Paper Dreidels

I've been making these paper dreidels for years and they never fail to add a fun, festive note to the holiday.  Not only can you can display the dreidels in many different ways but by changing the color of the paper you can achieve many different looks. Below they range from a playful to chic look.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          PHOTO: SHAFFER/SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
This photo appeared in my book, Jewish Holiday Style.  These dreidels were made with richly colored paper and hung from the ceiling. This works great in a doorway or hanging in clusters above the dining table.

Another way to display them is in a garland. Here I used softer, pastel colored paper that echoed the colors in my home and strung the dreidels on string.

Years ago, Better Homes and Gardens magazine came to our home to do a story on Chanukah for their holiday issue. It was their idea to string the dreidels I created as a garland across our mantle. The "OY" was originally hanging in the kitchen, but when the style director saw it he insisted on adding it to the shot for a whimsical touch!

Above, is a page from the Better Homes and Gardens spread with our son Ben stringing some dreidels. (He's now in his last year of college)!

Paper dreidels also work well for an elegant place setting (left) or as Martha Stewart shows you (right) they can be filled with candy or nuts and used as favors at a Chanukah celebration.

Here is a template for the dreidels...just print and take to a copy shop to enlarge to whatever size you'd like.