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!

Linking to:
It's a Party at A Creative Princess
Potpourri Party at 2805
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Button Floozies
{Re}Create Into Something New
Sister Sunday at Sister of the Wild West
Saturday Night Special
Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy
Newbie Party at Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing
Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage

It Must Be Fall--Wilson's Back

Every fall, I enjoy creating a fun Halloween decoration out of a wonderful reproduction Victorian jack-o-lantern bucket and dried items from my garden.

Jack came with a detachable metal handle, which I remove to begin his transformation to Wilson II. My husband and I fondly refer to him as Wilson because he reminds us of the transformed volleyball in The Castaway.

His makeover consists of stuffing one of my many large flower frogs with dried plant material from my garden:  seed heads of feather reed grass, dwarf fountain grass, coral bells and black-eyed Susan. I generally throw in a few dried hosta scapes for character. This year I toyed with adding a few wild turkey feathers (see Postscript: Turkey Talk), but decided that might be going overboard.

Voila!

A whimsical, fun and fast addition to the fall decor.

Make it a great day!

Linking to:
Sister Sunday at Sisters of the Wild West
VIP Party at Designer Garden
The Sunday Showcase
Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop 
Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing Newbie Party
Sundae Shake Up
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper
Talent Tuesday at Vintage Wanna Bee
A Little Birdie Told Me at Rook No. 17
Anything Goes a Type A
It's a Party at A Creative Princess
Creative Genium at The Creative Paige
Polish the Stars Halloween Link Party
Tuesday's Treasures Fall Party

The CSI Project