Too late for an XXmas craft??
- Garden_of_Mu
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- Joined: Mar 12, 2002 8:00 pm
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- Location: Olympia, WA
Too late for an XXmas craft??
I know Xmas has come and gone again but wanted to share a craft Daniel and I did this year. We made decorative xmas trees using the buttons he inherited from his grandmother after she passed away several years ago. A much better use than having them stashed away in a box somewhere. My friend Joey did the first one for us last year (center) and he inspired us to do the rest. The black velvet one with the mother of pear buttons still needs to be completed, but that can wait until next year.
So easy to do. We used old fabric we'd been carting around for years, cut it to fit the styrofoam cones we picked up at thrift stores and then used a spray adhesive to make it stick well all over. The seams are finished with a fabric glue. Then we added buttons (after a good washing and scrubbing - they were dirty!) using straight pins. Some are plain silver pins with a small glass bead added first, others have the large headed pins in gold, silver, pearl or other metallic colors. Some buttons are individually placed, others are stacked or layered. The design possibilities are endless. I think they turned out fabulously. Can't wait to do more next year - we've plenty of buttons left!
So easy to do. We used old fabric we'd been carting around for years, cut it to fit the styrofoam cones we picked up at thrift stores and then used a spray adhesive to make it stick well all over. The seams are finished with a fabric glue. Then we added buttons (after a good washing and scrubbing - they were dirty!) using straight pins. Some are plain silver pins with a small glass bead added first, others have the large headed pins in gold, silver, pearl or other metallic colors. Some buttons are individually placed, others are stacked or layered. The design possibilities are endless. I think they turned out fabulously. Can't wait to do more next year - we've plenty of buttons left!
~ Mike
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t
matter and those who matter don’t mind.” - Theodore Geisel, aka Dr.
Seuss
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t
matter and those who matter don’t mind.” - Theodore Geisel, aka Dr.
Seuss
Re: Too late for an XXmas craft??
Very creative and interesting idea!
Spider's Hosta List There are photos there too
"I gotta have more cowbell!" SNL
"If your gecko is broken you have a reptile dysfunction."
"If you don't talk to your cat about catnip...who will?"
"I gotta have more cowbell!" SNL
"If your gecko is broken you have a reptile dysfunction."
"If you don't talk to your cat about catnip...who will?"
Re: Too late for an XXmas craft??
They are beautiful and such a good way to use the inherited buttons. And I like to do Christmas crafts after Christmas. It makes the holiday last just a bit longer.
Glo
Glo
Re: Too late for an XXmas craft??
Never to late for Christmas crafts, they are year 'round around here! As a matter of fact, while putting ornaments away yesterday I got my camera a took a close-up photo of the details of a handmade ornament so I could attempt it myself during the year. Heck, if I don't start my Christmas crafts in March, they likely won't be done by Christmas!!
Those are fabulous! I toss buttons into jars, like many people do with spare change. What a great use for all those buttons! I love decorations like that, they can look so simple yet so elegant. A small cluster of these on a shelf or the corner of table would look great!
Tell me, the one on the far left that looks kind of "paisley" . . . is the fabric a print or is the entire design done with pins and buttons?
Those are fabulous! I toss buttons into jars, like many people do with spare change. What a great use for all those buttons! I love decorations like that, they can look so simple yet so elegant. A small cluster of these on a shelf or the corner of table would look great!
Tell me, the one on the far left that looks kind of "paisley" . . . is the fabric a print or is the entire design done with pins and buttons?
JaneG
Start slowly . . . then taper off.
Start slowly . . . then taper off.
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Re: Too late for an XXmas craft??
Those are very cool!
~~~ Audrey ~~~
“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good”
Dr. Seuss
“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good”
Dr. Seuss
- Garden_of_Mu
- Posts: 4518
- Joined: Mar 12, 2002 8:00 pm
- USDA Zone: 7
- Location: Olympia, WA
Re: Too late for an XXmas craft??
Thanks folks - glad you liekd the idea!
Jane - The paisley is a patterned fabric (actually an old pair of boxer shorts that never fit right so were never worn), and I used the pattern to place the buttons, beads and pins. Here's some closer shots, including the bottom. The pins there keep it stable. My camera is making the fabric look more pink but it really is a red cloth.
Jane - The paisley is a patterned fabric (actually an old pair of boxer shorts that never fit right so were never worn), and I used the pattern to place the buttons, beads and pins. Here's some closer shots, including the bottom. The pins there keep it stable. My camera is making the fabric look more pink but it really is a red cloth.
~ Mike
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t
matter and those who matter don’t mind.” - Theodore Geisel, aka Dr.
Seuss
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t
matter and those who matter don’t mind.” - Theodore Geisel, aka Dr.
Seuss
Re: Too late for an XXmas craft??
Thanks for the closer pics. Very cool how you accented the print of the fabric (boxers ) with the pins and buttons.
JaneG
Start slowly . . . then taper off.
Start slowly . . . then taper off.
- Ginger
- Posts: 3097
- Joined: Jun 15, 2004 12:13 pm
- USDA Zone: Zone 7
- Location: Luther Oklahoma, Lat: 35* 35' 23.5284
Re: Too late for an XXmas craft??
An excellent idea! I too have a box of old buttons that belonged to my grandmother. I use them a lot when I scrapbook or make cards. I just love going through them and remembering! I may have to try out your idea though. My mom would love one of those.
Ginger
Ginger
Did I mention I grow my Hosta in pots?
Re: Too late for an XXmas craft??
It's funny he shows the "bottom" of the boxers.
Spider's Hosta List There are photos there too
"I gotta have more cowbell!" SNL
"If your gecko is broken you have a reptile dysfunction."
"If you don't talk to your cat about catnip...who will?"
"I gotta have more cowbell!" SNL
"If your gecko is broken you have a reptile dysfunction."
"If you don't talk to your cat about catnip...who will?"
- Ginger
- Posts: 3097
- Joined: Jun 15, 2004 12:13 pm
- USDA Zone: Zone 7
- Location: Luther Oklahoma, Lat: 35* 35' 23.5284
Re: Too late for an XXmas craft??
Spider you are just too funny!
G
G
Did I mention I grow my Hosta in pots?