Design Your Own DIY Eraser Jewelry

Since I was a child, I’ve always loved little erasers. I still love them now, but I’m never sure what I should do with them. Should I collect them? Should I just use them as erasers? Even with all the mistakes I make, how many do I really need? But they are just too cute. If you or your kids are like me, put those sweet little erasers to use in a big new way by wearing them!

What You Need

• Mini Erasers
• Stretch thread (this is thinner than stretch cord)
• Scissors
• Needle (choose a needle that is sharp, thick, and has a large eye)

How-To

Step 1
Cut a 24” piece of stretch thread and thread the needle, doubling the thread. You won’t need to tie a knot in the end.

Carefully poke the needle through an eraser, pushing it through as straight as you can.

Step 2
Pull the eraser down the thread to within about 1-2 inches of the end. The thread will stretch as you slide the eraser, so pull it slowly, working it down a few inches at a time.

Step 3
Continue adding erasers. Don’t pull them so close to each other that the thread is stretched. You should be able to see some thread showing between the erasers.

For my small adult wrist, I made the bracelet 7 inches long. Adjust this size to fit your child.

Step 4
Tie a secure knot with the ends, knotting it close to the erasers. A double square knot is a good knot for this, or you may find suggested knotting techniques for the stretch thread you choose.

Trim the ends and slide the bracelet over your child’s hand.

Now that you’ve made a bracelet, how about a necklace? Or maybe try adding a larger eraser as a charm? There are so many cute erasers to make each piece of jewelry totally unique!

Happy crafting!

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TypeBlocks Build An Early Love For Design

Nothing says “play” quite like a set of wooden blocks. These classic toy box staples are absolutely timeless. Timeless – but not Times New Roman-less. At least not since Michael Asire got his hands on them. A lover of toys, design, and all things wood, Michael wanted to take typography and stack it in a new way – using children’s alphabet blocks to put a kid-friendly twist on the art of the letter. Cool, right? Whether learning your ABC’s for the first time or just digging deeper into design, these handcrafted wonders are sure to inspire every member of the family.

To give you a better understanding, each letter of the alphabet A-to-Z is matched with a typeface starting with the same letter. For example, “A” is for Avant Garde, “B” is for Baskerville, etc. The blocks of course feature the name of the typeface, but also its designer, the year it was created, and its classification in the world of type. Our set came in a lovely little carrying bag with a leather drawstring, wrapping it all up in a pretty package and making it perfect for gift-giving!

These are quickly stacking up around our house. My kids and I have even started conducting nightly typeface memory games! (Think of them as fun typeface flashcards that you happen to be able to build really cool things with.) My older guys get such a kick out of seeing who can remember the most information about each typeface, while the littles are still working on conquering all 26 letters. Who knows – maybe these will be the building blocks to futures in design?! And when they grow up to become the greatest typographers of their generation, maybe just maybe they’ll attribute it to our after-dinner memory games. (A design-loving mom can dream!)

Learn more and order your own at the AsireStudios Etsy Shop.

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Easy-Sew Animal Belt Buddies

I’m in a cute animal obsession right now, and I’m not sure it’s temporary. Who can resist cute animals, right? These colorful felt creatures are simple to make, and can be worn as a belt accessory or removed for some simple animal play. (Think portable entertainment!)

What You Need

• Belt Buddies Printable Template
• Felt (I recommend wool or wool blend for longer lasting animal friends!)
• Embroidery floss
• Belt or 1-inch Wide Belting + 2 D-rings
• Scissors
• Needle

How-To

Step 1
Print provided templates, then use them to trace the animal shapes of our choice onto your favorite colored felts. Cut out a front and a back for each animal (the same shape twice). The squirrel and the cat have a separate back piece with a tail, but all the other animals are the same for both sides.

Step 2
Embroider faces onto the animals with 3 strands of embroidery floss. I used french knots for the eyes, back stitch for the nose, and a scallop stitch for the smile.

Step 3
Fold the back piece in half and cut two slits into the felt. The slits should be a little over one inch in length, so make the cuts about 5/8-inch.

Step 4
Hold the front and back pieces together and with 3 strands of floss, use a running stitch around the edges.

Step 5
Now it’s time to grab your belt! If you’re making your own belt (it’s really easy!), cut a piece of belting that is long enough to wrap around your child’s waist, then add 8 inches.

At one end, fold the end over twice and stitch it down with embroidery floss. Take the other end and fold it over twice with the two D-rings in the fold, then stitch it down, as before.

Step 6
Slide your animal buddies onto the belt through the slits.

Step 7
For the little mouse, you can add a tail made from embroidery floss before you stitch the layers together. Tie a knot in one end of your floss, then bring the floss through the felt and tie another knot very close to the felt. Tie a third knot about two inches from the first, then trim excess thread.

Your belt buddies are ready to ride! They’re sure to make friends wherever they go and will be by your little one’s side on all their biggest adventures!

Happy crafting!

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DIY Chalk & Cardboard Computer

I’ll admit, I’m not much of a techy and I don’t really love my kiddos to be nose-to-screen with the computer. But I think I’d be more of a fan if they were all DIY cardboard computers! These are the easiest computers ever! The addition of chalk paint allows them do something different on their computer each and every day. It even opens and closes so that they can pack it up and carry it back and forth from friends’ houses, a weekend Grandma’s, or just around the house. They can even “work” outside on a pretty day! It’s the simplest, most crafty computer ever and will make your little busy bodies feel super important.

Alright, time to get down to business!

What You Need

• Large piece of cardboard
• Box cutter
• Ruler
• Black chalk paint
• Chalk
• Paint brush
• Electrical tape
• Glue
• Pen
• Black construction paper (optional, for decoration)

How-To

Step 1
First, use your ruler and craft knife to cut an 11″ x 17″ piece of cardboard. Following the straight edge of the ruler, draw a line down the center of this rectangle with your pen. Use your craft knife to slice along the line, but make sure not to cut all the way through (you just want to loosen the cardboard enough so that the two sides to be able to fold).

Fold your cardboard and reinforce the fold with tape so that the computer will remain intact as your kids open and close it.

Step 2
Cut three smaller rectangles out of another piece of cardboard (one for the screen, one for the keyboard, and one for the mouse), each similarly sized to the ones above. Paint each with chalk paint and let dry. Once completely dry, glue them into their respective positions.

Step 3
Take your remaining cardboard and cut out another rectangle (again, similarly sized to the one pictured). Paint it and let dry. Once dry, cut out small squares from it (these will be your keys). Glue the squares onto your cardboard keyboard.

Step 4
Make it your own! Use paint or construction paper to customize your computer with fun drawings or speech bubbles so that everybody knows it’s yours.

Your computer is finished! Whether kids use it to take notes, surf the net of their imagination, or do the most serious of business – one thing is for certain – it’s the most fun they’ll ever have in front of a screen!

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A Recipe For Charming Kids’ Rooms

Twinkling stars, heirloom quilts, bold stripes, and playful animals are just a few of the things thoughtfully woven into the children’s interiors of Hanna Andersson’s new Hanna Home collection. You’ll fall in love with the modern playful themes that are anchored in the classic indisputable quality that Hanna Andersson has delivered for over 30 years.

Follow along Hanna Andersson’s Pinterest boards as Handmade Charlotte shares Hanna’s latest blog posts, fav DIYs, recipes, latest giveaways, and of course, new collections. We’re giving you a sneak peek into what you will find when you jump over to check out Hanna Home for yourself. The clever mix of traditional + fantastical will fill your child’s room with all of the imagination and joy they deserve. See you there!

Swedish Stripes
Bring on the stripes! Hanna Andersson packs a cheerful punch in a variety of colors. Plus, the stripes work with every pattern in the bedding collection, meaning they’re versatile to boot!

Reversible Quilts
Two-for-one reversible quilts are Handmade Charlotte favorites. Two unique looks on the very same quilt. How cool is that?

Smocking Hearts
Introduce your child to the classic Swedish hand craft of smocking. The detail is just darling and will cover your little sweethearts in love all night long.

Scandinavian Port Town
Bold colors line the streets of the Port Town bedding. This one has so much personality and will bring to life any space. Oh the yarns that will be spun all cuddled up in that thick comfy quilt – I can picture it now!

Ok, now what are you waiting for? Head over to Hanna Home to see the rest of the amazing collection with your own two eyes!

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Organize With Recycled Shoe Boxes

Keeping your kid’s clutter to a minimum may be a challenge, but this clever DIY project is sure to help! All you’ll need are a few old shoe boxes and a Brother P-touch PT-D200 Label Maker to easily organize and store craft supplies and toys. These simple, budget-friendly boxes will look fantastic stacked or displayed on a shelf for easy access. Plus – they’re a great way to keep desks and floors clear from those pesky pileups we know all too well!

What You Need

• Cardboard shoebox
• Brother P-touch PT-D200 Label Maker
• Decorative paper
• Leather strap
• Metal brads
• Scissors
• Reamer tool or awl
• Glue Stick

How-To

Step 1
Cut the decorative paper so that it will cover all sides of the box. This can be done by measuring the box and adding the dimensions together, but it’s just as effective to wrap the paper up around the sides of the box and approximate. No need to be perfect – just make sure the paper will be large enough. You’ll want an additional inch of margin around the edges for wrapping at the end.

Now that you have a single piece of paper to cover the box with, cut slits for each corner. Each slit should run straight from the edge of the paper to a corner on the short side of the box. As an optional step, you can trim any excess paper to minimize bulk (as I’ve done for my box).

Step 2
Let’s start gluing! Apply glue to the bottom of the box and press the glued side onto the middle of the paper. Flip the box over and smooth out any wrinkles.

Step 3
Now apply glue to a long side of the shoebox and adhere the paper, remembering to smooth out any wrinkles along the way. Once the long side is glued down, you’ll want to also glue down the “tails” of the long side to the short side of the box.

This step gives you a nicely covered corner and is really forgiving in case your box is a little misshapen. Repeat this step with the other sides of the shoebox.

Step 4
Once the sides are ready, it’s time to wrap the edges. Cut vents at each corner and glue the paper to the inside of the box.

Step 5
For a covered box, the shoebox top will need some love too.

Repeat steps 1-4 for cutting and gluing the box top with paper.

Step 6
Next, measure and cut a piece of leather strap for the decorative pull. You can also use another durable, non-fraying material. Using the reamer tool, very carefully punch holes in the strap. Then, use the reamer tool to punch holes in the box.

Step 7
Insert a brad through each hole and open the prongs to affix the brads.

Note that these straps are meant to be decorative, but you can always reinforce the brads with cardboard and hot glue (on the inside of the box) for extra stability.

Step 8
For the final touch, use the Brother P-touch PT-D200 to label your box.

There are plenty of fun fonts, symbols, and decorative borders to try, and tons of colorful tape options too. So you’re sure to find a match for any rooms decor.

Tip: Get kids involved by having them create the labels for each box, and they’ll be that much more attached to the idea of staying organized and cleaning up after themselves.

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