Bento#79
I spent more time on preparing today’s bento as I was busy snapping photos along the way. Sorry that the photos didn’t turn out sharp as it’s still pretty dark at 6 something in the morning. My wet kitchen light is not bright enough, I guess. 
But hopefully, this clear the doubts of some readers here. 
My kids are recovering well, but they haven’t got back their full appetite yet. They couldn’t finish the corn and edamame in yesterday’s bento, so I cut down their carbo intake today by just giving them a piece of raspberry jam sandwich each. Since they asked for some wieners, I cut the wieners in shapes to make them more attractive. I got this idea from Kaerenmama, who makes pretty bentos. Do check it out.
So, this is how I did it:
Cut the wiener in smaller size and use a cutter to form a shape in the middle of the wiener. If the wiener is not too soft, the shape will come out nice, with shape edges. Try my wiener tips here.
Cut some vertical lines at the outer part of the wiener.
Place the wieners in boiling water for a few minutes and if the shapes are prominent, the wieners are cooked and done. I placed some carrots in the boiling water at the same time since someone asked me how to make the flower carrots.
I would normally steam or boil the carrots first before cutting them. But I think you can do it the other way round, if your cutter is sharp enough.
Use a flower cutter, or any cutters of your choice to form the shape.
Cut out smaller holes on the flower carrot. If you don’t have this cutter like mine, just use a straw.
The carrot flower. You can keep the smaller bits for eyes or just eat them. LOL!
While waiting for the wieners and carrots to cool down, I cut some mangoes and kiwis, and prepared the sandwiches. Then, I placed everything in the lunch boxes, and continued with the decorative details. It’s my boy’s birthday today, so I decorated his sandwich with a birthday cake, cut from high calcium cheese and smoked cheese for color contrast.
My boy’s bento with mango, kiwi, carrot, wieners and a piece of sandwich. He asked me why the “4″ candle was not lid, but I was running out of time to fix him the “fire flame”. LOL!
Some of you are wondering how I did the smiley faces? I use the punchers by Carla’s or Carl’s. They are the best punchers I have, and I love them. LOL! I don’t have a smiley face puncher yet, so I have to cut out a smile from this …
Punch the seaweed to get the “nose”, and carefully hold that tiny piece with a pair of tweezers and cut out the “U” shape. It looks tedious, but once you get used to it, it’s really not that hard.
As for my gal, I fixed her a Hello Kitty as requested. She really loves HK.
My gal’s lunch box has a Hello Kitty, and she brought it to school with her today! Luckily, I didn’t give her any picks or barans, if not they will be lost again.
I stopped using the HK puncher because it always gets stuck. I use this puncher by Carl’s (or Carla’s?) for the eyes.
I think this puncher is great for shaping eyes in different sizes.
So, it’s really not that hard in preparing bento huh? But I’m still in learning stage, so there are still a lot to learn from Japanese bento blogs.
Bought for you aledi the smiley and ribbon puncher la! No need to cut from the “cat” puncher. LOL!
Hey Shoppingmum, thanks for the great tips!!!!!
I like the wieners!! So cute!! U got the patience to do all the small small little thing. Salute! That’s y your bento come out so nice.
Btw, where to get the cutter like yours? All in one? Can get from Daiso??
hey woman….i got melted with your works!! u r getting more n more talented….that needs a lot of patience with details !! beautiful…really !!
hope to do that when time permits !!
Love your bentos – very beautiful. Really salute your patience and attention to details. And really helpful tutorials too. *_*
Arlene, thanks!!! *muak muak*
Annie Q, you are welcome. You can get the cutters from CP, just email her and see if she restock or not. You know her store right?
Jacss, ya, it’s quite time consuming, that’s why I get up so early these days. LOL!
3lilangels, thanks! Hope that it helps.
Hi, I always here but sometimes just lazy give comments.. But this bento very creative, I like the wieners… so cute! And always see my favourite hello kitty … Mind tell me how to make it! I got the cutter, let me know how to make the flower on its head and nose?Thanks
Thanks for showing us all the instructions! You are really hard working! I have been so lazy lately coz too many cupcake projects so have to clear them first before I can concentrate on Bento again. I am trying to look for more of those Carl’s punchers too but Penang is always so lowly stocked with interesting items…
wow, you really creative la!!
wow…look at those sausage, so cute u are so creative amy
ai, i failed to cut the sausage nicely again, may be i cut it too hard, will try next time…
Hey, I lurve Kaeranmama’s site too ! She is one of my favourite jap bloggers. Saw that carrot flower trick in her blog but am not going to implement many of Kaeren’s ideas unless i can make sure that Kimberly’s bento can get on the school’s van with her in time and without me losing any more sleep. haha.
heehee..like Angeleyes and 3lilangels, I have been busy with work and lazy with bento too. I guess with the kids having a holiday, mums can have a bento break.
I like all your recent bento’s . They are so pretty !!! Those japanese mums have such neat tricks, dont they?
Hi shoppingmum, how i wish i could view the pictures on your blog at my office (he he). Sadly I can’t (don’t know why) and the slow dial up at home is a slow drag. Tks for sharing how u make the step by step pix on how to cut your pretty sausages. I must find that wheel, hopefully soon.
Great bentos.
I love karenmama too, just wished i knew what i am clicking (most of the time i dont which can be rather frustrating).
Allthingspurple, thanks! I will have a short bento break next week. Aiyo, really like doing bento everyday here. LOL!
Javapot, maybe my photo size is too big? Sorry ya?
Wow! Great tips you had here! It’s an eye opener for me to grab some tips. kekeke… Merry Christmas to you.
Hi! Merry X’mas!!
I chanced upon your lovely blog and really am SOOOO imspired to make bento for my little toddler! I’ve just started with 1 last week and am looking for ideas when I found your blog! It’s like an encylopedia!! Everything i need is here! Am so happy! Thanks so much for sharing all your great ideas and how to tutorials! So grateful!
Can I ck with you, the carl cutters is it craft cutters or they are like the HK cutters, specially for nori? Thanks v much for advice and best wishes and blessings to you and your family!
Tona-mama, welcome to my blog. The carl’s punchers are actually craft punchers. You can just get them from at some book stores, but sadly, I can’t find them here!
But before you start using them, it’s best to wash off the dirt and oil (used to keep the punchers from rusty, I guess), and then leave it to dry. If I have time, I will air dry them with hair dyer. LOL! I’m not sure if it’s just me, I don’t like the HK punchers, and I already put them away.
Hi Shoppingmum, tks so much for replyin so quickly!
Sorry, am still very very new to bento-making, can ask y u prefer carl punchers? is it cos it’s easier to punch? Oso can these punchers be used on cheese too or only nori? If yes, would it be difficult to clean? Hee, I oso like to use hair-dryer to dry things! 
Are there any particular carl punchers u looking for? I live in spore, if I cantget them, u want me to send them to you? 
Tona-mama, I have HK punchers, Carls (or Carla) as well as those Japanese cute eyes punchers. So far, Carl (or Carla) give the best punched effect on nori, with really sharp shape. The punchers from Daiso are ok too, but some times, it gets stuck, probably due to friction. If so, I will just apply some cooking oil on it, then wash off later to make it smoother.
Thanks for offering to send me the punchers! I actually want more faces punchers from Carla or Carl. Really can’t find any here! LOL!
See? So many of them…
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/wrapping/555816/555817/704964/834993/
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/wrapping/555816/555817/704964/705004/
Hihi!
I got the carl punchers oradi! Cant wait to try them out… but now my son is not well so am not doing anthing exciting..keke! But, I thot u have most of the faces punchers? Or am mistaken? I bgt the 2 bears and bunny puncher, so happy! Tks so much for recomending. The salesperson asked me to go to their flagship shop as there may be more there so I will ck it out and when I have the time and when my son goes back to school. Exactly which u looking for so if I spot them, I will buy for you?
Hi
I wanted to buy the cutter, is CP the owner of Bento Craft ?
I reside in S’Pore, if u want anything from me I can buy it for u and ship over. Saw those puncher in “Popular” book shop at S$5.95 plus.
Can share the link for the Japanese website with Tutorial ?
Your bento are really impressive ! A very creative mum.
Kim Heok, CP is the owner of Bentomarket.com. Carmen is the owner of Bentocraft.com. Both are different stores. I found that Carmen is bring more things in, so I started buying from BentoCraft.
Out of space!!! LOL!
Thanks for offering your help, I’m slowing down in collecting tools.
Mmm…for Japanese blogs, you can start with http://ameblo.jp/kaerenmama/ and http://aichigo.blog109.fc2.com/
I guess not all have tutorial, but you will figure out how to do it once u got used to bento-ing.
And thanks for your compliment.