Playing with Buttons

I've decided to share some of my button stash...literally share it...but making up some pretties for my Etsy shop.  Why hoard all of these gorgeous buttons when they can be made up into something pretty for others to use and enjoy?  I think buttons like these are like little jewels...and what do we do with little jewels?  Make jewelry, of course!

I hand-tied these onto metal filigree components.  Each little glass button is different and beautiful, and I think they made an exquisite bracelet.  There will be more to come in time.  Hope you like these.

Pretty Button Cards and New Felt Pin

Mom and I went to a large antique mall this past weekend down around the southern boarder of the state.  It was our annual trek down there for a "girl's day".  It was loads of fun...and relaxing too.  I found some pretty button cards.

 

The card itself is pretty on this one not to mention the buttons.  I'm pretty sure the buttons are glass, but sometimes it is so hard to tell.

 

This little girl one is sweet along with the simple pink buttons.

 

This one is gorgeous.  Don't you just love that wedding dress?? 

 

Also, I completed another felt pin.  This is a depiction of a vintage Mason or Ball jar with fireflies in it.  Can you tell summer was on my mind while making this?  The ends and flight paths of the fireflies are in glow in the dark thread for extra fun.  I'll be listing this in my Etsy shop soon. 

Vintage Jewelry Embellished Button Card Ornaments

I really love vintage button cards and enjoy looking at them on Pinterest.  Some are just exquisite.  I remember an estate sale that I went to that had many...wish I had purchased more of them.  Anyway, while these button cards aren't over the top exquisite, they ARE pretty.  Of course, you know I like to embellish things with vintage jewelry...so these were a natural combination. 

I bought some pretty paper and worked these up.  I tried to make them look pretty on the front and back. 

They are in my Etsy shop and can be hung around the home as home décor all year round. 

Hope you like them too. 

Vintage Crown Buttons

Mom and I were at the local antique mall last week, and I purchased a bag of vintage buttons for $2.  I got the bag because of these three crown buttons....

...aren't they darling?  I hope to put them into a wearable craft. 

However inside there were plenty of other beautiful buttons---many are glass.  While there aren't very many others where there is more than one of a kind (though those red glass triangle ones are a lovely find!), I'm delighted with the purchase.  Buttons are so fun.

Vintage Button Card Jewelry

Well, I've had some amazing inspiration for this, my newest project--Button Card Jewelry. 

I have made pendants and pins that look like vintage button cards--complete with little buttons (some of them very tiny).  

Using the digital tools available today and vintage cards and things, I've made pieces that look like vintage button cards and sewn on buttons (many of them vintage) turning them into brooches and pendants.  They have been a lot of hard work but great fun. 

Of course, much inspiration has come from following Button Floozies, a blog that I adore.  Pinterest has been another source of inspiration with photos such as this:

Then, there was the article in the March 2013 issue of Romantic Homes.  I just LOVED the picture in it and was drawn to the colors on this page. 

I haven't copied any button cards actually but rather have created my own and coordinated buttons to go with them.  Hope you like them!  They are listed in my Etsy shop.

An Old Beauty

I know she is chipped and worn...but isn't she just lovely?  I couldn't resist buying her at a flea market back a month or so ago.  Can you image what she looked like when she was brand new--grand, beautiful, lovely in every way?  I wonder what she adorned...where she went.  I never tire of looking at these old button beauties, do you?

Thank you, Lee!

I received my altered Altoid tin full of buttons--all with a fall theme--as part of the 2012 Fall in Love with Buttons Swap hosted by Laurie at Button Floozies. 

Lee was my partner, and she sent a beautifully embellished tin full of pretty fall themed buttons. 

I just love the porcelain one on the top and the large shell one inside not to mention the many others she included.  I'm delighted that she was able to find so many with a fall theme. 

Needless to say, I'm delighted!  Thank you, Lee!

Fall Button Swap

Here are pictures of what I made and gave to my partner, Lee, in the Button Floozies fall button swap.  I am assuming Lee has received her package by now, so I decided it was time to post.  We were supposed to decorate a standard-sized Altoid tin and include at least 40 buttons--all with a fall theme of some sort.

It was fun finding the buttons...and it certainly helped discovering a huge bin of buttons at a flea market last month to paw through.  I bought the pretty paper and owl sticker (couldn't resist the sparkle!) at Hobby Lobby and otherwise used bits and pieces of things that I had around the house.

I ended up putting over 50 buttons in the tin and tied the tin together just to make sure it didn't open in transit.  Hope Lee liked it.  Thank you, Laurie, for hostessing this.  It was a great deal of fun.

Fall Button Swap

Laurie at Button Floozies is hostessing a fall themed button swap.  Head on over for all the details!

Black Buttons

Well, I guess I'll keep my eye out for a bead or button swap (thank you for those who have helped)....but in the time being I thought I'd show you some of my favorite buttons acquired recently.  There were many buttons in the stash of goodies I purchased at that auction.  Some I am selling.  Some I am saving for other projects.  These I am keeping for myself and thought you'd like to see them.  Though it is damaged in the very center, I especially  like the one with the mother of pearl layer to it.  Exquisite!  Anyway, enjoy your weekend.  Thanks for stopping by. ; )

Button Floozies Spring Needlebook Swap

Laurie at Button Floozies (one of my new favorite blogs) was the hostess of a swap--the Spring Needlebook Swap.  We were to send a partner a needlebook with a spring theme including, of course, buttons.  This again was a swap that took me out of my comfort zone since I'm not that good at sewing.  I had my idea in mind but found it hard to turn it into something tangible.  The person I was to send mine to is Laura--such a nice person!  She has received hers (she doesn't have a blog), so I'll post here what I sent her. 

It is made of felt.  I did a little bit of embroidery on it and sewed these sweet rose buttons on it. The birdhouse "opening" is a pretty vintage button.  I tried to find a bird button in my stash--a pretty duck could be found...but no springtime bird.  So...I decided to make a bird (hopefully it looks like one) out of two buttons and some embroidery.

Of course, I had to "sign" it with more embroidery and a little heart button.  Enjoy!

Spring Needlebook Swap

This sounds like such a fun swap.  Laurie at Button Floozies is hostessing a swap where we are to make a spring-themed needlebook.  I've never done something like this before, but I've been researching needlebooks and have some great ideas.  Now if I can just get that idea made into a needlebook!  Go ahead over to her blog for all the details and to sign up.