Friday, October 21, 2011

Fall Swap All Buttoned Up


Recently, when I was surfing through blogland, I was excited to find a charming blog called Button Floozies. Its host, Laurie, has engaged a group of button-loving, talented bloggers who each contribute a blog post about once a month--a creative approach that affords a wonderful variety of writing styles and all-things-button topics.

Laurie had just issued a call for participants in a fall-themed button swap when I found her blog. A chance to swap buttons with other bloggers? I was so in!

After amassing a list of participants, Laurie randomly paired us up. The swap involved decorating an Altoid tin, filling it with buttons that have a fall flair and sending it to our assigned partner.

This was such a fun project--from noodling my tin design, to figuring out how to execute it (a bit intimidating for a first-time tin decorator, but definitely exciting), selecting the buttons to include in the tin and corresponding with my partner.


I covered my box with cardstock in colors that blend with fall decorating, but could be used for year-round display, if desired. The edges are finished with complementary ribbon that I aged with distress ink.




The inside of the box is covered in a coordinating cardstock and complementary ribbon. To create interest on the top of the box and inside the lid, I selected two elegant Victorian scissors images from The Graphics Fairy, printed them on coordinating paper that I aged with distress ink and mounted them on a different complementary ribbon.


A selection of vintage mother-of-pearl buttons in fall-ish colors was the finishing touch to the outside of the box.


I filled the box to the brim with fall-themed and colored buttons and sent them off to my swap partner, Laura.

And, when Laura's package arrived in my mailbox, I ripped into it like a kid at Christmas. Her tin was exquisite and the buttons were marvelous. I'm including photos of her project so you can enjoy it, too. Thank you, Laura, for the perfect swap.




I absolutely love the crackle paint on the back and sides. And the wooden tile and copper embellishments are such wonderful elements.

I'd never decorated a tin before, but had so much fun with it that I know this won't be the last tin I embellish. In fact, I'm anxiously awaiting the next Button Floozies swap. (Please.)

See other swap participants' projects here.

Make it a great day!

22 comments:

  1. Ann, What fun, you did a beautiful job at decorating your tin, so elegant! I know we all seem to have a stash of buttons, the pink ones are my favorite. Thanks for sharing, Laura

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is super fun! How exciting that would be! And you both did beautiful jobs!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such pretty tins! I am now saving a few tins in case I decide to do something like this in the future. Makes for a great gift container! I am glad you had fun. Makes me wish I had participated.

    ~Linnea

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful tins -- both of you! I'm so glad you had fun! I thought those scissors were a stamp, but they were from Karen -- how awesome! I'll have to go look those up on her website!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a fun idea for a swap! There's just something about vintage buttons that are so appealing and irresistible! Both tins were decorated beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovin' the scissors graphic you used and overall darling-ness (yes, a made up word, and I did it for YOU!) of this project :D Thanks for sharing

    Visiting from BRAG MONDAY at GraphicFairy today,
    Smiles, from NW Illinois,
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  7. Both tins are gorgeous! Loving the scissors, and of course all the beautiful buttons. Such intricate work there! Good job to both of you!
    Jan x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your creation is so pretty! I've heard of floozies, but never button floozies! Thank you for linking this lovely post to Potpourri Friday. I always appreciate your participation!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Simply darling. The scrabble tiles are a great touch. Thanks so much for sharing with my newbie party.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gosh, you created such a beautiful box and the buttons inside are so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  11. OMG! I love both of those tins... They are just amazing! It is so much fun seeing everyone's ideas....Becs

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the simplicity of your tin and how you used ribbon around the edge. I love the colors and how you used the scissor stamp. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Who knew one day we'd turn tins into awesome works of creative art?? Love your tin!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am fellow button enthusiast, so I could really relate to your post. On my newbie list of things to do with my new blog: write a post of my button experiences with the Mustard Seed ladies at my church. I will mention your blog as a source of inspiration. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Both tins are fabulous! I love how you decorated the front of your one, very classy! It was such a wonderful swap and I can't wait for the next one either!!

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving lovely comments about my tin earlier x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Ann, both of you did a marvellous job in decorating the tins. What a neat idea for a swap. Thanks for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris

    ReplyDelete
  17. I just like the valuable information you provide on your

    articles. I will bookmark your blog and check
    again here

    regularly. I'm somewhat sure

    I will be told a lot of new stuff proper right

    here! Best of luck for the following!

    Feel free to visit my webpage; http://www.seolinkads.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. We absolutely love your blog and find many of your post's to be what precisely I'm

    looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content available for you?
    I wouldn't mind creating

    a post or elaborating on many of the subjects you write

    with regards to here. Again, awesome web site!

    Also visit my page :: pigskinzone.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. You have to write this things more.There are a good number of individuals that
    suffer from issues like obesity and extreme fat nowadays.
    The biggest reason right behind this scenario would be the busy lifestyle and irregular
    routine due to which they cannot really spend good particular attention on their health and wellbeing.
    A lot of them have no actually time for it to exercise.
    To them, the easiest method to keep healthy and
    fit is always to start taking the proper supplements.
    If you are looking forward to get an efficient and certified natural health
    supplement, Garcinia Cambogia can easily accomplish your preferences to a great extent.
    The absolute extract of Garcinia Cambogia has
    long been utilised as an powerful slimming pill.

    Feel free to surf to my blog; garcinia cambogia pure extract canada

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think the admin of this web page is really working hard in favor of his website, because here every information is quality based data.


    my blog post: Click Here - ,

    ReplyDelete
  21. The research section includes feasibility studies and site samples.
    The recycling of kitchen and garden waste could reduce garbage collection charges, thus reducing
    municipal and civic charges. Both sequential function charts
    and ladder diagrams are included among five languages standardized ascendancy Function Block Diagram.


    Have a look at my blog post - click here; http://scriptoor.com/top/index.php?a=stats&u=caryncrossley,

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.