I wanted to share these photos from fellow button enthusiast, Marlen Hudson. She used some of her fabulous Bakelite buttons from her collection and made a very special and elegant stocking.
This is a great way to use those keepsake buttons! Notice that she stacked some of her buttons to create more definition and texture. Lovely, Marlen!
I know I talk a lot about the Clover Yo-Yo makers but I can’t help it. A great tool is a a joy forever! I have always wanted to make a garland from yo-yo’s and buttons and I can’t imagine making one without the makers to make quick work of it while I watch TV at night in my comfy chair.
This beautiful garland was made by Lisa Smith-Sittniewski at Alterity. You can view her beautiful creations on Etsy. Here is a link to her site:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Alterity?ga_search_query=Alterity&ga_search_type=seller_usernames
Too cute! Now if all of this is too much for you, you could certainly make this garland from felt circles glued to a pretty string (use 2 circles back to back with the string in between) and a button on top. it’s all about the buttons, Santa! Yo-Yo-Yo!
I have had the most wonderful response from my newspaper article, and I want to thank all of you for your comments and support! It means the World to me and make me all the more certain that this is my God-given path in life.
Thank you and God Bless you!
I love receiving all of the beautiful cards and pictures from friends and relatives. I would place them in a pretty basket and that would be that. This year is different!
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With just a couple common items: ribbon, large buttons, and clothes pins (in this case, mini ones) or paper clips, you can do this:
In just moments, by stringing the ribbon through the button holes and slipping the buttons over tiny tacks you can have this:
and enjoy your beautiful greeting cards! It couldn’t be any easier!
Here is a close up:
http://www.gazette.com/articles/button-90352-turns-business.html#slComments
Here is the link to an article published in today’s Colorado Springs Gazette Business section about me and my buttons. What fun!!!
Well, just as I was getting ready to post my button tree idea, I happened upon this magazine:
And look what was inside:
Now wouldn’t this be cute with different color Yo-Yo’s and one color tiny buttons, or vice versa? Of course you can make these trees lickety split with the Clover Yo-Yo makers. Give it a try!
OK, that was bad, but you did chuckle, right? This next idea was born when I found these painted jars (for holding candles) at a dollar-type store.
I simply covered a Styrofoam cone shape with felt, glued a tiny ornament type finding on top and covered it with buttons. Here’s how:
1) Take a piece of felt that is at least as tall as your tree shape in height and at least twice as wide as the height of the tree. Find the center of the longest side and mark with a pin. I simply laid the cone on the felt along the top edge with the tip at the pin. Roll the shape to the other side, keeping the tip in place and marking the bottom edge to achieve a half circle. Cut out the shape about 1/2 inch outside the line you drew (to tuck under the tree bottom).
2) With the center point at the tip of the tree shape, glue one straight edge of the felt to the Styrofoam, keeping the line as straight as possible vertically. I found a glue specially formulated for Styrofoam works best. Wrap the felt around the tree until the edges meet. You may need to do some trimming to butt the pieces edge to edge, or you can overlap slightly, but you will have a ridge if you do.
3) Allow the glue to dry thoroughly! While you do this, you can attach a toothpick to the ornament you chose for the tree topper. When this dries, insert the pick in the tip top of the tree.
4) Attach buttons and beads (if you like) to the tree either by gluing them with E6000 adhesive or by pinning them with straight pins. If you are industrious, you could even cut your own “U” shaped pins from a small gauge wire. I found that even if you pin, a tiny dab of glue was helpful to keep the pin in place securely. Use as few or as many decorations on your tree as you like!
5) Glue the tree to the chosen base (clay pots, glass wear, candle holders, etc.) by tacking the edges neatly under the tree form (some trimming can be helpful to reduce bulk and achieve a clean finish). Apply a bead of E6000 to the base and place the tree on top. Allow to dry thoroughly.
Make several and give them as hostess gifts or door prizes at your next get together, to the gang at the office, or your best sewing buddies.
I hope you’ll share photos with me of your creations! Enjoy!
Some of you may have seen this idea before, but I love it so much, I just have to share it again!
Purchase a simple and inexpensive wire wreath. Fluff it out by bending the wire branches and attach buttons of all kinds to the wire ends. Twist, if necessary to secure the buttons, or slide them on as far as possible.
Don’t forget to Button Up when you bake! This came to me via a quilting friend. When others know you like buttons, you’ll be amazed at the things you’ll see and receive! Sweet Dreams!
Button Sugar Cookies
2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. cream or milk
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cream butter until soft. Beat in sugar, egg, vanilla and cream. In a separate bowl, sift 1+ 1/2 c. flour with baking powder and salt. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Add enough remaining flour to make dough stiff enough to roll out. Refrigerate until well chilled (at least 2 hours). Place on lightly floured board; roll about 1/8 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with floured cutters. You can use almost any shape for buttons. I used circles of various sizes and flowers. Poke 2 or 4 holes in the center of each cookie with the end of a straw (for the button holes). Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to cooling racks.
Decorate with various colors of butter icing. Add details and the "thread" using an icing bag and a small circle tip.
Buttons make a wonderful accent to a gift package!
Use a lovely wire-edge ribbon to tie a bow on top of a wrapped gift. Then, using a wire or twist tie (for a temporary attachment), attach a beautiful button to the center of the bow. Our new Christmas buttons or a twinkly Susan Clark button would be stunning!
You might consider inserting the button through the center of a silk Poinsettia flower. Remove the plastic center that comes in the flower and run the button shank and/or wire through the resulting hole. Now you can tie it anywhere! Attach a pin back on the flower (if you don’t want to harm the button) or glue a tie tack style pin to a flat or damaged button shank and you have an instant wearable that can be removed and inserted in any flower that goes with your outfit! A wonderful birthday wrapping idea, too! Wrapping and gift all in one. Here is a picture of a small pin I made inserted through a small pink silk flower:
Be sure to check my web site for a New and exciting jewelry finding that will enable you to make jewelry of all kinds using your buttons without harming them or having to decide on just one button to use!
This twine was run through red buttons and felt circles and can be used to tie around a package. This is a purchased product, but you could make it from ribbon or silky cording. The felt is nice or all buttons (sew through type) would be festive. After trying to tie it around a package, I found that I would prefer that the pieces were spaced closer together than shown here. Wouldn’t this make a cute garland, as well?
Advent, the season of preparation, is upon us! As promised, I have some great fast, easy and adorable gift and decoration ideas for you and I will be posting one idea every day until Christmas. Let’s kick it off with something we all need no matter where you live: Gloves! That’s right, even in Arizona and California you can wear thinner gloves to keep your skin form that dry Winter air! Why not make them festive by adding ribbon, yo-yo’s, trims and, of course, buttons! Make them elegant or silly, for yourself or as a stocking stuffer. Gloves are on sale everywhere right now and they are always a welcome gift. Here are a couple ideas to get you going:
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More Christmas buttons and a extra-small Yo-Yo with a sparkly gold button in the center.
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Button Up and stay warm in button style!
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