Toolbox Jewelry: Adornments for Makers

This weekend is the World Maker Faire in New York, and we got Klutz’s latest kit, Toolbox Jewelry, just in time to bedazzle ourselves in Maker Faire-appropriate accessories.

I’ve long been a fan of Klutz. Klutz kits are my go-to birthday party presents. At the last New York Toy Fair, Toolbox Jewelry was a stand-out product in a sea of tired products. My 8-year-old daughter and I were excited to give it a try. Or, more accurately, I was excited to have my 8-year-old daughter give it a try. She’s tried many Klutz kits in the past with varying degrees of independence and success. I enjoy jumping in and helping, like I did with their Wicked Cool Friendship Bracelets, but I value more the projects she can do from start to finish. On a weekend morning when it was my turn to sleep in, I awoke to three new creations she had made that morning.

Toolbox Jewelry provides a combination of ribbon, cord, nuts, washers, retaining rings, beads, and earring wires, enough to give every project in the book a try. My daughter had no trouble following the instructions, and she even called my attention to the parts of the books that have handy tips, like how to position a knot. And the resulting jewelry? It’s beautiful. It’s not beautiful in the “that’s nice, honey” way. It’s beautiful in a way that when my daughter was finishing up a bracelet, I pleaded with her to finish it at a size to fit me.

Often with Klutz kits, you’re beholden to the supplies that come with the kit. (Pro tip: you can reorder refill supplies from Klutz in those cases.) With Toolbox Jewelry, our imagination is already running wild. We’re excited to scavenge the closets and hit the hardware store to see how to apply the techniques in the book to different materials. I’m a fan of anything that gets my maker girl excited to go to the hardware store.

If you see us at Maker Faire, have a look at our beautiful accessories. Or make your own mini Maker Faire with this delightful kit.

GeekMom received a copy for review purposes.