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Movember Mustache Craft for guys

mustache notebook craft idea movember

Movember is here again,  and it is a great  time to make crafts for guys.  Former Designer for Buttons Galore and More designer friend Jen Goode of  http://www.100directions.com designed a mustache stamp wheel from Clearsnap so you can get your mustache creativity going all over the place. AND, she has  asked a group of designers to create whatever they’d like to make, showcasing this fun craft tool and her stamp.  One of my favorite things to do with the rollagraph is to make my own pattern paper.  I used a piece of kraft card stock to make the cover or this journal.  My son is in 5th grade and they have to keep a reading journal.  I thought this would be perfect for him.  Man was I right.  He took it to school last week and I have a request for 4 more.

Materials to make Movember mustache craft:

 

Movember mustache craft idea supplies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used the Sharpie markers to make my own name plate, The thin Glue dots to adhere the buttons, and the name plate.  The rollagraph to create the pattern paper for the cover and scissors to trim the edges.  You can use a craft knife too.

Mustache craft with name plate

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DIY Craft ideas – button craft blog hop

DIY CRAFT IDEAS

crafty ideas blog hop  buttons

 

Handmade craft ideas abound in this creative blog hop.  Please join the Designer Craft Connection, Viewtainer and Buttons Galore in presenting this blog hop.   You have a chance to win a Viewtainer filled with an assortment buttons and 45 feet of ribbon. (picture below)

buttons galore craft ideas blog hop viewtainer

What is a craft ideas blog hop you ask?

A blog hop is where, as a reader you check out the host blog and then follow the links to the other blogs participating in the hop.  You hop from one blog to another by clicking the Designer Craft Connection logo on each page.  The arrows will take you backward and forward.   Leave comments if you like something, follow them on facebook, twitter or even pinterest.  Most of all have fun and enjoy the projects. The designers have created projects that include paper crafts, sewn projects, jewelry and mixed -media and much more.

To win one of the Viewtainers filled with ribbons and buttons – Leave a comment here on this very post.  The comment should contain your favorite project from the hop, and the container you would like to win.  Comments need to be made by March 17th, 2013 at 11:59 eastern standard time.

The Buttons Galore and More Designers participating in the hop are listed below.  Visit their blogs too.  If you really like something leave them a comment.  We all like to hear compliments.  I know I sure do.

DONT FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

If you would like to purchase any of the buttons used in the many craft ideas presented you can shop the

BUTTONS GALORE AND MORE STORE

 

Quick and Easy Gifts – Make a handmade note card set

It’s that time of year where we all start looking for quick and easy gifts. Being able to make them homemade is a bonus!!! Why not make a handmade note card set? Mine is not Christmas themed, or Fall themed…I like generic…it works well when I am in a pinch! I can just grab & go! BUT I do like to make my gifts in good seasonal colors. So for this set I thought I would show you my “thought process” on how to make a set of cards in a quick and easy assembly fashion. :) Just add in your papers, matching buttons, ribbon and bling of your choice and you are all set and ready to get creating your very own quick and easy gifts!

 

 

Gather up supplies. I generally like to pick my papers first, then cardstock, ribbon and embellishments. As you can see, I have chosen three different colors of Button Bonanza Bags just to be sure I have the perfect color when the time comes for embellishing. You can also see I have printed out my sentiments panels using Duetica Lettering Arts Studio’s Mandolyn Font in the Outline feature then colored it in using my Copic markers. Another neat trick to PERFECTLY matched sentiments that say JUST what you want in just the perfect size for your project. :) Once I was done coloring them in I die cut each sentiment panel using Spellbinders Nestabilities and I was all set!

Using a Bow Easy Ribbon Tool REALLY helps make the set look polished, all of my bows look exactly alike!

Add an extra touch by outlining the first letter using a glue pen then shake on a bit of coordinating glitter.

Another great touch that really doesn’t take too long is to embellish the embellishments! I love to add a bit of bling to the center of my buttons.

 

And here you have it! A cute set that took less than an hour start to finish! Not bad….

 

 

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altered buttons make great embellishments!

Today I thought I would bring you an Autumn themed card and share a few tips on how to alter buttons for embellishments. I know it is hard to  believe Summer is passing and we are moving into the Autumn season?  Creating distressed or altered buttons is not a new concept, that I know. But sometimes being reminded that creating handmade embellishments isn’t feasible and that altering embellishments is the next best thing! Here I will share with you one way I like to alter my button embellishments that takes just a few quick strokes of sandpaper in two different grits and you have an entirely new and interesting look to your buttons! I started with two buttons of the same size and color from the Gingerbread Assortment and then went to town!

 

 

 

 The buttons I chose to use from the Gingerbread Assortment matched perfectly with my color palette however,

I thought they’d look good with a little “character”.

 

 

 Starting with a rough grit side of the sanding block, sand the edges.

 

 

 Next using a less rough grit, sand the surface of the face of the button to lightly distress it.

 

 Notice the difference? It’s just a few simple steps to really personalize your button embellishments.

 

 

And the finished result!

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Make a money tree – Easy DIY STYROFOAM Christmas craft with buttons

Money doesn’t grow on trees!!!….or does it?  Check out this fun and easy way to give a money tree gift in a creative way.

Today I am excited to use a Styrofoam plus BUTTONS from Buttons Galore!  Check out the supplies…

Materials to make a money tree:

Directions to make a money tree:

Begin by wrapping your cone in bills and securing the corners with sequin pins.  Once you have all of the foam covered you can embellish to your heart’s content with buttons, colorful seamstress pins, tinsel chenille and more!  Important to note that non of the items were adhered with adhesive because in the end this money tree is meant to be harvested so make it easy for the recipient to wrap and just use pins.

I love the glow on the “lights”!

Thanks for joining me today! I hope you will make a money tree for your next gift.  No matter if it is a Christmas money tree, birthday money tree or a graduation money tree, the recipient will surely love a tree made of money.  I know I would.

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Embellished Scrapbook Album Idea

 

I was scrap-booking the other day, putting my pages away in my plain black album and it occurred to me. If I can scrapbook and embellish all my pages why not do the same thing to my album??!

The first thing I grabbed was from Buttons Galore & More Animal Instincts Pack and went to town.

For this 8X8 Scrap book album I used a basic black 3 ring binder album.

Using sharpie or pen, draw or trace heart in middle of album

Carefully place Buttons Galore & More Animal Instinct Buttons, not adhering yet just placing them.

Using hot glue gun, carefully adhere each button, one at a time, covering any trace of ink on album.

Using hot glue gun and  Buttons Galore & More Animal Instinct Buttons adhere smaller buttons on top in second layer.

Using copper pearl pen, dab small pearls in the middle of 1/4 of the buttons.

Using the ribbon from  Buttons Galore & More Animal Instinct Buttons adhere all the way around the album trimming off excess. It will take 2 packages of buttons and ribbons.

Adhere title using chipboard letters.

 

Fill album with many memories and pages!

Pinky: Buttons Galore & More Design Team

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Patriotic God Bless the USA Wall Hanging by Linda Auclair

Patriotic Collage trim Kit

PLease welcome this weeks guest designer – Linda Auclair.  Linda is an avid paper crafter who is know for her prolific work and her fantastic use of embellishments.  She is a natural pairing with Buttons Galore and More.  She does such fun and timely work  that we are going to feature today and next week too.  Both projects have a patriotic flair and are perfect to display for Memorial Day and the  4th of July.  If you would like to view more of her lovely work please visit her blog.

 

Materials used –

NicoleCrafts wooden décor heart (purchased at AC Moore)

Echo Park Paper’s “4th of July” Mini Theme Collection Kit    http://www.parttimesally.com/

HAB602 Nautical Trim Collage Kit    http://www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com/product/HAB602.html

DF93 Patriot Matte Round buttons     http://www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com/product/DF93.html

CH34 Star Charms     http://www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com/product/CH34.html

Tattered Angels chipboard alphabet

Jillibean Soup Alpha Beans alphabet stickers in Roma Red

The Twinery Twine in Marachino and Denim    http://thetwinery.com/

Stickles Glitter Glue (Ranger)

Mod Podge Decoupage Medium (Plaid)

Folk Art acrylic paint in Brilliant Ultramarine (Plaid)

 

 

 

Instructions:

  • Remove hardware from wooden heart.  Sand and paint the edges with the blue acrylic paint.
  • Trim patterned paper to cover wooden pieces and apply to surfaces with Mod Podge.  Allow to dry and trim with craft knife.
  • Cut 15 2 inch lengths of assorted ribbons from the Nautical kit.  Trim edges and apply to the back of the wooden heart with favorite liquid adhesive.

 

 

 

  • Embellish ribbon strips with buttons tied with twine and star charms.

 

 

  • Apply a thick coat of Stickles Glitter Glue to self-adhesive chipboard letters.  Let dry completely before handling.
  • Apply sticker alphabet and chipboard alphabet to wooden heart.

 

  • Embellish heart with ribbon rosette, and banner with buttons tied with twine and star charms.

 

button embellished wall hanging

 

  • Hang and enjoy.
Thank you for checking out this button embellished patriotic wall hanging by our guest designer Linda Auclair

 

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Large Circle Start Ups: Charmed, I’m Sure

Hi y’all! Allie here… I got my hands on some of Button’s Galore’s Start Up craft shapes this week, the Large Circles. I had such fun making some charms with these blank circles. These blank craft shapes are blank poly plastic pieces that you can stamp on, rub on, ink, paint or embellish with anything you desire. I decided to get creative with some napkins and stamps, and some spritz.

I really love these blank craft shapes! They come in lots of shapes and sizes, from flowers to tags, to sliders and frames, and even holiday shapes. There are even start up packs, and collections including a variety of sizes. They are perfect for every project.

 

charms-cropped-edited-300x279

 

This picture shows the separate layers of the napkins I’m using. For my charms, I just used the very top layer.

I decided to collage with napkins. I start by separating the layers of the napkin, so I’m working with the top designer layer. I use Claudine Hellmuth’s Matte Medium from Ranger, with a flat brush. Some people like to use a wet Q-tip to “cut” through the napkin, but I prefer to tear, and sand off any excess.

I used a little round file to clean out the holes in the charms. You can use any decoupage medium, whatever you prefer. I also like to seal the top when I’m done.

 

I skipped a few photos, but this is what happens after the decoupage step. I stamped the Large Circles with an Itty Bitty bicycle stamp from Unity Stamp Company. I used Jet Black Stazon ink from Tsukineko. I also lightly tapped around the edges of the Large Circles with the same black Stazon Ink. Once the ink was set, I gave the Large Circles a light spritz with Mr. Huey’s Gold spray from Studio Calico.

Use your favorite spritz, or you could even make your own.

You can add anything you like to these little charms. I put a jump ring on each of them, and added little trinkets and bling. The metal pieces and the little pearls are from Ideaology, and are designed by Tim Holtz. I added bling to the sprocket, on the second row, the charm on the left. I love a little sparkle, don’t you?

Add some bling, little trinkets or baubles.

You could attach these charms to a chain, a hoodie, or anything you like. You can even keep it simple, and just thread it onto some crepe ribbon, as shown below. This ribbon is from Creative Impressions.

 

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS

  • Blank Craft Shapes – Large Circles
  • Napkins
  • Decoupage Medium and a Brush for application
  • Stamps and Ink
  • Spritz
  • Trinkets and Jump Rings

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Buttoned up Memo Board – May

Make a quick and easy memo board using a VELCRO® Brand Memo Board, Buttons and Ribbon…..the theme of these can change easily by the buttons you use….Make several for gifts but be sure to keep one for yourself!

Supplies:
Assorted Buttons (Brilliant Pink BB84 was used here)
VELCRO® Brand Memo Board
VELCRO® Brand Sticky Back Adhesive
Beacon Adhesives Felt Glue
Kreinik Threads
Scissor

Gather your supplies

 

Place ribbon on memo board from corner to corner in a large X; cutting as needed; then place ribbon to create a square as shown in photo. Glue in corners and where ribbons cross.

 

Sew thread onto buttons then glue onto board....

 

where ribbons cross. For a finished look glue ribbon around edge of memo board also.

 

Now you can place cards onto the memo board under the ribbons.

 

For a more useful board pick out some buttons to layer on top of each other....

 

stack them together and tie off with thread.

 

Add Velcro Sticky Back Adhesive at the bottom over thread.

 

These buttons will stick the the memo board giving.....

 

you more ways to hold your papers on the memo board.

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How to make distressed buttons- Vintage style

Please welcome Teri – A great paper crafter and fantastic card maker.  She is a Go-To Gal For PaperCrafts magazine, and I know why!  She is very talented, creative and never ceases to amaze me with her fresh ideas.  I love her style and I hope you enjoy the card she made to share with you!  It is a fun technique that makes new buttons look like vintage or distressed buttons. She gives them the perfect touch of vintage.Teri_SewNiceCard1_teri

Supplies:

Classic Circles: Simply Pearls

Tangerine Tango: Color Blends

Clear Rounds

Zip Dry

Other:

Patterned papers from Jillibean Soup, Studio Calico, Crate Paper and My Mind’s Eye

Wood clothespin from Darice

“You’re Sew Nice” sentiment stamp from April 2012: Sew Nice stamp set by Avocado Arts

Jute by May Arts

White floss by DMC

 

Dressing Up Buttons for Cards

Hi everyone!

Don’t you just love buttons?

There is just something so fun about them and being able to add them to paper crafting projects.

I get bored using them the same old way they come so often times I’ll alter them up before I use them on a card or scrapbook page.

One of the easiest ways to dress them up is to sand them.

Sand buttons

Take a sanding file or distressing tool. Hold it firmly in your hand and then brush a button over it repeatedly. This will scruff it up so you get something like what I got with this button from the Tangerine Tango: Color Blends (http://www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com/product/CB100.html) pack.

Sand buttons

Take things a step farther by adding a circle from Classic Circles: Simply Pearls (http://www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com/product/4207.html) on top of the distressed button. Just be sure to use a strong glue and let the button sit awhile so the glue has time to dry.

I also like to stack them up.

clear buttons

Take a large button, place a small button on top of it and then tie the two buttons together with floss. When it comes time to use them, use a strong adhesive to put them on your project.

Another thing I like to do is add paper to them.

Thread buttons

Start with a Clear Rounds (http://www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com/product/CF80.html) button. Add clear glue under it and then place it on any patterned paper. Let the glue dry completely and then use your scissors to cut away the excess paper. The end result is a cool patterned button.

Here’s a whole collection of buttons I made with these tricks.  They look pretty spiffy on a card.


The trick to getting them to stay on the card is to use a good strong glue. I prefer Zip Dry (http://www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com/product/ZipDry.html).

Teri Anderson

Bio:

Hi! I am Teri, and I’m just girl who loves to play with all things crafty. I’m card maker and scrapbooker. And I am a Go-to Gal for Paper Crafts magazine and on a number of design teams. When I am not making stuff, I am going to concerts, spending them with my family and friends (and two fluffy dogs) and taking a whole lot of pictures. I blog at terisplace.wordpress.com.

 

 

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Mother’s Day Canvas With Pinky

Can you believe Mother’s Day is quickly approaching? It is right around the corner and I love to make a handmade gift.

I want to share this artistic canvas made just for “Mom” using vintage doilies from around the house.

For this Canvas use an 8×10 canvas, and paint it with a sand colored acrylic paint.

After allowing the canvas to dry, take a craft spritz and carefully spritz canvas in random places. Set aside to dry for 10 minutes.

Using coordinating ink color, ink edges or canvas.

Take a pencil with eraser and dab into coordinating paint or ink, ink or paint onto canvas as shown in photos.

Adhere vintage doilies.

Grab some packages of beautiful Buttons’ Galore & More Vintage Gold buttons and apply buttons between doily stitches using hot glue.

Mothers Day Canvas

Using rub-ons, carefully apply rub-ons in desired locations.

Mothers Day Canvas

Using shank & pearl keepsake buttons, adhere over rub-on using hot glue gun.

Mothers Day Canvas

Set canvas aside.

Choose a lightly colored patterned paper, using home printer, print quote onto page.

Trim out words and hand cut pennant edging.

Ink edges.

Adhere quote to canvas.

Wrap it up and give with love.

I hope you enjoyed the post today- Pinky: Buttons Galore & More Design Team

 [Note: some products used in this tutorial have been discontinued so we have provided links to similar substitutes.]
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Quick pony tail holder with buttons

We have a ton of plain colored pony tale holders around the house. This is fine for me, but for my little princess, sometimes a plain ponytail just isn’t enough. Instead of buying a ton of different decorated rubber bands, make them yourself using buttons with the loophole in the back. It’s easy, quick and gives you the opportunity to customize the look of your little hair pieces. (This would even be great for grown up princesses, using some pretty shiny or elegant buttons ~ wink).

Ponytail holder made with a button

Ponytail holder made with a button

Make a ponytail holder using buttons

Make a ponytail holder using buttons

Pink flower button ponytail holder

Pink flower button ponytail holder

The best part about these button ponytail holders is that I can change the buttons to make a whole new look at any time. There’s no glue or cutting… just pulling the rubber band through the button back and voila! You could add more than one button if you’d like, but I think you’d need a little bigger rubber band. I used a small 1.5″ diameter rubber band for this example. This would also be a fun project for kids to make!

What quick and fun projects do you like to use buttons for?

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How do you store your buttons?

I love the look of buttons. The variety of sizes colors and shapes are just fun to look at without doing anything with them. So, when I store my buttons, I like to put them out on display. I found some great jars I like to keep them in. I can see them and enjoy them as they are but I can also easily find them when they are stored like this.

Store buttons in fun glass jars

Store buttons in fun glass jars

I think it’s fun to use different storage containers.

You can use jars, bowls, bags… keep them in the packaging you bought them in, whatever you like. Put them in bags and in a drawer so you can see them all when you need them but they are tucked away nicely when you aren’t using them. I also have a plastic compartment box I use and I separate the buttons by color. However, my favorite button storage solution is looking for interesting glass at the thrift shops. Some of my smaller buttons fit perfectly into little vintage spice jars – so cute! I keep everything on a couple of shelves, out in the open to see and it works great for me.

Jars of buttons

Jars of buttons

How do you store your buttons?

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Pin It to Win It – Contest Reminder- Closed

Pin-it-to-win-it-The pin it to Win It Contest ends on Friday and we would not want you to miss out on great inspiration, and a chance at being a GUEST DESIGNER or winning a prize.

We are celebrating spring and what better way to do it than with Pinterest.  The site makes our hearts swoon— we use it as a creative kick-start, to figure out what’s for dinner, and to get inspired by gorgeous color combinations for our own projects.

Now we’d like to turn the spotlight on YOU & your creativity. Show us your BUTTON-inspired pinboards!!  At the end of the contest we will send the Pinterest user with our favorite pin collection a tote bag filled with fabulous & inspiring crafting supplies. If you are the creator of our very favorite button project, you will receive an invitation to be a guest designer for a mutually agreed upon month at Buttons Galore & More and receive $25 worth of products of your own choosing from the Buttons Galore & More site. In addition, your creation will be featured on our website and in our newsletter — reaching thousands of crafters around the world who will turn your idea for a fabulous project into reality.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

Be sure you follow Buttons Galore and More on Pinterest.  Create a new Pinterest board entitledButtons Galore Pin It To Win It Party.

Fill that board with at least 4 pins (feel free to add more!).

-2 of the pins must be of your favorite projects from the Buttons Galore blog

-2 pins must be of your own creations featuring buttons of any kind.

 

All the pins (even those not from ButtonsGaloreandMore.com) must have a caption explaining the pin’s relation to the party.Is it your favorite color mix? An awesome project? A card created by you? Your favorite scrapbook page? Tabletop decor?

All the pins (even those not from ButtonsGaloreandMore.com) must be hashtagged with both #buttons and #pinitparty.

Once your party pinboard is complete, enter the contest by posting a link to the pinboard in the comments section of April 2nds post Titled Pin it to win it starts TODAY.

This contest launches on April 2, 2012, and will run through 5 p.m. April 27, 2012. The Pinboards will be judged on originality, creativity, adherence to the contest rules, and a general sense of style, appreciation for all things interesting, authentic, and fun.

Note: You must be a member of Pinterest.com to enter, and you must be following ButtonsGalore. If you do not have a Pinterest account, you can sign up for one here or request an invitation in the comments section.

The Buttons Galore Party Pinboard Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Buttons Galore and More (“Sponsor”).

ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE:  A gift bag filled with craft supplies approx. retail value $75.

ONE (1) FIRST-PLACE PRIZE:  approx. retail value $25

All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply; void where prohibited.  PRIZES MAY BE SUBJECT TO TAX; ALL APPLICABLE TAXES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.

ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open only to individuals, eighteen (18) years or older at time of entry, who are legal residents of the United States and Canada, excluding the Province of Quebec. Employees and Creative Team Members of Buttons Galore and More, their immediate families (defined as parents, children, siblings, spouse and grandparents), and those domiciled with any of the foregoing are not eligible.

ENTRY:  All entrants must submit a Pinterest board entitled Buttons Galore Pin It Party, containing at least 4 pins, 2 of the pins must be of your favorite projects from the Buttons Galore blog and 2 pins must be of your creations featuring buttons of any kind.

Submissions to the Contest must be received by April 27 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) in order to be eligible; entries received after that date will be deemed ineligible to win.  Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, inaccurate, incomplete, damaged, illegible, or misdirected entries.

Each entry must be submitted on an individual basis (i.e., no team, joint, or corporate entries) the entries created by the contestan must be the original creation of the submitting participant.

Entries may not contain profanity, nudity, pornographic images, violent images, anti-competition messages, illegal material, or material that violates the rights of third parties. Entries may not include confidential information, trade secrets, trademarks or copyrighted material belonging to any person or entity other than the entrant absent a suitable license or permission agreement, proof of which is required. Entries containing any forbidden matter or material otherwise deemed by Sponsor to be inappropriate will be disqualified.  Online entries will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry.  One entry per person; multiple entries will be disqualified.

JUDGING:  The Creative Team members and editors will select the winning entry based equally upon the criteria of originality, creativity, adherence to the contest rules, and a general sense of style appreciation for all things interesting, authentic, and fun.

By entering, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and that the decisions of the judges are final and binding in all respects.  Judging will be completed by April 30, 2012, and potential winners will be notified by Pinterest comment on or before May 1, 2012.  Sponsor reserves the right not to select any winning submissions based upon the quantity or content of submissions.

If required winner announcement is not in contact with Buttons Galore within seven (7) business days of notification, or if notification is returned as undeliverable, any prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected.

PRIZE AWARDS:  Prizes will be awarded within sixty (60) days after winner verification.  No prize substitution or transfer is permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any reason.  Sponsor is required by law to report prize values to taxing authorities; all taxes and any other incidental expenses on prizes are the sole responsibility of each winner.

For GENERAL RULES & LIMITATIONS please read this post.

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Tween Baking Party Favors with Buttons

While I love throwing birthday parties for my children, I often struggle to think of fun party favors that are also useful.  With the popularity of baking-themed parties for the tween girl set, layered jar mixes are a perfect complement to the theme, and won’t become clutter later.

Layered Jar Baking Party Favors using buttons

I focused on the Ebony & Ivory Trim Collage Kit to create most of this layered cookie jar, along with some bright pink fabric and the cake button from the Sweet Treats collection.  There are 12 yards of ribbon in this collage kit, so I could make several coordinating jars from one kit.

Materials:

Ebony & Ivory Trim Collage Kit
Sweet Treats Buttons
Precision Diagonal Craft Cutters
Pint canning jar with ring & lid, layered cookie mix (instructions found online try www.recipegolmine.com)
Bright pink fabric remnant (approximately 1-4”square and 1-12×1.5” strip for each jar)
Polyester fiberfill (or cotton balls)
Liquid glue
Fabric scissors
Computer printer or white cardstock and black pen
Black and white patterned paper
Black cardstock

  1. Cut circle of fabric approximately 4” diameter.  Place small amount of fiberfill (or 1 slightly pulled apart cotton ball) onto lid, and cover with fabric circle.  Add ring and screw on tightly.  Trim away excess fabric.
  2. Cut 1 length of striped ribbon, approximately 10” and glue around lid ring, trimming away excess.
  3.  Cut 2 pieces of striped ribbon and one piece of stitched ribbon long enough to fit around the jar, approximately 10.5 inches, and glue into place.  Trim excess ribbon.
  4. Accordion-fold and glue a strip of pink fabric in a circle to create 2.5” diameter folded rosette.  Glue striped ribbon and button rosette from kit to center of pink fabric rosette.
    Layered jar cookie mix party favor with button decorations
  5. Remove shank from cake-shaped button using Precision Diagonal Craft Cutters.  Glue black and white pattern kit button to top right, and cake button to bottom right of rosette, and glue embellishment cluster to ribbons on jar base.
  6. Print cookie baking directions onto 1.5” square tag.  Mat directions onto patterned paper (I used my own design) and black cardstock.  Punch hole in tag corner.  Thread ¼” pink ribbon through punched hole, cross through holes of small white button, and thread back through punched hole.  Tie ribbon around jar ring to attach directions.
    Layered jar  mix party favor tag with button decorations

These baking jars are easy to make assembly-line fashion, and are a fun way to send an activity home with guests after a party.  Paired with a fun apron party craft, they make wonderful, useful party favors!

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BaZooples Card with hidden gift card holder idea

BZ100

Gertrude and Friends - BZ100

 

Handmade cards are extra special when they contain a gift cardI had some fun with the butterfly from this cute set of BaZooples novelty buttons. I paired it with a BaZooples image from Inky Antics that I colored with pencils and gamsol.

Handmade hippo card

Handmade hippo card

The card is a little larger than usual and has a mini card on top. Notice the “LIFT HERE” pennant? When you lift that, you have a space for a gift card! I didn’t have a gift card,yet.   So I placed a post it note just so you can see where that gift card would go. Inside the main card, there’s a panel of patterned paper, and plenty of room for a nice note. The sentiment reads “Just wanted to let you know… Love you tons!” Isn’t that the perfect sentiment for a Hippo card?

 

close up lift here

close up lift here

 

The gift card portion of the card was created using circle and scalloped circle dies from Spellbinders Paper Arts. The paper is from Authentique, and is accented with bling from Want2Scrap and some flowers from Creative Impressions. I used some additional buttons from my Buttons Galore jar for the flower centers.

inside close up gift card

inside close up gift card

close up flowers and buttons

close up flowers and buttons

I finished off the handmade card with a quick bow using some ribbon from my local craft supply. Sheer ribbon is so pretty and easy to tie.

Thank you for stopping by today!

1

Internet Inspiration

Browsing the internet can provide so much inspiration, and when we found this site we hit the jackpot!  The Paper Players blog not only did a challenge using buttons, they also have a section for their readers to share their creations.  Check out their site http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-87-cas-with-buttons-from.html . This card below is one of the many fantastic creations they have for your viewing pleasure.

Paper Players Card with Buttons

Paper Players Card with Buttons

The card Annie made is crisp, clean and full of sparkle.  What is not to love?  Check back here again.  There is so much inspiration from crafters who use buttons in their projects.

Don’t forget we are holding a Pin it To Win It Contest too!

 

 

0

Sketch Create Share – Sketch 1

Greetings fellow crafters!  A member of our Button Bevy, Carla Schauer has created a sketch to give you a little inspirational kick. I know that my mojo sometimes runs a little low and I look to the internet for help.   Sketches can be a great way to get the mojo flowing.  Save this pin to your PINTEREST account and create a Sketch board.  There will be more inspiration to come.  If pinterest is not you thing, you can save it to your computer or even print it for your sketch note book.  Check out her project with the sketch.

triangle-banner-tag Sketch

triangle-banner-tag Sketch

How you choose to use this sketch is completely up to you.  We would love to see what you create.  We are pretty social and there are so many ways to share your creativity with us.

Share it with us on twitter.  You can start a conversation by including #sketch1

Leave us a link to your blog here in the comments section or even pin it on your pinterest boards and tag us with #buttonsgalore.

Post it on Facebook – tag us in the photo or share a link to your blog on our page.

0

Handmade Vintage Button Ring Tutorial with Step by Step Photos

Good Morning! Today I thought it would be fun to bring you a tutorial on how to create a wire wrapped ring using a button from the Genuine Vintage Button Tin as the focal piece. In addition to the button you will also need:

  • Ring Mandrel
  • Nylon Hammer (or rawhide – non marring hammer)
  • Wire Snips
  • Chain Nose Pliers
  • 18 Gauge Artistic Wire® By Beadalon in Gun Metal Bronze

Supplies needed for an assortment of rings

Begin by cutting a 20" length of wire. Run it through the shank on the back of the button, centering the button in the middle of the wire. Bend the wire into a gentle "U" shape.

Place the center of the button onto the ring mandrel one full size larger than you need for the finished ring size. Here you can see that I need a 7 1/2 ring so I am beginngin at a size 8 1/2 on the ring mandrel.

Wrap the wire around the top and bottom of the button the mandrel so that you have four wraps around the mandrel.

Pull the ends of the wire perpendicular to the mandrel and pull tightly to draw the wrapped sections to the center of the button.

Begin to wrap the wires clockwise around the shank of the button. Wrap until you have atleast four wraps around the bottom, keeping pressure and tension on the wires at all times.

Again holding the wires perpendicular to the mandrel, remove the ring from the mandrel.

Pinch the button and the wire wraps between your nondominant thumb and forefinger.

Using your dominant hand, wrap the end of the wire under the four wraps, then back up and around the wraps.

Continue to wrap three or four more times, pulling tightly each time. Make sure to keep the four wires flat against your index finger for a more comfortable fit.

Using wire snips, clip end of wire close and press clipped end down using chain nosed pliers. Repeat wrapping on other side of ring.

Place wrapped ring back on mandrel and being to hammer ring down mandrel. Remove ring, flip it and hammer it back down toward thick end of mandrel to make sure both sides are fully formed.

Tap around entire ring from side of button to side of button to work harden wires and make sure that the wires are going to lie flat.

Finished Vintage Button Wire Wrapped Ring

I hope you have enjoyed my first button jewelry project here on the Buttons Galore & More Blog! Be sure to add us to your reading list or subscribe so that you don’t miss out on the next one I have planned. It’s one that you will not want to miss!!! :)

K

P.S. Don’t forget to enter our PIN IT TO WIN IT CONTEST! 

 

8

Button Craft Ideas – Internet Inspiration – Ryann Salamon

feeling-better-soon -Ryann Salamon - Fresh Squeezed

feeling-better-soon -Ryann Salamon - Fresh Squeezed

While scouring the internet for Tuesday Internet Inspiration, I cam across Ryann Salamon.  She is not, new to us as an artist.  We noticed her adorable business cards with handmade accents, while at CHA.  They were wrapped with twine and adorned with a button.  What is not to like?   After visiting her blog  a mental note was made, that she must be featured.  So many of her fabulous handmade cards have buttons as accents.  She creates cards with simple embellishments, crisp stamped images and minimal amounts of material and they look stunning.  She makes CAS ( clean and simple) handmade cards that are awesome.

So when you have a moment, please peruse her site.  You will not be disappointed.  For more information about the card above visit this handmade card post.

2

Pirates, Princess and Projects…Oh my! Blog Hop

How is that for a title of a post?  Today we are having a blog hop to showcase the Buttons Galore and More buttons that coordinate with Laura Kelly Pirate Island and Princess fabrics.  The fabric is manufactured by General Fabric and is available through Hancock Fabric both in stores and online.  The Laura Kelly button blends are custom dyed to match the fabric.

What Is A Blog Hop? New to Blog Hops? Here’s the low-down on how they work.  A blog hop is a list of blogs sharing a similar theme.  The blog “host” lists of links to other blogs on their page, along with the Blog Hop rules.  As the reader, you hop from blog to blog looking at fun projects.

Rule to this hop – Visit each blog, leave a comment if you want.  Come back here to the main blog.  Leave a comment on this post saying what is your favorite project and  if you would want the BOY prize or the GIRL prize.  It is that simple.

These are the blogs participating in the hop

Laura Bray www.katydiddys.blogspot.com

Cristal – www.blueyecicle.blogspot.com

Keri Lee – www.pinklemonade.typepad.com

Niki- www.nikimeiners.wordpress.com

Jen- http://www.100directions.com

Allie –http://welltrainedpaper.blogspot.com/

Ann – http://www.creativitystirsthesoul.com/

Elise – http://mamacowcreations.blogspot.com/

Now for a quick project using fun material and Buttons Galore and More  buttons by Laura Kelly

If you are not a fan on Facebook please “LIKE”  us.  We have so much button craft ideas to share.  We also have  a PIN IT TO WIN IT CONTEST  going through April 27.

If you are interested in obtaining the material you can check out Hancock fabric stores or click the links below for online purchases.

Pirate Fabric

Fleece Pirate Fabric

Princess Fabric 

***Contest now closed  *** Two winners will  be announced by 5pm April 11, 2012 on this site.

19

Happy Frog with Buttons Wall Art

Sometimes a few buttons can finish off a piece perfectly. This month is National Frog Month, so I thought it would be fun to create some wall art with one of my printable images… a frog, of course! I found some cute little flower shaped buttons in my green button bonanza which I thought would be a perfect fit for this project.

Happy Frog and Fly wall decor with button accents by Jen Goode

Happy Frog and Fly wall decor with button accents by Jen Goode

Materials you need:

Tools and other supplies:

  • Cardstock, scissors, craft glue, coloring materials

Steps to make your own Happy Frog and Fly wall decor with button accents

  1. Print out, color and cut out the Happy Frog and Fly image and adhere to background paper/s.
  2. Cut ribbon to size and adhere to edges of picture card.
  3. Tie embroidery thread on each button, trim and glue on each corner of picture card.
  4. Frame as desired.
Print, color and adhere frog art on background papers

Print, color and adhere frog art on background papers

Add ribbon and buttons to edge of art card

Add ribbon and buttons to edge of art card

Finished Happy frog art with cute flower buttons

Finished Happy frog art with cute flower buttons

 

This same wall art can also be created as a greeting card, just leave out the frame and adhere to a blank card. You can turn your pretty colored art into super cute decor with a few fun accents. Buttons add dimension and interest. Find interesting button shapes and add them to your craft projects for an added touch.  If you are looking for more button craft ideas you can check us out on Pinterest and while you are there enter our Pin it to Win it Contest

0

Welcome Spring with Pastel Button Wall Art

Good morning! It’s official…SPRING HAS SPRUNG!  So why not create a fun wall hanger to match the season?  I don’t know about you, but I could use some spring colors in my house.

SpringHanging2

For this seasonal wall hanging, take a sheet of 12×12 acrylic, and trim it down to 6×8.

Then using your die cut machine or even a good punch, create your border with 2″ strips from patterned paper.

Adhere the border to the acrylic using the Beacon Zip Dry Adhesive (my favorite for acrylic and paper).

Grab a beautiful Buttons Galore & More Button Bonanza Pastel Pack and alternate buttons, complementing the edges of the frame. Then adhere a gemstone to the top of each button using Beacon Gem Tac. (I used pastel blue and purple buttons with pastel green gemstones).

SpringHanging4

After that, hand cut or use your die cut machine to cut 5 flower layers. I used double-sided patterned paper and alternated sides.

Layer flowers using foam pop dots, and then adhere 2 more Bonanza Pastel Buttons and one more gemstone right on top.

SpringHanging3

Adhere flower to corner of frame, and then add Lime Green Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon underneath the flower and also use as hanger behind frame. And that’s it! Beautiful and perfect to bring in spring and lighten your room!

SpringHanging1

I hope you found some inspiration from the post today!

Pinky: Buttons Galore & More Design Team

1

Pin It To Win It Contest (contest closed)

Pin-it-to-win-it-

We are celebrating spring and what better way to do it than with Pinterest.  The site makes our hearts swoon— we use it as a creative kick-start, to figure out what’s for dinner, and to get inspired by gorgeous color combinations for our own projects.

Now we’d like to turn the spotlight on YOU & your creativity. Show us your BUTTON-inspired pinboards!!  At the end of the contest we will send the Pinterest user with our favorite pin collection a tote bag filled with fabulous & inspiring crafting supplies. If you are the creator of our very favorite button project, you will receive an invitation to be a guest designer for a mutually agreed upon month at Buttons Galore & More and receive $25 worth of products of your own choosing from the Buttons Galore & More site. In addition, your creation will be featured on our website and in our newsletter — reaching thousands of crafters around the world who will turn your idea for a fabulous project into reality.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

Be sure you follow Buttons Galore and More on Pinterest.  Create a new Pinterest board entitledButtons Galore Pin It To Win It Party.

Fill that board with at least 4 pins (feel free to add more!).

-2 of the pins must be of your favorite projects from the Buttons Galore blog

-2 pins must be of your own creations featuring buttons of any kind.

 

All the pins (even those not from ButtonsGaloreandMore.com) must have a caption explaining the pin’s relation to the party.Is it your favorite color mix? An awesome project? A card created by you? Your favorite scrapbook page? Tabletop decor?

All the pins (even those not from ButtonsGaloreandMore.com) must be hashtagged with both #buttons and #pinitparty.

Once your party pinboard is complete, enter the contest by posting a link to the pinboard in the comments section of April 2nds post Titled Pin it to win it starts TODAY.

This contest launches on April 2, 2012, and will run through 5 p.m. April 27, 2012. The Pinboards will be judged on originality, creativity, adherence to the contest rules, and a general sense of style, appreciation for all things interesting, authentic, and fun.

Note: You must be a member of Pinterest.com to enter, and you must be following ButtonsGalore. If you do not have a Pinterest account, you can sign up for one here or request an invitation in the comments section.

The Buttons Galore Party Pinboard Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Buttons Galore and More (“Sponsor”).

ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE:  A gift bag filled with craft supplies approx. retail value $75.

ONE (1) FIRST-PLACE PRIZE:  approx. retail value $25

All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply; void where prohibited.  PRIZES MAY BE SUBJECT TO TAX; ALL APPLICABLE TAXES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.

ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open only to individuals, eighteen (18) years or older at time of entry, who are legal residents of the United States and Canada, excluding the Province of Quebec. Employees and Creative Team Members of Buttons Galore and More, their immediate families (defined as parents, children, siblings, spouse and grandparents), and those domiciled with any of the foregoing are not eligible.

ENTRY:  All entrants must submit a Pinterest board entitled Buttons Galore Pin It Party, containing at least 4 pins, 2 of the pins must be of your favorite projects from the Buttons Galore blog and 2 pins must be of your creations featuring buttons of any kind.

Submissions to the Contest must be received by April 27 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) in order to be eligible; entries received after that date will be deemed ineligible to win.  Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, inaccurate, incomplete, damaged, illegible, or misdirected entries.

Each entry must be submitted on an individual basis (i.e., no team, joint, or corporate entries) the entries created by the contestan must be the original creation of the submitting participant.

Entries may not contain profanity, nudity, pornographic images, violent images, anti-competition messages, illegal material, or material that violates the rights of third parties. Entries may not include confidential information, trade secrets, trademarks or copyrighted material belonging to any person or entity other than the entrant absent a suitable license or permission agreement, proof of which is required. Entries containing any forbidden matter or material otherwise deemed by Sponsor to be inappropriate will be disqualified.  Online entries will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry.  One entry per person; multiple entries will be disqualified.

JUDGING:  The Creative Team members and editors will select the winning entry based equally upon the criteria of originality, creativity, adherence to the contest rules, and a general sense of style appreciation for all things interesting, authentic, and fun.

By entering, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and that the decisions of the judges are final and binding in all respects.  Judging will be completed by April 30, 2012, and potential winners will be notified by Pinterest comment on or before May 1, 2012.  Sponsor reserves the right not to select any winning submissions based upon the quantity or content of submissions.

If required winner announcement is not in contact with Buttons Galore within seven (7) business days of notification, or if notification is returned as undeliverable, any prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected.

PRIZE AWARDS:  Prizes will be awarded within sixty (60) days after winner verification.  No prize substitution or transfer is permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any reason.  Sponsor is required by law to report prize values to taxing authorities; all taxes and any other incidental expenses on prizes are the sole responsibility of each winner.

GENERAL RULES & LIMITATIONS:  By entering, you represent that: (i) your entry is your own original work; and (ii) you own or have the rights to convey any and all right and title in any material submitted as part of your entry into the Contest.  By entering, you grant to Sponsor a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to edit, publish, promote, republish at any time in the future and otherwise use your submission, along with your name and likeness, in any and all media for any purpose, without further permission, notice or compensation (except where prohibited by law). By participating in the Contest, you agree to release Sponsor and its parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, employees, directors, officers, and agents from any and all liability, claims or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership, possession, use, or misuse of any prize.  Sponsor is not responsible for technical, hardware or software failures, or other errors or problems which may occur in connection with the Contest, whether computer, network, technical, mechanical, typographical, printing, human or otherwise, including, without limitation, errors or problems which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of entries, the announcement of the prizes, in any Contest-related materials, or that may limit prize fulfillment or a participant’s ability to enter the Contest.  Sponsor reserves the right to amend these official rules and to disqualify permanently from the Contest any person it believes has intentionally violated these official rules.

 

************ the winners are Teresa Godines and Alicia Hatch****************

16

Button Loads of Fun! Spring Gift Basket

With spring in the air and Easter approaching it’s that time of year to make baskets and give sweet little gifts.What crafter would not want a basket filled with Buttons Galore & More buttons!  Forget the candy, give her buttons. I made this basket from cardstock, and found a pattern online. You can find patterns from the simple pattern you hand cut by hand, to the elaborate patternthat you cut with your machine.

Layering Buttons

To layer the buttons take 3 buttons from the Button Bonanza Pastel Pack

Tie twine into the smallest button, then hot glue buttons on top of one another.

With Bonanza logo

After you layer buttons adhere to basket using hot glue again.

Then carefully adhere buttons randomly along bottom edge for added flair.

Pour rest of Pastel Button Bonanza into basket and make someone’s day bright and happy!

I hope you have fun with this project- Pinky- Buttons Galore & More Design Team

0

DIY A Simple spring tablescape with buttons

Hello there!  Today I am bringing you a super simple tablescape idea for spring using buttons, ribbon and clear glass jars…a “button-scape” if you will!  I’m willing to bet we all have a hodge podge of glass containers around the house (mason jars are one of my favorites) along with small spring and Easter themed nic-nacs.  Why not pull them together and make them a cohesive tablescape with the unifying ingredients of buttons, jars and ribbon?

Materials from Buttons Galore and More:

Other items needed:

  • various glass containers/jars/vases
  • spring themed collectibles
  • silk floral picks
  • pink/white gingham ribbon

Are you ready for the super complicated directions????  Just kidding, this process is simple.

  1. Partially fill jars with a single color of pastel buttons
  2. Add a figurine to the jar on top of the buttons
  3. Tie a ribbon around the top of the glass jar
  4. Arrange in a pleasing way on your table or display area

Check out the various items I used in my tablescape…

I loved the glass domed effect of the jars on my little treasures and the buttons are just the perfect pretty stage to show them off with!

Thank you for hopping by my post today!  I hope it inspires you to put your buttons to work this spring!

4

Embroidery Canvas Hoop Art from Spellbinders

Embroidery Canvas Hoop Art from Spellbinders

Embroidery Canvas Hoop Art from Spellbinders

Buttons, Embroidery floss and and hoops are a few of my favorite mediums to use together.  This home decor project from the Spellbinders Paper Arts team show how well they work together.  The Spellbinders team often uses Buttons Galore and More buttons. Check out this adorable embroidery hoop project here for directions and a materials list.

1

DIY Sweet Treat Notecards

Sweet treats and tea time come to mind today with this mini notecard set that highlights some adorable themed buttons from Buttons Galore and More!  Perfect for quick birthday notecards, party invitations or a great giftable set for the sweet tooth in your friendship circle!  A few simple ingredients and you have the makings for a sweet greeting!

Buttons Galore and More Product:

With a few simple products from Buttons Galore and More and some other card making items, I was on my way to a stack of cute notecards.

I first paired up my buttons in the Sweet Delights Collection with some stamps that had frame options as well as sentiments if I should choose to add a simple sentiment to the inside of the card.

I stamped out eight frames with chocolate ink on white cardstock and then paired up the buttons with the frames that fit each one the best.

These are “shank” buttons, meaning there is a small loop at the back of the button for sewing/tying onto your project.  In this case, I was going to need a flat back to my buttons so a simple clip of the shank with a pair of pliers was all that was needed.

First a clip just to remove a portion of the shank….

After that first clip, the button layers come apart and you can trim the shank even shorter so it will be flush with the back once reassembled.

Before re-assembling the button layers, apply a bit of craft glue to make the layers stick.

Re-assemble and pinch together so the liquid glue adheres well.

Once all of the buttons are prepared and the stamped frames are trimmed from the cardstock, adhere the buttons to the frames and start matching them with various colorful scrapbooking papers…scraps will work fine.  My papers range in size but are around 3″x4″ each, give or take a slice of the paper trimmer.

I decided these needed some ribbon and pearl pretties.  Tie small satin bows, one for each card and apply a Classic Circle.

Each classic circle has a touch of liquid adhesive on the back and is placed upon the knot of the bow.

Small paper doilies from the bakery section of the craft store have been cut in half to help set a backdrop for the treat-adorned frames.

Anyone hungry for dessert now!???  Thanks so much for checking out my sweet treat notecard idea!

0

St. Patrick’s Day Keepsake Box

Button embellished St. Patrick's Day Keepsake box

 

Is the luck of the Irish with you?

 

 

It was WITH ME, when I re-purposed this old cigar box, to become a sparkling keepsake, with a St. Patty’s Day twist…

 

 

A delightful assortment of Buttons Galore & More buttons and just the right amount of good old Irish magic…

Buttons Used:

Luck Button Tote

Shamrock

 

 

The spirits moved me to create this festive, button embellished medallion, to house a wee-leprechaun and invite contemplation of one’s sense of optimism…

 

 

And being, ever the optimist, myself – I confirmed what EVERYONE should feel….

 

L-U-C-K-Y!

 

 

And HOPEFULLY, inspired as well!

I hope you do a little jig and get your BUTTONS on – it’s a great time for crafting with Buttons Galore & More!

Thanks for visiting!

 

2

Luck of the Irish Key Fob

Luck of the Irish Key Fob

Luck of the Irish Key Fob

I’m 50% Irish and I make sure everyone knows it on St. Pat’s Day!  Today’s project is a “Luck of the Irish” Key Fob.  Put it on your key ring for a little extra luck.  Who doesn’t need that on the roads today?

Luck of the Irish Key Fob

Supplies:

  • White felt, cut into a 2.5″ X 2.5″ square
  • Green felt, cut into a 2.5″ x 2.5″ square
  • 3″ piece of shamrock ribbon
  • Craft glue
  • 3 green buttons-Buttons Galore and More Spring Green
  • Green embroidery floss and needle

Instructions:

  1. Place three buttons onto the white felt in the shape of a shamrock.  Trace an outline of the shape about 1/8″ from the buttons.
  2. Stitch the buttons into place.  Embroider the shamrock-shaped outline you traced.  Add any other embroidery embellishments to the square.
  3. Lay the green felt square down on your work surface.  Fold the shamrock ribbon in half and place the cut ends on the edge of the top of the felt.  Make sure it is centered.  Glue in place.
  4. Apply glue to the back of your button and embroidered piece of felt.  Lay on top of the green felt.  Make sure the ribbon is sandwiched between the pieces securely.
  5. Allow to dry.  Attach to your key ring.

These would also make cute gift tags or luggage tags (you would always be able to spot your suitcase at the airport).

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

 

3

RANDOM GIVEAWAY WINNER

 

Thank you everyone who commented on the RANDOM GIVEAWAY this weekend. “And the Winner Is” has chosen:

Author:MicheleComment:

awesome giveaway! became fan of fb sent by Pinky. thanks for a chance to win.

Congrats Michele! :) I’m sending an email to let you know what you need to do next.
0

Super Simple – Super Chic Napkin Rings

Button embellished napkin rings

Button embellished napkin rings

 

I am helping a friend plan and prepare for her wedding and all of the events surrounding it.  The project today is one of the napkin ring ideas I proposed to her.  It is simple enough that her kids can help, not expensive, and very pretty all at the same time.  She wants to go with shades of olive ( his favorite color), peach ( her favorite color, coral and turquoise (mine).  Not that my colors matter at all.  By adding shades of the four colors it helps to expand our options and stretches our budget even further.  By limiting the colors it allows us to many things that we already own.

To make the napkin rings I used scrapbooking paper that had all of her colors.  I buttons I used are Avacado and adhered with a glue dot.

 

Cut 1.5 inch strips

Cut 1.5 inch strips

Add a glue dot to one end

Add a glue dot to one end

Wrap around napkin

Wrap around napkin

Viola!  Super Chic Napkin Rings

Add buttons with a glue dot and VIOLA!

1

Celebrate Your Unique Wedding with a Handmade Button Boutonniere

Handmade Button Boutonniere

Handmade Button Boutonniere

 

Hello!  It’s my distinct honor to be writing up my first post here at Buttons Galore and More!  I am also so excited about sharing a creative way to make a one of a kind boutonniere that will definitely stand up to the activity of the wedding day…all the way from getting ready in the morning to the ceremony to the dancing and celebrating into the night and beyond!  A button boutonniere can be made as unique as the person who will wear it!

 

Celebrate your unique love with a button boutonniere

 

Supplies:

  • mix of buttons like those in Button Bonanza White
  • ribbon (check out Black/White Striped Grosgrain  or a beautiful satin ribbon)
  • craft wire
  • florist’s tape
  • pearl-topped corsage pins
  • wire cutters
  • floral leaf picks

Celebrate your unique love with a button boutonniere

 

Begin by threading a stack of buttons of increasing size onto the craft wire(cut to 10-12 inches in length), smallest buttons first down to the largest in your selection.  Twist the wire at the bottom of the stack tightly to secure the stack.  I used different amounts and heights of buttons to make each stack a slightly different height when finished.

 

Celebrate your unique love with a button boutonniere

 

Twist wrap the florists tape around the wire stem approximately half way down the wire.

 

Celebrate your unique love with a button boutonniere

 

Add floral leaf picks or other decorative items the same way by wrapping the bundle with florist tape to approximately the mid-point.

 

Celebrate your unique love with a button boutonniere

 

Once you have all three button flowers and leaf stems individually wrapped, group them in a pleasing way as one bouquet and twist the wire stems together.  Wrap the whole stem from base of the bouquet to the tip of the wire with white florist’s tape.

 

Celebrate your unique love with a button boutonniere

 

Once the wrap is in place, use your fingers to corkscrew the bottom tail of the boutonniere.  You can also arrange and shape the leaves and button flowers since they are wired which makes this boutonniere extra friendly to design!

 

Celebrate your unique love with a button boutonniere

 

Add a bit of ribbon and corsage pins so this boutonniere is ready for the big day!

 

Celebrate your unique love with a button boutonniere

 

Ta da!  That’s it!  The great thing about button floral designs are that they can be done way in advance and will still look perfect on the big day.  Not to mention, the cost on these per boutonniere are pennies compared to their fresh flower counterparts.  These can also be easily translated into other holidays or get-togethers and customized with pretty vibrant colored buttons, ribbons and other trims.  Add an elastic wrist strap to the back and this is a wrist corsage too.  Got creative teenagers in your life?  Gather the kids for a button corsage/boutonniere making day and they’ll be the newest smash hit since duct tape prom dresses!  The sky is the limit and Buttons Galore and More has you covered with beautiful buttons and trims to make your day extra special!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

1

Buttons Galore and More at CHA Winter 2012

Buttons Galore and More at Winter CHA 2012

Dan and Lisa - Owners

 

We’re back! From Winter CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show, that is.

A few members of our design team, past and present, were able to make the trip to Anaheim, CA from January 29th – February 1st 2012. I was lucky enough to be there and I thought I’d share a few photos I took of the booth with you.

Above are Dan and Lisa – the owners of Buttons Galore and More. Buttons Galore and More was one of only a few companies I found that sells both to wholesale customers and on their retail website at buttonsgaloreandmore.com

 

Buttons Galore and More at Winter CHA 2012

Summer

I love the seasonal themed packages.

 

Buttons Galore and More at Winter CHA 2012

Spring

 

 

 

Buttons Galore and More at Winter CHA 2012

 

New button collections by Laura Kelly. The packages all have a little project sheet as part of the packaging!

 

Buttons Galore and More at Winter CHA 2012

 

The Haberdashery line is probably my favorite!

 

 

Buttons Galore and More at Winter CHA 2012

 

Aren’t the Color Blends great? No matter what project you are working on you’ll have a selection of buttons in the same color family to choose from!

 

Buttons Galore and More at Winter CHA 2012

 

And the Button Bonanza packages… because you can NEVER have too many buttons!

1

Mixed Media Memories

Button memory quilted art

Button memory quilted art

This is a mixed media piece I made with items I found while cleaning out my Mother in Laws’ home.

The background is created like a Log Cabin Quilt by stitching strips of fabric one to another and around the photo that is printed on printable canvas. The pieces are not the same width or length. It’s more of a free form kind of piecing. I added some top stitches in pink.

I also used buttons from Bubble Gum Button Bonanza,  and added some fabric, buttons, a doily, piece of embroidery iron on, a flash card with the number 18 (which is about how old she was when the photo was taken), part of a greeting card, a key, the address from an old envelope and a small tassel.

Mixed Media Memories

I did a lot of remembering while I was putting this together. My mother in law has always been good to me.

Have you created a piece of art/craft to remember someone you loved?  What did you make?

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Valentine's Day Countdown Calendar

 

If your little one is anything like mine, you pretty much start looking forward to Valentine’s Day right after Christmas.  I created this felt and button Valentine’s Day Countdown Calendar to channel some of my daughter’s excitement.

 

 

Supplies:

  • White felt
  • Red felt
  • Pink felt
  • Wave rotary cutter
  • Sewing machine
  • Buttons-I used Buttons Galore and More’s Raspberry Bulk Pack, because you can never have too many pink buttons!
  • Embroidery floss & Needle
  • Ink jet, printable fabric
  • 13″ wood dowel
  • Red & white bakery twine

Instructions:

  1. Cut a piece of white felt into a 17″ x 11″ rectangle.
  2. Fold one short side over 1″ then sew to create a pocket to put your dowel through later.
  3. Trim other short end using a wave rotary cutter or pinking shears.
  4. Cut a 7″ x 3″ rectangle from the pink felt.
  5. Using your printable fabric and word processing software, create a sign for the top of your calendar.  Mine says “Be My Valentine”.
  6. Cut the printable fabric into a 6.5″ x 2.25″  rectangle.
  7. Place pink felt triangle, centered and about 1″ inch down from top of white piece of felt. Remember, the top of your calendar will be where you stitched a pocket for the dowel.  Pin and sew.
  8. Center your printable fabric on the pink rectangle.  Pin and sew.
  9. Cut 14 2″ x 2″ squares from your red felt.
  10. Sew one pink button into the center of each red felt square.  I found the middle by folding the square in half, finger pressing, then folding it the other direction and finger pressing.  Attach you button where the lines cross.  Easy!
  11. Cut fourteen hearts from your white felt.  To get evenly sized hearts, I cut 2″ x 2″ squares from the white felt, folded them in half and cut half hearts.
  12. Carefully cut a small slit into the center of each heart.
  13. Measure down 1/2″ from the pink felt and 1/2″ in from edge of white felt.  Place your first red square there and pin.  Measure 1/2″ over to the right and pin.  Continue pinning on red squares, making sure you line them up evenly.  Sew the squares onto the fabric.  You can use your sewing machines to do this (just be careful not to run over the buttons) or attach them using a cute embroidery stitch.
  14. Cut a 5″ x 3″ rectangle from the pink felt.  Using your wave rotary cutters or pinking shears, cut a decorate edge along one of the long sides.
  15. Cut a 5″ x 1.5″ rectangle from the red felt.  Using your wave rotary cutters or pinking shears, cut a decorate edge along one of the long sides.  If you want to add a decorative ribbon, sew it on now.
  16. Place the red felt rectangle onto the pink felt rectangle, lining up the straight, long edge.  Sew three sides together, leaving the long, decorate edge of the red rectangle open.  You now have a pocket for your extra hearts.
  17. Sew the pocket onto the white base, 1/2″ down from the last row of red squares, 1/2″ from the right side of the white base.
  18. Cut out additional felt hearts in pink, red, and white and sew onto the calendar randomly.  Use cute embroidery stitches to attach them.
  19. Slide dowel through the top pocket of your calendar.  Tie baker’s twine to end of dowels and hang.

You are done!  Store your white hearts in the pocket.  As each day dawns, allow your child to button a heart onto one of the red squares.  When the all the squares are full, it’s Valentine’s Day!  Use the now empty pocket to store a few Valentine’s and enjoy your calendar for a couple of extra days after the holiday.

 

 

Valentine Countdown Calendar by Laura Bray

 

I know this calendar is a lot of work, but I was able to get mine done in about 3 hours total.  I think it’s worth the work-after all it’s a heirloom item.

 

 

2

Goodbye & Hello! Meet our New Design Team

 

sea glass button copper earrings

 

It’s always kind of sad to say goodbye…especially to such talented people as Carla Schauer, Jenny Barnett Rohrs, Beth Watson, and Jen Goode.

 

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

Some of our original design team are still with us … Vicki O’Dell, Niki Meiners, Elise Durenberger and Laura Bray.

 

Haberdashery Heart by Laura Bray

 

And to them we have added new members to our design team… Dana Gustafson, Cristal (Pinky) Hobbs, Ann Butler, Laura Evangeline and Allie Gower.

 

To see the bios of our Design Team Members as well as links to other sites where you can follow them please visit our MEET THE DESIGN TEAM PAGE.

 

 

 

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Valentine Theme Keepsake Book

 

Supplies from Buttons Galore & More:

Oh, the wonderful things we can do with buttons!  This blog is choc FULL of ideas!  And thanks to the bountiful assortment from Buttons Galore and More – we keep comin’ up with NEW ways, to make amazing crafts with buttons…

Recently, while doodling on my desk blotter, I created some fun characters by sketching around some colorful buttons.  Like seeing circus animals in the clouds, and messages in coffee froth – THIS little book idea, and the characters within, were born.

 

 

I was so taken with the characters, I decided to showcase them by creating a keepsake story, from a re-purposed children’s book.  For YOUR creative consideration, I’m sharing some ideas on how to take your doodles and buttons from desktop to KEEPSAKE – it’s a fun and crafty ride, so I hope you enjoy!

Steps 1 – 4

1.)  Select buttons that inspire you.

2.)  Doodle or sketch as desired.  When satisfied, re-create artwork onto good quality card stock.

3.)  Plan for button holes with a paper piercer, poked through holes and into cards stock.

4.)  Color and ink drawing as desired.

 

 

Steps 5 – 8

5.) Check button placement, then color the rest of the drawing or scene to your liking.  Secure artwork to card board page with adhesive.

6.) Drill holes to correspond with pierced marks, through cardstock and cardboard.

7.) From opposite side, using clear thread and needle with a small knot, and secured with tape, push threaded needle to the front side of the artwork.

8.) Thread button and pull tight to secure the button into place.  Tie off and tape down excess thread on the back side of the card board.

 

 

Take a MOMENT to enjoy the adorableness of your creations and then CARRY on!

 

 

The opposite side of the board, where thread is secured, can be covered with more cardstock and the copy for the story telling, if desired.  This could also be made into a darling scrapbook or memorabilia holder – let your imagination and button characters take you on an adventure and then write about it!

 

 

That’s how these creatures came to be!

 

 

The scene: the BARNYARD.

 

 

The characters: unlikely friends who are moved to acts of generosity and sharing as a magical mood is created, by mysterious sweet treats…

 

 

The most unlikely of friends become the most UNLIKELY VALENTINES, as they share and bond on Valentine’s day.

 

 

And a darling, button filled lesson that life can be so much sweeter, when you share!

 

 

Just ask Mr. Piggles and Chick-a-deedee!

 

 

The MOST unlikely of Valentines!

Super fun!  Super BUTTONS!  The very best store: Buttons Galore and More!

 

 

 

8

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

Isn’t this a sweet, simple decoration for Valentine’s Day? Or a baby girls’ room?

It’s a little time consuming but not very hard to make. Let me show you how…

 

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

First off you’ll need a 14 inch extruded foam wreath, some fleece and Fabri-Tac from Beacon Adhesives.

 

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

Cut the fleece in a long strip wide enough to wrap around the foam wreath and to meet at the edge. Glue the fleece around the wreath as shown. Scrunch the fleece together to make it kind of wrinkly.

TIP: When I’m using Fabri-Tac to “sew” I often use pinch clothes pins to hold the fabric together while the glue dries!

 

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

Next grab yourself some yo yo makers from Clover. I used a large circle, large heart and medium circle.

 

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

I made about 24 yo-yos with four different fabrics. I have to say, that I love the yo yo makers. They made it really easy!

This part of the project is perfect for crafting while watching television!

 

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

Then sew buttons in the center of the yo yos. The Button Bonanza in Bubblegum is PERFECT for this!

 

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

Next, lay the yo yos out on the wreath in a pleasing pattern and then take small pins and pin them in place.

 

Fleece, Yo-Yo's and Buttons on a Valentine's Day Wreath

 

I used a bone folder to tuck the pins down in deep so that you can’t see them in the finished wreath.

You can either fill in the whole wreath or only fill in a portion of it like I did. And of course, it doesn’t have to be in pinks.. it can be any colors you choose! :)

 

 

3

Easy Button Valentines

Cute Button and Ribbon Valentine by Jen Goode

Cute Button and Ribbon Valentine by Jen Goode

 

You can make pretty little button Valentines for your true love, or with the kids for their class using buttons and felt. I created these three pieces using scraps of felt and ribbon and a bit of glue, that’s it! You could use fabric scraps, paper or cardstock. You could even paint a background and use the buttons to access the art.

This is a great Valentine’s Day project to do with the kids. Cut shapes for the little ones and let them glue everything together.Easy peazy, right? Tip: lay out everything before adding glue. Then put glue in the shape where buttons will be placed, example: I make a heart outline using glue and then placed all the buttons on the glue.

Supplies you need:

 

Button Valentines by Jen Goode

Button Valentines by Jen Goode

 

Mix and match your supplies with different layouts to create a wide selection of Valentines using your buttons. If you have a little frame, you could even turn these pieces into pretty Valentine’s Day art. Gotta love the buttons!

 

2

Gusseted Girly Messenger Bag – Great Valentine Gift

 

 

Yo-yos on Girly Messenger bag by Niki Meiners

Yo-yos on Girly Messenger bag by Niki Meiners

 

This feminine messenger style tote is perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift.  It is soft and girly and it can be carried long after.  Plus the flowers on this bag will last a lot longer than a dozen roses.

 

Gusseted Messenger Style Tote

Gusseted Messenger Style Tote

 

Tools:  

Scissors, Cutting matt, needle, thread, pins, Clover Yo Yo Maker in extra small, small, medium, large, extra large circle, small and medium heart and the small and medium flower.

Materials:

Confection Button Collection and FabriTacCream canvas, cream burlap small dark pink rick rack, large light pink rick rack, various scraps of coordinating fabric. Two strips of 6×24”, burlap, Velcro ®

Directions:

1.  Cut burlap to 36″ by 22″ to make a bag about the same size as a grocery bag. So if you buy 44″ wide fabric, you can make two bags with a yard.  Cut in half.   to measure &&& Cut canvas to $x#.  Sew the burlap to the canvas.  Fold the top edge down 1/2 inch. Then stitch ¼” from edge.   Place wrong sides together and sew on the three remaining sides.

2.  To make a gusset, flatten the bag with the bottom seam on top.  (It looks like an odd triangular shape, but makes more sense when you actually do it). Then sew across the triangle so that your seam is about 3-4″ long (mark it by sliding a ruler down until it reads 3″). When you turn the bag right-side-out, it will stand up like a paper grocery bag just not as deep.

Gusset on Messenger Style Tote

Gusset on Messenger Style Tote

3.  Cut striped fabric for handles to 6×24.  Fold in one inch on each side finger press.  Then stitch ¼” from edge.  Fold ends of each tip to form a diagonal and sew along edges.  Sew the other end inside the bag.  Straps can be made of self-fabric, very sturdy ribbon, matching fabric remnants, nylon webbing, or whatever else seems you have handy.  I tied the fabric strips into a knot for a decorative effect.

 

Knot at the top of the straps

Knot at the top of the straps

 

4. To embellish the tote use Fabri-tac to adhere various lengths of rick rack.  The rick rack  mimics flower stems.  Mine vary from 4-10″.

5.  Follow manufacturers directions to make the yo-yos.   I used a variety of the sizes listed above.  Hand sew buttons in the center of each yo-yo.  You can either adhere the yo-yos with a quick stitch or you can use the Fabri-Tac.

 

Yo-yos flowers with button center

Yo-yos flowers with button center

 

1

A Valentine's Day Gift for Teacher

 

In case you didn’t get enough wrapping, tags and holiday goodness, last month… It’s onward and FORWARD: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!

 

Good thing Buttons Galore & More has SUCH a wide assortment of buttons and lovely bits to get the imagination and crafty thoughts flowing.

 

 

With some simple supplies and a splash of colorful fun, a button embellished Valentine’s candle seems is the perfect project for a little post-Christmas togetherness time.  Gather a willing, crafty kid, and LOVELY buttons from Buttons Galore & More. The wee-child in your life might just be heading back to school with some Valentine’s teacher gifts “in the can”, as it were.  Move to the head of the class… AND have fun!

 

 

With satisfying crafty abandon, have the child pin buttons to the outside of a pillar candle, using half inch stick pins.

 

 

We had A LOT of fun with the pins!  Use as many or as few as desired – you MAY want to remove them when decorating is complete.

 

 

Once button layout is complete, prepare 3 – 4 feet of wax paper, folded in half.  Fold in half, again, and insert candle.

 

 

On a hard surface, with a heat resistant mat, heat the candle with heat gun, through the wax paper, until very hot.  {This is where “parent” supervision kicks into high gear – I recommend a good heat glove for the first go-round} Going “horizontal” sections at a time, heat until the wax is visibly melting beneath the sheet of wax paper.  Firmly roll and press the candle so that the warmest, meltiest section is then pressed, firmly, onto the hard surface.  Repeat this step until entire candle has been well heated/melted and then remove wax paper.  Buttons should appear sunken, and possibly covered with wax. When satisfied, pins can be removed, if desired.

 

 

Embellish base with cardboard, baker’s twine and wonderful button/accessory goodness from Buttons Galore & More.

 

 

Prepare a paper bag for presenting teacher Valentine’s gift, and finish with stamped Start Up tag, using solvent based permanent ink.

 

 

Save the chocolate {for YOURSELF!} and help YOUR child gift teacher, with a Valentine’s keepsake that will surely LIGHT up the heart!  Enjoy!

 

9

How to Make a Button Closure for Card Makers

Button Closure

Button Closure

 

Create a cool closure for your handmade cards by sewing on two buttons.  The card above is a a birthday card.  You can use this technique for any occasion.  Very few tools are involved and  little skill is needed.  It is quick and easy yet it makes the card feel extra special.

 

Button closure untied

Button closure untied

Tools:

Needle with large opening

Embroidery floss in color of your choice

Paper cutter

Mouse pad

Material:

Contemporary Christmas Button Jar

 

12 x12 Cardstock of your choice

Pattern Paper of your choice

Rubber stamped sentiment of your choice

Adhesive

Directions:

1.  Cut paper to 6×12.  Make a score line 3 inches from each end.  Fold flaps in so that they meet in the middle.

2.  Trim pattern paper to 5.5 x 11.5 and adhere to card.

3. Stamp sentiment and add to center of card.

4. Measure in one inch on each flap.  Place card open on mouse pad and use needle to make holes for floss.

5. Using floss sew on one button.  Tie knot to secure and trim off excess.

6.  For the second button cut a generous piece of floss.  Sew on button and tie a knot.  Do not trim off excess.  Use it to fasten the card closed

 

Inside of card

Inside of card

 

0

Be Our Guest – How YOU Can Guest Post On Our Blog

 

Christmas Gift Idea - Crochet Dishcloth Embellished with a Useful Button

 

Do YOU have a great button project that you would love to share with our readers?

 

Trash to Treasure with Polymer Clay and Buttons

 

Did you discover a great technique or alter an object?

 

 

Looking for an ‘ATTA GIRL/BOY from someone other than your mom or best friend?

Would you like to have a button for your blog saying you’ve been Featured on Buttons Galore and More and maybe a little THANK YOU gift to boot?

Send a photo of your great idea, project or technique to buttonsgaloreteam (at) yahoo (dot) com and we’ll let you know if we can feature your idea/project on our blog. If your project is accepted we’ll ask for more photos (step out process photos if they are available) and written instructions. We’ll let you know when your project will be featured so you can share the good news with all your friends and we’ll even send you a little thank you gift!

  • All projects/ideas need to feature buttons from Button Galore and More.
  • Final decision as to weather a project gets featured or not rests with buttonsgaloreandmore.com & our social media coordinator
  • We will post your name and state, website or other info that is both approved by US and YOU
  • You own the rights to your project and photos

 

 

0

New Year Button Journal Cover

Close-up of Laura Bray's Button Journal

Close-up of Laura Bray's Button Journal

I can’t believe another year is winding down.  Time to make your resolutions for the new year!  It’s always easier to do it if you have a cute journal to work in.  Why not make a little felt cover, embroidered with a cute design and embellished with buttons?

Supplies:

  • 5″ X 7″ Journal
  • 5″ x 7″ piece of white felt
  • Embroidery floss and needle
  • Buttons (the ones I used are from the Citrus Splash collection)
  • 1″ x 7″ piece of pink felt
  • Scallop rotary cutter
  • Craft glue

Instructions:

  1. With a pencil, lightly draw your design onto a piece of felt.
  2. Embroider over your pencil lines and stitch buttons onto your design.
  3. Using scallop rotary cutters, cut a “binding” strip from the pink felt.
  4. Glue your embroidered and embellished piece of white felt onto the cover of your journal.
  5. Glue the scalloped binding strip along the edge of the journal cover.
  6. Start writing your resolutions!

 

Button Journal by Laura Bray

 

1

Button Love on Pinterest

Button Love on Pinterest

 

In case you haven’t heard, Pinterest is one of the hottest new sites around. For those of us who operate VISUALLY it’s nothing short of eye crack! LOL! Just look at this button embellished Mona Lisa I found the other day. Crazy cool!!

Be sure to follow our Pin Boards to share the button love!

 

 

1

Design Team Call

 

 

 

Buttons Galore and More Design Team Call

 

We are looking for gifted designers for our Button Bevy! If you want to be a part of a fun, creative community that is passionate about connecting with and empowering crafters while promoting our products then we would love to have you apply. We seek paper crafters, card makers, scrapbookers, mixed media artists, jewelry makers etc.

 

To apply, please email to buttonsgaloreteam (at) yahoo (dot) com:

  • Your contact information
  • A short bio about yourself along with a brief sentence or two stating why you would like to be a member of our Design Team
  • Link to your personal blog along with an average of monthly site visits
  • Any usernames for your favorite forums & links to your profile
  • Images of 3 projects you have created or links to those projects on your blog or other website. One project must be in tutorial form showing any relevant images for the project and including a step by step written tutorial. Videos are welcome too!
  • List of other design teams in which you are currently or were previously a member.

Current and prior Design Team Members are welcome to apply!

 

Requirements:

 

  • Create 1-2 projects a month with tutorials and good photos.
  •  Actively share and endorse Buttons Galore and More and your projects through your personal blog, Facebook, Twitter etc
  • Commit to creating 1-2 samples for CHA Summer 2012 for which you will be compensated
  • Place an “I Design For” button on your blog
  • The ability to write relatively well, meet deadlines and follow posting guidelines

 

 

Compensation:

 

  • Members of our Button Bevy will be compensated $25 per month and will be provided with buttonsgaloreandmore.com product needed to make projects. We are generous with product & look to partner with other companies and design teams in 2012.
  • You will also receive the publicity/promotion of having your name and photo in your by-line, a link to your blog on our front page and active promotion of you as a designer by our social media coordinator.
  • We are in the process of working on an endorsement program for designers who get published in major craft magazines or appear on television
  • Further financial compensation may also be awarded when appropriate

 

Our goal is to have the design team together and begin posting on buttonsgaloreandmoreblog.com by February 1st.  So please make sure your application is submitted by Friday January 4th 5pm EST.

Email your application by emailing buttonsgaloreteam (at) yahoo (dot) com

Please email us with any questions. We look forward to your applications!

5

Concentric Circle Button Pillow

Concentric Circle Button Pillow

Concentric Circle Button Pillow

 

This modern pillow was created by die cutting leather flowers and adorning the center with buttons. The finished size is 12×18”- perfect to tuck into a corner of the sofa or on a small chair.

Materials

  •  Avacado Satin fabric
  • Sea Glass buttons
  • Leather
  • Sizzix 3-d Flower die cut
  • The Warm Company: Soft & Bright polyester batting

Tools

  • Sizzix Big Shot
  • Sewing Machine
  • Thread and needle

 

Other Supplies

  • Covered Work surface
  • Paintbrush for each color
  • Scissors
  • White fabric pencil
  • Circles in various sizes,
  • Straight pins
  • Needle

 

Directions

1. Cut fabric for front and back of pillow to 12.5 x 18.5. Die cut leather flowers 18 times.  Add a dab of glue to secure layers.  Sew button into center.

4. Place wrong side of fabric together.   Secure with straight pins.  Sew closed with a sewing machine leaving an opening large enough to fill interior with batting.  Turn pillow right side out and fill cavity with batting.

5. Sew the opening closed with either a machine stitch or by hand.

 

by Niki Meiners www.365daysofcrafts.com

1

Santa and Mrs Claus Puppets

Santa and Mrs Claus Puppets

 

I know this is a little “patting myself on the back” but I thought I’d share a project I recently made and have posted on my blog at vickiodell.com.

There is a Mrs. Claus too and I’m thinking I might go back and add buttons to her dress.

You’ll find all the buttons you need for this project on our website at www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com.

1

Holiday Decor – Christmas Tree Button Collage

Pretty button collage Christmas Tree by Jen Goode

Christmas Tree Button Collage by Jen Goode

 

Make your own pretty Christmas Tree decor with buttons. You can add any extras you like including button ornaments and mini garland. I created this holiday button decor using an old placement that I recycled to create the background piece. I love it when a project is completed without sewing a single thing!

Materials you need:

 

Christmas tree button collage close up

Christmas Tree Button Collage - close up

 

How to make this Button Collage Christmas Tree holiday decor

  1. Sketch the tree shape on to the finished fabric background. I used a dark green colored pencil on lighter green fabric so the pencil would blend in once I was finished with my collage.
  2. Apply fabric glue all around the inside of the tree shape.
  3. Place green buttons on glue making sure to mix the sizes up while still covering the majority of the space with buttons. Let dry.
  4. Using craft glue, add gold buttons throughout tree to appear as ornaments on the tree.
  5. Measure, cut and adhere red ribbon along each side of the fabric background leaving at least an inch of green fabric on either edge of the ribbon. Glue gold corners on top of ribbon.

 

 

3

Video: Christmas Gift Idea – Crochet Dishcloth Embellished with a Useful Button

Christmas Gift Idea - Crochet Dishcloth Embellished with a Useful Button

 

I recently made a video that is a great project for quick and easy Christmas gift giving; Crochet Dishcloth Embellished with a Useful Button.

Useful button? How does THAT work? Well, you’ll just have to watch the video to find out! :)

 

 

 

PS. This video started out as a “Freebie” project to our new facebook fans. To get all of the special goodies we offer on facebook please visit our FACEBOOK PAGE

1

Holiday Glass and Bottle Charms

Button Wine Charms by Carla Schauer

 

As holiday party season rapidly gets underway, one of the tasks the party host(ess) needs to consider is how guests can keep track of their drink glasses.   One of the best ways to accomplish this is by using drink charm.  Plus, it looks fancier than the plastic cup/black marker method.

 

I started by using a coil of memory wire, cut into 4 rings with wire cutters.  With a couple jewelry tools,  some frosted beads, and my Buttons Galore & More buttons, I had my charms made  in no time at all.

Supplies and Instructions:

Buttons Galore & More  buttons (Christmas Button Bonanza, Rainforest Button Bonanza, Winter Holiday Micros, and Rainforest Mix Micros)

Frosted and clear star and bicone-shaped beads

Red seed beads

Silver jump rings

Silver wire

Round nose jewelry pliers

Wire cutters

  1. Use round nose pliers to form loop on one end of each memory wire ring. (Photo 1)
  2.  Attach medium buttons in lime, dark green, red, and white to jump rings.  Thread beads, micro buttons and jump rings with attached buttons in desired order half way around ring.  (note:  micro buttons  were threaded directly on memory wire.  Photo 2)
  3.  Layer large and medium buttons in contrasting colors and attach together with silver wire.  Twist on reverse side to secure, then use wire ends to secure layered buttons to charm ring. Continue threading remaining loop with buttons and beads.
  4. Use round nose pliers to create loop in remaining end. (Photo 3).  Join loops together to connect ends.  (Photo 4)

 

 

button wine charms by Carla Schauer

Each charm has a different combination of buttons and beads, and each has a unique focal button set.  I used fairly traditional Christmas colors in this set, but the charms can be made to coordinate with any party theme.

 

 

 

1

Button Art

Button Art

 

Our Design Team Member Laura Bray needed a little inspiration for using up some gold and silver buttons from our Gold and Silver Grab Bag … so she grabbed a can of spray paint and created some adorable wall art. You can read all about how she did it in her blog post Button Decor.

I think that one or two buttons in a small frame would be an excellent idea for an ornament too, don’t you?

1

Kid's Crafts- Button Embellished Photo Ornaments

 

About this time of year, my kids get the itch to start making gifts for friends, teachers, and grandparents. I came up with a kid-friendly craft that will enable them to give a gift they’ll be proud of- and it’s a great way to share those wallet-size photos from school pictures!

I used a manual die-cutting machine for this (the Spellbinders Grand Calibur) because my kids, ages 6 and 10, know how to use it independently and frankly the results are great! But you can use hand punches if you like, instead.

Supplies:

  • Manual Die Cutting Machine and Nesting Dies (I used Scalloped Circles) OR
  • Hand Punches 1.5″ and 3″
  • Feltie Sheets (stiffened felt) OR Foamies
  • Elmer’s Craft Bond Glue OR Foamie Glue (you DO need special glue for foamies, FYI)
  • Buttons (I used Ocean Blue and Gold and Silver Grab Bag)
  • Ribbon for hanging
  • Start-Ups Angels
  • Permanent marker

First, have your kids cut large circles in 3 1/2″ or 4″ size for the bases. Then, cut the “wreath” portion by positioning the 3″ or the 3 1/2″ die and centering the 2″ die into the middle. Use a piece of painter’s tape to keep it from shifting around while you run it through the machine.

 

Save that area that is punched out- we’ll use it on the back!

Next, cut a piece of ribbon at least 6″ long and glue it to the base.

 

Take your wallet-size photos and position them so the face is centered in the middle. Cut away the excess with scissors. use a dab of glue to secure the photo to the wreath, then add more glue to the entire thing and glue it to the base.

Now to decorate! Use a little more ribbon to make a bow, and add a decorative button. Then glue little buttons around the wreath as ornaments.

While that’s setting up, write the child’s name and year on the Angel Start-up and glue it to that center from the first step. Lastly, glue that to the back of the ornament so that both sides are festive.

 

 

You’ll have such a good time crafting together as a family, and the kids will be so proud that they made the gifts themselves!

 

2

Trash to Treasure with Polymer Clay and Buttons

Trash to Treasure with Polymer Clay and Buttons

 

Recently one of our Facebook fans posted a photo on the wall of a finished project. I thought it was so cool I just HAD to share!

Notice the  mirrors rescued from the trash in the above photo?

 

Trash to Treasure with Polymer Clay and Buttons

 

And see what they are becoming here?

You’ve got to go visit Notions and Devotions to see more!

Do you have a project that uses Buttons Galore and More buttons that you like to share with other button crafters? Maybe a blog project you’d like me to link to and share with our community? Be sure to head over to the Facebook page and share your photo!!

P.S. Our welcome page on facebook always has exclusive content just for our friends! :)

1

Button and Rosette Frame

Button and rosette frame by Niki Meiners

Button and rosette frame by Niki Meiners

Looking for a holiday gift or a for a fun decoration? Why not make a frame embellished with buttons and rosettes?  I love the blank wood frames from Michael’s.  I usually purchase a dozen or so when they go on sale for $1.  They are great, low cost  homemade gifts. To make this project:

Tools and Materials:

Blank wood frame, paint brushes, 3 colors of paint ( similar colors work best), glue, floral decoration and buttons green, waterfall, and bittersweet.

Directions:

Paint wood frame with paint color of choice.  Dry brush on other colors.  Glue on rosettes and buttons as shown.

Toodles,

Niki

0

Video: Vintage Hanky Lavendar Sachet with Button Embellishments

Video: Vintage Hanky Lavendar Sachet with Button Embellishments

 

I’ve been recording a new video about once a month featuring my favorite crafts made with buttons.

This is last months’ video.

Why is it a month old?

Well, that’s because I keep the video and share it EXCLUSIVELY with our facebook friends first.

When you get to our facebook page, and you haven’t liked us yet, you’ll see the Landing Page where I have a link to the video.

So, what are you waiting for? Go like us and see THIS MONTHS video FIRST!

 

 

0

Button Snowball for Home Decor

Button Snowball by Laura Bray

These super simple snowballs, made of buttons, are perfect for a romantic Christmas decor theme.  Hang them in your tree, stack them in a bowl, tuck them into a wreath or give them as gifts.

Supplies:

  • 2″ Styrofoam balls (You could use even larger balls and make large, dramatic, snowballs too!)
  • Hot glue and glue gun
  • Buttons Galore & More Gold & Silver Grab Bag buttons
  • White glitter flakes

Instructions:

  1. Using hot glue, apply buttons to styrofoam ball.
  2. Fill in spaces around buttons with glitter flakes to give the snowball sparkle

Tip:

If you want to use the snowballs as ornaments, thread a ribbon through the ball, using a long doll needle.  Be sure to add the ribbon before gluing on the buttons!

 

 

2

Outside of the Box – Mixed Media Keepsake Box for the Holidays

 

The buttons are OUTSIDE of the box, friends!  {And… inside, too!}  For your creative consideration, I’ve mixed things up with a crafty menagerie of buttons, Start Ups, Ribbon and more!

 

Buttons Galore & More products used:

 

 

Just to help set the Christmas mood, I created a “beyond the box” scrapbook project, within…  {wait for it…!} a darling altered box!  The PERFECT assignment, to help stimulate crafty projects to give this season… {or KEEP for yourself!} Armed with assorted materials from Buttons Galore & More, and miscellaneous extras, just kicking around the craft room…  I made this fun, interactive memorabilia box to share with all of you!

 

 

Spray paint and embellish metal box with color and papers of choice.  Contemplate BUTTONS!

 

 

Reduce and print photos on a small scale to create accordion album to fit into mini canvas.  Choose several photos to highlight your subject and print at normal scale.

 

 

Wrap mini canvas so that the backside is covered completely by the paper. Glue flaps to the front of the canvas, as tightly as possible.  Using a sharp blade, score an “x” across the covered backside of the canvas, exposing the inside.  Fold triangular flaps down and secure with glue to create an open box type of frame.  Cut a piece of chipboard to cover the entire frame and screw two sets of hinges to the front of the chipboard, after it’s been decorated, to create a “lid”.

 

 

Embellish cover of canvas box with a stunning button of your choosing!

 

 

Acclimate small scale pictures to work in an accordion motion.  Secure with glue and tape.  For opening, pull attachment, add button, glued and sewn with clear thread, for strength.

 

 

Customize clear buttons with clear, dimensional glue and decorative paper.  Cover underside of button with glue, place on desired pattern from paper and gently push the excess glue out from under the button, then let dry.  Once dry, cut the excess paper away from the button, re-poke the holes and embellish with baker’s twine.

 

 

Create packing tape transfers with desired printed images to fit onto Start Up shapes.  Apply directly to Start Ups with clear glue and let dry.

 

 

Embellish box, as desired.

 

 

Yes, indeed!  I’ll say the Holidays are off to a mighty happy start!  Let the CRAFTING begin!

 

 

Thanks for letting me share this joyfully button festooned project with you!

 

 

 

5

Button Embellished Lariat Style T-Shirt Necklace

Button Embellished Lariat Style T-Shirt Necklace

Button Embellished Lariat Style T-Shirt Necklace

 

Here is my second version of the T-Shirt necklace made with buttons. My first T-Shirt necklace was the Button Embellished T-Shirt Necklace and you can read more about it by clicking on the title.

To find out how to make the t-shirt portion of the necklace visit Whole Living or there are a few companies such as consumercrafts.com who sell the strips of colorful cotton all cut up and ready to go. And BTW one package of the Accessory Loops made BOTH necklaces. ;)

Why yes, I DID take the easy way out! AGAIN!

 

Button Embellished Lariat Style T-Shirt Necklace

 

To make this style of necklace I cut all of the t-shirt strips (just one snip on each strip to make a long T-Shirt strand) and threaded the buttons on.

Getting the fabric through the shank of the button is a little tricky and I used a wooden skewer to push the fabric through the hole. It’s a tight enough fit that you don’t have to tie knots to hold the buttons in place.

To finish it off – tie a knot in the ends of the t-shirt strands.

To wear this style necklace fold the strands in half and lay it around your neck. Feed the ends through the fold and adjust to your liking.

The buttons I used are from the Gold and Silver Grab Bag.

 

2

Chenille Flower Ornaments – GiveAway – CLOSED

chenille stem flowers - ornaments

 

I spotted these super adorable chenille stem flower ornaments on Pinterest recently and KNEW I had to share them with you. They were created by the super talented  Diane Gilleland of Crafty Pod.

Not only are they ornaments but they could be turned into a brooch or ring to wear or even lovely package and card embellishments. Sooo many uses for such an adorable project!

Learn how to make your own Chenille Flower Ornaments with Diane’s complete tutorial and pick up a Button Bonanza Christmas Bag to make plenty of Chenille Flowers for everyone!

Want a chance to win a free Button Bonanza Christmas Bag? Just leave a comment on this post by Wednesday 11/2/2011 at 5pm for a chance to win one package. We will draw a random comment and announce the winner on our Facebook page Wednesday evening.

  • Please be sure your email is attached to your comment so that we can contact you.
  • If the Button Bonanza Christmas Bag prize is unclaimed by Friday at 9am an alternate winner will be selected.

 

To see some of the photos Buttons Galore and More pins please visit our Pinterest Profile.

Holiday Gift Tags: Embellish with Buttons

button tree gift tag by Carla Schauer

 

Making holiday gift tags is a great way to personalize gift wrapping using Buttons Galore & More buttons along with leftover bits and pieces from other projects.  I used 2 larger paper scraps, die-cut and misted with Clearsnap Smooch Spritz, as the bases for these tags.

For this tree-themed tag, I used Haberdashery Collection Wood Buttons.  It’s easy to change the color of the wood buttons using dye ink.  I love that the buttons almost have a “stained” look to them.  I just pressed the buttons into the ink pad until I was satisfied with the color and let them dry a few minutes.   After gluing the buttons in a tree shape, I tied a ribbon and an embroidery floss scrap to finish the tag.

 

button snowman gift tag by Carla Schauer

 

I used the Snowman Parts buttons from the Holiday Collection to make the second gift tag.  I edged 3 white circles (1.5, 1, and .75″) in light blue ink and used them to build the snowman base on the left side of the tag.   Then the addition of the hat, black buttons, mittens, and sign Snowman Parts gave him his dimension.  A face and arms drawn with Clearsnap Smooch, and a scrap piece of dotted ribbon completed the scene.

Have fun with your button stash this year and add some whimsy to gift packaging!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carla Schauer

 

1

Button Embellished T-shirt Necklace

Button Embellished T-shirt Necklace

Button Embellished T-shirt Necklace

 

T-shirt necklaces are super popular right now. I really like them… but then again, I like my jewelry to be kind of big and chunky!

To find out how to make the t-shirt portion of the necklace visit Whole Living or there are a few companies such as consumercrafts.com who sell the strips of colorful cotton all cut up and ready to go.

Why yes, I DID take the easy way out! :)

To add the buttons I simply cut one of the black t-shirt strips and threaded the buttons on and then tied the ends together again. The buttons I used are from the Gold and Silver Grab Bag.

 

Button Embellished T-Shirt Necklace

 

On some of the smaller buttons it can be kind of tricky to get the fabric through the shank of the button. I pushed it through with an awl just until I got enough fabric through to grab hold of and then I pulled it through with a pair of pliers. This technique tends to stretch the cotton out so you’ll have to cut a little off the length when you tie the ends together again.

Twist the t-shirt strands together and adjust the placement of the buttons to your liking. You can put the whole necklace over your head in a single loop or double it like I have here and use a clasp ring that opens (like the ones you find in the office supply store) and closes to secure the ends.

Super easy, super trendy and a great way to wear your favorite buttons!

 

 

1

Make a Button Snowman Ornament

Button Snowman Ornament

Button Snowman Ornament

Need and ornament for a gift, package topper or an ornament exchange?  Why not make your own this year.  Button Ornaments are a great and inexpensive solution.  I made a few dozen while catching up on my favorite tv shows.  The buttons I used come in a great storage jar that also makes it easy to craft on the go.  For me on the go is not in my crafting cave.  I also made a cute wreath using green and red buttons.  Stop by http://365daysofcrafts.com after Halloween to check it out.

To make this cute and simple snowman you will need:

a wire cutter

14-20 guage wire. approx. 24 inches

one orange bead ( barrel or bicone)

two brown or black beads for mittens

Various size black buttons (5- 8)

White buttons ( 18-26)

I used buttons from a jar in the Portrait Collection

 

Directions

Cut a 12 in piece of wire.  Make a loop or add a crimp bead  at the bottom. Stack white buttons on to desired height.  Wrap a six inch piece of wire around to form arms.  Attach beads for mittens and cut off any excess. Cut off a3 inch piece of wire and attach orange bead as the nose.  Stack on more white buttons and then add largest black button to form brim of hat.  Stack on more black buttons to make hat.  Use the remaining wire to form a loop as shown.

 

Tada!  A snowman button ornament.  If you would like to see more of my work please visit  http://365daysofcrafts.com

Toodles, Niki

 

1

Start Up’s for Mixed Media Projects

Mixed media bracelet tag

Mixed media bracelet tag

 

I cannot help myself when I am given anything flat and white. It’s like a blank canvas to me and I have to doodle! This was so so so much fun to make. I started with the Start Up’s Large Rectangle Slider piece. This would be great on a card, scrapbook page or a mixed media piece. I made this one a ballet style bracelet.

 

 

I love the finished piece on my daughter’s tiny wrist! So, to begin, you want to sand the surface of the Start Up piece just to rough it up a bit and take off the shinny coating. Dust is off and start to doodle.

I used a Faber Castel PITT pen and doodled some different size pumpkins. The coloring was done by using just colored pencils.

Let it dry for a few hours before you coat it. I coated the top with DG3 from Judikins and spinkled in a bit of Ultra Fine Prisma Glitter and went to bed. This is important. The DG3 takes about 4 or 5 hours and I always want to touch it before it’s totally dry. So going to bed helps! I added a two toned piece of satin ribbon and it was all ready to wear.

 

 

The tall pumpkin pendant was done the same way. I used a Large Tag Start Up for my blank canvas on this one. I used some beading cord and a few beads on the ends to finish it off. I am having a great time playing with the new Start Ups… you will too!

 

 

8

Halloween Crafts: Bead and Button Bracelet

Halloween Crafts: Bead and Button Bracelet

 

Are you looking for a little something special to wear to celebrate Halloween?  A bead and button bracelet might be just what you are looking for!

There is a video Button Bracelet for you to see the basics of how this goes together.

 

Halloween Crafts: Bead and Button Bracelet

 

And I used the Button Bonanza packs in Black and Orange along with a strand of coordinating beads.

 

Halloween Crafts: Bead and Button Bracelet

 

This is a close up of the bracelet about half way done.

 

 

Halloween Crafts: Bead and Button Bracelet

 

Now all you need is your favorite Halloween candy!

0

Halloween Crafts: Candy Corn Treat Cups

Candy Corn Treat Cups

 

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays each year! I love to make little gifts and treats for the kids’ friends, co-workers, teachers, etc. These cute as a button Candy Corn Treat Cups are fun and easy to make in an afternoon with the kiddos!

 

 

You probably have most of the supplies needed already around your house. I used White Buttons from the Noel Button Tote plus Yellow and Orange Buttons from the Scary Button Tote. I like to spearate my buttons by color and organize them in these cute plastic jars I found at the craft store, that way whenever I need a specific color it is right in reach. The Button Totes have a great variety of sizes, which makes them perfect for this project. The rest of the supplies needed are: Americana Paints from DecoArt in White Wash, Jack-O-Lantern Orange and Moon Yellow, peat pots (or small terra cotta pots), a hot glue gun, red line double sided tape, black crepe paper streamers, a chenille stem and ribbon.

 

Paint a 1″ wide stripe of White Wash at the bottom, a 1″ wide stripe of Moon Yellow at the top and a 2″ wide strip of Jack-O-Lantern Orange in the center of each cup. Lay your buttons out on your work surface and glue them on to each painted stripe in a random pattern.

 

 

Poke a hole in either side of your cup along the top edge. Insert each end of the chenille stem in to each hole, twist to secure.

Place a 10″ length of double sided red line tape down on your work surface (I work on a cutting mat so the red line tape won’t stick permanently) and remove the red line backing. Pleat your crepe paper streamers along the entire length – you will use about 20″ of streamer to make the pleats nice and full. Remove from work surface and adhere to inside top edge of cup. Tie several lengths of ribbon to handle, fill with treats and give as a gift!

Happy Halloween Crafting & Thanks for stopping by – Beth Watson

1

Halloween Crafts – Beautiful buttons make BOO-tiful bits!

Hold on to your buttons – this might scare ya!

It’s just a given – holidays are more fun, with buttons!

And we’re looking right down the barrel of one of the BEST holidays to get your buttons into the spirit – HALLOWEEEEEEEN!  Don’t be afraid, to let inspiration take hold of you!

The spirits told me to grab a dried baby wipe {for CRAFTING! Doh!} and let it drape over a shimmery pearl button from the Wedding collection…  for a VERY haunting exploration….

Festooned with small black brads, poke through the front of wipe, and THROUGH the button holes…

…then secured from the back, but under the drape of the baby wipe.

Glue half of a firm cotton ball over the bent ends of the brads with Fabri Tac and let dry.

Spooky!  Right?

Ohhhhh, noooooo!  Spooky button ghosts don’t like to haunt alone…  So I made some FRIGHTENING button spiders to go with!

Sew three, 1.5 inch sections of your favorite “spider leg” twine to the middle holes of a button.  Attach bling eyeballs to smaller button, so that one hole shows below the eyes for a ghoulish expression…  Glue it to the larger button, near the edge.  Can you hear it?  “Ooooooooooowwww!” {Muwah ha ha!}

Thread all creatures with clear thread and dangle from a well balanced, dried branch.  Place in a weighted cup or pot.  The perfect cup-o-thrills and ghoulish delight, to adorn your favorite window sill or table top!  Happy CRAFTIN’!

0

Start Ups Design Team Challenge Winners!!

Congratulations Elise!! Your Halloween card won the reader vote!!

And the winning reader is #14!! June Gibbs

June, send your address to buttonsgaloreteam (at) yahoo (dot) com and we’ll get a goody package out to you!!

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

0

Design Team Start Ups Showdown

Start Ups

Well here is it the end of September (all ready?) and it’s time to choose your favorite project made with Start Ups and enter for a chance to win your own Start Ups so YOU can create some fabulous projects!

Simply leave a comment telling us which was your favorite project and your comment will be an entry for the prize. We will post again on Friday after 5pm to announce the winner. GOOD LUCK!! :)

Halloween Card by Elise Durenburger

Elise Durenburger

Halloween Crafting by Elise

Jenny Barnett Rohrs

Jenny Barnett Rohrs

Faux Cloisonne by Jenny

Button and bead embellished headbad by Jen Goode

Jen Goode

Button and bead embellished headband by Jen Goode

Beth Watson

Beth Watson

Mixed Media Necklaces by Beth

Lindsay Ostrom

Lindsay Ostrom

Full Moon Choker by Lindsay Ostrom

Buttons Galore & More Start Ups Pendant by Carla Schauer

Carla Schauer

Foil Embellished Pendant by Carla Schauer

Inspiration journal with Start Ups

Niki Meiners

Inspiration Journal by Niki Meiners

Ready, set, GO!

15

Start Ups….. a stampers approach

Stamping with Start-ups

Stamping with Start-ups

There was a full moon last night and I was crafting all night with my daughter. A perfect time to do some Start Ups samples. This was my first time playing with the new Start Ups surfaces. After a few mishaps… I fell in love with them and have to have more, NOW!

Basically all you need is your favorite stamp (this one is my moon face from Inkadinkadoo – and ladies, it’s old!), fine sand paper and Staz On ink. I added in a Faber Castel PITT pen, because I can resist lettering a bit.  Just sand the surface down a bit, just to rough it up and take the shinny coating off , dust it off and stamp. I stamped this off center and I loved the way it came out. I added the text and a few dots and let it dry a bit. To make sure it’s coated well, I added a layer of DG3 from Judikins. It needs to dry overnight… so don’t touch it, let it dry. I sprinkled in a bit of Ultra Fine Prisma Glitter for the moons sparkle and went to bed. The DG3 will go right up to the edge of the start up but won’t drip over the edges. If it did, you could lightly sand it again when you were done. If you do coat with the DG3, use a silicon mat ( or splat mat ) – it won’t stick and will peel right off.

This one was basically the same technique but I waited for the Staz On to dry for about 15 minutes and then used colored pencil to add a little hint of color. I then stamped the word MOON over the moon face, coated with the DG3, sprinkled with glitter and let it dry again overnight. I finished it off with a crystal bead and a ball chain. I love the way these came out and I can’t wait to try more shapes.

6

Start Ups: Mixed Media Necklaces

Start Ups Mixed Media Charms

Start Ups Mixed Media Charms

I loved playing with the Start Ups that I received recently.  I started with the Large Tags because I thought they were the perfect size for a necklace pendant.  I haven’t used my Alcohol Inks in a while, so I pulled those out and decided on Greens, Blues and Purples.

The first background I created was a tie dye effect – the alcohol ink has a fluid movement on the Start Ups surface and I almost couldn’t stop layering the colors and watching them blend together!

Tie Dye Butterfly Necklace

I added a chipboard butterfly from K & Company and Making Memories letter stickers to spell the word FLY.

Stamped Mixed Media Charm

For the next background, I dropped Alcohol Ink on the surface of the Start Ups, then blotted off with a paper towel to create a watercolor effect.  I stamped over the background with StazOn Jet Black Ink and set the ink with my Heat Tool.  I added a touch of Starlight Stickles on the dragonfly, the word sticker COURAGE, a flower with gem and a black gingham ribbon compete this mixed media necklace.

Glossy Monogram Charm

The third background was similar to the second, but I sanded the dry alcohol ink to distress the finish.  I then stamped with musical notes and finished with a large monogram M that was painted black and topped with a thick coat of Glossy Accents.

I inked around the edge of each of my Start Ups mixed media charms with black StazOn ink and then set it with my Heat Tool.

Add a jump ring and some ball chain and you are ready to wear your mixed media necklaces – or give them as gifts!

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth Watson

4

Start Ups: Faux Cloisonne

Start Ups from Buttons Galore and More might just be my favorite product from the site! I love their smooth, white surface….. like a canvas just begging to be painted upon.  I rifled through my sticker stash in order to come up with this easy-peasy faux cloisonne technique.

Faux Cloisonne

Faux Cloisonne


You’ll need:

  • Start Ups- I used tags and circles
  • Peel-Off type stickers- I used Magenta brand
  • Alcohol-based markers- I used Letraset ProMarkers
  • Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
  • Krylon Spray Sealer
  • Earring findings, jump rings, connectors.

To make these, I simply peeled a sticker off of the sheet and applied it to the Start-Ups, burnishing it down a bit with a fingernail. Then I colored in the lines using my alcohol based markers.

When the ink was dry I added a coat of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic over the whole thing to pull off the Cloisonne effect. Or, like in this example, you can choose to do only one area to add “pop” to your piece.

Once the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic is all dry, add jump rings and earring findings and you are ready to roll. (If you leave some areas without the Dimensional Magic, I’d suggest spraying the pieces with a coat or two of Krylon Triple Thick in order to keep the ink from scratching off in the future.

No one needs to know you raided your paper crafting stash to make your jewelry!

4

Start Ups: Some HALLOWEEN Crafting!

Let’s face it, the light is changing, shadows are deeper and FALL is a comin’!

TIME to get your HALLOWEEN on!  And what a send off: HAVE YOU SEEN the START UPS?  NOT even exaggerating – they are AWESOME!

How could I resist these ADORABLE lil’ pumpkins?

Some materials just have PERSONALITY!

It’s up to US crafty folks – to RELEASE it!

Start Ups are stampable, alterable and ADORABLE!    With permanent marker for face accents, some dimensional glaze to preserve the “glow” factor, and some alcohol ink for all over color – THIS darling pumpkin character is ready to greet the world!  Mwah ha ha!

Solvent based inks STAMP like a dream on these babies!

Alcohol ink provides a plethora of crafty magic on Start Up material!  Aren’t these tags darling?  The material for Start Ups is like DOMINO ingredients – BECKONING to become a keepsake!  I could get LOST in these babies!

So, I got busy, creating a LITTLE SCENE!  {I LOVES me a little scene!}

Easy to stamp, but for my detailed ambition, I pressed this tag shape DIRECTLY to a well inked stamp for ultimate control…

If you’re not happy with your results, clean Start Up with alcohol blending solution and PLAY again!  BOTH sides are ready for love, so you REALLY cannot make a mistake!

Bust OUT the candy corn, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and START UPS!

Let the CRAFTY season begin!  THANKS for letting me share the wonders of the season and BUTTONS GALORE AND MORE!

Supplies –

C/S – Stampin’ Up!; D/P – Echo Park & Basic Grey; Stamps – Stampin’ Up!; Ric Rac – Brytex; Die Cut leaves – Sizzix; Ribbon – Stampin’ Up!; Button – Buttons Galore & More; Start Up Shapes – Buttons Galore & More;

3

Winner!! Halloween Button Packs

  • Halloween MedleyHalloween Medley
  • We have a winner!!

    I used random.org to find our winner who is:

    Dennise Perri!!

    Please send your address to buttonsgaloreteam (at) yahoo (dot) com and we’ll get those right out to you!

    We didn’t quite make it to 700 on FACEBOOK but we are excited about the new friends we have made.

    We’d appreciate it if you’d tell your friends about us!  :)

    0

    Make a Fabric and Circle Brooch

    Button and Fabric Circle Brooch

    Button and Fabric Circle Brooch

    How on earth can something so easy be so darn cute? A little felt, fabric, thread and of course, a button.

    Be sure to visit the Cluck Cluck Sew blog for full instructions.

    0

    End of the Month Give Away: 3 Halloween 2011 Button Packs

  • Halloween MedleyHalloween Medley
  • Because it’s the end of the month.

    Because we have 666 followers on facebook and I have a goal to get to 700 by the fist of September .

    Jack O' Lanterns

    Jack O' Lanterns

    Because Halloween isn’t so far off.

    Halloween Treats

    Halloween Treats

    And just because I like you so much!!

    Buttons Galore and More will give away these THREE, super fun, and brand spankin’ new Halloween Themed Button Packs!!

    These are brand new for Halloween 2011. You can bet the lady next to you at the crop doesn’t have these yet!! :)

    How to Enter:

    Go like us on FACEBOOK and come back here and leave a comment saying you did.

    That’s it!

    I will choose a winner on Thursday September 1st in the afternoon and announce the winner here! :)

    GOOD LUCK!!

    19

    Back to School Book Cover

    3 ring notebook
    back to school notebook

    This is my daughters last year in school. She is a senior. And I am having a bit of senior-itous. I am feeling like this is the end of an era. Three kids, 17 years, endless projects, tons of scrapbook pages… I am a bit sad. So… to cheer myself up, I decided to make a book cover. For me!

    hearts and buttons

    I took a standard three ring notebook and made a paper cover for it. I added fabric embellishments and sewed the whole piece together.

    homework and buttons

    Using the old free motion foot, I “wrote” the word homework in thread and placed a bunch of Haberdashery Buttons all intermixed in the heart border. Not sure what I will use it for… maybe a last year in high school scrapbook for my baby!

    0

    Jewelry Making – An Orange and Blue Necklace

    Orange and Blue Button Necklace

    Orange and Blue Button Necklace

    I love the color combo used to make this necklace!

    While it’s not a complete tutorial you can find the basic rundown of how this necklace was made over on Craftster. If you have any experience making jewelry a quick run down is all you need.

    I think that our Button Bonanza: Summer Time would be a perfect choice for this.

    Or what about the Button Tote: Cornucopia for more of a Fall look? Maybe with an antique gold or brass chain? Oh yeah. I like that idea…. might make one myself! :)

    1

    Home Decor – Make a Fall Tree Pillow

    I can hardly believe summer is already winding down!  Fall will be here before you know it.  The best way to change a room’s decor for the change in seasons is pillows.  They are fast and easy to make (or buy) and, with neutral furniture, can add interest and color to your room.  Plus you can change them on a whim!

    I live in Southern California, so I don’t get to see the trees go into their full Fall beauty.  I designed this pillow to bring a little change of season into our lives.

    Fall Tree Pillow

    Supplies:

    • Pillow-Store bought or made with a neutral fabric.  Mine measures 11″ x 11″ and is made with natural linen.
    • Brown felt-1 11″x 8″ piece
    • Scraps of felt in fall colors like orange, purple, green, yellow, and red
    • Buttons-Buttons Galore and More Button Jar in Confection-This color collection has nice selection of mauve and brown buttons-perfect for Fall!
    • Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive

    Instructions:

    From the brown felt, cut out a silhouette of a bare tree.  To get my tree shape, I just did an online image search, cut out a tree shape I liked, and then traced it onto the felt.
    Cut leave shapes (simple ovals with pointed ends) out of the colored felt scraps.  Vary the sizes.

    TIP: Once the leaf shape is cut out, fold it in half and press it with a hot iron.  (Be careful because they are very small pieces and the iron is HOT!)  This gives your leaves a dimensional look that really makes your pillow pop.

    Using Fabri-Tac, attach the tree silhouette to your pillow. Glue leaves onto the branches and around the base of the tree.
    Glue buttons onto the tree branches and scattered amongst the leaves on the ground.

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    Pretty up a pencil bag with buttons

    Button embellished pencil holder

    Button embellished pencil holder by Jen Goode

    School just started for my kids so we’ve been busy buying supplies and getting ready for the upcoming year.I decided to have some fun and add a little personalization to some of our school supplies using buttons. Here’s an easy way to add button embellishments to a make a cute pencil bag.  You can add any kind of flat back button and create any kind of pattern or design for your own personal touch.

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    Zinnia Style Button Brooch

    Zinnia Style Button Brooch

    Zinnia Style Button Brooch

    I was tooling around the web recently, minding my own business when I happened upon this tutorial by Diane Gilleland of Crafty Pod over on Craft Leftovers.

    I’m madly in love with these little zinnias with button centers. Check out the tutorial here to see how quick and easy they are to make.

    If you ask me this is the PERFECT time of year to make a batch of them to wear… or to give!

    I’ll take one in red please! :)

    Try these bright and cheerful buttons for YOUR zinnia brooch

    JB115 Tulip Button Jar

    “Tulip” button jar

    JB117 Citrus Button Jar

    “Citrus” button jar

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    Messenger Bag with Embroidered Table Runner

    Thrifting Thursday - Messenger Bag with Embroidered Table Runner

    I found this adorable table runner while cleaning up my Mother In Law’s house a couple of weekends ago. For some reason she had only worked half of it and then put it away to never be worked on again.

    I felt bad cutting it up but it didn’t quite fit on the front of this messenger bag. So I cut it to fit and then cut the lace from the edge and sewed it back on. Same thing…only smaller.

    http://www.vickiodell.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/goddess-transparent1.jpg

    I sewed a small heart shaped doily to the lower corner and embellished it with buttons from a Button Bonanza bag in Bubblegum. Finally, I stitched again around the outside edge of the heart with pink embroidery floss and put embroidery floss through a couple of the buttons.

    I haven’t decided if it’s finished or not. I’ll have to sit with it for a day or two and decided if I need to add anything more.

    What do you think? Is it finished? If not what would you add?

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    Start Ups – Maple Leaves and Alcohol Ink

    Start Ups - Maple Leaves and Alcohol Ink

    It may be a little early to start thinking of fall leaves… but maybe not.

    Last week I introduced you to Start Ups here and I made an easy “metal” piece to put on all sorts of Mixed Media or Scrapbooking projects.

    Start Ups - Maple Leaves and Alcohol Ink

    This week I used the Start Up Leaves and my trusty collection of Ranger Alcohol Inks to create multi-colored fall leaves.

    Start Ups - Maple Leaves and Alcohol Ink

    The colors I used were Oregano, Butterscotch and Red Pepper.

    Oh, the possibilities!

    What would YOU use Start Up Leaves on?

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    Cute recycled T-shirt button skirt

    DIY recycled t-shirt button skirt by Jen Goode

    DIY recycled t-shirt button skirt by Jen Goode

    Between all my kids, the house is always filled with someone’s clothes that don’t fit anymore. With hand-me-downs, the boys have had a great selection of new clothes in every size, but my daughter isn’t about to get excited over monster truck t-shirts unless that have bling in sparkly pink and purple. However, with a little creativity, we can turn any rough, tough boy-wear to fabulous girly in no time!

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    Start Ups: Metal Look ID Tag

    Start Ups

    “Amazing Plastic Crafty Goodness” is what they really ought to be called! :)

    What are Start Ups? They are small, white plastic shapes. Perfect blanks for lots of scrapbook, mixed media and even jewelry projects.

    Button name plate

    Button name plate

    My very first Start Ups project. :)

    I spray painted the blank silver and let it dry, then I rubbed my thumb over it to take out some of the shine. I stamped VICKI with a small set of alphabet stamps and Staz On ink in black. Finally, I gave it a quick spray with a Matte Sealer and it’s all ready to go on… well, WHATEVER I want to make!  I love that it looks like an old piece of metal. Cool!

    Keep checking back as I continue to explore all of the crafty fun to be had with these little gems!

    And click HERE to see the available shapes of Start Ups that Buttons Galore and More Carries!

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    Button Love Christmas Mini Wreath

    mini button wreath

    By Elle Price - from Flickr

    I know, I know. The grill is still hot from the 4th of July and I’m posting a photo of a Christmas project.

    But really, can’t you just see pouring all of your left over Button Bonanza bags into a large bowl and making this little cutie to use up the buttons you have hanging around?

    Unfortunately there weren’t any instructions with the photo but it’s a great inspiration project. In fact, I can think of a lot of reasons to make a mini wreath with buttons. Can’t you?

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    Fireworks Napkin Rings

    Happy Fourth of July to all our U.S. readers!   Today, I thought I would share a cute tutorial for festive napkin rings.  They are so easy you can probably whip-up a set for this afternoon’s BBQ!

    Supplies:

    • Cardboard tube, cut to 2 inches long
    • Felt in red, white & blue
    • Sizzix™ Big Shot™ Die Cut Machine
    • Sizzix™ Originals™ Die: Flower Layers #3
    • Buttons in Patriotic (Product #MU358)
    • Craft Glue

    Instructions:

    1. Die cut flowers using the red, white and blue felt.
    2. Measure the circumference of your cardboard tube and cut a white piece of felt in your length measurement, with a 2″ width.
    3. Glue felt strip and three of the largest size die cut flowers to the cardboard tube.
    4. Glue buttons into the center of each flower

    Now, slip a napkin and maybe a little flag into the ring and you’ve got a party!

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    Country Chic

    Country Chic

    Country Chic

    Burlap has been one of my “old favorites” and I am so pleased that it is back en vogue in the crafting world.  To create this chic candle holder I used a glass container that I purchased from the dollar store.

    Button Detail

    Button Detail

    Tools:

    Scissors, Embossing stylus

    Materials:

    Wood buttons, Blue and green burlap, Beacon Adhesive Fabri-Tac, Rusted Heart, Bo-Bunny Rub ons, glass marbles and a candle.

    Directions:

    Cut blue burlap into a 3×9 strip and fray edges.  Cut green burlap into a 2×9 strip and fray edges. Adhere strips to container.  Adhere buttons randomly around the center.

    For a variation add rub-ons to rusted metal heart.  Trim heart with the tiniest buttons.  Add butterfly rub on to glass exterior.

    Country Chic - Variation

    Country Chic - Variation

    Rusted Heart Details

    Rusted Heart Details

    I hope you have enjoyed this country chic candle container.

    Toodles, Niki

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    Studio De-Stash – Party Favors

     Studio De-Stash - Party Favors and Gifts

    All around the web I’m seeing that fellow crafters, designers and artists seem to be taking time out to clean up their creative spaces.

    It’s also a GREAT time to be thinking of little gifties and gift tags that you could use the rest of the year. Don’t think so? Read the rest of this post that was originally published on my blog. (You can visit my NEW blog here: www.vickiodell.com)

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    Patriotic Button Mini Art Set

    Patriotic mini art frames by Jen Goode

    Patriotic mini art frames by Jen Goode

    There are so many great ways to create extra decor pieces for July 4th and other patriotic holidays. Add a little extra fun to your home with buttons in red, white and blue to show off your American spirit. This 3 piece button art requires only a few supplies and is fairly quick and easy to create. I used many recycled pieces and scraps including buttons from a grab bag button pack which added to the variations of sizes and colors I had available.

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    Bandana Memo Board with Button Push Pins

    Bandana Memo Board with Button Push Pins

    I don’t know about your house but in my house we have FOUR young people. They are VERY BUSY young people and each one has a bulletin board. They are a super easy way to communicate within such a busy family. (Besides text messaging that they tend to read and then forget) A note on a bulletin board is a little harder to forget. It stays there, quietly reminding, until the event or reason for the note has passed.

    Anyway, why have a boring bulletin board when you can have one that fits your decor, your personality or your hobbies?

    Bandana Memo Board with Button Push Pins

    This bulletin board uses a cork tile, a bandanna and a 12×12 frame along with a few other supplies.

    Bandana Memo Board with Button Push Pins

    Cover the cork tile in Mod Podge.

    Bandana Memo Board with Button Push Pins

    And then smooth the bandanna over the Mod Podge and let dry.

    Here is a tip: Before spreading any Mod Podge decide which portion of the bandanna design you want to see on your bulletin board. Don’t cut it all out ahead of time. Just figure out where you want to place the bandanna. (Cutting out the fabric ahead of time makes it too hard to line up.)

    Bandana Memo Board with Button Push Pins

    While the Mod Podge is drying you can make your thumb tacks or push pins. I simply hot glued white buttons to a flat topped thumb tack. Be careful of that hot glue! You could also use Amazing Goop or a cool temp glue gun a well. Poke the tacks into a piece of corrugated cardboard or foam core while they are drying to keep them upright.

    Bandana Memo Board with Button Push Pins

    My button push pins.

    After the Mod Podge is dry cut away the excess fabric and insert it into the 12×12 frame.

    Bandana Memo Board with Button Push Pins

    Now you can embellish to your little hearts’ content. I used hot fix rhinestones in two sizes, Thickers alphabet stickers and the heads from 4 “silk” daisies.

    Bandana Memo Board with Button Push Pins

    Isn’t this fun? Girlie but not too girlie. Country but not too country.

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    I Love Buttons – Grab Our Button

    Do you love buttons as much as we do?

    Now you can declare your love of buttons on your blog or website. Just copy the code in the box above and paste it into a text box in a side panel or footer.

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    Child’s Button Embroidery Sampler

    Do you remember how much you loved to sift through your mom, aunt, or grandmother’s button boxes? I still play with my buttons all the time, and I know I can always keep my five year old daughter busy with buttons. I recently came up with a project that takes button play beyond just looking at buttons, but also uses them as a creative tool. The end result is a darling little sampler of all my daughter’s favorite buttons and artwork. It’s truly an heirloom piece that will be cherished for years to come. Here’s how to make a button embroidery sampler with your child.

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    Wood Button Monogram

    Add texture and detail to a simple framed monogram using a variety of wood buttons from the Haberdashery collection. These buttons are a gorgeous mix of natural wood colors, and I couldn’t resist showcasing them in a project that let their beauty take center stage.

    In order to play up the texture of the wood, I covered chipboard with neutral fabric to create a background that didn’t compete with the wood buttons. The buttons were then arranged to make the monogram, and glued into place using fabric adhesive (Beacon Fabri-Tac). A simple inexpensive Ikea wood frame painted navy gives just enough color to draw the eye to the project.

    On a wall or on a table, this monogram is a great way to easily personalize a room.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Carla Schauer

    http://carlaschauer.com/carla-schauer-blog-whats-new/
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    Send Cards to the Troops-Patriotic Card

    Patriotic Card Idea

    Patriotic Card with Burlap

    Patriotic Card with Burlap

    The traditional patriotic colors on this card get a warm vintage feel with softer colors and the use of burlap. Using wood buttons instead of white buttons also adds to the warm feel.  The micro-beads give it a touch of shimmer.  The card is a 6×6 with a craft card stock base.

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