#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--ANYONE CAN CRAFT

I’m always amazed when people tell me they don’t craft because they have no talent. The beauty of crafting is that anyone can do it, talent or no talent, depending on the project. Just as you wouldn’t pick up a paint brush for the first time and expect to recreate the Mona Lisa, you don’t start crafting projects meant for experienced crafters. You begin at the beginning. Do that, and your confidence will grow with each project, and you’ll begin to challenge yourself, moving from beginner projects to intermediate projects to advanced project.

If you’re a frequent visitor to this blog, you know that I’m a big fan of buttons as a crafting medium. Who doesn’t have a tin or box or jar of miscellaneous buttons squirreled away somewhere in the house? Maybe you inherited them from your grandmother or mother. Maybe they’re simply all those extra buttons that are pinned to clothing you’ve purchased over the decades. I love crafting with these buttons. You can turn them into anything from jewelry to home dec items.

By the way, did you know that the button was originally created for ornamentation, not as a fastener? Primitive buttons made of shell, bone, wood, and metal have been found dating back to 2000 BC. However, evidence of buttons being used as closures is not found until sometime around 1200 AD. By the middle of the 13^th century there are references to button makers in the laws governing French craftsmen guilds. (Bet you weren’t expecting a history lesson when you started reading, were you?)

 

So back to crafting…the photo of the button necklace is a project that requires a certain amount of skill. Although it’s a simple project if you know how to crochet, it’s intimidating for someone who doesn’t crochet.

Now take a look at the basket featured above. Cute, isn’t it? And you know what? It’s a project that’s easy enough for a child. So don’t be intimidated. Pull out your stash of buttons, and follow the simple directions below.

Party Favor Button Basket

Materials:

4-1/2” woven basket (available at craft stores)

acrylic paint (your choice of color)

foam paint brush

assorted buttons without shanks

glue gun or glue suitable for plastic

Note: I made a group of these baskets as party favors for a shower and filled them with candy. Because I was going for a “shabby chic” look, I dry-brushed the paint so that it didn’t entirely cover the basket. If you want an even quicker craft, leave the basket unpainted.

1.  Paint the basket with your choice of color. Allow to dry.

2.  Using a glue gun or appropiate glue, glue buttons around the rim of the basket and handle.

Could it get any easier?

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--NO-SEW LACY BUTTON TOTE

Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers is in its sixth year. Because our readership has grown tremendously since those early days, I’ll occasionally feature a craft that appeared several years ago. Today I’m bringing back the no-sew lacy button tote. It’s one of my favorites and super simpler to make. I chose a 9” x 12” canvas tote, but depending on the end use, you might want to go with a smaller or larger tote. The totes are available in a variety of sizes from local craft stores.

Materials:

9” x 11” natural canvas tote

3/4-yd. 2” wide gathered natural Cluny lace

3/4-yd. 7/8” wide flat natural Cluny lace

7 assorted 2” natural lace medallions

assorted white, clear, and natural buttons in varying sizes

fabric glue

gem glue

air-soluble fabric marker

ruler

1. Using the fabric marker, draw two perpendicular lines 2” from center of tote.

2. Cut the flat Cluny lace into two equal pieces. Using the fabric glue, glue the flat edge of each piece to the outside of each line, lining up the top edge with the top of the tote and wrapping the bottom edge around to the bottom of the tote.

3. Using the fabric glue, glue the gathered Cluny lace to the top edge of the tote, overlapping cut ends at center back.

4. Using the fabric glue, glue the lace medallions randomly onto the tote, two on either side and three in the middle section.

5. Using the gem glue, glue the buttons randomly around the lace medallions. 

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--COTTON CORD #TOPIARY

In January I featured a Jute and Button Clay Pot Flameless Candle Holder on the blog. In March I repurposed it into a WinterTopiary.  Today I’m once again repurposing that decorated clay pot to create another topiary. Can you tell I love to craft topiaries?

Materials

Jute and button decorated clay pot from January 26thblog post; floral foam; 9” length 1/4” diameter dowel; 8” Styrofoam cone; 1/8” diameter jute cord; white cotton cord; tacky glue; excelsior

1. Decorate the clay pot following the directions from the January 26^th blog post.

2. Glue floral foam into clay pot.

3. Wrap the middle 3” of dowel with jute cord, glueing in place. Allow to dry.

4. Poke a hole in the bottom of the cone. Glue one end of the dowel into the hole and the other end into the center of the floral foam. Allow to dry.

5. Beginning at the top of the cone, glue cotton cording spiraling around cone.

6. Glue excelsior into pot.

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--JUTE AND BUTTON CLAY POT FLAMELESS CANDLE HOLDER

Jute and Button Clay Pot Flameless Candle Holder

Those of you who follow this blog know that I like creating crafts projects that use jute, buttons, clay pots, and whatever else I have on hand or left over from other projects. The project above is one such craft. The only other materials you’ll need are a glue gun and pair of scissors.

I used a 4” clay pot because I wanted one large enough to hold a flameless pillar candle. You can use any size pot you want, depending on the end use. If you don’t have jute, use rope or other cording such as macramé cord. Or braid some leftover yarn together. Be creative!

Stick to a monochrome palette as I did, or go wild with rainbow colors.

I started at the lip of the pot and wrapped it with 1/4” jute. I then twisted five lengths of leftover mop string (from the last time I made a mop doll) together and glued a row to the top edge of the pot and another row directly underneath the bottom jute row.

Now glue various size buttons randomly around the base of the pot until it’s covered. Overlap buttons for a more 3-dimensional look.

And that’s it. The entire project took less than an hour.

One precautionary note: Be careful not to burn your fingers with the glue gun as I did!

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--ELEGANT YO-YO CHRISTMAS TREE TOTE

Elegant Yo-yo Christmas Tree Tote

Yo-yo crafts are the craft featured in Revenge of the Crafty Corpse, the third book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series. In keeping with our Christmas in July theme this month, here are directions for making an elegant Christmas tree tote that can also double as a gift bag.

Materials:

13” x 13” black canvas tote bag, 1/4-yd. green plaid lightweight cotton fabric, scrap of brown print lightweight cotton fabric, compass, lightweight cardboard or card stock, scissors, pencil, sewing needle, quilting thread, 7 antique looking gold buttons each 5/8”-3/4”, fabric glue

Directions:

1. Using the compass, draw a 4” circle and a 5” circle on the cardboard or card stock. Cut out the circles.

2. Using the cardboard circles as templates, trace a 4” circle on the brown fabric and six 5” circles on the green plaid fabric. Cut out circles.

3. For each yo-yo, hold the fabric circle with the wrong side facing you. Fold 1/4” of the raw edge toward the wrong side of the fabric. Using the quilting thread, begin the first stitch underneath the fold of the hem to hide the knot, then sew a running stitch around the circle. When you reach your starting point, and the circle is completely hemmed, pull the thread tight to gather the fabric. Smooth and flatten the yo-yo so the hole is in the center. This is the right side of your yo-yo.

4. Sew a button in the center of each yo-yo.

5. Arrange yo-yos to form Christmas tree on front of tote (see photo.) Glue yo-yos in place. 

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- DECORATIVE LACE TOTE

Why carry your lunch to work in a paper bag? This lacy tote is a snap to make and an elegant way to carry your tuna fish sandwich. Or make a larger one for a reusable shopping bag. The blank canvas totes come in a variety of sizes and are available at craft stores. -- AP

Materials:
9” x 11” natural canvas tote

3/4-yd. 2” wide gathered natural Cluny lace

3/4-yd. 7/8” wide flat natural Cluny lace

7 assorted 2” natural lace medallions

assorted white, clear, and natural buttons in varying sizes

fabric glue

gem glue

air-soluble fabric marker

ruler

1. Using the fabric marker, draw two perpendicular lines 2” from center of tote.

2. Cut the flat Cluny lace into two equal pieces. Using the fabric glue, glue the flat edge of each piece to the outside of each line, lining up the top edge with the top of the tote and wrapping the bottom edge around to the bottom of the tote.

3. Using the fabric glue, glue the gathered Cluny lace to the top edge of the tote, overlapping cut ends at center back.

4. Using the fabric glue, glue the lace medallions randomly onto the tote, two on either side and three in the middle section.

5. Using the gem glue, glue the buttons randomly around the lace medallions.



Our Book Club Friday guest this week has a very special treat for our readers. Be sure to stop by on Friday to find out what it is. -- AP