Ciaran Blumenfeld, Author at Try Handmade

Lunch Box Love Notes from Cards Between Friends

December 17, 2016 by Ciaran Blumenfeld 1 Comment

Just a few weeks ago you could not wait to send those kids off to school and on their way. New shoes, a special lunch, a brand new schoolbag. But now that the newness has worn off and school days have settled into a routine, it’s easy to get in a rut. The lunches have lapsed into lackluster leftovers, the new shoes are scuffed. We need a pick me up! That’s why October is the perfect time to break out some Lunch Box Love Notes like the adorable ones made by Cards Between Friends.

I like that these notes are simple and graphic and can be personalized with your own handwritten message. Tuck them into a lunchbox or backpack. They are sure to brighten any test day and make your kids feel super special and cared for.

These cards strike the perfect balance between sweet and cool. They are not overly precious, which is a plus when you have little boys who like monsters. Cards can be customized to your favorite of the themes offered by Cards Between Friends. Can you think of a more simple and inexpensive ($3.50 for a dozen!) way to put a smile on your child’s face on a daily basis?

Silk Dyed Easter Egg Kit from The June Bride

May 3, 2016 by Ciaran Blumenfeld Leave a Comment

These Easter eggs from The June Bride { previously featured here and here } look like a million bucks. I’m not sure who first figured out that you could use silk prints to dye your Easter eggs, but that person deserves some sort of prize.

The problem for me, and those like me who would love to try this craft, however, is that I don’t have a bunch of patterned silk items laying about the house. I’m pretty sure that my husband would not look kindly upon me slicing and dicing his ties for the good of the eggs.

Enter The June Bride who has put together a kit containing 16 thrifted/recycled silk scraps that can be used (and reused, the scraps work more than once) to create ART eggs. Also included are the additional supplies you’ll need for this fun and surprisingly easy project. No hunting all over town and through your closet for sacrificial silk and no more ordinary pink and blue eggs for you and your kids! You’re going to have so much fun!

The June Bride also donates $1 from the sale of every kit to the American Cancer Society.

Lovely Longies and Recycled Clothes from Treebottom Wool

September 21, 2015 by Ciaran Blumenfeld 2 Comments

In the far back reaches of my closet, where my good intentions gather dust bunnies with my long lost dreams of “creative time”, there lies a pile of abandoned felted sweaters. I’d intended to make magical, whimsical longies & garments for my baby out of these. That was three kids ago. Current score? Kids: 4, adorable mom made felted garments: 0. I am a girl with sweaters in her closet.

I’m not sure what I was thinking. After all, I live in Southern California. On the one day each year when it is finally cold enough to wear a felted wool garment, I dig the ol’ sweaters out, do a feverish late night google search for free pants patterns, stay up till 1 am sketching out a design and make great plans. The next day it’s 85 again and I’m too tired to get out of the car for my coffee. The detritus from my late night creativity fest enjoys two weeks on my nightstand before the sweaters migrate back to the corner of the closet for another year while I berate myself in print.

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Taka the Big Ninja Keychain by Leatherprince

August 25, 2015 by Ciaran Blumenfeld 1 Comment

[hCiaran]

Looking for a way to distinguish your kid’s backpack from that of the masses? Need a really big keychain so that you can quickly find your own keys when a certain kid is having a potty emergency? You need a Taka.

taka1

Taka the Ninja is just one of many many adorable characters in the leatherprince Etsy shop. This husband and wife duo create the most adorable leather keychains, coin purses and pouches for storing anything from lunch money to lip gloss. They are handcut from high quality leathers and stitched with care. You cannot help but smile at these colorful little characters.

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