Button Floozies

What you find in a thrift store button grab bag

2012-01-24T15:44:00.000-07:00

I bought a big plastic bag full of buttons at the thrift store the other day; I call them button grab bags. This one was $3.99. I was looking for hidden treasure. Here's what was in it:

Tons of full button cards.

They were all plastic, and colorful; vintage, but not very.

And another pile of partial button cards and some loose ones.

This was the oldest thing in there, I think.

Then there were some beads and baubles.

Finally, the junk that inevitably turns up in the dregs of the button bag:

stray game pieces, googly eyes, some hardware, etc.

No treasure this time; you can't win them all!

What's the most exciting thing you've found in a thrift store button bag?

Etsy 101 is hot off the presses - and free today!

2012-01-20T08:49:00.002-07:00

Like so many of you Floozies, I sell vintage and handmade on Etsy. Today and for a limited time my friend Steve's book, Etsy 101: Sell Your Crafts on Etsy, the DIY Marketplace for Handmade, Vintage and Crafting Supplies, is being offered as a free Kindle download! (Even if you don't own a Kindle, you can download Kindle's free apps to read it on your smartphone or computer.)

It is an awesome book -- I know this because I had the chance to read the whole thing as well as contribute a bit to it, and I'm even in it as one of the Etsy sellers he profiled! If you have ever wanted to start an Etsy shop, this book tells you all you need to know, step by step. But better than that, it explains all the ins and outs of online selling so that it all makes sense. With this book, you'll be able to start up like a pro. What's more, even though I've been selling successfully on Etsy for 3 years I still learned a lot, and the book has re-inspired me to do more and different things to improve my shops. I love how this book is great even for those of us who are already Etsians!

Go get it!

The perfect man

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

via Pinterest

And the 800 Followers Giveaway goes to...

2012-01-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

carol fun said...: I'm not sure how I found this blog but I'm sure glad I did. I LOVE buttons and vintage ones just make my heat sing!; January 4, 2012 9:32 AM

Carol Fun! Thank you to everyone who entered our little giveaway, and to ALL our followers we just want to tell you how much we enjoy your visits and comments!

Like a kid in a candy shop

2012-01-15T00:29:00.003-07:00

Friends look at me strangely and wonder what I see in a pile of old buttons. But there is nothing better than finding a pretty button in amongst a pile of dirty old buttons that someone doesn't want.

Hundreds of old buttons

After soaking and cleaning this was the colour of the water!?

I love Mirror back buttons so these were a great find. The black glass buttons are perfect too.

I don't know what these are but they look old. The beads in the middle seem like pearls but I'm not sure. I just think they're gorgeous.

I love this type of button but they are all similar colours. I need some with reds, and yellows and greens etc for my quilt.

As well, I found quite a few moonglow? buttons which I have cards of, some pretty lucite ones and heaps of old plastic types. It is such an exciting time cleaning up buttons and seeing what's under the dirt. I'd say they'd been in someone's cupboard for a very long time.

I hope you're having a wonderful start to 2012. Greetings from New Zealand.

Last day to enter our giveaway!

2012-01-14T06:00:00.003-07:00

Today's the last day to enter our 800 Followers Celebration giveaway! Details are here! Ends at 11:59 pm MT today!

A fabric book full of pockets...for buttons!

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

I cordially invite you over to my blog, Indulge Your Shelf, to see a fabric book I created to hold my carded mother-of-pearl buttons!

You can view the post here.

Don't forget to enter our giveaway, too!

Valentine's Button Love

2012-01-12T10:09:00.003-07:00

Valentine's Day is coming up soon and hearts will be everywhere. I found these on Pinterest that show they are from google.com and thought I would share. This year I'm making a button covered heart pillow by golly! Every year I think about doing it but I never seem to. I thought you would enjoy seeing these button hearts and that maybe you, too, would be inspired to create a button heart of your own! Cheery wave from Bev

The Loss of my Vintage Buttons

2012-01-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hi :) I'm a new Button Floozie, and happy to be among other floozies! I do have quite the button collection, and HAD a super (and I mean SUPER) find on some vintage buttons a few years ago. I answered a Free Cycle ad for sewing patterns, fabrics and notions. Turns out we had to drive quite a ways to get there (even had to stop and get gas!) but it was totally worth it.

As soon as we picked up the boxes and pulled out of the driveway, I twisted myself around in odd places to go through those boxes, way before we got home! I felt like a pretzel but the curiosity was killing me!

Loved everything I found, and then I found a metal box with a lift off lid, the box itself was old, kind of rusty, but I could see a flower on top of the box. Dying to know what was inside, I pulled off the lid and gasped!!! Completely full to overflowing were vintage buttons. Many pearl buttons, many on cards that said 'Made in Occupied Japan'! Very pretty cards with no buttons on them, but I love the cards as well!

Well, I treasured those buttons. But we went through a time when my husband was unemployed and I starting selling some of my stash of fabric, patterns and things I 'could' live without. I finally came to these buttons and yes, I sold them. It broke my heart and to this day I regret doing it. But this story does have a happy ending!

I won a button auction on Listia for some mother of pearl buttons, many of them dyed the most gorgeous green and some yellow ones. Lots of natural ones -

And while it's not quite the same as my first find, I'm absolutely thrilled with these buttons. I had to lay them all out so I could pet them and just gaze fondly at them :) Then I strung them onto a piece of crochet thread, all the similar ones together. I'm not quite ready to use them them, the honeymoon period isn't over yet :)

Karen

Vintage buttons and a giveaway!

2012-01-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

I did some after-Christmas antique shopping and found some wonderful buttons to take home with me and love -- like these ruby red, sparkly vintage ones:

They look like glass at first glance, but are actually plastic.

I love the detail!

I'm a sucker for pretty etched metal, and this one was especially fun with its fancy black center.

Pretty carded buttons, made in Germany -- black glass-looking buttons with a sparkly rhinestone middle. They're actually metal, though!

A pretty fleur de lys metal button. It's a bit dinged up but I love it anyway!

Mother of pearl with a carved design, on a card that says Paris. Enough said!

These six tiny glass buttons jumped into my basket, too...

I seemed to have a "thing" for metal buttons that day.

I loved how some long-ago collector stuck them on a card with a tiny safety pin through the shank!

The realistic flower shapes with a sparkly paste center make me swoon!

I bought a second card with simpler metal buttons, too!

While we were having a great holiday season, this little blog passed the 800 followers mark, so let's have a little giveaway, shall we? I'll share:

One of the pretty old metal buttons...

One of those beautiful, ruby red sparkly buttons...

and a piece cut from that last card, with three of those most beautiful metal buttons!

To help us celebrate 800 followers and win these five buttons, the giveaway is open to anyone and everyone has up to 2 chances to enter:

Comment on this post only and tell me how you heard about this blog! Be sure you have your email address either linked to your Blogger profile or available on your blog; if not, you must leave it in your comment so I have a way to get in touch with you.
If you follow this blog, comment a second time and say you do; this applies to new followers and those of you who have been friends for a while!
Leave your comments between now and 11:59 pm MT on January 14, 2012

I'll choose a comment at random on January 15, 2012; the commenter needs to respond to my email within 48 hours, sending me their mailing address. If I don't hear back from them within 48 hours I will choose an alternate name.

That's it! Oh -- I'm also doing a 3 year Blogaversary giveaway on my personal blog, Indulge Your Shelf. You are welcome to enter it by visiting here.

A Year of Buttoning in Review

2011-12-31T06:00:00.014-07:00

Here's a collage of some of the beautiful button fun we've had in 2011 here at Button Floozies!

Enjoy -- and we invite you to come back and see us every day in 2012!

Happy New Year!

Clock and Time-piece Buttons, Happy New Year

2011-12-29T21:44:00.001-07:00

Several years ago I wrote a short article to accompany my small collection of

clock and time-piece buttons

If you want to read this article please visit my blog Vintage Connections.

May you have a healthy, happy & prosperous

New Year,

Tami Hacker

Adorable Button Tags (Tutorial)

2011-12-28T15:48:00.003-07:00

Absolutely ADORABLE! Find the tutorial from Scrapbook Girl's blog! Thought you would love them! Cheery wave from Bev

Four more sleeps!

2011-12-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for Christmas? Only four more sleeps!

Look at these beautiful button tags! They were a gift from Kathy, who shares my love of buttons and shows some wonderful examples on her blog -- you must visit! They hang from sheer ribbon and I think they make beautiful Christmas ornaments. I love how she mixed buttons with wonderful textures in colors to complement the beautiful playing cards.

All my gifts are wrapped and I have found time to relax with family and do some creating, like this button bracelet I assembled. I have always wanted to make one like this! I love the feeling of accomplishing a long-time goal, don't you?

This time, I used all shell buttons, and added some crystal and silver beads. I made a pair of matching earrings, too. I hope you are finding time to play in your buttons as you craft, create gifts, and decorate for the holidays!

Wonderful vintage buttons book

2011-12-19T02:02:00.002-07:00

Ive just purchased this wonderful vintage buttons book, it has some lovely buttons a must for button lovers.

http://www.oldbuttonsshop.com/?page_id=4&category=13

Charlotte Lyon's Button Box Fabric

2011-12-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Lyons is one of my very favorite artists/designers/bloggers. I had a chance to meet her when I took both of her classes at Silver Bella 2010, and she is so nice!


Charlotte and me

Charlotte has a line of fabrics called Walnut Hill Farm Vintage Keepsake. One of the designs, in three different colors, is called Button Box and it is so yummy! Go see -- you will love it!

And for a look at the fabrics in sample projects, read her blog post about the quilt market last month! So much loveliness!

Follow my Button Love Board

2011-12-15T13:29:00.001-07:00

I am always loving button stuff online -- of course I am! If you are on Pinterest, I invite you to follow my Button Love Board, which is where I store my latest button online finds! Like this:

Soap Buttons from The Charming Frog

(Are you listening, Santa?)

ALSO: Many more button ornaments have been added to our Christmas Ornament Swap Linky Party post, which you may enjoy by clicking here!

Button Ornament Mini-Tutorial

2011-12-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

I paint on mother-of-pearl buttons and painted this Santa button as a gift for a special friend and made it into an ornament for her...

And here is how I did it.... First I put a 2 1/2" card stock circle on a 6" silk circle with a touch of glue to hold it in place. Then I gathered it "yoyo" style..

Then I added some small lace around the Santa and a lace medallion to the silk. I put it together adding a loop in the back and some bells to the bottom.
This would be fun with any Christmas button and easy enough for youngsters to do..

And here is a close up of the Santa... which is about 1 1/2". Merry Christmas everyone!

Look what came to my mailbox!

2011-12-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite button-related Facebook pages is the one hosted by The California State Button Society. They always have fun and beautiful button updates, so you can drool and learn and laugh about our mutual love of buttons!

A while back they posted a photo with a hint (it was a button, of course) and you had to guess what movie it was from. I was the first to guess correctly, and so I was sent an amazing button gift:

It is a bunch of buttons on a card, sent from Janelle, the administrator of the CSBS Facebook page, from her own personal stash! What a generous soul!

I am in button heaven. I especially love how, in true Button Society form, she labeled each of the buttons!

Carved shell buttons (in the photo above -- bottom, left) are among my very favorites! There's also a designer button from Laurel Birch (bottom, right) and two labeled "Victorian" (swoon!)

Look at this black glass button -- it's huge! Labeled "Ooh-la-la" so I think it might be a Paris back (but I haven't removed it from the card, yet, to see.)

I really love this oval-shaped, silver floral button...

and, when it comes down to it, buttons with interesting shapes are always among my favorites, like this one by Bob Benson.

This one is very Steampunk! How fun!
I hope you enjoyed seeing my newest collection! Many, many thanks to the California State Button Society for sharing their button love!

Victorian ladies and their buttons

2011-12-07T11:43:00.002-07:00

Looking through my collection of victorian cdv's etc i found these ladies and their outfits featuring lots of buttons.

Estate Sale Buttons... to buy or not to buy?

2011-12-06T10:17:00.012-07:00

A lot of people ask me "where can I buy buttons?" Antique malls and flea markets have buttons, either individually or in bags or jars. Ebay has a huge selection, but they can get pricey.

My favorite place to get buttons is estate sales. The reason I like estate sales for buttons is that they are usually untouched and unsorted and in the condition that the original owner left them. If the house has had the same owner for 30 years, you'll probably find a 30 year accumulation of buttons.

However, if you go to a flea market or antique mall, the buttons will probably already have been "picked over". Somebody like me will have gone through the buttons and pulled the really good ones to sell individually.

So, all that brings me to the question in the title of my post. How do you know when to buy buttons at estate sales? The answer- I don't know, I guess I just kind of go with a gut instinct. On Friday, I was one of the first people in the door at an estate sale. The flat of buttons in the picture above was in a back bedroom. I couldn't really see all of the buttons because so many were bagged up. The price for the flat was $25.

I couldn't quite do the math to figure out if the box was worth $25 but my instinct told me "Buy It" (or maybe that was my Button Greed speaking).

When I analyze it, the "instincts" that made me buy the buttons were these little things I had picked up while I was in the house:

*a lot of the stuff in the house was very vintage, the buttons probably were too.
*someone had taken the time to sort at least some of the buttons into bags and plastic boxes, so someone else at least had some appreciation for the buttons.

*just doing a really quick count, I found at least 25 buttons that I liked, and there were a lot of buttons that I didn't count. That's not to say that I'm willing to pay a dollar a button- but I figured I could pull some to keep and I could keep the rest and they'd pay for the ones I kept.

*the last time I passed on a box of buttons, I went back 5 minutes later to get them and they were gone. "She who hesitates at an estate sale leaves empty handed".

So, do you want to see some of my buttons?

It seems like every button box I've ever bought has some tax tokens mixed in like these red ones from Missouri.
Blue buttons- my favorites are the blue on the left that look like they have whipped cream centers.

These are glass, mother of pearl and the group in the center is metal that has aged with a nice patina.

This was the contents of one of the baggies that pulled me in and made me think "BUY". I really liked the gold hat shaped button on the upper right.
But, when I opened the bag, little pieces of broken buttons fell out.

I call these "Button Crumbies". I've heard that plastic buttons should never be stored with metal buttons. Something in the old plastic can make the metal rust and something in the metal can make plastic fall apart.

After I dusted off the crumbies, the buttons were pretty again. Bakelite, celluloid and mother of pearl- some of my favorites.

I still have more sorting to do, but what do you think? Did I make the right button decision?

Wishing you HAPPY HOLIDAYS and hopefully a sleigh full of buttons...

2011-12-05T19:34:00.002-07:00

Happy Holidays to All!

I created this image with a small metal sleigh and filled it with several of my buttons for the front cover of the Missouri State Button Society 2005-2006 Winter Bulletin - Tami Hacker

Christmas Ornament Swap Linky Party!

2011-12-03T11:21:00.001-07:00

Okay, here's your chance to see all the ornaments that were exchanged in the Christmas Ornament Swap we just finished. With 32 people participating -- there is a lot to see! Please click on each thumbnail to be taken to participant's blogs or the Button Floozies Swap Flickr page and see all the Christmas fun!

Call for Buttons

2011-12-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

One of my many passions is making handmade flowers. I love the simple easy techniques that make beautiful flowers for my mixed media and altered art creations.

I am hoping some of my fellow Floozies can help me out. I am looking for some round rhinestone buttons with pearl centers. These do not have to be old. They can also be pearl centers with gold tone or silver tone around the edges as well.

I have lots of things to trade. Lace, embroidered trim, other buttons, scrapbook papers, ribbon. You name it I probably have it. I even have a few new Tim Holtz distress inks for stamping.

Please contact me if you can help me out! I would be so grateful and appreciative!

HugZ, Jean

Blingy Buttons

2011-11-30T19:24:00.004-07:00

Oh buttons, how do I love thee ...

Let me count the ways.

Sorry, I couldn't choose just one or two pictures.

These awesome buttons came from the BKG Antique Mall in Lakeworth, Fl. Approximately 75 beaded and rhinestoned buttons for $25.

How could I resist?

Could you?

Two Kinds of Buttons

2011-11-29T12:42:00.025-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a Girl Who Loved Buttons- pink buttons,

buttons on cards,
what she called her "special" buttons,
white buttons,

green buttons- most any kind of button.

The girl had a friend who had a Yorkie dog named Twinkle and Twinkle was expecting puppies.

When the puppies were born, there were six tiny little treasures- three girls and three boys.

The friend of the Girl Who Loved Buttons said "I'd like to give you a puppy for your birthday

...and your husband has already said it was ok".

The puppies were too little to leave Twinkle right away, and that gave the Girl Who Loved Buttons a chance to think of the perfect name for her puppy. She drove home from the friend's house and looked at all the road signs along the way.

Eudora- how about Dory?

Evening Star Rd-maybe his name could be Star.

Sunflower Ammunition Plant- maybe Sunny.

Kill Creek Rd- no, no good ideas there.

Moonlight Rd- Moony?

Woodland Road- Woody?

No, none of those seemed quite right.

The girl sat down at her computer and saw a card of buttons next to the monitor- and knew- her puppy should be named BUTTON.

A few weeks later, Button came home to live with his much bigger brother, Buddy;

and even bigger sister Maddie. And he's been our cute as a button puppy ever since.

(Button with his sister, Agnes Rose)

My chunky button bracelet

2011-11-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was at a craft fair and saw these cool crocheted bracelets an artist had made. They were very simple, just a crocheted chain with a clasp. The first thing I thought was, I could sew buttons onto that!

And so, I did! I just went through my stash of vintage buttons to use for crafts and chose different red, green and white buttons (thinking "Christmas.")

I alternated red and green on the "top" of the bracelet...

and white along each "side" of the bracelet. I simply sewed the buttons onto the crocheted yarn. (You can see the crocheted part in the top middle-to-right of the bracelet in the photo above.)

I'm very happy with the way it turned out! It's chunky, but surprisingly comfortable! I think it really "pops" and I'm going to have a ball wearing it for casual Christmas-time fun!

Getting to Know Me

2011-11-26T02:55:00.001-07:00

Greetings from sunny New Zealand. I'm a brand new Author on Button Floozies and a 'virgin' Button Collector if I can say that! I'm addicted to vintage buttons and the thrill of finding a very old button and checking out its history is exhilirating to me!!! Is that sad or what??? haha
I'm also a quilter but when I have found a new lot of buttons my quilts seem to take a back seat!! So now I'm making a quilt that I can put buttons on.. best of both worlds.

I love moonglow buttons. They are common but... they're pretty!

I thought I'd show you some of my favourite buttons, not all by any means. But some of my recent 'finds' and some of my favourite types

I love these. Some are glass with patterns on top and some in behind. Just gorgeous.

I bought these at a fete. Two of them are Bimini buttons, but the camel picture button intriques me.
It's in excellent condition but very old. I should add that the card it's on doesn't belong to the button.
The stall had several of them sewn on to photocopied cards belonging to other buttons.
This one has four small shadows on it. I was fooled to start with.

I found this one last week and cleaned it up. I'm really excited that it's come up so beautiful.
Its says Patrona Bavaria 1868!
I bet there's history behind it.

These are a card belonging to a friend who collects buttons. Art deco Glass!

A large mirror backed button I picked up for $5 recently. It's the largest I've seen so far about 2" across.

I have collected a few black glass but still a couple of spaces and double ups to replace.

Another amazing button I found. Esmeralda and the Dancing Goat picture button.
I'm not sure how old it is though.

I am just starting to make necklaces and gifts with my 'ordinary' buttons after finding so many ideas on Button Floozies. I just need more time haha!

Karen

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some great buttons from (where else?) Etsy:

via The Old Crow Shop

via Whimsey Dimples


via Tessa Ann

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Pearly whites

2011-11-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

My friend who's participating in the Christmas Ornament Swap gave me the most wonderful gift for being the swap hostess:

I am over the moon!

Look at all these pretty pearl buttons -- on cards!

All vintage

Bonus: a buckle!

Mother of pearl (or, shell) + Vintage =

Button heaven!

Button Tag Book Swap~

2011-11-19T08:28:00.002-07:00

(Note from Laurie: This is not a Button Floozies blog swap, but a swap on Jean Elizabeth's own blog.)

It's a swap:

Please see here for more details.

You will make one tag book for your partner. Three tags(minimum) per book.

One tag book container with charm closure.

Feel free to hop over to my blog Lilac Lane Livery and sign up. Deadline extended to November 28th!

Have you seen this?

2011-11-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

I want to show you something that Christine has posted to her blog, The Alchymyst's Study. She posts about many creative things and you may enjoy seeing what she has done. Here are three things she has done using buttons.

Aren't these mini button flower bouquets adorable? They are arranged in thimbles and the coin gives you and idea of their size.

A larger version of the button flower bouquets. Christine got the graphics from The Graphics Fairy. This is another blog with a lot of creative ideas which you may also enjoy.

I just included this picture from Christine's blog because it is cute, a good recycled use of an old sweater, and best of all it uses buttons.

Button Decisions

2011-11-15T10:35:00.003-07:00

I just wanted to share some vintage buttons I was having a hard time choosing between for my new bag...

Aren't they pretty? I really wanted to add them all...

(The one on the far left is a new one, but reproduction)

Come take a peek at my blog to see which one I chose ;)

Some of my favorite things

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things is scouring the thrift stores and antique markets for buttons and vintage sewing notions. I came across these pretty metal rose buttons. The card is a little tattered but I will enjoy using them in some of my altered art and other button creations.

This is one of my altered matchboxes. Actually, my very first altered matchbox. I hope you enjoy it. I included some of my favorite things. Dress form, pins and beads, buttons, vintage measuring tape and thread spool and vintage linens and doilies.

What are some of your most favorite things?

Cake Lover*

2011-11-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

Attention "Cake Lover*" -- I have reserved a spot for you the Christmas Ornament Swap but I need your contact info: name, address, email address! You probably emailed me but the Blogger gremlins intercepted the email, so please resend it!

Send to buttonfloozies@gmail.com and then comment here that you have sent it -- please include your email address in the comment! (I will keep watch and delete it as soon as I see it so you don't need to worry about having your email address "out there"!)

Thank you!

Christmas Button Floozies Swap Deadline Extended...

2011-11-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

I wasn't expecting to be out of town this weekend, but since I am going to be I decided to extend the deadline to sign up for the Christmas Ornament Swap until November 13 (instead of the 11th) and then I will notify you of your 3 swap partners' addresses on the morning of the 14th (instead of the 12th)!

Swaps will still be due out on November 28! It's a quick turnaround but if you can do it it will be lots of fun!

All the details and how to sign up are HERE!

Vintage Satin buttons purchase

2011-11-10T06:44:00.002-07:00

Hi, Button Floozies

I purchased these lovely tiny pink satin buttons for my collection they are so cute :)

Vintage Button Christmas Tree Earrings

2011-11-09T13:03:00.003-07:00

I found these adorable vintage button earrings in the Etsy shop called Jillian Audrey Designs. They are adorable and very reasonable. She also has several other great items listed in her shop.

I just completed two new button bracelets. Email me through Corgis In My Garden for details if you are interested in purchasing one of them.

2011-11-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite button projects. This is a coffee/tea stained old dish cloth that I stitched free hand with lots of yummy shell and mop button flowers.

Buttons at Tiffany's

2011-11-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

Well, not really Tiffany buttons -- but that beautiful blue color that reminds me of it!

I found these beauties at an antique store; they're not real antiques, but probably from the 1950s. They're made from two different kinds of plastic -- the blue which is molded in a mottled texture, and the inserted pearly white center.

These are from the same period. Look at that pretty silvertone detail along the bottom! The button is covered with a kind of faux leather. The effect reminds me of a pillbox hat!

These are just common silver buttons, but special, I thought, because of the cute card with the Eiffel Tower on it. It's marked on the back that they're made in France. This will go into one of my art journals with a French theme, probably -- someday!

'Just a little Tuesday morning button peeping! Thanks for looking with me!

JUST FOR FUN!

2011-11-07T12:39:00.005-07:00

Thought you might enjoy this...plastic fruit covered in buttons! Clever! From www.lollychops.com

Christmas Button Floozies Swap!

2011-11-01T06:00:00.100-06:00

This swap is now closed!

Let's have another swap before the end of the year!

This one will be a Christmas Ornament Swap.

And, it will be a group swap.

I will put you in groups of 4.
We will each send and receive

3 button ornaments!

Definition of a button ornament:

A Christmas ornament made to hang on a tree or to be a small shelf or table accent, that is decorated with buttons. The buttons do not necessarily need to be the only decoration element of the ornament -- but it should be a main or special element of the decoration. Your ornament should be handmade.

Timeframe:

Sign-up period: November 1-13, 2011
Notification of swap partners: ~~November 12, 2011~~ November 14, 2011
Swaps must be in the mail by: Monday, November 28, 2011

It is a quick turnaround, I realize; please be sure you can adhere to the deadline before committing!

A NOTE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SWAPPING: Because it is a quick turnaround, I'll be matching you up with partners on your own continent; that should cut down on postage costs for everyone and also shipping time!

How it works:

You sign up for the swap by emailing me your name, address, and blog address if you have one. Send the email to: buttonfloozies@gmail.com
After you email me the above information, comment on this post that you have; this step is so that I can contact you if Blogger plays tricks on me with emails, as they have been known to do in the past!
Once you've signed up, you can begin making your 3 ornaments right away! You don't need to wait until November 12 to get started.
I will randomly place people into groups of 4; on November 12 I will email you each the names and addresses of the swappers in your group.
Take a photo of your creations, then send one of your ornaments to each of the other 3 members in your group; be sure to have them in the mail by Monday, November 28, 2011.
Sit back and wait to receive 3 different ornaments in the mail from your partners!
Once all the members of your group have received your swap, post your photos on the blog and/or on our Button Floozies Swap page on Flickr; I'll do another linky party on this blog so we can all enjoy them!

'Sound like fun? I hope so! Tell all your friends! Everyone is invited to participate!

Still falling...

2011-10-31T07:40:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone who's celebrating has a fun-filled Halloween today!

Can you spot the little yellow scaredy cat button above?

This is the pile of goodies that went to Leila as the winner

in our 700 Followers Giveaway!

Among the Fall-themed goodies was something special...

this button which was made out of sea glass!

Don't forget: click here

to see many more (15 at last count!)

blogs with photos

of the buttons and tins

received in the

Fall in Love with Buttons swap!

Fall in Love with Buttons Linky Party

Button Box

2011-10-29T18:16:00.000-06:00

A 'lil eye candy.

My Most Recent Button Finds

2011-10-29T14:01:00.006-06:00

A couple of years ago, I found a treasure trove of buttons in a little town near our rental cottage. Last summer I made my way to the store only to find it gone. Because it's such a small town, I was able to ask around and find the ladies who had owned the shop. Luckily, they still had a stash of buttons and I was able to purchase some.

I love that large one with the cording around the edge. It looks as if it might be a hand made button and the material has the look and feel of very fine hair but it's hard to tell for sure and the person I bought it from couldn't identify the material either. I know that people used to save the hair of loved ones and use it in jewelry but I'm not sure if anyone made buttons from it.
In the top photograph, you can see that I got some lovely carved mother of pearl buttons which fascinate me because of the many variations in the designs of the carvings.
I was also able to by a few bakelite shank buttons which I hope to make into a bracelet.
Happy collecting to you all!

O' how do I love thee...

2011-10-28T15:30:00.000-06:00

Yes, buttons! It is these cool fall days and soon to be winter mornings that compels us to get out or fabric scraps, wool felt and stitching kits. I love snuggling with a blanket and my button tins choosing just the right collection for my next art project. This year I have several new estate button lots to go through and sort. I can't wait to see what I find. I am thrilled to be here to share with you my love of 'thee beloved button'. Here are a few to spark your creative juices!

Pumpkin Pocket Giveaway

2011-10-25T13:17:00.005-06:00

I am hosting a pumpkin themed giveaway on my home blog. I'd like to extend the invitation to you.

Along with a few other treasures, I am including several buttons. For details, click here. I will draw a name on Friday, October 28th.

And we have a WINNER in the 700 Followers Giveaway!

2011-10-22T08:27:00.000-06:00

It has been so much fun getting to know everyone

since taking over as Admin of this Button Floozies blog!

Our first swap was such a big success (see the previous post

for our linky party with swap photos, filling up in the next few days!)

We have been having a contest to win this altered tin

full of fall-themed buttons, and a couple of surprises, too!

The lucky winner is:

Leila

Congratulations, Leila! Please email us

buttonfloozies (at) gmail (dot) com

with your mailing address!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Fall in Love with Buttons Swap Linky Party!

2011-10-22T06:00:00.022-06:00

The Fall in Love with Buttons Swap deadline to mail swaps was Friday, October 21. We have a couple of ways for everyone to see and enjoy the swaps: one way is to visit the Button Floozies Button Swap Flickr Group and see what photos have been uploaded there. And another way is through this Linky Party!

For those of you who may be new to linky parties, it is a way to catalog blog posts by many authors on many blogs, all on the same subject. If you click on the photo squares below, each link will take you to the blog of a Fall in Love with Buttons Swap participant who blogged about their swaps sent and received. It's a great way to get to see many of the swaps, as well as "meet" some of your fellow Button Floozies! So, click on the link, and when you want to see the next swap blog post, come back to this post and click on the next one.

Swappers, please link up here to your specific blog post about the Fall in Love with Buttons Swap, not your blog's home page.

I can't wait to see what everyone's sent and received!

Lovely vintage pink glass buttons

2011-10-20T03:12:00.002-06:00

Do you like these pink glass buttons?
If you do you can purchase them at ebid
http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/set-of-vintage-moonglow-pink-glass-buttons-50759907.htm
I post worldwide and combine postage and packing

Celluloid Beauty, and, Last Chance to Enter Giveaway!

2011-10-19T08:25:00.000-06:00

Look at these beauties: this style of "carving" on a button

is why they're called buffed celluloid.

They are one of my favorite types!

All these buttons are different examples of buttons made from celluloid.

I could look at them all day long!

You have three more days to enter!

The 700 Followers Giveaway

ends at 11:59 MT on Friday, October 21, 2011

Click here to enter!

BEAUTIFUL BUTTON TREES

2011-10-18T20:07:00.007-06:00

Found these beautiful button trees and thought they were great inspiration for the upcoming holidays! Hope you enjoy them!

Cheery wave

2011-10-16T12:10:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

It is a bright sunny day today and I want to show you a little exchange gift that I received a couple years ago.

It is a pinkeep, The specifications for the exchange were that we use a Quaker sampler motif and that its colors be suggestive of a specific season which I believe was spring.

Now here is the reason I want to show it to you. It is edged with white buttons. I believe that they are all modern plastic buttons. There is nothing exceptional about them except they are an exceptionally nice border on the pinkeep.

A close-up to show how the buttons are attached.


Another close-up to show the flower buttons.

A view of the back to show you the backing fabric. If you happen to have or know of a source for this fabric or a similar print, I desperately want a small scrap of it.

Cute As A Button Bag

2011-10-11T19:44:00.002-06:00

See more photos of this amazing bag here:

I can't make out the name of the maker but she is amazing! I wish I had the patience to sew that many buttons onto one item. I thought you would enjoy seeing this wonderful work of art!

Cheery wave from
Bev

Beautiful fabric buttons

2011-10-09T16:03:00.000-06:00

Here are some beautiful buttons that have been inspiring me lately, all by Liz from her etsy shop LiDDesigns:

Delicate Rosebuds Buttons


Pink Chandelier Buttons

August and Everything After Peridot Buttons

People have been covering buttons to match or coordinate with the fabrics on their outfits since the beginning of the last century, often using a wooden or celluloid "blank" as the base. Today, you can buy kits in the notions section of many fabric stores to make your own fabric-covered buttons. Serious button collectors should be aware that thrifty seamstresses in the last century often re-used old buttons by covering them with fabric; therefore, before discarding that tattered wool button, try removing the wool to see what could be underneath!

As you can see, Liz takes fabric buttons to the next level with her lovely gathering, addition of rhinestones, and overall artistry! Check out her shop for lots more button lovelies!

ALSO: don't forget to enter our 700 Followers Giveaway!

Buttons Used In Artwork

2011-10-08T07:05:00.001-06:00

This morning I opened my

account to find an artist

using buttons in

her Mixed Media

creations.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/julie_haymaker_thompson/3020344407/

(blogger will not let me post the photo, please click link)

The following photo

is from Julie's etsy shop.

Deb

How to make an easy Raggedy Ann Christmas Ornament

2011-10-07T20:04:00.002-06:00

I love painting faces on MOP buttons... Here is Raggedy Ann with her MOP face and a button heart on my crazy quilt Christmas block. You can use her by herself as an easy-to-make ornament... I have a tutorial on my blog These are also cute on tags for packages and on name tags for Christmas events...

In that same series here is a "sugar plump fairy" with a painted face on an MOP button.

crafter...oo magazine

2011-10-07T03:30:00.001-06:00

My craft forum

http://www.crafteroo.co.uk/smf/index.php

has produced this fantastic magazine
it is quarterly and is a bargain at only £1.50
there are 17 projects
lots of advice and much more
a really good read

click the link below to find out how to buy a copy

http://www.crafteroo.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,8757.0.html

I hope you don't mind me promoting it here but i'm just so proud
to have been involved in making it!
I have a tutorial in it for this pendant

which i will be giving away to one lucky subscriber

thanks for reading

x vInTaGe VioLeT x

Buttons in the Victoria & Albert

2011-10-05T04:50:00.000-06:00

When I wrote my last post for you, on Diana Epstein, I was searching for links to historical collections of buttons. I found this one and thought it deserved a post of its very own.

So here it is. Basically I have put in the word 'buttons' in the search of the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. This is the result.

What lovely things appeared before my eyes.

I haven't added the photos here. One because I do not have permission, and two because I think it will be fun for you to follow the link.

So have you done an online search of a local or national museum? I think it would be good to try.

Alix. Bigbluebed.

Sewing Machine Makeover

2011-10-04T19:20:00.003-06:00

blo
Just thought this would make you smile...from http://bonkersaboutbuttons1.blogspot.com. I'm not sure who did this because her blog entry doesn't say. Think whoever did this to her machine is actually using it? Fun!

Let's Have a Button Giveaway!

2011-10-03T13:46:00.001-06:00

ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Well, this little blog has grown in the last several weeks, and we now have more than 700 followers! To celebrate, I thought it would be fun to have a Button Giveaway!

In honor of 700 followers, and in conjunction with our Fall in Love with Buttons Swap (now closed!), we are going to giveaway the sample Autumn Button Tin that I showed you when I announced the swap:

That way, even if you're not participating in the swap,

you can still get in on the fun!

It is a decorated Altoids tin, and it is full of buttons in the Autumn theme!

There are about 50 buttons in the tin!

And I'm adding these vintage cards of buttons...

and one more surprise for the lucky winner!

(Hint: it will be a special BUTTON!)

Since the Fall in Love with Buttons Swap (now closed!)

finishes up on October 21, 2011,

that is the deadline for entering this giveaway, too!

Here's how to enter:

Leave a comment on this post ONLY and that is your entry!
If you are already a follower, or if you sign up to be a new follower, you can leave a second comment and that is your second entry.
That's it! Two possible entries per person! The winner will be chosen via a random number generator on October 22, 2011!
Please be sure that your comment links back to your email address, either on your Blogger profile or an email address that is easy to find on your blog. If it doesn't, you must leave your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if you win!
The winner will be announced on this blog on October 22, 2011 and I will also contact the winner via email; if I don't hear back within 72 hours of contacting the winner, I will choose an alternate winner!

Good luck everyone!

Button Necklace

2011-09-29T19:22:00.004-06:00

I recently found a great tutorial to make a button necklace on the Lilly Pilly blog which is written by a lady in Australia. The necklace Jo made for her tutorial is beautiful and I know you'll enjoy her blog. I made my necklace in the above picture out of vintage mother of pearl buttons.

I am new to Button Floozies and look forward to sharing ideas for projects with fellow "floozies". Also, I am always looking for metal buttons for my bracelets (my bracelets were featured in a post last week) and hope to discover new sources to buy buttons.

Please stop by my blog, Corgis In My Garden, and meet my three corgis, enjoy pictures of my dollhouses, and check out my craft projects.

Boo Button Halloween Pumpkin

2011-09-29T09:36:00.003-06:00

Here's a fun way to use some of your black button stash for an unusual and cute Halloween decoration! We used an artificial pumpkin from Hobby Lobby so that we could keep and use this little pumpkin year after year!

Little Pretties

2011-09-28T06:00:00.002-06:00

Ravishing in Red

A roaring lion and tiny, shell like glass buttons

These are just some buttons I picked up at an antique store last week!

It doesn't take much to make me happy...

Whimsy Jar Full of Buttons

2011-09-27T15:16:00.003-06:00

This post and my last post go hand in hand, so I had to post it now before time gets the best of me. I mentioned that I made a tiny book for Michelle Gellar's tiny book swap.
Along with the tiny books I sent to her for the other participants, I sent her a whimsy jar full of various crafting supplies... like... buttons, of course! I loved this yellow and red color scheme... even though it made me hungry for McDonald's french fries. 'Cause of the red and yellow colors... see where I'm going with that? ;) *chuckle*I originally posted about this whimsy jar here if you want to take a look. :)

Tiny Books

2011-09-27T14:06:00.005-06:00

I often post pictures on my home blog of my paper projects. I often use buttons as embellishments on these projects. Sometimes I forget to share them here. Shame on me! ;) I'm weeding though my posts now searching for those posts with buttons (there's lots of them!) and I will be posting them here for you to see.

I have made several tiny books lately. I can't get enough of them. Julie Collings is the originator of these tiny books. See my post here for way too much information on tiny books.

This is one of my tiny book collages (before it's copied and folded to make the tiny books):

I made this one for a tiny book swap hosted by Michelle Gellar.
Several of the "pages" have buttons on them.
You can read more about this tiny book here. I will eventually get to posting about other tiny books I've made with buttons on them as embellishments, but if you have an affinity for tiny books and can't stand the wait, you can also look here. ;)
This tiny book is also listed in my etsy shop here (it is one amongst several others).
:) Come back soon!

Petite Matchbox decorated with Buttons

2011-09-27T13:58:00.003-06:00

I received a pretty, petite box from a friend recently. She decorated the box with a few buttons in my favorite color scheme: pale pink and pale blue.She also included my favorite supplies: a small jar full of buttons.

Feel free to click here for more pictures of this pretty package.

Buttons in the Mail

2011-09-27T13:39:00.004-06:00

I received a lovely package with a variety of craft supplies... including buttons:which is why I'm sharing the package with you. ;) I knew you would appreciate them as much as I do. I sent an assortment of supplies in return including buttons. Read more about it here. :)

Happy Fall!

Going on sale tomorrow

2011-09-27T12:23:00.000-06:00

For those who are interested and able to purchase, Rag Rescue will be offering some buttons for sale tomorrow.

Fall in Love with Buttons Swap Partners Announced

2011-09-24T20:32:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to give a quick update on the Fall in Love with Buttons Swap:

We have 36 button-lovers participating!

Partners have been assigned and emails sent to all participants tonight!

We will be sharing photos of all the fun

on our swap Flicker page next month,

so be sure to keep an eye out for the link right here.

Button Bracelets...

2011-09-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

I recently spent the day with my friend, Sharon of Corgis in my Garden blog. Over lunch, she showed me the silver button bracelets that she's been creating.

She's been perfecting her designs for a while now, and she's found the best band materials, prettiest clasps and most importantly, the most beautiful buttons to create her bracelets. Being a Button Floozie myself, I was entranced with all the shiny buttons and wanted one of each!

Here's the best part, Floozies: She's made them available for purchase through her website! You can choose from one or two rows of buttons (shown above), and her prices are very reasonable. (Her prices include shipping, too!)

If you're interested in owning one of her gorgeous creations, you can click here to go to her blog. Just send her an email through her contact link for more information.

Oh, and don't forget to stop over and visit me at Brynwood Needleworks. I love sharing my current projects, stories about my corgi, Taggart, and free patterns & tutorials.

The Trumpeter of Krakow (Cracow)

2011-09-22T07:48:00.003-06:00

Laurie's September 6, 2011 Button Floozies post of Button Floozies: Are you a button floozie?... Calling all Floozies shows us a button known as The Trumpeter of Krakow (Cracow)

Over the years, the Trumpeter of Krakow has been depicted on buttons starting in the late 1800s as Victorian picture buttons. This button was manufactured in various materials, sizes and slightly different images.

The story depiction of this button relates to 13th century Polish folklore. The story tells us one day in Krakow, the ancient capital of Poland, an old watchman guarding the town from the Market Square church tower, noticed in the distance, a cloud of dust growing bigger and bigger as it approached the town.

The dust cloud was a large army of Tatars. The Tatars had invaded their city before burning it and looting, murdering and enslaving its residences.

The Trumpeter of Krakow's job was to play an fanfare every hour. On this day, high above the town in the tower, the only thing the trumpeter was able to do to warn the people was was to play the same Hejnal (St. Mary's Dawn, a Crocovian hymn) over and over.

At first the people of Krakow were puzzled by the same song, but eventually understood that an attack was imminent.

The Krakow archers took their positions waiting for the Tatars arrival. Surprising the Tatars with wave after wave of flying arrows, the Tatars were forced to retreat, saving the town of Krakow.

After this victory, the towns people found the Trumpeter of Krakow in the tower with a Tatar arrow piercing his throat. He died with his trumpet clasped in his hands ready to play another warning note.

To honor the trumpeter, the Cracovians decreed the Hejnal to be played at dawn and dusk daily in his memory.

Historical records tell us the playing of the Hejnal has been cancelled and reinstated several times. Today, the trumpeter still plays daily.

Starting in 1927, a live broadcast of the trumpeter playing the Hejnal from the church is broadcasted daily at noon on the Polish national radio station.

The Trumpeter of Krakow is one of many stories that have found their way as designs on clothing buttons. It continues to amaze me how one can study buttons and tell history through them.

Art, stories, inventions, world events, fashion are just a few things used over the years in the creation of clothing buttons - a timeline of buttons is a timeline of history.

by Tami Hacker, Vintage Connections

Diana Epstein and How She Bought a Shop Full of Buttons

2011-09-21T03:03:00.003-06:00

Hello I am Alix from Bigbluebed. Pleased to meet you. This is my first Button Floozie post.

‘Hmm, what shall I write?’ I pondered. And then I remembered a little book that I recently bought at a Second Hand Book Shop in Chichester. It is this book ‘Buttons’ by Diana Epstein, published in London by Studio Vista in 1968.

Now I like buttons. I think you know what I mean – filled with glee when finding a pot of buttons in a charity shop, gasps of delight when finding antique buttons, having fun sorting plain plastic buttons into colour.

So finding this book was wonderful.

Do you do that thing – put a wonderful new purchase away for a bit as you are too excited and too busy to devote the time to spend on it now? I do and so it was only recently that I took time to read the book. And I still haven’t really. I have just dipped into it with great pleasure.

In the book buttons are looked at chronologically, so it covers early buttons through, 18th century, and 19th century up to modern buttons (well modernish since this was published in 1968). There are lots of photographs of buttons, and also (and really exciting for me) illustrations which show old button making machines.

Second-hand copies of the book are available on places like Amazon.

I then began to wonder about Diana Epstein who wrote the book. She died in 1998 and I urge you to read her obituary here, as it tells of how her ‘need to replace some plastic (ugh!) buttons on a stylish new jacket led her down a rabbit hole of miniature wonder into an enchanted world awash in buttons’. She was looking for new buttons for her coat and ended up buying a button shop!

Diana Epstein and her partner Millicent Safro at first knew nothing about the history of their hundred of thousand buttons but they soon set about finding out. They became experts.

I like this bit in the obituary where is says ' to their eventual dismay, both had become so hopelessly hooked on buttons that selling a treasured set would make them cry.'

This shop Tender Buttons is, I believe, still open today. I love its website full of information and gorgeous photos of buttons. Pop over and have a look here.

Breathtaking Button Art

2011-09-20T11:33:00.004-06:00

R. L. Lewis elevates the button to the realm of fine art. I just had to share this gorgeous creation! Love to you all from Bev

A peek at the fruits of my Creative Button Swap

2011-09-19T10:25:00.001-06:00

Not to be confused with the Fall in Love with Buttons Swap we're doing here on Button Floozies (sign ups continue through September 23 for that one; details here)...this was the Creative Button Swap I participated in with friends on Tami's blog, Vintage Connections.

Click here to visit my blog and see both of the creative button creations!

Attention participants in the Fall in Love with Buttons Swap...

2011-09-16T07:43:00.001-06:00

If you've emailed me to be a part of the Fall in Love with Buttons Swap you should have received a quick reply from me.

If you haven't received a reply from me, please re-send your info, and comment here to let me know you are doing so. (Twice now I've discovered I'm not getting all the emails. I don't know why I'm getting some but maybe not all...)

Again: only if you haven't heard back from me, please send me another email. Thank you, and I very much apologize for the inconvenience!

British Button Society member on Youtube

2011-09-15T03:25:00.003-06:00

Thought you might like to watch this youtube video of Jenny Swindells, the mother of pearl buttons below are from my collection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yi2IQ42puY

Show Off Those Buttons!

2011-09-13T06:00:00.003-06:00

Print or trace a letter onto colored paper and add buttons! Frame and congratulate yourself!

Take a Look at This Blog Entry

2011-09-12T07:08:00.002-06:00

I think you may develop a serious case of button envy when you see these buttons.

I am sorry to do this this way but I wanted to post the first link as soon as I could. I was already a little late for a morning appointment. I am home now and searched out these links. For those of you who also like to stitch, maybe you know about Martina and maybe you don't. If you do, please bear with me. Martina has a design, Button Garden, that is designed for the stitcher to add buttons. Buttons are stitched where there are round flowers.

If you stitch and are interested in Martina's Button Garden, she has it available online and you can find out a little more about it here.

As Always,
Linda

Button Pendant & Button Charm

2011-09-09T21:46:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone! I've been quiet lately, but love looking at all the lovely and unique buttons.

I wanted to share a button pendant I made at a wire wrapping class at one of our local bead shops. It was my first time wrapping a button. It turned out to be my favorite! I bought this button especially for the class. It is wooden and about the size of a half dollar.

This charm I made for an Art Charm group I am in - Purple/Green. I love these colors together. Simple yet bold!

Have a great weekend everyone!
Bev

Help!!

2011-09-09T11:02:00.002-06:00

I need to attach a bunch of vintage shank buttons to cards and am looking for a source of the "hitch pin cotter pins" in a very small size in packages of 100... Anyone know of a source.???

Found a source.... http://www.gotbolts.com/ The order number is 0936- 31P and they were just over $7 for 100...

Happiness Is Being A New Floozy

2011-09-08T13:52:00.000-06:00

Like most, if not all of you, I played with buttons when I was a child. I played with my grandmother's buttons when I went to her house. I would sit on the floor beside her as she sewed. I counted her buttons and I sorted her buttons for hours on end. I loved that old fruitcake tin with buttons in it.

It has been a disappointment to me that no one thought I might want the buttons when they broke up my grandmother's house. I suspect that the buttons were thrown out, tin and all. To compensate, I collect buttons now. I pick up buttons at estate sales because I think it would be sad if they were thrown out.

I still like to look at the buttons but now I use them to finish stitchery projects. I do counted work and frequently need a button or two to close a pocket, a needlebook, or other stitcher's accessory. I also like to use my buttons as props or accessories in the pictures I take of my finished work. There are some pictures of my finishes in my blog. They are scattered throughout; please keep in mind that I started my blog as a way to keep in touch with a very dear friend. That means it is more like a series of letters to a friend and covers a wide range of topics. It does not specialize on one or two topics.

Fall in Love with Buttons: the SWAP

2011-09-08T13:18:00.012-06:00

Thank you to everyone who signed up to participate!

This swap is now closed.

With Autumn soon upon (most of) us, I thought it would be a lot of fun to have a Fall-themed swap! The Fall in Love with Buttons Swap is one-to-one; that is, each participant will be paired up with a swap partner. We will each alter an Altoids tin, filling it with autumn colored or autumn themed buttons, and send it to our partner!

Here is an example of what I mean. I altered the Altoids tin above using scraps of fabric and ribbon, and then embellishing it on top. Then, I went through my button collection and chose some that were Fall colored (oranges, greens, yellows, browns) and Fall themed (leaves, plants, pinwheels) -- anything that said "Fall" to me!

When I had packed the buttons into the tin, I found it fit about 50 buttons. (That doesn't look like 50 buttons, does it? It's actually 49.)

Doesn't that sound like fun?

More specifics for you:

The tin:

The standard Altoids tin is 4" x 2.5"
"Altered" in this case simply means "decorated." You can do it simply as I did, or get fancier.
There is a fantastic tutorial on how to cover a tin here. In it, she uses paper to cover the tin, but her instructions work just as well with fabric. (Note: it took me about 15 minutes to decorate my tin; I used scissors, not an Exacto knife, and glue, not Modge Podge, and ribbon, not paper. Nothing fancy!)
The newer Altoids tins are raised/dimensional rather than completely flat on top now, but they still cover quite well without looking "bumpy".
For more altered Altoids tin ideas then you ever wanted, search for Altoids tin on Flickr.

The buttons:

Use any buttons you love for the swap -- they need not be new and they need not be vintage. You might want to do some of both, like I did in the example.
As aforementioned, the theme is "Fall" so that means colors you associate with the season: yellows, oranges, greens, browns, reds, etc. Buttons can be shaped like leaves, acorns, baskets, scarecrows, ETC. Try to include your most interesting and delightful, quality buttons!
Please be sure to send a minimum of 40 buttons in your tin! You can include more if they fit, but the tin should be full, and still able to close snugly. In my example, most of the buttons were small, so I was able to fit 49 in the tin.

How to participate:

Email me at buttonfloozies@gmail.com by Friday, September 23, 2011, with the following information: your name, your mailing address, your blog address if you have one, and whether or not you would be willing to swap internationally. EDIT AS OF 9/16/11: Also, please comment here to let me know you're sending me an email to join, as I have been having sporadic email problems!
I will email you the name of your partner on Saturday, September 24, 2011.
Complete your swap, photograph it, and get it in the mail to your partner on or before Friday, October 21, 2011
After you hear from your swap partner that they've received it, visit the Flickr site I've created, Button Floozies Swap, and upload the photos you took of your swap so we can all see!

Spread the word! Feel free to link to this post from your own blog, and/or copy this Participant button from the right hand sidebar. The more the merrier!

Are you a Button Floozie?

2011-09-06T11:06:00.001-06:00

Calling all Floozies!

Yes, it's that time! I'm pleased to announce that there are some

openings for authors for this Button Floozies blog!

Things have been way too quiet around here, but that's about to change!

Do you love buttons? Are you a blogger who loves to write posts?

Do you love to write posts about buttons?

As a member of the author community for Button Floozies,

you would be able to initiate posts for this blog,

including posting your fun button photos!

Button Floozies would show up on your Blogger Dashboard

and you can post away!

The perfect new Button Floozie author is someone who:

loves buttons,

loves to share online button fun,

and is able to write a post for this blog

about once a month.

Of course, you can write more if you like, but once a month is the suggested minimum.

If you'd like to be an author, please email me:

ButtonFloozies@gmail.com

Tell me a little bit about yourself --

where you blog now, and
why you'll make a great new member of the Button Floozie author community!

Also: Stay tuned for a Button Floozies swap announcement later this week!

-- Laurie

Buttons online

2011-09-05T13:50:00.000-06:00

Here are some more fun links I've found all around the world wide web in the last few days! There's never a shortage of creativity and beautiful button photos online.

Button monograms

Button art

Boo banner

BEAUTIFUL button canvas

Which one is your favorite?

Hello, September

2011-09-01T13:39:00.000-06:00

I bought these buttons at an antique store a couple of weeks ago; there were four of them but I gave away the "R" to a friend, and I got all four for 50 cents! Not only is that a Button Bargain, but I think the remaining buttons have a message for us:

Here in Colorado we're expecting record high temperatures for September 1. Therefore, I think the buttons are saying to me, Fall Will Come.

What about you? Is there a message for you in these unique, wooden letter buttons?

Something to Crow About

2011-08-31T07:31:00.000-06:00

I had great fun last week painting chickens and goldfinches on my old MOP buttons... All the buttons are 1"...approx. the size of a quarter.

All my roosters are artwork... rooster buttons, rooster coffee cups, rooster wood cuts, etc. Roosters are gorgeous there's no doubt about it but they are also noisy and aggressive with the hens...

I do have a woodcarving of a handsome rooster hanging in the hen house as a little "eye candy" for the "girls"..I only have three hens and since no roosters I never have chicks...but lots of lovely fresh eggs..... I love to start the day collecting eggs and letting the “girls” run loose in the garden.

Painting on buttons is great fun and for anyone wanting to try it I do have a detailed tutorial on my blog. I do sell them at art fairs and in my etsy shop. If there is another "button painting floozie" I'd love to hear from her.

Gerry Krueger
http://olderrose.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/olderrose

Buttons online

2011-08-29T15:34:00.001-06:00

Here are a few button links I've seen in places all over the world wide web in the last day or two:

beautiful button jars

junking button finds

simple, but fun!

I hope you're planning a button-filled week!

Scrapbook Buttons

2011-08-27T15:23:00.000-06:00

Hi there- I just wanted to share a photo I took of some pretty buttons from a local scrapbook store. I love vintage but sometimes I find buttons in paper stores too :)I can't wait to use these on a new project!

Author, author!

2011-08-23T11:41:00.000-06:00

Attention all you Authors of Button Floozies: I sent you an email on August 13 and have heard back from a handful of you. Thank you again to all who have responded!

If you haven't, I would love it if you would take a moment to reply. In case you haven't received my email, please check your "spam" folder as it went to 100 people; also, it was addressed to the email that you used to become a contributor to Button Floozies, so if your email has changed in the meantime, please check your previous email account.

Thank you!

Sunday buttons

2011-08-23T11:37:00.000-06:00

I belong to the Colorado Springs Button Club, and we had our monthly meeting yesterday. It was a fun one; instead of a "program" this time, we brought our own buttons to do some work on them. Some people spent time putting their buttons on cards, which is the preferred storage and organization method. I was merely sorting through small bags of buttons I've bought and haven't had time to separate. Two shoeboxes full!

It was such a satisfying way to spend a couple of afternoon hours on a Sunday!

I "re-discovered" so many favorites!

I love this one for it's wonderfully ornate front...

and then it's sort of "bubbled" reverse.

I have a round one like it, too.

This one is ball-shaped...

and the one next to it is made from overlapping pieces of scalloped metal, in a pinwheel shape.

I think that carved mother-of-pearl are my favorites, though.

That, and glass, like these colorful beauties (above.)

New to me

2011-08-17T15:28:00.000-06:00

I found these lovey, heavy, blingy buttons in a grab bag of vintage sewing notions at the thrift store the other day:

These beauties just came to me via a swap called Grandma's Attic Matchbox swap:

And, look at this adorable, tiny tin (it's about the size of a nickel) that held more buttons:

Have you found any buttons this week? Do tell!

Button on!

2011-08-14T16:48:00.003-06:00

My name is Laurie Jackson and I've been a regular contributor to this blog for more than a year, when I'm not blogging over at Indulge Your Shelf. A few days ago, I became the new Admin of Button Floozies -- and I am very excited to begin to have some fun with all of you!

Notice anything different? I have just begun to make a few small changes here and there to the blog design, and I've put together a couple of new blog buttons, which you can grab over at the right sidebar (just copy the code in the little box below the photo, and add it to your blog as html using your gadget or widget tool.)

I have a few ideas up my sleeve for Button Floozie events; I'd like to begin having a regular linky party that everyone can join in on, as well as putting up a few challenges, giveaways, and maybe even a button swap or two. How does that sound?

Mostly, though, I would just love to see more of your buttons, and what you've been making with your button treasures!

Be sure to check back often -- you never know what will be going on here at Button Floozies, and you wouldn't want to miss anything!

Creative Button Swap!

2011-08-12T17:00:00.001-06:00

My friend and button collector extraordinaire, Tami, is holding a Creative Button Swap on her blog, Vintage Connections. For this swap, you would need to take a minimum of 5, quality vintage or antique buttons and mount them (sew or with wire=no harm to the button) in a creative way; swap is one-to-one so you will send your creation to your partner. Samples of mountings are on her website!

Click on the link to read all about it, and hopefully enter! It sounds like so much fun!

Vintage Button Bobby Pins

2011-08-09T19:16:00.000-06:00

Hello,
it has been a very long time since I posted on Button Floozies.
I am still collecting and creating with vintage buttons ♥
I made these this morning, you can win a set if you leave a comment on my blog
Leah

Button! Button! Who paints a button?

2011-08-06T21:48:00.000-06:00

I do! I started painting roses on buttons because I wanted to have something unique to add to crazy quilting round-robins. At first I just painted roses but then added a fish for an Aunder the sea@ block , a dragonfly for a garden block and a barn for a farm blockY Eventually I started doing birds, bunnies, kittens and my favorite B cottages.

In the beginning I was always in search of suitable buttons but I happened upon a large supply of MOP buttons from a long-defunct factory that produced buttons in the 30s and 40s. These vintage buttons have a mellow luminosity that comes only with ageY My buttons are 3/8@ to 1 2@ with 1@ buttons being my favorite. If you are interested in painting on buttons I have a tutorial on my blog, http://olderrose.blogspot.com

My buttons are on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/olderrose ) and it gives me great joy to know my buttons are being used by others, not only for crazy quilting but for making jewelry and other crafts as well.

Button Floozies Blog For Sale

2011-08-04T17:16:00.000-06:00

Hi Button Floozies and followers!
I would like to offer this blog up for sale (not for too much, just to make sure that whom ever picks it up is serious about buttons and crafting..) to someone who loves buttons, perhaps has an Etsy or online shop and is willing to keep up with it. We have almost 100 members with 650+ Google Friends and I just don't have the time to devote to it anymore. If you are interested in carrying the torch for the Button Floozies please let me know via email.. damseldesigns@hotmail.com (just mention Button Floozies in the subject).
Thank you!!
xoxo~
Abbie

Scooping buttons

2011-07-23T10:33:00.001-06:00

Twice this summer I've helped friends out at their garage sales and brought along my button tub, offering folks the chance to play in the buttons and fill a bag for $1. At each sale, I sold just a few, but it was totally worthwhile to bring the tub along for that one or two women who were completely delighted by it. Last time, a preschool teacher filled a bag of the largest ones to use in crafting with her kids. Yesterday, two teen aged girls spent about 20 minutes hand picking each button to fill their bag. They would show each other their finds and "ooh" and "ahh" over each one. Button Floozies in the making!

peppermint cream buttons

2011-07-19T03:58:00.001-06:00

i recently took part in the crafter...oo forum's button swap

for the edible treat i sent these home-made sweets

peppermint cream buttons

amazingly simple to make - yet very yummy!

see the rest of what i sent and received on my blog

http://maximumrabbitdesigns.blogspot.com

Quiltie Blogoversary Giveaway

2011-07-15T20:00:00.000-06:00

I am having a little giveaway on my blog to celebrate my blogoversary. Take a look at the posting on my blog Threads in Time by Pallas Blogoversary Giveaway to get the details on how to enter.