Jonah and the Whale Air Plant Holder

The story of Jonah and the Whale is associated with Yom Kippur, so since it’s Yom Kippur next week, I have a Jonah and the Whale project that all you air plant and succulent lovers will appreciate. I made whales out of clay pots and felt, and placed tillandsia air plants on top of them to look like a shower of water coming from the blowhole. This is definitely a project that doesn’t blow.

1. Paint a clay pot with light blue acrylic paint. You may need several coats to completely cover the clay surface.
   2. For the mouth, paint an approximately four-inch wide rectangle of white on the brim of the clay pot. I actually slanted the sides to create more of a smile shape.
   3. Using black and white paint — or paint markers if you prefer — draw eyes on either side of the mouth. I added smile lines to the edge of the mouth.
   4. Cut out two identical tail shapes from a piece of blue felt, along with two fin shapes.
   5. Glue the two tail pieces to each other with tacky or hot glue to double the thickness, and glue the wide end of the tail to the clay pot. Fan out the tip of the tail.
   6. Glue the fin pieces to the brim of the pot, right in front of the tail section.
   7. Hide a small action figure underneath the whale. This step is optional since no one will see it, but it’s fun that only you know Jonah is there. I used my figurine of Jonathan from New Kids on the Block. (Don’t ask me why I have a New Kids on the Block action figure.)
   8. Position a tillandsia air plant on the hole of the clay pot. If you wish, you can glue the plant to the pot to secure it. Mist the plant at least once a week to keep it fresh.