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Monday, July 16, 2012

Antique Button Monograms

Hey you guys!! I am so excited to show you my latest crafty goodness!!! :0)

My mom and I were out shopping at our local Peddlers Mall and I saw these two old frames tucked away in the back of a booth.   They had $8.00 each on them…um no, I didn’t want to pay that. My mom was buying another item from the same booth and she called and talked them down on both items…hers and mine!  Thanks mom!  I paid $5.00 each for these lovelies! 

antique frames

I had no idea what I was going to do with them when I bought them, but I knew I loved the old patina and chippy paint, so I got them anyway.  On the way home I said to my mom…”OH…a monogram!”  I decided they would look great with a monogram in them!

round antique frames

There was no glass, backing…nothing, so I cut up a cardboard box to make a backing for each frame. Easy peasy!

how to fix an old frame

….and they fit right in!

fixing old frames

I used my cardboard circles as a pattern for some scraps of drop cloth I had in my fabric stash.  I cut the circles out and then ironed them…….drop cloth wrinkles …a LOT!

background for frames

I used this spray mount from 3M to get the fabric circles to stick onto the cardboard circles.  I just sprayed it right onto the cardboard, then laid the fabric on top…making sure to smooth the wrinkles out before I stuck it down.

spray mount

Then I got on my trusty NEW computer and found a lovely script font.  I printed out an M and T in a VERY large font size to use as a template.   I actually printed out two of each one….I’ll show you why in  a second.

First I want to show you what I used to make the monograms…. I dumped out my big blue ball jar full of these…..

what to do with old buttons

Antique buttons! Aren’t they beautiful?! I love all the different creams, whites and metals!

Ok…the reason you need two of each of your script font print outs is this….you need one as a pattern to lay out your buttons on….(sorry they’re fuzzy, but I wanted you to see what I did anyway and they’re the only ones I took)….

button monograms

how to make a button monogram

The second print I used as a stencil……I cut it out and centered it in my frame on the fabric like this…

home made stencilshow to make a stencil

After I centered them in the frames, I used a piece of chalk to fill in the stencil so I could see the monogram…

what to do with old buttons

See…..

using a stencilhow to make a button monogram

Then I got out my handy dandy glue gun and started transferring the buttons from the paper, to the fabric.  I did layer some of the buttons, so you’ll want to make sure you put the bottoms buttons on first. :0)

antique buttons

See how I layered the buttons on top of each other to give it a little depth and interest…..

making a button monogram

Notice how I used smaller buttons at the starting points and larger ones at the beefiest parts of the letters…then I layered some more on top once I got the bottom buttons in place.

old buttons

Here are some pics of the finished products……

button monogramwhat do you do with old buttonsmonogram ideasbutton decor how to decorate with old framesold buttons

Now I just have to figure out where I want to put them!  I’m thinking I might put them in my dining room when all is said and done.  My dining room is going from fancy formal to farmhouse fresh a little at a time! :0)  Yay!

Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial!

Love you guys bunches!

Missy

11 comments:

  1. Good no comments yet so I can say it first...Cute as a button!! Sorry, but they are!!! Those frames are beautiful also! Good job! Best, Vicki

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  2. Love these! What a great idea.

    hugs,
    Lee Laurie

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  3. I adore this project!!!! Now I just need to find some frames. oh yeah, and some cute lil buttons :)
    Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Round frames are unusual so you have a treasure. Well, two treasures! Very nice.♥♫

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  5. What a fun, creative idea, Missy! You have inspired all kinds of ideas for me with this project! Thanks! They look wonderful!

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  6. eeek did you see my recent post with buttons? apparently we were on the same wavelength!!

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  7. Perfect! I just love letters and monograms...the nerd in me I guess. :)

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  8. Missy, they're WONDERFUL! Who would think to do that! I love the little pearl in the very center of the "M", what a precious touch, and the color of the buttons is just fabulous. What a pretty color and patina in the frames too. Those are gonna be stunning on the wall, in the most subtle and classy way... Those are a real treasure...

    Cindy

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  9. Missy,
    Your framed antique button monograms are precious and look like an heirloom, something created decades ago that ended up on your cottage walls.
    Your Friend,
    Deborah

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  10. I have so many collections of assorted buttons at home, I guess I could also try this. It's awesome!

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