How to Make a Dreidel

No Hanukkah worth its oil would be complete without a few rousing games of dreidel. You can buy these colorful tops at any place that sells Jewish holiday supplies. But it's fun to make your own, either from a kit or ' if you're feeling extra creative ' from scratch.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Hobby Paintbrushes
• Acrylic Paints
• Thin Wood Dowels
• Flat Knife
• Dreidel Kits
• Dreidel Molds
• Modeling Clay

1. Gather your supplies. You'll find everything you need at a craft-supply store.

2. Press moist clay into a cube-shaped mold, and smooth the clay on the open side with a flat knife or ruler.

3. Remove the clay from the mold while it's still moist.

4. Insert a piece of dowel into the center of one of the sides so that it reaches at least to the center of the cube.

5. Press more clay into a cone or pyramid-shaped mold. (The flat side should be the same size or slightly smaller than the side of the box.) While the clay is still moist, remove it from the mold.

6. Affix the cone to the side of the cube opposite the dowel.

7. Let the clay dry.

8. Paint or stencil onto each blank side of the cube one of the following Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimmel, Hay and Shin. (See Related Site "Hebrew Alphabet.")

9. Let the paint dry and start the game.

Tips & Warnings

• Making dreidels from scratch is fun and exercises your creative flair, but it's easier to make them from a kit. Dreidel kits are sold at Jewish religious-supply stores and at many large synagogues.