What to do with your old buttons, or Christmas crafts ALREADY?

The Five-Year-Old’s tree. (Photo: Michael Howell)

My goodness, can it be Friday evening already? Where has the day gone? Oh yeah. The Five-Year-Old and I have been busy testing out a few ideas for Christmas ornaments made of buttons.

Apparently the Button Wreath Ornament originates with Martha Stewart, but I actually learned about both the Button Wreath Ornament and the Christmas Tree Ornament on Modern Minerals and the Mama’s Style Facebook page.

My tree. (Photo: Michael Howell)

Both ornaments are relatively easy to do, and since I have a huge stock of buttons and ribbons already (inherited from my grandmother), the only cost to us was buying the 16-gauge copper wire and the 4-in-1 pliers beaders use for wire cutting and for spreading whatever pixie dust is required to keep their handmade jewelry from totally falling apart.

So that was nice, but I think it’s safe to say that after this afternoon, we have a love-hate relationship with both projects.

The Five-Year-Old’s wreath (Photo: Michael Howell)

The Five-Year-Old and I love how easy the buttons were to string on the wire. But I hate how hard it was for me to figure out how to close the wire at the end of the project (I’m not a beader, so had to figure it out on the fly). And of course, after watching me struggle with the wire for a good thirty minutes this afternoon, The Five-Year-Old hates not being allowed to use the 4-in-1 pliers herself.

Still, since both projects finish off with ribbon, it was relatively easy to hide my inevitably awful wire clumps behind artfully placed ribbon. On the other hand, this is me we’re talking about, and the definition of artful that relates to me generally isn’t the one that refers to actual crafts.

My wreath. (Photo: Michael Howell)

Clearly I have a mixed opinion about this project, but since I do have so very many buttons, I suspect we’ll be making more.  Next year.

So, what have you been up to today?

Related Links:

• • Button Link Ornament (Martha Stewart)
  • Button Christmas Tree Ornament (Modern Minerals)

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