Happy Hanukah: How to Make a Unique Dreidel

The dreidel along with the Menorah is seen around the world as a symbol of the Jewish Hanukah holidays. The dreidel is basically a spinning top with symbols on the sides to indicate the game actions. A working dreidel can be made of many different materials such as wood (traditional), paper, cardboard, clay or metal. As with any craft, your imagination is the limit. I've seen dreidels made of glass or even chocolate (yum yum). The traditional shape of the dreidel base is similar to an upside down house hence the popularity of the milk carton dreidel. Dreidels can be other shapes as well round or square, flat or round as long as it can spin and fall into position. While browsing commerically made (and exquisitely made I might add) circular or disk shaped dreidels, I started thinking about how to turn a dud or damaged CD into a dreidel. Here is the result:

Recycled CD Dreidel

Materials:
1 CD (recycled, damaged or dud CDs work great for this)
1 long bolt
2 bolt nuts
2 large washers
Glue
Colored Foam
Glitter
Xacto knife

Note: You can use only glitter or paint if you are doing this project with small children and wish to avoid using an Xacto knife.

1. Measure and cut a small foam circle. It should be large enough to cover the non-data portion of the CD and small enough to leave space for adding the 4 Dreidel symbols.
2. Cut a small hole in the center of your foam circle to accommodate your bolt.
3. Glue the foam circle to the center of your CD (shiny side up).
4. Now draw and cut out the symbols for the dreidel (click here to see an image of the dreidel symbols from the Ladies Home Journal ).
5. Glue the dreidel symbols onto the shiny side of the CD in the same layout as a compass. The nun and the gimmel symbols should be opposite each other as should those of the hay and the shim. If you are using glitter, paint the symbols with glue and sprinkle glitter over it. If you are painting, paint the symbols now.
6. While glue is drying on the CD, cover your washers with glue and sprinkle with glitter. Shake and let dry.
7. Fit washers over hole in foam and glue in place. Let dry.
8. Screw on nut up bolt stem and insert through center of CD.
9. Screw second bolt from bottom.
10. Adjust position of bolt on CD and tighten into place. You may need to test and readjust to get best spinning results.
11. You are now ready to play with your dreidel. To learn how, how to play, click here for AC writer Marina Shemesh's article on How to Play the Dreidel

Sources:
Passaic-Bergen Jewish News: The Largest Dreidel in the World. < http://passaicnews.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/208/> Accessed on November 10, 2009.