ButtonMad

ButtonMad
Teeny Tiny Bird Buttons

Friday 12 December 2014

Festive Table Settings


Your guests will be more than happy to take their places at the table this Christmas with these fun name place settings.


Cut old fashioned labels out of brown cardboard and stamp each guest's name on them, leaving a space for a cutout paper star adorned with a handmade button. 


Or wrap ribbons around your napkins and thread the name cards through.


Each glass has a different Christmas button tied to it so that the guests remember which is theirs after the second third helping of eggnog.


Stamp names onto white paper doilies and arrange them at each person's place at the table along with a very happy Santa button.


Its amazing how a few doilies, a stamp set, brown paper, ribbon and handmade buttons can transform a table from drab to fab & festive in no time at all…happy decorating.

Thursday 11 December 2014

Festive Gift Wrap


Brown paper might seem plain and boring but there's a little secret that can't be kept under wraps any longer - it can be dressed up to be all snazzy and posh.
 This year its my gift wrap of choice.


With paper doilies, some of our handmade Christmas buttons and pretty ribbons & twine, you can create festive gifts that will stand out under the tree.


Use rubber stamps to stamp the recipient's name straight onto the gift, or embellish gift tags with a teeny star button.


Its amazing the transformation a little glitter, glitz and a handmade-with-love Incomparable button can create...


And that's a wrap!

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Christmas Name Tags


Christmas always seems a little surreal in this part of the world. 
Its been over 30ÂșC for the past few weeks and its rather hard to imagine the world covered in snow with sleighs, bells, roaring log fires, hot mulled wine and all the things one traditionally associates with this holiday.
The thought of a hot Christmas lunch with loads of food is hard to imagine - we'd rather have slices of mango and watermelon in the pool! 
And a tall refreshing bottle of lemonade.


This year as part of my table setting, I'm using paper doilies as coasters and printing my guest's names on them.
Then for their juice bottles, I've been making a series of name/gift tags with a variety of our Christmas-themed buttons on them so that when someone puts their glass down to do a triple backward flop somersault into the pool, they'll know which is their glass when they're done.


A glass-saver if you will…and I have the loveliest range of buttons to choose from…moose, snowmen, Santa, Christmas trees, puddings, candy canes, gingerbread men, stars, angels, snowflakes…its starting to feel a lot like Christmas around here after all! 

L180 Christmas buttonsL439L441





Monday 8 December 2014

Butterflies & Flowers - Pretty Decorations


You might remember these hanging heart decorations
If you do, you've been following this blog for quite some time now!


I made the hearts by cutting each one from a template - a labour of love.
Well I'm older wiser these days and bought a few paper punches to make a variety of shapes.


And these new hanging decorative chains are made up of pretty pastel butterflies, flowers and circles.


They are lovely to string up at parties, in a child's room or just to hang from a key on a lovely cupboard.


They're also now available in our Etsy shop in a variety of colours and we ship to the States, UK and Australia. 
If you live outside of these areas, you can send me an email and we'll happily make a plan to ship to you too.



Tuesday 2 December 2014

Crushing on Cushion Covers


While out hunting for fabric to make bunting for our recent fair, I found this lovely material and knew it had to come home with me.


The pattern and soft colours were too pretty to resist. 
I paired it up with a coral linen and made a cover for an over-sized cushion.


I hid the zip with a flap of matching fabric and used these 3 gorgeous buttons that remind me of seashells to line the flap.


I added an inch-wide Oxford edge to give it that little bit of an edge distinction.


These buttons are so pretty I'm tempted to leave the cushion with the wrong side facing forward permanently!


I might just have to alternate through the week!

Thursday 20 November 2014

Peanut Butter Dog Treats


I've baked these peanut butter dog treats for the pooch before.

They were received with such enthusiasm that I decided to make a double batch - they're so easy you'll quickly get the knick-knack of them. 


Bailey seems to have a sixth sense - knowing when something I'm baking is intended for him, he then pesters me in the kitchen, dogging my every step.


Of course his dogged efforts eventually pay off and he gets rewarded with some freshly baked biscuits.


I store them in a glass cookie jar adorned with pretty ribbons and a cute button...I couldn't decide between the little sitting dog or the dog bone button…


…so I went for both...


Individually wrapped in clear plastic bags with a ribbon looped over the top and a button attached, these peanut butter dog treats would make a lovely Christmas gift for a friend who is dog-crazy.

Or hang it on the tree for Fido so your four legged friend gets a treat along with the rest of the family on Christmas morning.


Wednesday 19 November 2014

Something Fishy


Christmas is approaching so quickly this year I'm certain I must be dreaming.


No need to cast around for further inspiration, these cat treats are the perfect little gift to catch the attention of your furry feline friends.


Turn the oven to 180ÂșC.
Combine the following 4 ingredients:
1 can tuna, drained,
1 C nutty wheat flour,
1 egg,
1 T olive oil.


Mix together, roll out and press and then cut into cute fish shapes.
Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 12-15 minutes until brown.


These treats keep for up to 3 weeks in the fridge…oh, and your pooch will be fishing to try and have a few thrown his way too. 
Bailo goes through all of his tricks without being asked to in order to try and have a few of these biscuits released in his direction.
On a scale of 1 to 10, he gives them four paws up.


Of course, my favourite part is embellishing the cookie jar with a lovely handmade label adorned with these 2 fish buttons
The perfect fi(ni)shing touch!

Wednesday 22 October 2014

Soft Pillow Dollies


These sweet little dolls are so easy to make from your pile of scraps.
Simply trace and embroider her big smile and hair onto a scrap of linen then sew that to a brightly coloured piece for her dress. 
Add some ribbon or lace if you'd like and sew on a few handmade Incomparable buttons.
Then sew RST to a matching back piece, leaving the bottom seam open to turn right sides out, fill with stuffing and hand stitch closed.
Then give her to your favourite little girl(s) for a cuddle toy - these will make perfect Christmas stocking fillers.

Thursday 16 October 2014

Bunny Hug-ger!


Mum put this cute little bunny softy together last week. I can only assume she ran out of time and/or material by the time she got to the ears!

One thing has to be said for it though…it has a really cute butt(on) behind!


Wednesday 15 October 2014

Lovely Lavender Pouches


We have quite a few hundred lavender bushes planted on the farm…looking pretty in purple and smelling glorious right now.

With the country fair coming up, I've been thinking of the farm produce we can offer alongside apples, olive oil and wine…and with lavender in such abundance, thought it would be a pity not to make good use of it.


Every evening I can be seen with my basket tucked under my arm clipping away at the lavender and hardly making a dent but filling the basket to the brim. Its been so easy to dry it in the sunshine here…and my house and patio smell quite heavenly…
well, until Bailey makes an appearance after a swim!


I made these little pouches by attaching a button on one side, then sewing along 3 sides of some fabric scraps RST, turning them out & then filling them up with dried loose lavender…and invisible stitching the fourth side closed - my technique leaves a lot to be desired.


I love how these look in a glass sweetie jar…scrumptious...




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