Archive | Party Planning

Make a DIY Tailgate Party Invitation with Buttons Galore

By Lorrie McCullers on August 23, 2017 in Autumn / Fall, Card Making, Occasions, Paper Crafts, Party Planning

Fall is quickly approaching, and we all know that fall means FOOTBALL! Today, I will show you how to make the cutest DIY tailgate party invitation using football themed buttons from Buttons Galore. So get ready to fire up the barbecue and cheer on your favorite team!

Supplies needed for DIY tailgate party invitation:

Buttons Galore “Football” 3D buttons
Buttons Galore “Footballs” 3D buttons
Buttons Galore “Tailgating” 3D buttons
tan and brown cardstock
alphabet stickers
black fineline pen
black brush pen
brown chalk ink
paper trimmer
adhesive tape runner
red line tape
button shank remover/side cutters

How to make a DIY tailgate party invitation:

Using a paper trimmer, I cut the brown cardstock to 5″ x 7″ and the tan cardstock to 4.5″ by 6.5″. I then inked the edges of the tan cardstock with brown chalk ink to add dimension. I used a tape runner to attach the tan cardstock to the brown cardstock to make the base of the invitation. Next, I hand lettered the words on the invitation. I used a fineline pen to do the lettering, then used a brush pen to darken all my downstrokes. This is an easy way to make your hand lettering look great, even if you aren’t that good at it! The word “football” made from alphabet stickers was then added.

I then chose the buttons I was going to use. Most of these buttons had shanks on the back. In order to use them on a flat surface like this one, I had to remove the shanks. This is easy to do using a button shank remover or a pair of side cutters. I clipped off the shanks, then attached the buttons to the invitation using red line tape. This tape is strong enough to hold these buttons securely!

I placed the buttons all around the card in the white spaces. The buttons give this invitation a fun feel and cool dimension that you just can’t get with any other embellishments… plus they are absolutely adorable!

Your guests won’t be able to resist this super fun invitation! Go team!

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Quick Flower Banners for a Girl’s Room

By Nancy Nally on May 3, 2017 in Baby, Home Decor, Party Planning

Buttons are a great way to add detail to home decor projects. This flower banner project uses them to finish off the flowers and banners that make a plain valance into a pretty accent for a girl’s room.

Supplies:

Buttons Galore “Sunshine” Button Bonanaza
Buttons Galore “White” Button Bonanaza
burlap or fabric banners
felt in various colors
flower die
hot glue gun
twine

My daughter’s room has had this simple white valance since I first designed her nursery before she was born. She’s nearly 14 now, and it seemed time to change it up a bit. She loves everything with flowers, so I thought a flower banner would be an easy and fun way to add some more color to her room.

To make this flower banner, cut the number of triangle banners you think that you’ll need from burlap or cotton fabric. Die cut the flowers from felt and hot glue them to the front of the banners. Hot glue a button into each flower center to finish it.

Cut a length of jute twine that is long enough for your window. Fold over the top of each banner, lay the string into the crease, and hot glue the fold down. Once all of the banners are glued onto the string, finish each banner with two buttons.

If you are decorating on a budget – or even if you aren’t – this is a great way to add some style to a simple valance. And because it isn’t permanent, it can be easily removed for washing the valance, or redecorating. Make one today!

Easy DIY Flower Placemat for Easter & Mother’s Day

By Nancy Nally on April 4, 2017 in Easter, Home Decor, Mother’s Day, Party Planning, Spring

Spring means lots of special occasions! This flower placemat design is great for Easter, Mother’s Day, or for making a birthday girl feel extra special – and it’s super quick and easy to make!

This flower placemat uses supplies from the popular 28 Lilac Lane “Tropical Twist” kit. You can tell that it’s definitely one of my favorites since many of the supplies are used from it! Although the name of this kit, and its themed charms, are definitely summer themed, this project is a great reminder to look at your kits not just as themes but as color palettes as well.

Supplies Needed:

28 Lilac Lane “Tropical Twist” embellishment kit
15″ round placemat
Felt in pink, purple, & green
Tim Holtz Alterations for Sizzix “Tattered Florals” die
Needle & Thread
Embroidery Floss in yellow & orange

To start making this flower placemat, get out a large needle. Thread it with the baker’s twine from the Tropical Twist kit, and stitch around the outside edge of the placemat. (I recommend doing this is several short lengths to avoid abusing your twine and for efficiency.) To make more than one placemat, use embroidery floss for this step as the kit only contains enough twine for one.

Next, use a flower die to cut flowers out of felt (or hand cut your own). Use scissors to hand cut the leaves.

Position your flowers, and select buttons from the Tropical Twist kit to create their centers. Stitch through both the buttons and the flowers with a needle and embroidery floss to attach the flowers to the placemat. Use a needle and thread that matches the felt to stitch the leaves in place under the edges of the flowers as well.

Whether the occasion is Easter, Mother’s Day, or something else…this flower placemat will definitely brighten your spring table!

Don’t miss our Creativation Booth Projects!

By Nancy Nally on February 13, 2017 in Announcements, Christmas, Home Decor, Party Planning

One of our favorite things about attending shows is the chance for our staff and some talented craft designers to show off in our booth the beautiful range of possibility that can be created with Buttons Galore products. So today, for those who weren’t at Creativation, we’re going to give you a peek into our booth at the show to see all of the gorgeous inspiration we shared!

It may have been warm in Arizona, but inside the convention center it was snowing a blizzard in our booth! These snowflakes, created by Buttons Galore staff, show that buttons make gorgeous snowflakes of all sizes from tree ornaments to wall art.

This American flag wall art piece, also created by Buttons Galore staff, combines our bulk buttons with our 3D decorative star buttons. It’s perfect for holiday decor for occasions like July 4th, or leave it up all year round for a patriotic touch of homespun decor.

Speaking of special occasions, our decorative button grab bags are a beautiful and affordable option for creating decor for events like showers and weddings! This button cake, created by designer Jen Goode, is perfect for decorating a buffet table.

Love to entertain? Our decorative 3D buttons will make your tea time, cocktail hour, or coffee break oh so elegant! This tray project, by Buttons Galore staff, is quick and easy, too!

And let’s not forget our furry family members! Our booth went to the cats and dogs with these fun frames to display your favorite picture of your pet cat (by me) or dog (by 28 Lilac Lane designer May Flaum). For the instructions for the cat frame, click here.

If you’d rather hang your pet photo on the wall, try out this dog bone wall art project by Buttons Galore staff!

This button monogram is easy to make and perfect for a nursery or kids room! (Click here for instructions.) Or create an ombre heart wall art piece for someone special to remember you by. (Click here for instructions.)

It seems everyone is in love with butterflies this season, and we agree! Our wall art butterfly, made by Buttons Galore staff, is great decor for a kid’s or teen’s room.

Text as wall art is very hot in home decor, and our staff decided to pay tribute to the greatest sentiment of all: love! These easy to make letters could be made in any colors to coordinate with the decor of a nursery or a shabby chic home decor.

Our buttons are fabulous for working in mixed media, and designer Maura Hibbitts took them to canvas for us! This whimsical sea monster is full of texture and color!

Last but not least, 28 Lilac Lane designer May Flaum shared her take on the 3D paper flower trend in our booth. Accented with a center of buttons, this flower will bring color and pattern to your walls or your party decor!

We hope that you enjoyed this peek at some of our booth projects from Creativation! Thanks to all of you who visited to see them in person!

An Easy All Occasion Gift Bag with Washi & Buttons!

By Nancy Nally on August 9, 2015 in Occasions, Party Planning

Pre-designed gift bags can easily run $5 or more, and it’s not always convenient to run out and buy one at the last minute. What to do? Craft up a solution, of course. Keeping a stash of blank bags in your craft supplies means that with a few minutes of creativity, you always have the perfect gift bag on hand!

To make this gift bag, all you need is:

a blank gift bag
assorted washi tape rolls
Vacation button assortment (HB107)
embroidery floss & needle
7/8″ sheer ribbon
hot glue gun
die cut machine
white vinyl & transfer tape

Making this bag is super easy:

1. Start by tearing off some strips of washi tape and attaching them to the bag as stripes, varying the colors.

2. Using embroidery floss, sew thread through buttons and tie it off.

3. Attach the buttons to the top few rows of washi tape in random positions, using a hot glue gun.

4. Using a die cut machine, cut out the words “for you” from vinyl. Use transfer tape to attach it over the bottom layers of washi tape. (I used the Cricut Explore machine for this project.)

5. Tie a bow from sheer ribbon around one side of the handle.

And there you have it…five steps to a fabulous all-occasion gift bag! While my bag is a generic theme, this bag design could be customized for any holiday by selecting washi tape and buttons that are themed and colored appropriately (such as red and green for Christmas).

What occasions do you use gift bags for?

Button Up a Decorative Pinwheel

By Admin1 on March 6, 2015 in Occasions, Paper Crafts, Party Planning

Pinwheels are so much fun for adding pizzazz and energy to decorating for parties and events. Here are the directions to make them using just a few simple materials. You will need the following:

Decorative Paper Squares (6 inches)
Scissors
Brads
Paper Straws
Aleene’s Always Ready Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Laura Kelly BUTTONS for Buttons Galore and More

The first step is to cut from the four corners in towards the centers, stopping to leave a one inch square center that is uncut. Then using your brad fold the first point of each corner in poking a hole through them as you go then through the center and securing with the brad in the back.

Add your straw to the back and buttons to the front with the tacky glue. The Fast Grab is great because is holds them right away. Then allow time to dry before using them.

They are so bright and cheery and simply fun.

Cheers,

Laura

Cute as a BUTTON – Snacks for the Fireworks

By Admin1 on July 4, 2014 in Holidays, Occasions, Party Planning, Patriotic

It’s Fifteen MINUTE Friday and the 4th of July. Here is a really quick and cute way to pack up some snacks for the fireworks show. This little packaging idea would be great in a variety of colors for lots of occasions, goody bags and school treats too.

Put you snacks in bags that you can tie closed with ribbon or raffia then add the buttons with Aleene’s Turbo Tacky Glue. The super cute label is from Expressionery.Com and was designed by me so totally matches the colors of the buttons that come in the Laura Kelly Patriotic Mix.

Happy Celebrating!

Laura

Canvas Favor Bags

By Melony Bradley on September 10, 2013 in Occasions, Party Planning

Its time to look forward to cooler days and falling leaves and all the rest of the great things that Autumn ushers in. As a transitional season, Autumn is one of my favorite seasons and it always inspires me to create something new. I love the rustic feel of Fall projects. Its so easy to use canvas, hemp, jute, wood and other natural materials to make something that looks and feels like Fall. That’s why I decided to try my hand at creating these canvas favor bags.

Inspired, I sat down with my fabric, wool felt scraps and buttons recently and decided to make a bunch of sewn fabric circles recently. Not really knowing what I was going to do with them, I have since used them to make wall art, pillows and now these little Autumn inspired canvas favor bags.

Materials used for Canvas Favor Bags:

1/8 yard of natural cotton canvas

Wool felt and fabric scraps

Inkjet cotton fabric

Burlap Scraps

Buttons Galore and More Laura Kelly Hand Dyed buttons

14″ hemp

Sizzix BigShot die cutting machine and Bigz Leaves Die

Rotary cutter and self healing cutting mat, scissors, sewing machine and thread, hand sewing needle and thread, heavy duty hole punch

To make a canvas favor bag, cut two canvas rectangles that measure about 6″ x 8.” Pin small scraps of burlap rectangles to the center of one of the canvas rectangles.

Use your sewing machine and thread to zig-zag stitch the burlap to the one of the canvas rectangles.

Add elements such as die cut leaves to your canvas favor bags. Fuse webbing to the back of a fabric scrap and die cut a leaf shape.

Peel away the paper backing and fuse the leaf shape to the canvas.

Machine stitch the leaf shape and inkjet fabric sentiments printed from your computer with a straight stitch.

Now the real fun begins! Use hand dyed buttons from Buttons Galore and More to embellish your canvas favor bag. I used Laura Kelly’s hand dyed buttons and one of my previously created fabric circles to embellish these canvas favor bags. Sew them on with a hand sewing needle and thread.

Place the canvas rectangles right sides together and machine stitch using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Leave the top of the canvas favor bag open and start sewing about 1 1/2″ down so you have material to create a top fold.

Use an iron on steam to steam the seams open.

Turn the bag right sides out and fold the top down to create a cuff.

I created a simple handle by punching holes through the fabric layers using a heavy duty hole punch and inserting a piece of hemp through the holes.

Fill your canvas favor bags with candy or other small treats. Surprise a neighbor by hanging on their front door for a nice Autumn surprise!

Live Life Creatively,

Fancy Straws with Buttons

By Admin on August 23, 2013 in Occasions, Party Planning

We are on vacation at the beach and I am loving this opportunity to create in a new environment. We love to make up new drink concoctions when we are on vacation and I love to decorate them and make them fancy. Here is today’s special…Popsicle drinks with fancy straws!

I used my Ad-tech hot glue gun (never leave home with out it) and buttons from my Laura Kelly mix to create a fancy straw collection for our drinks. We stirred them with Popsicles and sipped through the straws. They were yummy and decorative and lots of fun. Buttons are a great way to decorate when you are in a hurry or don’t want to spend a lot of time on something that might end up getting thrown away. The color selection in the Laura Kelly mix is really festive and bright.

We made two versions of the drinks, one for kids and one for adults. Which ones do you think look yummier.

Happy Creating Fun Drinks and Decorations with Buttons,

Laura

Mini Flowerpot Card Holders

By Admin on July 26, 2013 in Occasions, Party Planning

It is always nice to have a personalized touch when celebrating special times. These little flowerpots turned place card holders add that special touch and they are really simple to make. You only need a few things to make them (spray paint, mini terracotta pots, clothespins, buttons (Radical Red and Black Beauty were used on these pots, hot glue).

Spray paint the pots a solid color. I used Krylon’s Cherry Red to match the picnic basket set.

Glue on the clothespin upside down to hold the cards. You can paint it the same color or make it different. Add a button (or more) and you are ready to personalize.

I filled the pots with my husband’s favorite organic mints for our picnic outing. There are so many creative things you could put in the pots, even flowers! For more ways to create a picnic basket ensemble, you can find in a previous Fifteen Minute Friday the project for the napkins.

You can also visit my blog today today for directions on making the recycled glass jar heart candle.

Happy Friday,

Laura

Water Bottle Favors

By Admin on May 9, 2013 in Occasions, Party Planning

Sometimes creating the perfect party favor that equally serves as a decoration is simple to button up. This project can be used to create color themes for birthdays, weddings, baby showers, etc… Here is a really simple, quick and decorative way to create favors that are great for summertime.

Remove the label on the water bottle. Using ad-tech’s hot glue, add a little message and a button or two from Laura Kelly’s bright collection of colors along with a ribbon tied in a bow and you have a bright, cheery favor that is sure to be a hit.

For more fun party decorating ideas with the prom theme, visit Laura’s blog.

Mason Jar Fairy Lanterns

By Admin on April 12, 2013 in Home Decor, Occasions, Party Planning

Spring sprang and summer is on the way which means warmer weather and more time outdoors…whether playing, celebrating or entertaining. This little recycled mason jar acts as a great fairy lantern that can be used as a candle jar, party decoration or a jar to be filled with goodies for favors.

To make it you will need assorted Laura Kelly buttons, wire that it easily bendable (I used electrical fence wire from the garage) and feeds through the button holes and pieces of ribbon (5 inches long) and a mason jar without the lid.

To make it simply feed the wire through the buttons twisting and turning to create bright and colorful design then tie the ribbon pieces in knots along the wire. Twist the wire to go around the top of the jar then use the remaining length to create a handle, twisting the wire through the piece that went around it to secure.

It is simple, fun and easy and makes for a great quick project that you can complete in around fifteen minutes! It is one of those creations that has lots of great uses and ways to spread bright joy and light.

Quick and Easy Place Cards Ideas

By Allie Gower on April 7, 2013 in Occasions, Party Planning

Quick and easy place cards ideas!

Do you need place cards for your next event? Create some with just buttons and paper. Here are some quick and easy place cards ideas.

These are easy to create.

I’ve cut my cards 3X3″ and folded them in half. The image below shows how the easy grass border is made and attached. This month we’re lucky enough to be playing with Fiskars products, so of course I used my Fiskars orange handled scissors. Thanks, Fiskars!

The cloud is a die cut that I inked. To finish off these quick and easy place cards, just add stickers. I love these adorable, chunky butterflies from Buttons Galore’s Butterfly Kisses Collection. I like to use Beacon’s 3-1 glue to make sure they stay put. Buttons Galore has several kinds of adhesive to offer in their Adhesives section.

Supplies Used

Buttons Galore Buttons from the Butterfly Kisses Collection
Papers and Stickers – DoodleBug Designs
Buttons Galore Adhesives

Tools Used

Fiskars scissors
Sizzix Vagabond and cloud die

Thanks for joining me today. I hope you will find that our buttons are a great embellishment for all of your paper crafts.

Button Up Candy Jar

By Ann Butler on June 27, 2012 in Party Planning

Candy Jars are quick and easy to make so it is a good idea to have several on hand for last minute gifts. The one pictured below is no exception, it combines buttons and burlap which has great texture. There is also a small gift tag with a flower button on the front on the front to go along with the burlap flower…..check out the instructions below….

Supplies:

Buttons from Confetti BB87 and Mardi Gras GB127

Burlap 6″ x 18″ 2 colors of choice

Beacon Adhesives Stiffen Stuff

Beacon Adhesive Felt Glue

Sizzix Big Shot

Sixxix Fringe Flower Die

Mason Jar with Lid

1 1/2″ x 3″ cardstock

Scissors, hole punch

Instructions:

Die cut 6 – 8 medium fringe flowers.

Spray both sides with Stiffen Stuff; let dry.

Scrunch each flower piece up to give it fullness.

Pick out your buttons.

Layer flower pieces together gluing between each layer. Pull a thread from burlap to insert through holes of button and blue to top of flower.

Cut out burlap to fit lid.

Glue burlap to lid and place inside jar band; then place on jar that is filled with candy.

Cut burlap 1 1/2″ x width of jar, fringe by pulling threads; wrap around center of jar and glue in place.

Glue burlap flower onto front. Fold cardstock in half to form a gift tag, glue threaded button to the front; punch hole in corner. Pull thread from burlap, wrap around top of jar and thread through gift tag, tie. Layer and thread three buttons together, glue onto the top of jar.

There you have it; a quick and easy button and burlap candy jar….