I don’t know about all of you, but I have lots of buttons. LOTS. OF. BUTTONS. Jars and jars of them. Despite this, I can never find the one I need for a particular project. I think every crafter knows this dilemma. You need a pink one, but it needs to be a rosy pink, not a baby pink. You need a green one, but all you have is yellow-green when you really need a forest green. Or you need big buttons when you only have teeny ones. Or visa versa. It’s a conundrum and wastes lots of time.
So why would I decide to make lots of cards featuring this nemesis of quick crafts? Because I am a crazy person and I enjoy having a floor that is covered in buttons (which mine now is). Because my hands can be dicky (thanks again, Meningitis), I often drop things, so for every button I successfully pick up and glue down, there’s at least three that have escaped and are rolling about under tables and in between couch cushions.
I have been scouring Pinterest and other internet sites featuring all things craft-tastic, and have been very inspired by the clever designs people have come up with, using buttons as the main element. And then I basically copied them. Because I am, as I said before, very short on time and energy right now. I’m also not selling these cards so I don’t feel so bad about purloining a few ideas.
Buttons are an easy way to add interest, colour and dimension to cards and can be just the right finishing touch. Most of these ones below were made simply by drawing on lines with a pen, gluing on a button and then doodling some little details like bows and the tops of the baubles. A stamped sentiment completes the look. If I was feeling extra energetic I punched out some circles of pretty Christmas paper to stick down before the buttons to make them more colourful and chunky.
So now, after mammoth card-making sessions, I now have to get stuck into mammoth card-writing sessions. There’s only so many ways you can say “Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year…” but I try to mix it up a bit. By 11pm last night I was getting my words all doolally and not making a lot of sense. Plus I had a blister on my finger and a cramp in my hand. AND my pen ran out! Gah! But, I am lucky I have so many people in my life to give cards to – so I am not complaining at all. I know a lot of people don’t give cards any more, but I still like to. It’s a way of telling people they are cared about and wished good luck and health and happiness. I know quite a few people who are on their own, not just at Christmas but all the time, so a little card is the least I can do to show them they are not alone, and are being thought of fondly.
Hope you are having a crafty, creative day today and are surrounded
by people that make you smile x
