Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Upcycling: The Pin-Ups

I lurve Jenni Bowlin something fierce. Her simple, graphic, vintage style adapts well to so many artsy occasions. She's just introduced these cute as a bug chipboard buttons at winter CHA that have storybook graphics or text on them. Very, very cool.

I have these clear buttons that I bought way back when I was working part time in my local scrapbook store (where I fully spent each and every paycheck on whatever came in each week). I think Junkitz or 7Gypsies made them. We all just had to have them, in vast quantities.
Only, duh, I have barely touched them.

I have all this old sheet music, atlases and pages from old books.
And I hoard it all, barely touching it.

So, seeing Jenni's new chipboard buttons, I got to thinking. And what I got to thinking was nothing new or particularly original, but it was a way for me to upcycle supplies I already have on hand and actually PUT THEM TO USE dagnabbit!

And here are my upcycled buttons recreated as push-pins...All ready to hang artsy creations on an inspiration board or in my case, the wall of my studio where I am free to poke holes into the drywall willy nilly. Or I could bundle up some on cardboard squares as cool gifties.

Here you can see a few of my precision instruments, most notably, the toothpicks. I find this to be the easiest, least fussy way to apply the E6000 glue to bond the thumb tacks and buttons. What's missing is the adhesive I used to glue the paper onto the buttons. In my case, I used Club Scrap's bookbinding adhesive, but Mod Podge, K&Co craft glue or any favorite adhesive should work just fine. What is also missing is the sandpaper I used to sand excess paper off after I roughly cut around the papered buttons. For added embellishment, more buttons can be glue on in layers. This is also a great way to winnow down a stash of a bazillion buttons. (like the little cards of push pins in this post: Little packages )I also have a nice little supply of ready made buttons that will be great embellishments for future projects. They'll wait in this pink dish beside my bowl of glittered chipboard. (Now have I racked up enough recycling points to go ahead and buy all that Jenni Bowlin stuff I'm dying to have?)

14 comments:

Anna Willett said...

i love the cutie buttons, casii and you definitely need to reward your cleverness with some jenni bowlin goodness! lol

Tanya said...

This is such a great idea and it comes together quickly. Just the sort of craft for an impatient crafter such as myself. I put you on my Bloggers that Sparkle list!

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Very cute Cassss! Once I made push pins out of those clear flat marbley things. Willy nilly LOL you're funny :)

Unknown said...

Love those! I have some too squirreled away somewhere that I had to have and haven't used. LOL Now I'm inspired!

j said...

I am doing that!! I am going through my buttons TONIGHT to find clear ones.

Unknown said...

WOW, Casii! What an absolutely great idea! But now I have to actually use the paper I hoard!!! Ah, dilemma...

Unknown said...

WOW, Casii! What an absolutely great idea! But now I have to actually use the paper I hoard!!! Ah, dilemma...

Sherri said...

I love love love 'em! They look so vintage'eee ! You ROCK. Oh and I posted another one of my scores from the antique market this weekend. Come on by and see it ...ya gonna love it. I just can't decide WHERE to put the dangnab thing.

Shauna said...

I'm new here! What a great blog :)

Amy said...

Hey you!! I'm here!! and I have running water...and everything!...and I love your button idea!

Janelle said...

Excellent idea! I hereby give you permission to buy the JB buttons, now! ;-)

My LSS has ordered them, too--I'm really looking forward to seeing them in real life. They look BIG!

TJ said...

Those are beautiful. We didn't have many clear buttons in my grandma's button tin, but now I know what cool things I can do with them.

milkcan said...

Genius! Love them!

Kim said...

the little tacks are FAB!! I am coveting all your vintage paper too.

I received your package today and I CAN'T WAIT to try the hair stuff!

THANKS again!!!!!