Button Flowers

Inspiration here:

http://lilluna.com/button-flower-bouquet/

http://sewsitall.blogspot.com/2012/06/button-flower-tutorial.html

http://www.andersruff.com/custom-printable-parties/diy/ruff-draft-diy-fabric-flowers-for-a-special-valentine/http://www.andersruff.com/custom-printable-parties/diy/ruff-draft-diy-fabric-flowers-for-a-special-valentine/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Button-Flower-Bouquet/?lang=de

http://www.pinterest.com/explore/button-flowers/

http://craftandcreativity.tumblr.com/post/40341849685/buttonflowers



The majority of the buttons used to make the button flowers was from my Mother's collection and which I inherited. They are very precious to me.

Cap'n Mad Ellen made several of these button flowers:

The other day I purchased a tube of Burt's Bees' tinted lip balm at the store. I just couldn't throw away the paper tube container and started thinking about how to use it for a craft project...Then I remembered a simple button flower project for recycling the lip balm tube.

What you will need:

(Oh, how I wanted to buy that roll of pink copper wire! Next time!)  

Preparing for battle!

-buttons, both flat and shank buttons will work
-florist wire or colored copper wire in assorted colors (I used mostly 22 gauge)
-wire cutters
-small sharp sewing scissors, for removing thread from the buttons
-glue
-decorative ribbon
-small vases (we used various small containers including the second-hand purchased shot glasses from last week's dyed flowers' craft project). Other ideas for vases: recycled prescription bottles, baby food, condiment or cosmetic jars, perfume/cologne bottled or their lids, votive candle holders, etc.
-sequins and dried beans (the sequins for "soil/water" and the dried beans for weight and stability)
-other items for decorating: specialty paper, glitter foam, self-adhesive rhinestones, (glass) beads/seed beads, jewelry findings, etc. 

Cost: Varies. I only needed to purchase more colored copper wire. Luckily,  it was on sale at the craft store. Being on sale, I stocked up on colors we use the most: green, orange and silver wire. About $5 total.



The aftermath:

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Pirate Story

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,     Three of us abroad in the basket on the lea. Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,     And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea. Where shall we adventure, to-day that we're afloat, Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,     To Providence, or Babylon or off to Malabar? Hi! but here's a squadron a-rowing on the sea--     Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar! Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be,     The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.