A Never Boring life of a bulletin board.

As much as I am attached to my wi-fi gadgets (what other word can we use to describe them?) I still keep written journals, I still write letters with paper and I still send postcards out every week. 

So you won't be surprised that I also have a mini bulletin board by the door.As I was thinking of some NO SEW projects for some of you who have not ventured into that area YET. I am still holding hope for you that you will become a sewer someday. That I will design something that will have you saying.

"Today is the day" ..... 

In the meantime, here is an assortment of Bulletin boards that require 

the following:

My very favourite custom frame, YOU ONLY NEED ONE

mine is  10" x 17 1/2 "

( either custom or search for online or antique sales) 

I had a few custom made cost approx $30.00)

I chose this size as it perfect horizontally and vertically

and takes us little space on a counter or wall.

I change mine each season, hence a variety below.

( these were made new for this post) 

So your initial investment of a custom size is actually worth it.

You will need 2 pieces of fabric, 

You want  this size 14 "x 22"  (you want enough to fold and tuck in the back)

the other piece will depend if you want a slim pocket or a deep pocket.

I have two sizes for that:

For the horizontal

3 inch wide pocket - as you will not be sewing this -only

folding it in half -you will need

6 " x 22 "

If you are doing one 

for the Vertical one- ( again paying attention to our no sew peeps)

12" x 14" ( as you will be folding this in half so you will have a 7 inch pocket) 

Some small straight pins,  ( dressmaker pins) 

I like the 1 inch pins as you can angle them well into the

styrofoam and it keeps the fabric tight.

Styrofoam, I get a package of  6 pack 3/4 inch.

and you can make numerous bulletin boards.  

Thumb tacks to mount your buttons on. 

A piece of brown kraft paper or freezer paper as your dust cover

for the back,

Some carpenters glue and a saw tooth picture framer hardware.

Here is one I made for a special lady who loves beach scenes.

I have had this fabric for years, perfect for her most desired time of  the year.

Coffee theme ones with coffee theme buttons

This is my Halloween one, I chose many assorted 

seasonal buttons, candy corns, monsters, dragons, witches

This is in my studio, besides yellow gingham, buffalo plaid is up

there as one of my favourite patterns and RBD carries a lot of it. 

I added school theme buttons and some coffee and cookies

 Shelly has many beach buttons, so I made a lot of push pins

wth the bikinis and glasses and you just got to have some pesky flying

insects....Glad they don't have mosquitoe buttons..lol

Tea time, love this fabric, this is where fabric panels can be a nice addition

to your NEVER BORING Bulletin boards. This was sent to me years ago

seemed befitting for a summer kitchen. Tea theme buttons were a perfect

choice here too. 

Some steps on how to put together your Bulletin Board.

As Fall is slipping in slowly into our summer, a gentle reminder

to treasure each and every moment. 

Like gingham, dots are a classic, added florals and cat buttons

into thumb tacks here....

How can we do better?

Is there something you would like to see?

YOU Matter.

till next Wed.

You will be able to find all of our patterns listed here on Instagram and Pinterest too.

www.instagram.com/shellysbuttonsandmoree
www.pinterest.com/mdmsamm/shellysbuttonsandmore.com
https://www.pinterest.com/buttons0295/boards/

It's a MINI world.

I cannot speak for anyone else, but I have always lived in a MINI world. Small places for me has always been a source of comfort. From the closet turned into sleeping quarters at boarding school to homes with planned small rooms for an office or sewing studio; I  just feel at home in small places. ( maybe because too, I am only 5 foot tall) 

So when Shell introduced me to these new MINIs I knew without a doubt I could come up with some uses for them. Not surprising I had a beautiful 8 room doll house and just last year, I gave it to a family who was struggling, a divorced dad with three young girls whom I just knew would bring years of entertainment for them. I hesitated for a moment of course, that doll house meant a lot to me, but some things even those cherished must find a new home. 

So these minis were not going into a doll house. Instead as some of you know, I love photography, so I took some photos of favourite scenes, our white garden, a local fishing hole and a roadside market stand I frequented for years but now abandoned after Mike passed away from cancer. He brought such such joy and wealth of seasonal harvest to our kitchen,  he still lingers at the roadside but mostly in my heart. 

So with some mini 7 x5 frames, the photos turned into postcards and a variety of mini and buttons from shellysbuttonsandmore.com
This is what I came up with. They will be a treasure to anyone who loves any of these adventures of summer, and  all can sit on a table or hung up. Or maybe you will just keep them for yourselves. All of these will be sent to Shelly to be sold at the end of the month and proceeds going to local food banks. 

The patterns shows all the links to for all of your supplies and how to do secure them onto the frames as well how to make a mini blanket and pillow ( no sewing) 

I even added some graphics that are 6 x6 great for printing and getting the wee ones ( buglets) to stick on some buttons. 

( This is one pattern that has all 3 images with links to gather all notions and materials needed )

This pattern, shows you all the links where you can get all the supplies

and how to make a mini blanket and pillow without sewing

and 3 postcards that make up these scenes. 

( postcards are ready to print or we can supply you them

with kit and frame and pattern)

You choose which minis you would like ( those are extra)

Some thing for the buglets ( wee ones) or the child in all of us. 

these are sized at 6 x 6 

click image to see all the fish buttons Shellysbuttonsandmore has. 

Print off and glue black, white and gold/yellow buttons on him

let's call him "Mister Stripo"

And  you can  her Ms Cheeky . ( 'cause she is) 

click on tomato to see all shellysbuttonsandmore 

 fruits/ veggies buttons. 

Here is the frames I used....

Ps All of our patterns cost $3.00 US with an order of $20.00+ of buttons and more.  ( shipping does not count)
If you just want a pattern with no button purchase they are $11.00 US.

All the patterns images will link you directly to Shellysbuttonsandmore to purchase. Just click on photo.

  
You will be able to find all of our patterns listed here on Instagram and Pinterest too.
www.instagram.com/shellysbuttonsandmoree
www.pinterest.com/mdmsamm/shellysbuttonsandmore.com
https://www.pinterest.com/buttons0295/boards/

See you next Wednesday...

Also let us know what we can do BETTER.

Jam Notes

all images (graphics, photos, link to buttons, embellishements and minatures) 

With so many kids at home these days and parents wondering how to engage them in some crafts all the while teaching them:

Math 

Color

Shapes

Cutting 

I came up with some Button IDEAS!

( images will take you to purchase page) 

Button Project #1 

I call them Jam Notes, using Color bag buttons from Shellybuttonsandmore. 

There are a few steps but with some help from parents or grands

they will be able to make a few jars of jam for keeping or giving away. 

You can add seed beeds for the seeds in their jam, and with a variety of button team them up with colors, sizes. You can add

ribbon and labels too. ( let me know if you are interested in how to do them step by step)

Button Project #2

I also came up with this idea. We can do up some Card Stocks ( poscards style, 5 x 7 )

if you like- a collection of 3 so your wee ones can stick buttons onto them.  Make them into kits complete with buttons too. 

How about:

*Name the favorite foods in these colors.

*Their favourite cartoons, movies, shows, searching for names with these colors in the title.

They can color them and then add buttons too.

See you next WEDNESDAY where I will be showing you a new pattern on what to do with MINATURES.

with these and quite a few more.

You will be able to find all of our patterns listed here on Instagram and Pinterest too.

www.instagram.com/shellysbuttonsandmoree
www.pinterest.com/mdmsamm/shellysbuttonsandmore.com
https://www.pinterest.com/buttons0295/boards/