Studio Organization: Buttons

Buttons are one of my favorite crafty embellishments - remember this?  Organizing buttons in your studio can be a challenge.  In my studio,  I sort buttons by color in open penny-candy type jars found at thrift stores.  This has worked for me for years.  I like the easy access better than the mason jars I previously used.

Just this week, I added a new element that only cost 59 cents each, but makes a big impact.  The secret?  Scoops.  Color-coordinated scoops.  I love them!  Now, each open jar has a scoop that allows me to easily search for the button I want to use.
   

You can find the scoops in the Wedding Section at Party City.   They're intended for candy buffets, but they work just as well for studio organization.  And they're just so darn cute!

   

I also got a scoop for my jar of buttons I use for Etsy projects.  I love being able to dig around with the scoop to find just the right button for a laptop case or Kindle cover.

How do you store your buttons?

Button Bracelet How To

As soon as I saw the Tim Holtz Accoutrements buttons, I knew I wanted to make them into a bracelet.  I found an inexpensive toggle charm bracelet at Joann, as well as some jump rings.

I just inserted the jump rings through the shanks of the buttons and attached them to the bracelet.

I added in a few of my favorite vintage buttons to take up a few empty spaces.

Super easy, and I love the results!

Spring Craft Inspiration at Hobby Lobby

A trip to Hobby Lobby always leaves me feeling inspired.  Here are a few things I found inspiring during my Saturday trip.

 

1.  Fabric flowers
2.  Tulle pom pom flowers and garland -I can make that with my new Clover tool!
3.  Owl print just fun.
4. Giant red flower that looks like one I just made in paper.
5. Giant flower that I could probably re-create in paper
6. Idea: pom poms as cupcake toppers!
7.  Love the gathered twill trim with buttons on this pillow.
8.  A fun white gauzey bow on a linen pillow
9.  Mini pinwheels in tiny clay pots. 

Easy Pom Pom Crafts & Clover Tool Review

If you follow me on Facebook, you know that I've been a little Pom Pom obsessed lately.  In case you missed them there, I wanted to share a few easy pom pom craft ideas here, along with a review of the Clover Pom Pom maker tool.

First, let me show you the fun stuff this clever tool can help you to create.  I absolutely lovely these pom pom flowers - I call them Forever Flowers, because they don't need water and will never die.

This bunch sits right above my computer, and they make me smile every day.

The second project is a Pom Pom garland, also inspired by Margie Romney-Aslett's Spark the Event Online Spring 2013 class.   I did mine a little differently, evenly spacing the pom poms along the string.  

Easy peasy DIY project - just make the pom poms and string them on a doubled strand of yarn threaded through a yarn needle.

So, what's the secret behind this pile of pom poms?

That would be the incredible new Pom Pom maker tools from Clover.  I found them at Hobby Lobby, Joann and Michael's.   You can also purchase them directly through Clover.

These are SO much easier to use than the cardboard or plastic circle versions.  And, that fork method I saw on Pinterest totally didn't work for me, BTW. 

Some engineering genius figured out a better mousetrap here.  You just wrap yarn on each swing-out "arm", pop them back in place, cut and tie.  This amazing gizmo allows you to create the best-looking, uniform pom poms.  The Clover tools come in sizes from extra small to extra large, making them super flexible, depending on your project.  And, yes, I bought them all.  Can't wait to try the larger ones with tulle or fabric.

And, I just saw a heart-shaped pom pom maker on their site - can't wait to try that one, too!

Has anyone else done pom pom crafts?  Have any ideas to share?  Please leave a comment with links so I can have an excuse to make more!

Oh, and check out my Pom Pom Crafts board on Pinterest.

Easter Egg Craft

Another fun project from Spark The Event Online - a decorated Easter Egg.  Love Margie's Junk Bows.

 

Quilt Show Fabric Finds

Here are some of my fabric finds from the AQS Lancaster Show.   The typewriter fabric by Windham is my #1 Favorite find!

       

Great Thrift Store Finds Easter

Thrift stores have lots of great Easter and vintage bunny decor right now.  Here are three favorite recent finds.  I'm going to use these in my spring home decor.

Honeycomb paper bunny, 50 cents.

   

Plastic bunny plate with great art, $3.00

Big outdoor bunny for $2.50:

The last one's sorta creeping out my family, but I love all of them.  They just make me happy!  

Maybe the big bunny will have to start showing up in odd places, like the shower.  Our big plastic Santa has a habit of sneaking around the house.  Hmmm...maybe that's why they're worried?  LOL

DIY flowers & Spring Decor Ideas

DIY Spring Decor ideas have kept me super-inspired over the past week or so.  Here are a few more recent projects.

BTW, if you don't follow my page on Facebook, please do - I share lots of photos and different stuff there, too.  Just click here to like my page.

First is a super-easy one.  Covered a plastic pot with book paper and Modge Podge.  The flower is made by sticking ordinary coffee filters into a plastic wiffle ball - both from the Dollar Store.  I left the bottom half of the ball empty, as it's sitting so pretty in the pot.

Here's a little spring bird wearing a jaunty hat I made (much better than the scary clown snowman, right?)  I made his little nest by rolling and hot gluing scraps from the burlap coffee bags my niece sent me.  (p.s. - Niki, I used jaunty there just for you!)

I'm finally using my vintage window from ReStore.  It's a great place to display garlands I'm making in Spark the Event Online classes.

Anybody else ready for spring?  Any good sites to share with projects?  

Baltimore Threadquarters Now Open!

I had the opportunity to get a sneak peek at an amazing new independent fabric and fiber store in Baltimore yesterday.  It's called Baltimore Threadquarters, and their official grand opening is today, March 1st.

 

I had the chance to meet the owners, Marlo and Allison.  They're both local artists (and moms) who had a dream of creating a special home for fiber artists.  Read their whole story here in The Guide.

I loved everything about the store, starting with their cool logo.  And, they were still working away when I visited.  They already have a huge display of vintage notions, trims and tools.  And, they'll be getting more. I was drooling!  They're going to feature yarn and fabric, along with vintage goodies, and local artist items.  Local folks can also take a variety of crafty classes.

       

I'm so excited -- I'm one of the local artists whose products they're going to stock.  I dropped off a big bunch of knitting needle covers, accessories and baby gifts.  It's my first "real" experiment with retail, and it felt so right, the moment I walked in the shop.

I love supporting local entrepreneurs, especially those with the crafty energy and passion of Allison and Marlo.  Of course, I had to bring them a paper flower bouquet made with vintage patterns and tissue:

You can follow Baltimore Threadquarters via their Facebook page.  And, if you're in the area, plan to visit. They're in a great location, right across the street from the new Enoch Pratt Library branch.  

I promise you'll leave inspired and energized to create - I sure did!