50 Button Crafts: idea #37 – button tree quiet bin

Posted on September 30, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

button tree quiet bin from HandsOnAsWeGrow.com

Got a box or jar full of buttons carefully saved by your mother or grandmother? For 2015 I’m in search of great ways to put those buttons to use. Here is this week’s idea:

Here is a change of pace idea for the preschoolers in your life from HandsOnAsWeGrow.com. If you have lots of buttons with no real provenance to go with them, this idea might be just the thing for you. Most of us have heard of quiet books well this is a quiet bin. The basic idea is a bunch of buttons and some simple pipe cleaner trees for the little one to thread the buttons onto. Here is the original post with more specific instructions on HandsOnAsWeGrow.com.

from HandsOnAsWeGrow.com

It would be a good idea to document where the buttons for your project came from and any relevant stories or information about that person or family. If you are looking for more button crafts, check out my Pinterest board.

50 Button Crafts: idea #36 – vintage button brooch

Posted on September 21, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

vintage button brooch by Laura Carson

Got a box or jar full of buttons carefully saved by your mother or grandmother? For 2015 I’m in search of great ways to put those buttons to use. Here is this week’s idea:

While this vintage button brooch is fancier than my style, I think it is well done and inspiring. Plus there is a very detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to make the brooch on Gingersnap Creations. I think it is a lovely way to showcase an ancestors photo and some buttons, jewelry and other small trinkets. Reminds me of an old damaged pocket watch I have from my Dad’s side of the family. Something like this might be perfect.

50 Button Crafts: idea #35 – button bowl

Posted on September 17, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

button bowl via wonderfuldiy.com

Got a box or jar full of buttons carefully saved by your mother or grandmother? For 2015 I’m in search of great ways to put those buttons to use. Here is this week’s idea:

Here is an idea that is completely different. I don’t think I ever would have come up with this idea but with a balloon and white glue along with your button stash you can actually make a bowl! It wouldn’t be good for food but I can image some balls of yarn or just let it speak for its self along with a photo or two of the ancestor whose buttons you used to make your bowl. Click on the photo above for detailed instructions and even a video.

another button bowl from wonderfuldiy.com

The Family: A Proclamation to the World – 20th Anniversary

Posted on September 8, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

Hoglund Proclamation on the Family by Raelyn Webster | Make Your Own Book

A few years ago I put together a book for my family using the text from “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”. Since this month marks the 20th anniversary of this document, I thought it would be a good time to share it. Over the coming weeks I will put together png files so that if you want to make your own book with you family photos you can do it with whatever software you like. I hope this works out to be a good way to share my projects. I’ll be happy to share an InDesign template with anyone who has Adobe InDesign. The advantage of the template is then you could customize anything in the document you would like. I was inspired to make this book by a project I found on the internet and is now available on PrestoPhoto.com as a photo book template.

50 Button Crafts: idea #34 – button & crochet bracelet

Posted on September 8, 2015 by tellingfamilytales

button and crochet bracelet by iceice on Etsy.com

Got a box or jar full of buttons carefully saved by your mother or grandmother? For 2015 I’m in search of great ways to put those buttons to use. Here is this week’s idea:

If you have some crocheting experience here is yet another way to make a button bracelet. I like it because it also highlights a skill many of our ancestors had. Here are a couple other samples of crocheted button bracelets with tutorials though one will need some translation to follow along.