By the Cute and Girly Reminder and Button Crochet Tutorial

Back again with my second DT project for BTC&G "Cute as a Button" challenge.  For details of the challenge, prizes, rules etc please see HERE   All the DT are looking forward to seeing your buttony makes!
Aren't buttons amazing?  There is so much you can do with them apart from using them to fasten clothes.   Here is a necklace I made from just cotton crochet thread and buttons

 I have made out a little tutorial in case you would like to make some button jewellery yourself.   The only crochet basics you need to know are how to make a slip knot and how to make a chain stitch and this YouTube tutorial explains it very well...

You need:

A small amount of yarn
A needle that will fit through the button holes
A crochet hook
Buttons

For the example I used Aran weight yarn, a darning needle, a size 4mm hook and Boofle buttons.

 Thread the darning needle with your yarn.  Take a look at your buttons.  You will see that most of them have a definite back and front.  Pass the darning needle from the back, through the hole...

 and back down through the button from front to back...

 This is what it should look like.  It dosen't matter whether your buttons are 4 hole or 2 hole....then push the button down the yarn towards  the ball...

 Keep going, adding more buttons.   Always add more than you think you need for your project to allow room for manouver!

For variety you can stack 2 buttons on top of each other and sew through them....

Push the buttons down towards the ball of yarn

 Here comes the actual crochet bit...refer back to the YouTube video if you get lost
Make a slip knot and a few chains to start off

Push the first button up tight against your hook (and the last chain you've made)

 Try to ignore the button and carry on making chains...

This is what it should look like (Please excuse the state of my fingers.  I do a lot of gardening!)

 Crochet on, placing a button every 3 or 4 chains (or wherever you like).  Stop when your work is long enough to go around your wrist for a bracelet or as long as you want for a necklace.  To end off crochet enough chains to make a loop that will slip over your first button....

Darn in the loose ends and here is your button bracelet!

If you have any questions or need some help leave me a message in the comments section and I will try and help you.
Thanks for puting up with my crochet obsession!
Ger x

Man card and altered Canvas

Made this card today with Fathers Day and my father in laws birthday in mind.  He is rather unfortunate: Father's Day and his birthday are very close together!

I have also altered a little A5 sized canvas in memory of my Herbie.....

                                           
The butterflies are supplied by Nanny Maggie, check out her creations HERE, the poem is by Henry Willett (Google it for the full version, after getting out the hankies!), the little glass bottle with his hair is from Create with Kate and the dog tag is Herbie's own.  I stamped some little paw prints around the edge and added his photo in a lace frame.
Entering this in Moving along with the Times "anything but a..."
Ger x

Cute as a Button - June Challenge at BTC&G

Don't you just love buttons?  Well, if you do the June challenge at By the Cute and Girly is just for you.  We want to see buttons used on your crafty projects and as usual there are great prizes on offer. 


Prize 1: $20 Gift Certificate from Simon Says Stamp


Prize 2: £10 Gift Certificate from Joanna Sheen


Prize 3:  $10 Gift Certificate from Di's Digi Downloads

Please remember BTC&G is an all-crafts challenge.  You can enter as often as you like provided it is with a different craft each time.  Full details of the challenge with rules etc are HERE

I love polka dot buttons, they are really summery so my card is decorated with lots of them:

There are also three teeny, tiny buttons on Tilda's coat.  I made the button edging by sewing on the buttons and putting 10 size 8 seed beads between each button for a laced-up effect.  Close up photo shows what I mean.

I have used a Magnolia (Tilda) stamp that I call "the garden terror" because Tilda is blowing the dandelion seed heads all over the place and no gardener is going to be pleased.  The sentiment stamp is from Hobby Art and the Die Cuts are Spellbinders Lattice Rectangle and X-cut ornate frame.  Polka Dot buttons are all Papermania Capsule collection.

So please dig out those buttons, get creating and enter our challenge.

Entering this in

Inkyimpressions "Summer Fun"

Thank You

Geraldine x