Friday, January 14, 2011

If you need to take nitroglycerin, please do so before reading this post...

Because...

It is a (GASP!) craft tutorial.

And I don't want to be responsible for a heart attack...

Because...

Did I mention...????

It is a CRAFT TUTORIAL!

I'm not kidding.

An actual real craft.

From me. Jenny Matlock. Coming back from my tangents for a moment to bring you a (GASP!) craft tutorial that isn't all smart aleck-y or anything.

Okay.

Now that we've got the warning part of this post out of the way, I'm excited to share this with you.

If you've already seen these 1,000 times please don't burst my bubble, K?

It's for making (TADA!) these little beauties...



Button flowers! Woo hoo! I love these. I made them a long time ago but couldn't find my supplies and then when my friend was visiting from Ohio this past weekend, I dragged out all the stuff and we made them. You can click on the pictures to see them better.

There's some cool things about making these.

The first thing is, you hardly need any supplies. Just a wire cutter, some buttons (d'oh), some 22 gage green cloth stem wire (by the florist stuff at the craft store) and a pencil.



First, I'll show you how to make the curlicue wire things...





And now I'll show you how to make one type of flower. You can do anything you like with the buttons, though. You can make a wire twist between each button and make a pseudo-delphinium type flower, put a big plain button on just the end of the wire, layer the buttons...whatever you like. The only limit to the type of flowers you can make for this project is... well... Okay, there is no limit to the type of flowers you can make.

You make them all pretty much the same, though. Thread the wire up through one side of the buttons and then pull it back down...




Put a twist of wire underneath each button that you don't want to shift on the stem...


Twist the stem after you have all the buttons you want on the wire...


And stick the flower in with all the other flowers you made.


You can make them monochromatic or all bright and happy. Please do not drool over my little jadeite mug that I got from a dear, dear friend. It is mine and you can't have it. Sorry. I'm selfish like that.


The other cool thing about these flowers is that the method doesn't mess up the buttons. You could make them with buttons from your Grandma's old button box and not hurt them a bit!

I hope you liked them.

And I hope that you feel that it was worth the risk of a heart attack to read this post.

And now I shall stray back into tangent land until the next time I choose to subject you to the shock and awe of a (GASP!) craft tutorial.

In closing, I'd like to share this little button quote with you.

A button in a flower is worth two in a button box.

...

That is so a quote.

Is so!

Who said it?

Ummm...

...

Me, of course!

Sigh...

post signature

57 comments:

vivian said...

I love your button flowers! I should make up a little bunch to keep in my craft room... yes I should!
have a happy weekend
vivian

Paula ~ castleandcottagesigns said...

so smiling ear to ear:) I love your button flowers, they are too sweet...just right for brightening up these stark winter days!

Jocelyn said...

Oh I adore these....I have not made them before...so thanks for the how to!!! I soooooo need to try these!!

I love all the Happy Colors!!!

Great Job my friend!!!!

Wishing you a Fabulous Friday!!

Terra said...

very cute, very fun. my girls would enjoy this!

Wanda..... said...

Thanks Jenny, I'm going to make one today for my granddaughter Alivia...it's just what she needs for the desk she got for Christmas!

Lynn said...

Cute idea to add a little color to winter:@)

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Congratulations on the trip into Tutorial Land, Hon!

But I fear I'm genetically disposed to be allergic to all-things-crafting. >,-)

"Auntie"

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Uhhh! Why, I have never seen such cuteness! Seriously, I've never seen button flowers before. What a cute and wonderful idea. I've definitely got the supplies. LOL! Your tutorial was great to by the way!

Rosie said...

Ahhhh...my heart is still ticking...but my stomach hurts from laughing. You are one funny girl...and talented to boot! These are the cutest little posies I have ever seen...and "just cute as a button!"...but as luck would have it, it's the jadite arrangement I NEED...Well you have inspired me to do a bit of button magic myself.
What a delightful blog you have...I will be back...Rosie

LuLu Kellogg said...

Jenny, I love these!!! They are so cheerful!

Loving the "Craft Hour With Jenny" show!! Well done!

Love,
LuLu~*xoxo

Kat said...

These are so cute! But I have a question - do I have my webcam hooked up without knowing it? How did you see me drooling over the jadeite? Hmmm. These really are adorable. And as for the quote, if you said it, it must be true! Hugs, Kat

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

I found a jar of old buttons and just HAD to have them....now I know why!!! Great tutorial!!!
Sherry@Back2Vintage

Cassie said...

Jenny, these are super cute! And how easy! I think I know what my 11 year old and I will be doing this weekend!

Sherri said...

Now that is adorable...I love it!! It makes for an awesome flower arrangement that's for sure.

mub said...

Very cute! I've made a button wreath before but not the button flowers...

P.S. I like your smart-aleck-y-ness ;)

Anonymous said...

Those are just cute as can be. I have never seen or heard of button flowers. I think even I could make them after seeing your great tutorial. The colors you used are beautiful! I love them. Hugs

La Petite Gallery said...

Jenny I have your Photo on the sidebar now. About this post fantastic. What a great gift for a seamtress, I may try it. stay busy.
yvonne

Theresa said...

Precious button flowers and I am seriously thinking about stealing that mug while you are somewhere else crafting, hehe! Have a blessed day my friend, gotta run search the house for buttons:) HUGS!

Carol said...

You're amazing!!! From head to toe!!! LOVE these!!! They would make an excellent give-away....just sayin'!!! ;)

Pondside said...

Very, very cute - and as for the tutorial....well rarely has there been a clearer, easier-to-follow lesson. Next you'll be on youtube!!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Jenny!

What a fun and easy craft! Why, I think even I can do this! I just have to find that wire because I certainly a mason jar full of buttons that aren't getting sewn onto anything anytime soon..lol

Sorry I haven't been around for awhile..between shoveling snow and a new wireless printer that knocked my wifi off my lap top and then took us ages to figure out what went wrong, life has been crazy. Everytime I see a lemon or get a copy of Mary Jane's Farm magazine I think of you :) I hope all has been well and that you are enjoying the nice weather you have out there now. How's your garden doing this season?

♥ Pat

Just Add Walter said...

wow, that is so creative (and looks relatively easy too)!! I am gonna try it! thanks for the craft tidbit

Ames said...

How cute! I like the multicolored one. It's very festive!~Ames

Monica said...

Jenny, I LOVE your button flowers!! I saw tons of buttons while out shopping over the weekend and when I got home I wished I'd bought some. Now I REALLY wished I'd bought some...and I wish I had a car today so I could go out shopping!

Keri {One Mama's Daily Drama} said...

Cute! I've been uber-crafty lately and I have a ton of old buttons. I'm a bit of a pack rat, so I've probably kept every lost button plus a bunch of them from my grandma's sewing boxes.

Jackie said...

They are adorable and practical! haha for someone like me who can't grow anything and they would look nice in a maple syrup jug spray painted too I bet . Nice craft Jenny I am going to have to try to beautify my house and it will keep me busy when I am on the master cleanser too . Thanks .

KM said...

Viva la buttons! ;)

Willoughby said...

Adorable! I'm kind of a button fanatic, anyway, so this is a perfect project for me.

I love your jadite mug! I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon pouting because you have one and I don't!

I owe you an email. Please don't think I was ignoring you! It's just been a busy week, but I will get back to you re: pizza oven. I promise!!!!!

Terry said...

Those are so cute! I don't have any of the wire though (wonder if mom does). Thanks for the great idea! :0)

Jackie said...

Hey Jenny sweetie. I tweeted you .
see? www.twitter.com/joliejackie

Busy Bee Suz said...

What a sweet idea. I love this...it is so DOable!

Unknown said...

OH! Jenny!
I love these!!!!! Especially the bright blue vase with all of the colors....but you knew that would be my favorite, didn't you? How about lunch one day???? I would love to sit and chat again.....Love, Sandy

21 Wits said...

Oh my I love these! You always have the best photos that just draw me in, and then the subject is always interesting or else very close to home and quite funny, which makes my day! Thanks! Art is one of my favorite things to see and do!

Jo said...

I love your tutorial, so easy to understand, so well written, and hey, so freakin cute!!! Well done Jenny!

Unknown said...

Very Pretty! I'll leave the crafting to you though...I'm all crafted out LOL

MrsJenB said...

Okay. I'm recovering from the shock.

They are TOO cute, Jenny. Seriously. I had never seen them before now!

And who would think that YOU'D be the one to introduce me to them! Wow! ;-)

J said...

You are the coolest, Jenny! :D
This is such a fun thing to do with buttons. (I LOVE buttons.)

H said...

They really do look bright and cheerful; jaunty! Like them!

Donnie said...

Those are really great and it was an easy to understand tutorial. Thanks so much. I think I could make these.

Susan Anderson said...

Just my speed, and cute to boot!

=)

PS. Thanks for the warning. I had the nitroglycerin on board within seconds....

Amy said...

Oooh, those are darling! I am going to have to do those soon. Thanks for the tutorial! Look at me getting all my craft ideas from you! What fun.

P.S. I am sorry, I was supposed to remind you about fabric. This is me reminding you.

Judie said...

I can think of a lot of cool things that you can do with this project. I am thinking about making bouquets to go on gifts, that can later be turned into pins. This would be especially good at holidays! Jenny, I wish I were as creative as you are! Right now I am in a blue funk, and I have a critique session to go to in the morning, and I haven't a clue what I should try to instill into the artists this week!

Jojo said...

Why is it not surprising at all that when you decide to post a crafty thing, it's the cutest, funkiest, most unique crafty thing of all!!!

Aunt lodi said...

I can't help it but I am drooling over you Jadeite mug. Love the flowers, will have to give this a try. STill have my little bag of buttons from last spring. Thank You!!

Deb said...

oh my gosh Jenny those are just too adorable...I'm digging looking for buttons....

Melinda said...

I am impressed--very crafty.
Sooo cute.

Melinda

Cheryl D. said...

Very cool looking, but who in the hell has a box of buttons?

Stef said...

That is so fun! I can totally do this with my daughter. She would think it was so cool...and she would think I was so cool...and that's what's important. I think that you are so cool for making me cool. Thanks!

GardenOfDaisies said...

Jenny, your button flower arrangements really are the most cheerful little things! Thanks for sharing how to make them. I had seen them for sale in one of my favorite boutiques and always thought they would be fun to try on my own. Now I know how.

Gattina said...

To reassure you : I am still alive after reading your post ! this idea is great !! and the solution for the thousand of buttons my mother left me in a bag !!

Unknown said...

Dear Jenny,
Your button flowers are wonderful. Are you going to sell them on Etsy or Ebay?
Hugs,
Anna

Unknown said...

A+ for Adorable!!!!

Something must have been in the air on Friday for my post was also a tutorial (in 55 words, no less!)

Must head out to work now. Have a great weekend.

Beckey said...

Jenny,
I LOVE your button flowers! I gather up buttons from any source I can - have considered cutting them off of a friend's blouse before, but she would not let me :(

Anyway, I have a wonderful corsage made with buttons that my bff (age 60) gave me that had been her grandmother's from when she was young, so it would be quite old. I do need to unpack it and photo it.

Thanks for the smiles!
Beckey

Unknown said...

I love them! they are fun and whimsical just like you...The bright ones are my favorite....Thanks for being my friend Jenny! You always make my day brighter...I am back among the living again and it feels kinda good.......

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

You have no idea how timely this post is for me. I'm having a tea party - my own version thereof - for my annual Oscar shindig next month and, just yesterday, I ordered buttons and wire and pipe cleaners and lollipops, etc...with which to make centerpieces. Everything in bright colors to coordinate with the teapots and dishes.

Any other ideas you have....I could use.

And that jadeite mug? I spotted it right away and thought - Now That's Cooooooooooooool!

Bonnie said...

You are so talented! I have always loved buttons. This would be a wonderful way to present them. I love these! Nice job!

paige said...

Cute! I love these.