More fun with covered buttons

This is just a quick idea for another thing to do with fabric covered buttons: hair ties.

Not wanting to commit this pretty button to a lifetime as a hair accessory, I shoved a hair tie through the center of the shaft, looped it through it's self, and pulled it tight. Done and done!

A Couple More Button Necklaces

I got on a roll covering buttons the other day and had these three large buttons left over. Rather than have them compete with each other on a large statement necklace I decided to let them each stand on their own.

Cutting a piece of variegated yarn that matched the fabric pattern, I tied the ends in a knot and slipped it through the button shank and looped it through it's self.

I like the yarn for a different look, it has a bit more of a boho feel to it.

Liberty of London Sampler Necklace Tutorial

The other day while cleaning out my bag, I noticed my Liberty of London (ala Target) wallet wasn't looking too hot. I suppose a cloth wallet, that I throw in the bottom of my bag, is bound to get a bit dirty. However, the LASS gals had so much fun searching our pretties out, I really didn't want to replace something so sentimental. Luckily a bit of googling and a good scrubbing with baby wipes later the wallet cleaned up pretty well. This experience got me thinking about how I should have done something to protect my wallet in the first place, and also about maybe making some of my own accessories with Liberty of London fabric. Inspired by Susan Beal's tutorial on Craftsylish, and yet not having any bracelet blanks on hand, I came up with the following solutions:
Liberty of London Sampler Necklace Tutorial

Supplies:

• Fabric scraps (I used a charm pack of LOL lawn fabric)
• Covered Button Kit(s)
• Jump Rings (one for every button)
• Chain and closure (desired length)
  

The first thing to do, is to follow the instructions on your covered button kit. Using the circle template cut out your fabric to cover your buttons.


Cut out a fabric circle for every button, taking care to capture the elements of pattern you like on your print. You can change up the look of the necklace by clustering many buttons together, or vary the size of the buttons you use. For my first necklace I went for four 18mm buttons.

Having learned from my wallet, the next thing I did was cover the fabric with Scotchgard Fabric and Needle Craft Protector. I gave them two thin coats, waiting for the application to dry after the first coat before I applied the next.

The next step obviously it to cover your buttons. Follow the directions on your kit to assemble your buttons. If you have used lawn like I did, this should be very easy. However, if you used a thicker fabric or a pima cotton you might have to put a bit more elbow grease into it. Take your time and make sure you catch all your edges.


Now, we all like our necklaces different lengths, so trim your chain to the desired length and attach your closure. Open a jump ring and pass it through your button shank and also through the link on the chain. If you have never used jump rings before, do not pry the ring apart at the gap by pulling the sides back from each other. Instead bend one side to the left and the other to the right. When you're ready to close the ring, bend the two sides back toward each other, actually closing and passing the other side once, before you bend it back one last time to close. This will keep your ring closed tight and not oblong.

For you odd numbered button folks, fold the chain in half to find the center and attach your first button in the link there. Measuring up from your center button, attach the rest of your buttons evenly spacing them along your chain. If you have an even number buttons like I did, you can use your center measurement to place the button evenly on either side.

Viola, you're done. If you want a matching bracelet just repeat the above and shorten your chain. Go on now, make a couple for friends and wear with pride while sipping some tea.

Bandana Bibs & Binky Holders

Bibs and Pacifier Straps

With my best friend having her second baby and my cousin having her first I've been looking around for some new baby projects. Using some more fabric I picked up on my LASSgo as inspiration I tried to find some fun fat quarter projects.

Rachelle's

I found this geat Bandana Bib pattern by Dessert Rose Design. It was such a quick and easy pattern, heck the hardest part was putting the snaps in! I wish I had a baby to model it for the photos.

Nikki's

I also made matching binky holders, pacifier straps, or whatever you wanna call them. I didn't use a pattern for these, rather I just looked at several on the web and gathered together my favorite details to make my own. Using the matching cotton and fleece that the bibs are made out of, I made a tube casing, attached a suspender clip at one end, and rather than sew on a pacifier that might wear out (do they wear out?) or put in a snap that might not be big enough for some pacifiers, I used a bit of elastic to attach the pacifier later.

Robot Bib

My best friend had her second baby boy last night! I rolled around a lot of gift ideas in my head, but the "problem" with the second child is that mom and dad probably have most of what they need already (especially when it is another boy) but you can't not treat the new one as special as the first one! I've decided to take the easy way and just ask Nikki what she might like, but I also found some great fabric at Peapod Fabrics on a LASSgo which I could not pass up. I picked up this cool robot fabric and decided a bib would be the best way to showcase it! I used this great bib pattern from Chickpea Sewing Studio. The pattern worked wonders and I was really happy with the result! Hopefully this will tide the little one over until Mom lets me know what she wants.

Finally a girl!

At long last someone around me is having a baby girl! I can't wait for the pink, the tulle, and the fun!
Starting it off is my favorite twist on a baby blanket: the stroller quilt. Readers know this great little idea, but for those that don't take a look!

Interchangeable Sweater Guard

As promised, I gave it a go with clip on earring backs. The immediate advantage these have over alligator clips, is the flat back. This makes the super glueing so much easier.

The not as obvious advantage is that they make the end product a bit more flexible! First, if I leave the chain off, I could wear them as earrings (though they pinch a bit), but even better is that I can switch out the chain! I couldn't decide if these pretty red flowers should have a silver chain or a red chain. Both would go, but which would get more of a work out in my wardrobe? I already had a silver sweater guard, so why not use the gold chain I had in my stash? Even better, why commit to the gold chain, when I can attach some jump rings to the ends and make it interchangeable?

Of course this has led me to raiding my mom's clip on stash, and seeing what new sweater guards I can create with my new interchangeable chains! Unfortunately, Mom only wants to part with the gaudy 80's earrings, so it looks like I'm on the prowl for some new earrings...