BTW: Discovered

Back in May I revealed my efforts in the Button Swap, but admitted that I hadn't made anything with the handmade ceramic button from my partner, Brenda Salzano.

This morning as I was doing some cleaning in the craft room, I re-discovered said button along with a whole set of corresponding beads. Since I had JUST cleaned off my bead table, it seemed like the perfect time for this button project to jump back on it.

Thinking back to when I worked on the button swap, I do remember deciding on using the butterfly wings and I kinda recall making the shabby beads and picking out other beads that would go with the fabulous button. But, I just couldn't commit to a design that would flow. Since I'm under no pressure of a reveal for this button I think I might actually be able to pull something together!!

There's more Bead Table Wednesday in the Flickr Group!

Bead Table Wednesday

I need to know do you ever forget about projects only to discover them later? Is it just me?

Button Swap Blog Hop - The Reveal

Welcome to the Button Swap Reveal. This challenge is hosted by the awesome Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio.

As much as I love buttons, you would think that a challenge involving a button swap would be a breeze for me. This wasn't entirely the case this time around. Let me start by reminding you of the buttons I received from my partner Brenda Salzano.

I was smitten with each and every one of the buttons she sent.Here's a link to the buttons I sent her.

I started with the handmade wood button from Brenda. The earthiness of it really spoke to my hippie-self which wanted something super simple.

It quickly became a basic knotted bracelet with some leather cord. The wood button is both the focal and closure of the bracelet.

It's lightweight and really lovely.


Next, I turned to the large clear-ish button. It plainly said that it wanted to be a ring. With only slight difficulty, I snipped off and filed down the shank loop on the back. With E6000 glue and a brass ring blank, that button quickly got its wish.

The vintage enameled button was so sweet and feminine, I knew she (yes...she's a she!) just needed a few touches. With some coordinating beads and antiqued brass chain, she was quickly transformed into the focal of this pretty little necklace.

One button remained, and I hit a brick wall. I saved my FAVORITE button of the bunch for last, but absolutely struggled to come up with something that was suitable for its awesomeness. I have several ideas and some beads gathered, but just can't decide on the best way to proceed. The challenge was to make at least one item from one of the buttons our partner sent us, so I accomplished that at least. When I finally make up my mind on what will work best with this amazing button, you better bet you'll see it here on the blog.

I do apologize to Brenda for not making anything yet with this beautiful button. However, I want to make sure that whatever I design with this little piece of art really compliments it and isn't just thrown together. I simply ran out of time.

Now, a big THANK YOU to Cindy for organizing this Button Swap. I really had a lot of fun working with buttons that were new to me. Please make sure to visit Brenda (my partner) as well as Cindy to see what they created! Here's the list of the rest of the participants as well.

Alice Peterson  and Kim Bender

Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove

 Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame

 Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren

 Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen

 Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman (YOU ARE HERE)

 Cat Kerr and Heather Powers

 Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic

 Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm

 Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston

 Christine Stonefield and Dana James

 Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud

 Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner

 Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson

 Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney

 Dana James and Christine Stonefield

Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz

 Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson

 Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski

 Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage

 Heather Powers and Cat Kerr

 Holly Westfall and Sally Russick

 Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano

 Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak

 Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier

 Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison

 Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip

 Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe

 Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata

 Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman

 Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka

 Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano

 Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars

Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk

 Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven

 Kim Bender and Alice Peterson

 Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps

 Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.

 Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers

 Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede

 Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley

 Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor

 Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino

 Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett

 Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto

 Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca

 Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers

 Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins

 Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs

 Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter

 Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler

 Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen

 Mary Harding and Stacie Florer 

 Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell

 Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick

 Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson

 Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer

 Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners

 Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer

 Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson

 Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou

* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)

 Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic

 Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy

 Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas

 Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy

 Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell

 Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson

 Sally Russick and Holly Westfall

 Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor

 Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson

 Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya

 Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel

 Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone

 Stacie Florer and Mary Harding

* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)

 Sue Hamel and Terry Carter

 Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne

 Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle

 Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne

 Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey

 Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque

 Terry Carter and Sue Hamel

 Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin

 Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov

 Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan

 Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore

THANKS so very much for hopping by!!

Button Swap: Revealing What I Sent

Last week I showed off the buttons my Button Swap partner, Brenda Salzano, sent me.
This week I'd like to show you what I sent her.

Brenda's already posted her button reveal of what I sent on her blog, so I feel safe to show you too.
Let me admit that I sent more than the required four buttons as I am a little button crazy and I wanted to make sure she had lots of choices. So, I sent four vintage and four handmade/altered.

I started with the four vintage buttons from my stash. The top left is a big metal shank button. Next to it is a mother of pearl button. Bottom left is a glass button and bottom right is a plastic button.

I altered a clear plastic button to make this button.

This button is one of my wood Shabby Buttons that I altered just for Brenda.

I created this button with some Tim Holtz Grungeboard, paint, distress inks, and a dictionary page. I think it's super cool.

Lastly (and I know it's hard to see) is this Precious Metal Clay (PMC) button I made. It's not fantastic as I'm still learning how to use the clay efficiently, but I still think it turned out pretty neat.

Of course, I sent all of the buttons in the button puzzle box (with puzzle included) since I thought it was pretty awesome.

So far, Brenda has reported that she likes the buttons so I'm a happy girl!

Brenda is so thoughtful, she even included me in a gorgeous Etsy treasury she made yesterday.


Speaking of Etsy, these earrings are new in my shop.

Copper Rain Earrings

I'd love to know your opinions on the buttons I sent Brenda and how your own button creations are coming along. Now I must run as I've got a lot on my plate today. Toodles!

Button, Button, I've Got the Buttons

You may recall me mentioning the Button Swap hosted by Cindy of Sweet Bead Studio a few weeks back. Well, it wasn't long after partners were assigned that I received my buttons from Brenda Salzano. I wanted to make sure I showed off my snazzy buttons before I dive too far into creating with them. So check out what Brenda sent me!

Here are all the buttons Brenda sent me. . .yes, go ahead with your oooohhhhs and aaaahhhhhs

This one was handmade by Brenda

The outer buttons are some awesome vintage ones she sent me and the middle one is another one she made (it's wood!)

Check out the adorable sticker she has for her packaging!

I know Brenda has received her buttons from me, but I'll wait a little bit to give her time for that reveal if she wants before I show what I sent. However, I can't resist showing you what I sent them IN.

It's a button PUZZLE!!

Lastly, it's time for "What's new in the shop."

Dark Leaves Necklace

Are you participating in the button swap? What kind of buttons did you receive; vintage, handmade, special?? What kind of buttons would you have LIKED to receive? Are you getting worried that you haven't gotten your buttons yet? I could talk buttons for ages ;) Am I pushing your buttons. . .alright, I'll stop.
Later gators!