Buttons, Tags, Hearts & a Frame

Greetings lovely friends & readers

Sometime back in very early December I entered a competition run by Barb of Theodora Cleave.  I really love Barb's buttons .... well everything she designs really - & I subscribe to her online newsletter which is where I first read about the competition.

You had to share a Tradition you engage in each Christmas so I emailed Barb & shared one I had begun with my own sons & now continue with my grandsons.  In the hectic leadup to Christmas I must admit I forgot all about entering until Barb's email popped into my inbox informing me I was one of the two winners.  I was so delighted & a couple of weeks ago Barb's box of goodies arrived - all packaged up beautifully like opening the most special advent calendar.

 

Oh My !!!!  I could barely breathe .... the packages just kept on coming.  How special I felt that day & my mind was spinning with projects & things to create with the beautiful array of buttons & handprinted ribbons I had won 💕💗

The week following my receiving the prize I decided it was high time I actually did something with some of the buttons!!   These two tags above were my first attempt - they are a pattern from an old Christmas issue of Simply Vintage Magazine - pictured below.

I love to pull my old copies of these out & go through them & always seem to find a new project I wish to make.

Two dear friends have birthdays early next month - both are in their 70's & have homes full of "stuff " but both love their gardens so I decided to get them each a Garden Voucher.

I follow Craft With Fee on YouTube & came across this wonderful tutorial for making these hanging heart pockets - I hope the link works here okay ...     https://youtu.be/Z_8rRFFrt4Y

I thought the pockets would be ideal to pop the Garden Voucher in rather than buying a birthday card.  I used some of the buttons from Barb to adorn my pockets instead of the applique flowers that Fee used on hers.

 A couple of dried lavender sprigs & the voucher tucked in ... just perfect.  I bought my vouchers from Mitre 10 which is a large hardware store here in New Zealand but each branch has a wonderful Garden Centre inside it.  It's a pity their brand colors are orange & not nice pastel colors to match my heart pockets 😉

Jenny of elefantz encourages us to pull out our "orphan stitcheries" & turn them into something.  I came across this one in a box which is originally a Jenny design.  I decided to make it up into a pincushion & then filled it with crushed walnut shell which keeps your pins nice & sharp.  

Although I tossed it in my pressie box, I actually pulled it out again as I decided I could do with a nice new pincushion to start the New Year off.

This picture was an Op Shop purchase for $10 - bought for the frame & Not the picture which was very faded, rubbed & worn in areas.  

I painted right over the entire thing with my Voodoo Molly Vintage Chalk Paint in the color Old Linen.  The Mr was watching me & nearly had a seizure ... "for all you know it might be a Rembrandt" he stated.   For $10 from Hospice I somehow doubt it!!! 😉

I had a section of the transfer left over from when I did the Nesting Tables in my last post & wanted to use them up.  I cut several of them out & spread them around to fit them inside my frame.  I especially loved the finished effect when I rubbed the frame over with some silver gilding wax that my friend Gail had loaned me. 

Hard to show up in my photograph but the wax just bought out the filigree in the frame so well.  My picture looks great hanging just above the Nesting Tables in my dining room.

Well dear friends - although I would dearly LoVe to go to my Craft Room & play - I am actually off to pack a bag as I head to my Mum's early tomorrow morning.  Thank You as always for your visits here today.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend - be good & kind to yourselves & to each other,

With much love & friendship to you all,

Julie & the furry ones x0x0x