Easy Button Bracelet

Happy (Almost) Spring! 

Nothing is more fun and as easy to create as a button bracelet.  And, with Gwen Studios new line of buttons, you have so many color choices.

I chose the Pastel Mix for this bracelet.  It's perfect for Spring, Easter and Mother's Day.

You need:

Chain (6-8 inches)

Jump rings, 6mm

Lobster clasp or toggle clasp

Tools:  two pairs of needle nose pliers

Pick the colors you like.  Open and slide jump rings through your selection of buttons. Leave them partially open. (Remember to open and close your jump ring by grasping it with two pairs of pliers one on either side of the cut and twisting to open.  Close in the same way.)

Using 6mm jump rings, you will be using the smaller buttons.  If you want to use some of the larger buttons, use larger jump rings or oval jump rings that will fit over the buttons.

Line them up along a piece of chain about 6" long.  This will make a bracelet about 7" long with the added jump rings and clasp.  Check your wrist size by measuring or use your favorite bracelet as a guide. Arrange them along the chain to see how it looks.

Slide the jump ring onto a link and close the jump ring.  Add more as needed to fill in the chain. You can fill it as much as you want.  For my bracelet, I used 52 buttons.

Attach a jump ring to one end of the chain.  On the other end, attach a jump ring and lobster clasp.

You can find Gwen Studios buttons at Walmart. They have a lot of color assortments and two sizes.  You'll be able to create a button bracelet to match any outfit.  

Find more Spring designs on the Designer Crafts Connection blog.

(I received these buttons as part of the Design Team compensation from Gwen Studios.)

Flowered Bag

 Hello! 

This month for my Gwen Studios project I created a flowered bag using their ribbons, buttons and iron-on patches.

Flowered Bag

To make this bag, you'll need the following:

A bag, canvas or burlap 

Gwen Studios 3/8" ribbon, pastel buttons, bee patches 

Hot glue, Felt Glue

The following are links to Walmart.  

Pastel Buttons

Solid and Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

Bumble Bee Patches

Instructions:

For the flowers, choose your buttons.  Cut matching or contrasting ribbon in 3" pieces.  I used 8 per flower and hot-glued them to the back of the button.

I added a smaller button in the center of the larger one.  

Arrange your flowers on the bag as desired.  Mark the stems with a fabric marker if you like.

For the stems and leaves, cut green grosgrain ribbon in the lengths to fit your design.  To adhere the ribbon to the bag, I used Felt Glue from Beacon Adhesives.  

Adhere the stems first aligning them with the bottom seam.  I tucked the ends of the ribbon into the seam.  If your bag doesn't have a seam, you could fold under the end of glue some buttons over the ends.

Hot glue the flowers over the ends of the stems.  Use felt glue to adhere the leaves.  I overlapped the leaves and tucked the ends into the seam.  I left the top of the leaves unglued.

To finish, glue the bumblebees among the flowers.

Decorate with Ribbon Scraps

Hi Everyone!

It's less than a month until Christmas and time to decorate, send greetings and wrap some gifts!

It's a good time to use up some of my leftover ribbon scraps from the projects that I created this year, too! I can never throw them away. I put them in a baggie and save them for projects like this. 

 I started with some simple shapes that I cut from felt. This is stiff felt (Friendly Felt from Kunin), but you can use regular felt, too. Shapes like a stocking, a tree, an ornament or a gift are simple to cut out and decorate. If you need more shapes, use cookie cutters.

Besides felt shapes, you'll need:

Thick tacky glue or hot glue and glue gun

Ribbon scraps (Gwen Studios)

Tags, bags or blank cards

Backing fabric or paper

Glue the ribbon scraps onto the felt.  Use binder clips or clothespins to hold while they dry if using tacky glue.  Glue to your surface. or create a fun garland by tying them onto more ribbon.

Here's a gift bag that I created with a green square of felt, ribbon scraps, a chipboard word and a rectangle of cardstock.

Ribbon Scraps Gift Bag

Here's a card with felt trees, sparkly Gwen Studios trim, cardstock and a chipboard word. I cut strips from the wide trim at the bottom of the Gwen Studios trim and glued it on the trees.

Trim Scraps Card

It's easy to make ornaments or gift tags.  Here's a circle with three rows of ribbons across the red felt circle.  For this tag, I used double-sided tape, pressed on the silver ribbon and then the red/silver ribbon.  Press the ends down on the back and add a loop for hanging.  Cover the ends with another circle of felt.

Ribbon Scraps Tag

Don't have ribbon scraps? Look for Gwen Studios ribbon at your favorite craft retailer:  Joann's, Walmart, Michaels or Amazon.

Looking for more holiday ribbon ideas?  Go to the Designer Crafts Connection blog.

Happy Holidays!

Breaking News!!  Gwen Studios now has Buttons!

Gwen Studios Round Plastic Sewing Buttons Value Pack, Assorted Sizes, 1 LB, Solid Christmas Colors - Walmart.com

I can't wait to design some projects with these!  Of course, you can add them to any of the designs above.  As a member of the design team for Gwen Studios, I'll be receiving some soon.

Falling Leaves

Hi Folks!

 The feel of fall in the air - cooler nights, leaves turning color and flocks of birds preparing to fly to warmer climes.

It's one of my favorite times of year for decorating. I love the mix of colors! This year I'm making a fall leaf spray to hang on a door. 

I'm using stiff felt (Kunin Friendly Felt) and Gwen Studios ribbons. I'm cutting the leaves using my Sizzix Big Kick and a leaf die from Tim Holtz. If you don't have a leaf die, head outside and pick up a few leaves for patterns and cut them out freehand.

In order to make the flat leaves more dimensional, I folded them in half and sewed a line down the back.  If you don't have a sewing machine, hand stitching will work, too.

I used hot glue to tack the leaves together.  I cut a total of 24 leaves for this spray.

Then, I cut off the tails on one of the pre-made bows.  I undid the second one and added the length to make longer tails.  I also added lengths of grosgrain ribbon in red, yellow and brown and hot glued them to the back.

I added a hangar at the back of the bow.  I used a paper clip, but you can use a loop of narrow ribbon or string. Although I made a spray to hang, these look great as a centerpiece for your holiday table.  Intertwine the leaves with colorful ribbons.

You can find Gwen Studios ribbon at your local craft and hobby store (Joann's) or at Walmart or on Amazon.

Look for these ribbons:

Brown Plaid Burlap Ribbon

Grosgrain 3/8" Ribbon

Look for more fun ribbon ideas using Gwen Studios ribbons on the Designer Crafts Connection.

(I receive the Gwen Studios ribbons as part of the perks of being a member of the design team.  They have a wide variety of high-quality ribbons, which I am very pleased to use and recommend.)

Back to School Backpack Clips

 

Back to school! Is it really that time of year already?!! Yes, it is!  In less than a month, the kids will be heading back to school.

Here are some quick ribbon tags that they can use to decorate a gym bag, backpack or binder using Gwen Studios ribbon.

Start with the finding you will use to attach the tag.  This can be a key ring, a large paper clip or a large lobster clasp.

For the ribbon, you'll need about 15" of 1/4" or 3/8" satin ribbon.

Slide the ribbon through the loop of the ring or clip. Make an overhand knot.

Slide on large hole beads, like pony beads.  Then, add a name or nickname and other fun beads. Overhand knot after the last bead.  Trim the ends of the ribbon.

For this tag, the pony beads slide on over both ribbons.

For this tag, which can be used on a book or binder, the beads slide on one ribbon.

For this tag, use two strands of ribbon and one of cord.  The cord is beaded with acrylic beads.

With the variety of ribbons available from Gwen Studios, the choice of beads and charms and YOUR imagination, these tags will be your unique creations!

You can find Gwen Studios ribbon at Walmart, Joann's, Michaels and on Amazon.  Here are a couple of links to get you started:

Sweet Shop ribbon

Satin Ribbon

For more Back to School crafts using Gwen Studios ribbon, check out the Designer Crafts Connection.

Fourth of July Ribbon Bracelets

 Hi Everyone,

This month, I'm making patriotic bracelets that are so easy you'll want 3 or 4!  I'm using some wonderful faux leather studded trim from Gwen Studios. This ribbon is thicker than most ribbon and works beautifully in bracelets.

Here are the two ribbons I used with the findings you'll need for your bracelets. You need two ribbon ends, about 4 jump rings and a lobster clasp. You'll also need scissors and two pairs of flat pliers.

Slide the ribbon end over the end of the ribbon and squeeze it together with a pair of pliers.

Open jump rings by twisting with two pairs of pliers and attach the clasp on one end of the bracelet.  On the other end, add two or three jump rings or a short length of chain.

Here are the finished bracelets:

You can cut them longer to wrap around your wrist two or three times also.

I attached a charm to the end of the chain on this one.

You can find these Faux Leather Trims at Walmart,

Set up a table at your Fourth of July barbecue or the next children's birthday party for some crafty fun!

Stop by the Designer Crafts Connection for more ribbon crafts!

(As a designer for Gwen Studios, I receive sample of their products. I think you'll be very happy with their quality and variety.)

Ribbon Hatband

 Hi Everyone!

Father's Day is coming up and I have a quick and easy gift that you can make for Dad or Grandpa.  It's a new hatband for his favorite hat.  I've made this one for a cowboy hat but change out the colors and ribbons to suit the hat and the person.  

I started with some great Faux Leather Ribbon from Gwen Studios in animal prints.  

Cut ribbons to wrap around the crown of the hat with an extra inch or so for overlap. The length you need will vary with the size and type of hat.  Center the narrower ribbon on the wider ribbon.  I used 3/8" and 7/8".

Apply glue to the back of the narrow ribbon and glue in the center of the wider ribbon. I used Felt Glue from Beacon. It's great for fabric and felt.

Wrap the ribbons around the hat to check for size, overlap the ends and glue.  Trim any excess ribbon.

I glued a flat-back jewel to a metal medallion and glued it to the ribbon.  Look for an item to glue to the hatband that makes you think of the person who will wear it.

Look for Gwen Studios ribbon at all your favorite craft and hobby stores:  Walmart, Joann's, Michaels and on Amazon.  When looking for these particular Faux Leather ribbons, look on eBay.

This blog post features Gwen Studios ribbon, of which I received samples as a member of the design team.  

Look for more Father's Day ideas featuring Gwen Studios ribbon on the Designer Crafts Connection.