Too late for an XXmas craft??

[Garden_of_Mu]

I know Xmas has come and gone again but wanted to share a craft Daniel and I did this year. We made decorative xmas trees using the buttons he inherited from his grandmother after she passed away several years ago. A much better use than having them stashed away in a box somewhere. My friend Joey did the first one for us last year (center) and he inspired us to do the rest. The black velvet one with the mother of pear buttons still needs to be completed, but that can wait until next year.

So easy to do. We used old fabric we'd been carting around for years, cut it to fit the styrofoam cones we picked up at thrift stores and then used a spray adhesive to make it stick well all over. The seams are finished with a fabric glue. Then we added buttons (after a good washing and scrubbing - they were dirty!) using straight pins. Some are plain silver pins with a small glass bead added first, others have the large headed pins in gold, silver, pearl or other metallic colors. Some buttons are individually placed, others are stacked or layered. The design possibilities are endless. I think they turned out fabulously. Can't wait to do more next year - we've plenty of buttons left!

[Spider]

Very creative and interesting idea!

[govgirl75]

They are beautiful and such a good way to use the inherited buttons. And I like to do Christmas crafts after Christmas. It makes the holiday last just a bit longer.
Glo

[JaneG]

Never to late for Christmas crafts, they are year 'round around here! As a matter of fact, while putting ornaments away yesterday I got my camera a took a close-up photo of the details of a handmade ornament so I could attempt it myself during the year. Heck, if I don't start my Christmas crafts in March, they likely won't be done by Christmas!!

Those are fabulous! I toss buttons into jars, like many people do with spare change. What a great use for all those buttons! I love decorations like that, they can look so simple yet so elegant. A small cluster of these on a shelf or the corner of table would look great!

Tell me, the one on the far left that looks kind of "paisley" . . . is the fabric a print or is the entire design done with pins and buttons?

[party_music50]

Those are very cool!

[LucyGoose]

I like them, too!!

[Garden_of_Mu]

Thanks folks - glad you liekd the idea!

Jane - The paisley is a patterned fabric (actually an old pair of boxer shorts that never fit right so were never worn), and I used the pattern to place the buttons, beads and pins. Here's some closer shots, including the bottom. The pins there keep it stable. My camera is making the fabric look more pink but it really is a red cloth.

[JaneG]

Thanks for the closer pics. Very cool how you accented the print of the fabric (boxers ) with the pins and buttons.

[Ginger]

An excellent idea! I too have a box of old buttons that belonged to my grandmother. I use them a lot when I scrapbook or make cards. I just love going through them and remembering! I may have to try out your idea though. My mom would love one of those.

Ginger

[Spider]

It's funny he shows the "bottom" of the boxers.

[Ginger]

Spider you are just too funny!

G