Button Crafting - Is it a Necklace, a Belt or a Bracelet?

If you have been following my blog you will know I have just a few(wink wink) buttons! So I decided to actually use some of my buttons rather than just play with them LOL! I also entered this into a challenge on the Crafts Beautiful forum for the launch of the new Sew magazine.

I started out with the intention of making a button belt and then once it was finished I thought it would make a gorgeous button necklace when combined with a handcrafted pearl necklace.

It also looks funky as wrap around bracelet! It might even make a really interesting headband as well but I think I prefer it as a shabby chic style necklace.

It took me about 2 hours to design and create. All the buttons are threaded onto one really long piece of wire folded in half. No two buttons the same with 61 used in total. It took me ages to go through my buttons to find all the ones in just the right colours with each one being different. I made a loop closure as a feature at one end with pearl beads. I varied how I wired the buttons too. Some I threaded the wire through simply, some twisted, or criss-crossed, some over and under opposite ways and a few have been thread through backwards and the wire twisted into a coil on the top.

I am not generally one for buttons on jewellery but this one I am really happy with. I would love to hear what you think.

Bind-it-all Special Secrets Notebook

Here is a notebook that I made for my DD. Her favourite colour is turquoise. This is a special book for her to write all the things she wants to as she grows from a young girl into a young lady.

The notebook is covered in chinese brocade fabric. The beads are what was left from making her Princess Jasmine costume a couple of years ago and they hold a special place in her heart as it was a very memorable occasion for her. I lined the inside of the covers in scrapbooking paper and also covered a pencil to match. I used my bind-it-all and then I tied a length of turquoise ribbon to the wires on the inside for my daughter to use as a bookmark.

Mother's Day Cards using Twisted Paper Flowers 2009

I can now show you the cards I made for Mother's Day. They are very feminine and I love how they turned out. They were relatively quick to make and our Mums loved them.

On both of the cards I used twisted paper flowers which I made on my daisy wheel. A daisy wheel is a small knitting loom use for making wool flowers. They only take a couple of minutes each to make. I have been making a stash of them in different colours whilst watching TV. I combined the twisted paper flowers with vellum flowers and glittered silk flowers as well as a button from my huge button collection that you may remember from my previous post! Two down and many many more to go! LOL

The Mother's Day sentiment I wrote in gel pen on a scalloped tag I cut using the Storybook cartridge and my Cricut Expression. The swirls looked too much on the blue card so I removed them and used them as part of the flower.

I also made a very tiny dent in my ribbon and lace collection too using some on the cards. The longest piece was only 16cm(6 & 1/2") long. Oh well I guess every little bit helps!

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day including those of you with furkids!
As always I love to read your comments and try to visit your blog in return when I can. Have a great weekend.

Buttons, Buttons, Buttons! Sorting, Organizing and Storage

Well as I have mentioned previously I have been busy sorting and organizing in my crafts and sewing room. I have waaaayyyy too many buttons than I will probably ever use, but at least I can always find something suitable for whatever I am working on!

The best way to organise your buttons is to work out what method you use to decide what ones you would like for your project. I usually decide on a colour first and then either choose a plain or fancy buttons before I make my final decision. It may not be the right method for everyone but it works for me.
Special buttons that I know I will never want to use go in a special tin with buttons in handed down to me from my Grandmother.

Sew here we go.............

HOW TO ORGANIZE BUTTONS:

1) Put on some music or watch TV. Sit near a window in daylight. This will help you tell the difference between similar colours - black and navy as well as lemon and cream. Some look deceptively similar in low or even fluorescent light.
2) Take one pile of mixed buttons, have a play and oohhhh and aaahhhhh! Pick them up and let them run through your fingers!
3) Set out lots of small containers, jars, lids or even ziplock bags. Two for each colour group you want to use. One for the plain buttons and one for the fancy buttons.
4) Sort the buttons. I have loads of brown, blue and green buttons so I sort those further into lights and darks. Some of the buttons are also sorted into sets of the same to make them easier to find later.
5) Place your sorted buttons where you can reach them easily and quickly when you need them. Buttons I use regularly I store in containers on a shelf and ones I use less often I store in ziplock bags and place in a box nearby.

I would love to hear how you sort store your buttons. If you have any pictures, place a link in the comments section so I can come and check it out.

Fun Easter Crafts Projects

Some of you may remember these sweet little chicks we made last Easter. I still have them sitting on my computer desk just because they make me smile!

Then there are my freebie Easter printables, just click on the pictures and then save to your computer.

I have also been doing a little web surfing and found some great activities and creative projects that you can do, even with your kids. I would love to have a go at all of these, but sooo much to do and so little time. Hope these save you some time searching for some fun Easter projects. I am unable to add the pics from these sites here due to copyright reasons, but trust me I am sure you will love them.

1) Cute little chicks and bunnies from a face cloth. These are so cute with an Easter egg sitting in them. I have made heaps of them and they are so quick and easy to make. Great for selling at an Easter fair too.

2) Sweet Easter bags and egg wrappers to print for free.

3) Rabbit Napkin Holders with template to print.

4) String Easter egg made using a water balloon with chicks inside.

5) Chocolate daffodils

6) Bunny cupcakes

7) Egg train

8) oh so cute brooch

9) easy rabbit cross stitch

10) Felt Easter Bag tutorial. Quick, easy and can be made to suit any occasion.

11) chenille/pipe cleaner egg

12) Gorgeous Beaded cross to remind us of the real reason for Easter. This would be beautiful as a brooch.

13) Ribbon and plastic mesh cross.

14) Easter bunny basket from a paper plate. Very easy even for young children.

15) This Handprint lily with a poem would be a perfect gift for adults this Easter from children. Step by step instructions to make the flowers are here.

16) Gorgeous bead and wire bunny. These would make a sweet necklace and earrings set as a non-chocolate gift for Easter.

17) Easter Egg cozy with printable pattern to sew. If you make these a little smaller they would make fun finger puppets!

18) Egg shaped Cakes! These look really cute, you bake a cake right in the egg, and I imagine they wouldn't last long. LOL

19) Cute Bunny Basket that you can make up and let kids finish decorating the face and feet! Instructions to make the box base are here. This one uses a diecut machine but it would be easy enough to draw and make your own if you don't own one. Thanks to SharonSkippy for sending me these links!

Ready for some Online fun? Crafts Beautiful Forum Party!

In less than 2 hours Crafts Beautiful will be holding an online forum party to celebrate the launch of their new Make Jewellery magazine, which looks absolutely divine!

It is free to join the forum and there will tons of free downloads over the whole weekend, as well as guest designers, challenges and loads of other fun! I went to the Christmas party and let's just say everyone had a fabulous time. Hope to see you there.

Make A Quick No Sew Sweater for a Chihuahua Puppy or Small Dog - Tutorial

This is my latest sewing, well actually non-sewing project! Tell me what you think!

It has been a while since I have needed to make puppy jumpers, and during a cold spell here in the middle of summer I needed a couple of coats for the puppies in a hurry. By the time the cold sets in here for winter I expect I will need to make some larger ones!

I would have loved to share pics of both of our chihuahua girls sporting their new clothes, but Bell just does not sit still enough to photograph! So here is Tinker modeling her Pink Spotted No-sew Baby Sleeve Sweater!

Tools Required:

Measuring Tape
Scissors
Sleeve from a baby, toddler or child's sweater (see step one)

Method:

1) Measure your puppy's neck and around the chest. This will give you an idea for the size sleeve you need. I used the sleeve from a baby jumper, but you may need one from an older child or adult depending on the size of your dog or puppy.

2) Cut the sleeve from the garment you are using. The top should be as long as your dog from the back of the neck to the start of the tail. If you have a male dog the part underneath the coat (where the seam is) will need to be shorter to allow them to go to the toilet without soiling the jumper.

3) Make sure the wristband will fit over your dog's head. If it fits, great go onto the next step, otherwise do as I did. I cut the ribbing (wristband) from the sleeve, as it was too small to fit over my little chihuahua's head. I rolled the neck to hide the cut edge and make it softer around the neck.

4) Measure from your puppy's neck to the top of the front legs, and also the distance between the front legs. These will help you work out where to cut the holes for the paws to fit through. Make sure they have room to walk and play safely in them. If the holes are too big the paws can get stuck inside the jumper making it impossible for them to walk. Cut the holes in the sleeve and then your dog is ready to try on his or her new outfit!

NOTE: Putting on a dog coat should be a positive and fun experience for your puppy. So whilst your puppy is learning to behave getting dressed, offer lots of rewards of praise and food treats.