Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Buttons, Buttons...whose got Buttons

Well, I do. I love buttons, and I have them in old metal screw top canning jars, and I also filled a clear lamp base with buttons.  I bought a box of white buttons for $2.00 at a salvage type store a few years ago. When I bought them I didn't have a clue what I would do with them, but that is nothing new. If something is a bargain, and I think I may have a use for it...well, it just seems to jump into my shopping cart and come home with me.  I also bought several sandwich baggies of colored buttons for 50 cents each on the same day. Sorting out buttons I didn't have enough buttons in the same color family to make I wanted.  So, on to plan B.
As you can see below...I really got a lot of white buttons for the $2.00.
button box w. cover button box
This afternoon I guess I wanted to drive myself crazy with a button project, because that is what happened. OMG!!! I should have stopped but, oh no, silly me...I kept on going.
I started out stacking some buttons in shades of purple for a necklace. Layed out a design and started stringing, but I finally gave up for the time being.
 First try the coated wire I used was too thick. Second attempt...wire was too thin. The buttons just wouldn't stay overlapped and stay on the correct side, they kept flipping over as I strung them onto the wire. So, I just left the necklace undone on a strand of coated wire for the time being until I can get tiger tail wire instead of trying to use coated wire. I am also thinking a heavy quilting thread might work. Hopefully I will get this necklace finished. Will I ever wear it, who knows, but I wanted to try making one.
Thank goodness for reading glasses, because I thought I would go blind trying to get the wire thru all those small button holes.
button necklace
Then, I wanted to use some of the metal buttons that I had. Same story...not the correct wire for the project. I did finish the bracelet, but I will redo the bracelet when I get the tiger tail wire and the correct color toggle. The only toggles I had on hand were shiny and the buttons are more of a gun metal gray . I made a pair of earrings from the buttons to go with the bracelet. I don't know if I will make a necklace with these buttons, but who knows. Will just have to see how many buttons I have left of these buttons.
button bracelet.earrings
I started a button bracelet yesterday using some of the smaller two holed white beads yesterday, but I ran out of large oval jump rings. So, that project is sitting unfinished too.

When the bead store in Plymouth was having their closing sale I bought a lot of wood beads that normally sold for $5.50 each, but I paid $2.00 for a bagful. I made these horse head beads into earrings for my friend from nursing school, as she has always loved horses. I also made one of the beads to be hung from a necklace. The wooden beads are about 1  1/2 inches long.
earrings horse heads
Well, I hope that you had a more productive craft day than I did.
elaine signature3

5 comments:

Angie Hall Haviland said...

WOW...you do "got the button(s)" Hee Hee FABULOUS Jewelry!! :)

Sherry said...

We all love buttons don't we! I think you've done a great job with the button jewellery - well worth all the time and effort (and eye strain).

Vic said...

They look great!

Alicia B said...

Your jewelry looks great Elaine!! *Hugs*

Barbara said...

Hmmm...don't know Elaine, seems to me you had a very productive craft day! Also, I know the button routine when trying to sift through and organize jars of my own. It does take time, but it's like fabric, I enjoy the time spent with them.