Tag Archives | back to school

Sequin Filled Bookmarks Shake Up Your Summer Reading

By Aimee Davis on July 5, 2017 in Back to School, Holidays

Aimee here with a great beginner sewing project for adults and children! These sequin filled bookmarks make a perfect little gift for all the book-lovers in your life.

Here’s what you need to make your own sequin filled bookmarks:

buttonbookmrkspattern
28 Lilac Lane “Pastel Dreams” Sequin & Bead Quartet
28 Lilac Lane “Haunted House” Premium Sequin Tin
9 x 2.5 pieces of white and grey felt
9 x 2.5 pieces of clear vinyl
9 x 2.5 pieces of yellow and blue fabric
black and white standard divisible embroidery floss
Fabri-Solvy (suggested)
embroidery needle & scissors
sewing machine (optional)

This project uses two gorgeous new 28 Lilac Lane sequin products: the “Haunted House” Premium Sequin Tin, and the yet-to-be-officially-announced“Pastel Dreams” Sequin & Bead Quartet that is pictured above. (Yes, you are getting a sneak peek of a new product today!)

To begin, take your pattern (linked in the supply list) and using the dotted lines cut out your felt, clear vinyl and fabric pieces. To transfer the embroidery design to the felt I recommend using Fabri-Solvy. To use, print out the pattern following the directions on the package, tear off the backing and place your rectangle on top of the corresponding felt. Using three strands of embroidery floss; stitch through the felt and the Fabri-Solvy along the text with a back stitch.

Don’t want to embroider? You can easily adapt this project by printing the pattern onto cardstock. Cut out your bookmark along the dotted lines and continue the following directions. Most sewing machines will sew just fine through paper.

Now it’s time to put your sequin filled bookmark together. Lay your three pieces in this order: fabric (wrong side facing up), your felt embroidered piece (or your piece of printed card stock) and your piece of clear vinyl. Use a Wonder Clip or even a small clothespin to hold the layers together, and take it to your sewing machine.

Start your seam on the bottom long edge, making sure that you are leaving a hole to put the sequins and beads in. Stitch all along the three edges about 1/4 inch from the edge. (Tip: if you have a walking foot, this is a great project for using it.) Fill up your bookmark with the sequins and beads. I used roughly one tablespoon. Take it back to your machine and sew up the hole and all the way around the sides again. (This sewing could also been done by hand but it will be more time consuming, of course.)

There you go! Your sweet sequin filled bookmark is all ready for your next great summer read. (These also make fun back to school teacher gifts, too, if you change up the sentiment on them!)

Make a Flower Pot Pencil Holder for Teacher!

By Nancy Nally on July 7, 2016 in Back to School, Holidays

On Tuesday, we shared a tag that is perfect for giving a back-to-school gift to your new favorite teacher. Stumped for an idea for a gift to attach it to? We’ve got the perfect gift idea – an easy to make Back to School Flower Pot Pencil Holder that is a pretty as it is useful!

Supplies Needed:

Small Clay Flower Pot
Krylon Chalkboard Paint
Buttons Galore “Fun With Food” 3D Apple Buttons (on sale now for $1)
Buttons Galore “Primary” Button Bonanza
Hot Glue Gun or other permanent adhesive
Chalk

This flower pot pencil holder is made from a basic small clay flower pot, available at any home center or craft store, that is painted with chalkboard spray paint. To spray paint items like this, I use a scrap of 1×2 board left over from a project and turn the pot upside down onto the end of it. Then I can take the item outside, hold it extended arm’s length away from me, and rotate it while spraying. This gets me good coverage with minimum mess and clean up, and I can get all the edges. To let it dry, I just prop the stick up against something with the pot still on top of it.

Once the painting is complete (I recommend two light coats) and dry, the rest was super fast and simple! Just grab a hot glue gun and get to work gluing the buttons around the top rim of the pot. Cut the shanks off of the apple buttons, and insert one of them periodically. Make sure to use enough glue that they are attached securely!

Finally, rub the bottom area with the side of a piece of chalk and then clean it off to “prime” it so that it can be written on. I chose to write the teacher’s name but you could also write instructions like “please return”. That’s one of the best things about using the chalkboard paint for this design – it’s not just classroom themed, it’s also useful!

The flower pot pencil holder will likely have a small drainage hole in the bottom of it. If you are concerned about things falling out through the hole when the pot is moved, cut a small circle of cardboard (such as from a recycled cereal box) and glue it into the bottom of the pot.

School will be here before you know it! Grab your 3D Apple Buttons and Primary Button Bonanza and start crafting your flower pot pencil holder for a beautiful classroom!

Hit the Books with a Back to School Tag!

By Nancy Nally on July 5, 2016 in Back to School, Holidays

With July 4th gone, that means for many of us the summer is officially half over. It’s already time to start thinking about back to school! Our cute back to school tag is perfect for teacher gifts, first day of school lunches, and decorating backpacks!

Making this tag is so quick and simple – the kids can help! Die cut the tag base and hole reinforcer out of patterned paper, and glue them together. Attach tab and alphabet stickers across the bottom of the tag. (Instead of “hello”, you could substitute a name, or the year if you’d like!)

To make the button collage on our back to school tag, use a die cut machine (I used my Cricut Explore) to cut an apple shape out of red cardstock that matches the “Red Hot” buttons. Spread a nice thick layer of the PPA Matte Adhesive all over the fruit of the apple. Begin to fill it in by carefully selecting various sizes of the buttons to fill as much of the space as possible. Push the buttons down into the glue to make them really secure!

Once the glue is dry on your apple collage, glue it in place on your tag! For the finishing touch, slip a piece of ribbon through the tag’s hole and secure it with a staple.

To make this back to school tag double-sided, select a double-sided paper (like this one) for your tag base. Or cut a second tag from the die and glue them back-to-back.

Whose back to school are you going to make awesome with an apple button collage tag?

Supplies Needed:

Buttons Galore “Red Hot” Button Basics
Bella Blvd “Tiny Tots” Alphabet Paper
Bella Blvd “Simply Spring” Eggstravaganza (plaid paper)
Bella Blvd “Tiny Tots” Treasures & Text stickers
Momenta kraft alphabet
Red Cardstock
Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations “Tag & Bookplates” die
Cricut Explore machine & apple cutting file
PPA Matte Adhesive

It’s Time for a Back to School Photo Frame!

By May Flaum on July 16, 2015 in Back to School

Today we are joined by blogger/designer/instructor/author May Flaum, from www.craftwithmay.com, who is sharing a back to school project with us. – editor

When I have supplies not being used, I try to envision a purpose and make it useful. In this case I had a small 5×7 chalkboard that has been sitting around way too long. Since I don’t see myself using it as intended, I decided to convert it into a photo frame for this school picture.

This is one of my favorite ways to use buttons, and it’s a super quick and easy project too! It will work on any flat wood frame, and I love how it turned out. The less you think about perfect button placement, and the more you just fill the space and enjoy – the better it will turn out!

I worked with the beautiful Vintage Vogue buttons and I really liked how quick and easy they made this project.

Supplies Needed:

Haberdashery Vintage Vogue HAB117 buttons,
Wood photo frame
white paint
liquid adhesive

How-to:

1. Paint frame with white paint if desired

2. Apply a liberal amount of liquid adhesive around the wood frame.

3. Start with large buttons, place at random in a few places. Then fill in spaces with medium and small buttons.

4. Add more adhesive as needed, place buttons until all spaces are full. If there are any awkward gaps, layer a button on top! Once satisfied, set aside and let it dry fully before adding a photo.

To learn more about May Flaum, see more of her projects or take one of her online classes, visit www.craftwithmay.com.

Buttons and Back Packs

By Allie Gower on August 22, 2013 in Back to School, Paper Crafts

Instead of jewelry this week, I’m playing with paper and buttons. I must say, buttons and back packs go together pretty well!

Buttons and Back Packs

I created the backpack and inked the edges with Tea Bag ink. I dyed a wooden button and cut the shank off. The bag was then decorated with patterned papers and fun embellishments. To lift the bag up a little, I created little feet by gluing Coffee and Rustic Coconut Shell buttons together.

Now, it’s time to fill it with goodies for the teacher!

Buttons for Back Pack

Hand carved wooden button (dyed with Teal Rit Dye – see what the buttons look like before below)
Coffee and Rustic Coconut Shell Buttons

Hand Carved Wood Buttons

Additional Supplies

Canvas Shapes, Wood Shapes and Cork Tags (Little Yellow Bicycle), Champagne Cardstock, Tea Bag Ink, Patterned Paper (Close To My Heart), Brads (Creative Impressions), Twine – My Mind’s Eye), Letters (EK Success), Flower (Petaloo), Back Pack Template (SVGCUTS.COM)

Adhesive – Scor-Tape and AdTech Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Back to School Homework Organizer

By Admin1 on August 20, 2013 in Back to School, Kids Crafts

It’s back to school time already! How can that be? Every year I promise myself I’ll be more organized, so this year I designed a homework organizer for my daughter to keep all her homework supplies in. It’s so cute, I think my daughter might even be motivated to do her homework!

Supplies for homework organizer

Wood crate
Paint-I used Apple Barrel Paint in Parrot Blue
Red Buttons
Glue
Red glitter
Markers
Small piece of green felt
Letter stencil

Instructions for homework organizer

1. Paint the crate. Set aside to dry.

2. Once crate is dry, sketch an apple shape on the front of the crate.

3. Fill the shape with buttons, using glue craft glue to secure the buttons onto the crate.

4. While glue is still wet, sprinkle glitter over the apple shape. This will fill in the holes between the buttons and give it some sparkle. Instead of loose glitter, you can also use glitter glue to fill in the spaces.

5. Using a marker, draw a stem on your apple.

6. Cut out a small leaf shape from the green felt and glue it onto the stem.

7. Using letter stencils and markers, spell out school or your child’s name onto the crate.

Thanks for getting crafty with me today! For more button crafts, stitching and lifestyle ideas visit me on my blog at www.laurabraydesigns.com.

Fifteen MINUTE Friday – Boxtops for Education Collection Jar

By Admin on August 2, 2013 in Back to School, Holidays

It is August and that means back to school time. Boxtops for Education is a fabulous program that helps lots of schools with funding to purchase things for the students and classrooms.

Sometimes finding a place to keep them until the children take them in is the tricky part. Here is a fun way to upcycle a Mason Jar into a fun home for the cutout Boxtop pieces until it is time to send them in. Use hot glue and add buttons, ribbons and whatever else you have around the house that is fun to decorate the jar in a way that you like having it out as a reminder to clip and save.

If you fill the jar up, here is a fun sheet to tape the cutouts to for sending them in so you can hang on to your jar.

Happy Fifteen Minute Friday,

Laura

Sew a Button and Burlap Pencil Case

By Admin1 on July 10, 2013 in Back to School, Father’s Day, Holidays, Purses & Totes

Sew a button and burlap pencil case for the guy in your life. It’s just right for the high school graduate who is heading off to college in the Fall or it would also be a great Father’s Day gift.

I know I’m always trying to keep my husband organized and he’s always looking for pens and pencils. Do you think there’s any chance a button and burlap pencil case is going to help? Naw, I don’t think so either, but it’s fun to make!

Supplies needed for a button and burlap pencil case

Burlap cut to 7.5″ x 8″
Velcro (R) Brand Sew-On Fasteners cut to 7″ long
Ribbon cut to a length of 8″
Buttons – the Haberdashery line has some great masculine colors!
Basic sewing supplies

Instructions for sewing a button and burlap pencil case

1. Sew ribbon onto burlap parallel to the side that measures 8″. Place it approximately 1.25″ from the edge of the burlap.

2. Sew the Velcro (R) Brand fasteners onto the 7.5″ inch sides. (These will be perpendicular to the ribbon.) I like to leave the top of the case without finishing it. The rough edge gives it a more masculine touch!

3. Fold in half, right sides facing (the side that you sewed the ribbon onto is the “right” side). The 7.5″ edges should be even. Press with an iron.

4. Sew the short sides closed.

5. Clip the corners and turn the bag right side out.

6. Sew buttons onto ribbon. I know it’s a bit harder to sew them on when the case is sewn, but it’s best to leave this step for last, so you can see the best placement for them.

Upcycle a Can into a Pretty Pencil Holder with Buttons

By Jen Goode on September 21, 2012 in Back to School, Kids Crafts

This project will keep the kids busy and help the environment! Upcycle your empty food cans into containers for various storage and use buttons to create a fresh, fun look. You can create any kind of pattern or look with just a few easy-to-find materials. I created a pencil holder out of a spaghetti sauce can.

First, I covered it with some fabric. Then I embellished the top edge with a swag design of pink and purple buttons. (Optionally, you can line the inside of the can as well.) I’ve created a number of different pencil and school supply containers using fabric or paper, so whichever you like best will work great!

upcycled can to pretty pencil holder

Materials you need to upcycle the can:

Craft glue (such as PPA Matte or Beacon Tacky Glue)
Fabric
Buttons: Sugar Plum Grab Bag & Strawberry Cheesecake
Twine (purple and white)
Scissors
Pen

Steps to make your own button embellished upcycled can pencil holder:

Measure and cut fabric to fit the outside of the can.
Cover the can with your choice of fabric & adhere with glue.
Add a swag pattern to the top of the outside edge of the can using glue and twine.
Adhere buttons in place, alternating colors.
Make small bows of twine and glue at the top of each swag.

glue twine to can

create a scalloped swag design with twine

add buttons to twine

add more buttons

make a bow out of twine and glue on the can – I got a little too much glue on my fingers

The best part about upcycling empty cans is that they are small. This allows you to use your left over craft scraps to make some neat, decorative containers. Mix and match your scraps with your favorite button colors to create a whole collection of pretty pencil holders and other organizing containers. Plus these are easy enough that your kids can make their own too!

Personalize Lunch Bags for back to school and de-stash too!

By Admin1 on August 7, 2012 in Paper Crafts

It’s almost time to go back to school. We all know what that means…packing lunches! My daughter loves it when I personalize lunch bags. No boring brown lunch bags for her, but some mornings it’s tough to feel inspired. That’s where my craft stash comes in! Use your scrapbook embellishments to create a designer style, personalized lunch bag in minutes! Here’s how:

Supplies needed to personalize lunch bags:

Paper lunch bags
Border punches
Hole punch
Brads (I used Buttons Galore and More’s Cozy Brads in Fabulous Florals and All Boy)
Ribbon
Tulle
White-out pen
Sharpie (TM) Markers

Instructions to personalize lunch bags:

Using a border punch, punch a decorative edge along the top of the bag.
Using a white-out pen or a Sharpie Marker, write the lunch bag owner’s name or a sweet message on the front of the bag.
Put lunch inside!
Fold the top of the bag over towards the FRONT of the bag.
Punch a hole in the top middle of the bag.
Punch holes through ribbon and tulle and layer them under the brad. (This is optional. If you are having a busy morning, just use a brad by itself. It’s still cute!)
Push a brad through the layers and secure the bag closed.

See? I told you it was easy. Quick personalized lunch bags. I think these would also be great for gift or party treat bags. You could personalize lunch bags to fit the theme or with a guest name. Also, the would be easy to make ahead for classroom parties. Another fun idea would be to gather some friends, get out all your scraps an have a party. Everyone could personalize lunch bags for a few weeks and you can get rid of your leftovers.

Pretty up a pencil bag with buttons

By Jen Goode on August 15, 2011 in Kids Crafts

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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