a Chanukah Menorah for instructions.
- Prior to lighting the candles, place a small amount of aluminum foil around the bottom of each candle, shaping it into a small cup so that drips from the candle will catch in the foil and not drip onto your creation.
- Finished.
- Use a baking tray reserved for crafts; do not use food implements for working the clay.
- Search online for more information about the holiday of Chanukah and the significance and use of the Chanukiah menorah.
- Place a large plate under the lit candles, to catch the drippings.
Edit Warnings - Do not use clay on surfaces or objects used for food.
- Children should use the oven for baking clay under adult supervision only.
- Never use a microwave to bake clay.
- Be flame aware:
- Children should only light candles with adult supervision and always remain present with children in a room with lit candles.
- Never let children play (including dreidel) near a lit menorah.
- Never place the Chanukiah on a flammable surface or near curtains, paper or anything that might ignite.
Edit Things You'll Need - Modeling clay
- Clay tools
- Craft sheet or baking sheet for working on
- Non-stick surface such as parchment or wax paper, silicon sheet
- Craft knife
- Gloves and/or hand cream (olive oil will also keep your hands clay-free)
- Manufacturer's baking instructions
- Decorative elements (optional)
- Oven mitts for handling hot baking sheet
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