Buttons Galore

We all know I love Buttons...right?

Awhile back, I think I posted that I was distracted one day sorting out all of my button colors into leftover baby food jars.  

What do with all of them was my next question! 

 After cluttering up a basket on top of my island in the studio, I knew they had to find a home.  I decided that I wanted to put them on a magnetic board like you see for kitchen spices.  However, I did not have a lot of wall space for that.

I looked around my room and found that there was opportune storage UNDER the cabinets. 

Jealous?

Don't be...do it yourself!!

I came home with these

 

One coat of Kilz primer and two coats of enamel to cover the caps from ugly Gerber to White. 

I came home with two options for underneath the cabinet.

I learned too late...that aluminum is NOT magnetic.

  This goes into my "return" pile.

 

 Luckily, I had this!

 It took A LOT of stirring and a lot of coats to get my magnet so stick.

But not strong enough for the cap, magnet and jar.  

Do not get me wrong...it works!!! So I don't think the purchase was a waste.  I will keep it in my back pocket for another day.

But no worries, Mr. Boss saved the day yesterday and ran back to get me some real metal flashing.  He took the magnets and a cap with him to make sure it worked.

I am prepared for him to kill me for posting this picture, but he is so awesome for helping me!!!

He cut it down to size, drilled holes for some finishing nails...and then after a bit of neck straining, tiny nail dropping, he was able to secure it!  He now wishes he had used adhesive on the back to keep it in place AND prevent the slight buckling we are experiencing today.   

I had to go back and cover up all the black oopsie marks with a few coats of White Kilz Primer.

While all that was drying, I grabbed my paper tape.

I think it is called Washi tape, but I feel guilty about it because I found mine at Target.  When you buy stuff like this in the office supply area of Target, it sorta loses it's glamour, no?

It is pretty cool stuff.  Like transparent waxy tape with design!

I wrapped them around each jar. 

 Sometimes matching the color, sometimes just complementing.

I simply just put the magnet right inside the cap.  I ended up using TWO magnets stacked on top of each other.  

If you are wondering what magnets these are, I have a photo of them in this post HERE when I used them for the stuffed animal magnets for the boys.

After the paint dried, I just twisted my caps on and stuck them up there!  Of course...rainbow style.  I have an affinity for organizing in rainbows.....HERE and HERE, in case you hadn't noticed!

And just because I just can't get enough of the yumminess...

Button Name Art

Recently, I needed a break from fabric, quilts, and what not.  I needed a good old craft project!

 I, actually, HIGHLY recommend taking breaks if you become stuck, trapped, and uninspired.  

Switch crafts!

I have been wanting to finish up a few projects in Button's Nursery.  There is an empty wall above his crib wanting attention. (to the left)

Or maybe not?  I will have to see when I get a chance, but right now, Button is napping.

Either way, this project was FUN!  I love Buttons.  I even nicknamed the baby Button, so maybe it is really obvious!

 Easy, easy, easy. 

Button Name Art Tutorial

Supplies:
Wood plaque letters (Hobby Lobby $1.99)
Acrylic paint
E6000 glue
Buttons

I gathered all my buttons that I have stashed.  I have a lot of buttons, but my favorite for projects like these are buttons from the scrap-booking section.  They don't necessarily have to be sewn on and can come in some really cool shapes. 

 Most of them come in colorways, so I did have to sort, but I don't mind, because I like buttons!  I added other buttons from my collected stash too!

I made sure I had enough to cover each letter.  Making sure the larger letters like the letter "M" was a the color I had the most quantity of.

I painted each letter with the chosen acrylic paint color.  I also made sure I painted the sides of the letters.

 I set aside the larger buttons and the buttons I specifically wanted on the most top layer. 

 Then glued the small and medium and not so pretty buttons on the bottom layer.  Covering the entire letter.

 I used E6000 (industrial strength adhesive) to ensure that there wouldn't be any buttons that fell off and became choking hazards.

 I also HIGHLY recommend that you allow 24 hours for it to dry.  I find that it hardens with time!  I am a pretty impatient crafter and like to hang things right away, but I am getting better!

I love the layering of the different shades of each color.

And each letter took me approximately 20 minutes from start to finish.

And I just can't get enough of them that I promise that this is the LAST photo of them, okay?

Am I the only one that squeezes the death out of tube, even if it means I am cutting up my hand from ripped holes in the thick tube?  Not to mention all of the glue stuck to my fingers from said holes!

It sure has made me want to go back to my sewing machines for a while!

I just hope it finds a good home in his nursery...I am even contemplating hanging it above his dresser and moving his portrait.

Good idea?  Bad idea?

Update:  It found a home . 

 Quick instructions on how I hung it up in his room HERE!

A Nursery for Button

At long last, a year after he is born, I am sharing Button's nursery...

as promised.....

But to be fair...

He was born in February.  We did not buy a single thing for him until after he was born. The only thing we had was his cradle in our bedroom and his car seat in a box in the garage.

We bought his bedding over a week after he was born.  We didn't paint his room until the beginning of May.  He moved up to his room mid-May.  I started his window treatments in August before his baptism.  I finished and hung them at the end of September.

Sharing it just 5 months later, isn't too shabby?

FIRST?

The Before, of course!! 

 The twin bed, dresser, and nightstand have made their rounds.  It was Bunny's "big boy" bed with Noah's Ark decorations and Butter's "I finally have my own room" bedroom with leftover maps and ships from our old house's game room!  It was definitely hodgepodge to say the least! 

 We used the room for about 4 months to store the items we didn't donate or make my "stash" cut after Butter moved to what used to be the guest room. We also had to buy a new crib.  

When Mr. Boss started talking about using wire to "Jerry-rig" the 14 year old crib, I put my foot down!

Crib Bedding

I feel terrible that I didn't make something, but it seemed the wisest choice...you see how much I have gotten done in a year?   

The jumping off point? Kids Line Mosaic Transport Bedding set from Babies R Us.

This set spoke to me because I loved the colors. The blue, brown and green on the crisp white was very appealing to me.  I really wanted something light and not heavy and dark! 

I also loved the different textures of fabrics.

And most of all?

The embroidery, of course!

And yes...I keep bumpers in.  No need for lectures...I know, I know.

PAINT

Mr. Boss painted the entire room with a complimentary blue paint.  We then worked together to draw out my 18 inch wide stripe of white.  For a crisp line...Frog tape is your friend!  I came back with the green and stenciled my "stitching".

Inspiration for the paint treatment?

Ripped from Pottery Barn Kids Catalog

I found this photo and another that I liked from my Pottery Barn catalog.  I ripped it out about three months before Button was born.  I thought it was a beautiful neutral nursery, even though this one time I was determined to decorate gender-specific!

I was ecstatic when Mr. Boss agreed that the paint treatment would be fun!

I found the "button" to mimic the stitching online, copied and pasted it on a word document, then stretched it out to the width I wanted.  I then laid quilt template plastic over the printout and filled it in with a sharpie.  A not so clean cut with my exacto knife, and I was in business with a stencil of sorts!

I ended up liking that it is a bit imperfect.

Wall Decorations

Baby Photos, of course!  The special photos my friend took the few weeks after he was born.

See How To Mat a Photo Tutorial

I had to frame them all!!!  He already had a bit of a personality so early.

And to help balance the photos, I had to have transportation on the walls.

Wall decals that came in sets like it showed on the backside of the kit.  I decided to completely copy the backside for each frame!

It was as simple as sticking them to art boards the size of the frames I found on sale at Hobby Lobby.  I chose really simple brown frames to give the room a modern touch to offset the very feminine sleigh bed and crib.

Window Treatments

I decided to copy my idea of making the window treatments have a stripe to match the paint treatment like I did for the Big Boys room!

I designed all of the embroidery/applique and wove the ribbon in and out.  I have a "tutorial" of sorts I might post...

I hope to share the applique/embroidery on Etsy soon, but things are so busy around here lately!

Twin Bed

First...I love the lines of this bed.

I found the sheets at Target, and the old denim is a leftover from the boys' old room.   I have tossed more ideas than you can imagine making a decision about this bed.

Right now, I really like the pop of the white of the blanket, and hoped that I could use the off-white fabric I had cut awhile back, but it didn't look good with the white everywhere else.  

But, no worries...

I have a stack of fabrics that I will figure something, right?

Rocker

 The rocker has been in our family room, game room, and the nursery for the last 15 years!  It was my very first Mother's Day gift in 1997.  So it had to stay!

Right now, it holds the crib quilt...however it is on the docket for a new cushion!

Dresser

Love this thing!  

THIS PHOTO IS THE MOST TRUEST EXAMPLE OF THE ACTUAL COLORS!

It has a lot of storage and a great place to display some favorites.

 A maternity photo frame and matted by myself!  Lamps that I bought from Walmart about 7 years ago, and my favorite pair of shoes...he only wore once.

And some fun board books and a ceramic truck that came from his great-aunt and uncle filled with flowers.  They didn't even know that transportation was his theme!  

Nightstand

 A sweet nightlight from Target and another lamp and shade from my "stash"!  And one more maternity photo.  

I love this one of Bunny!  He was so excited for Button to come...his dream of being a big brother so bruised by the loss of his baby sister!  This photo says it all!

The most cherished item of the whole nursery? 

 The only reason I can sleep with him out of my sight.

Angelcare Monitor!  

It alarms if there is no movement from your baby in 20 seconds. It has given us a bit of a fright when it has alarmed, but it was always for a good reason. 

 If you ever want to buy someone a fabulous baby shower gift...this is a good one...especially if they have experienced the loss of a baby.  It is truly my guardian "angel".

Oh?  Where is the changing table?

Why in the closet, of course!?!??!

With the two beds, there wasn't room for a changing table, and his closet seemed to fit the build despite the funky angles inside.

I also keep extra frames on the shelf.

And these shelves in the closet store all his books.  My hope is that when he gets older and no longer needs the crib, we will get him a nice bookcase to put in it's place!













And I apologize for all of the different quality photos.  I think the REAL reason I haven't posted his room is that every time I take photos, I cannot get the right color/tint/light.  It is a very bright room, but it plays funny games with my camera!!! 

And it might have to do with the fact that there are a few things I still need and want to do!  Maybe by the time he is ready to move to the big boy bed?