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Stained Glass & Mosaics

Button Box Done

16 years ago

I was copying some of my late mother's old recipes and sending them to my brothers. I decided to cover a cigar box with some of her old buttons to put them in. I can't get a detailed pic of the dark buttons no matter what but some of them are really neat - very 40s and 50s looking.

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Comments (16)

diytrying
Original Author
16 years ago
I think this is a more detailed pic. Sorry about so many...
texaswild
16 years ago
What a wonderful idea, and you've done it so beautifully. LOVE the white design among the darks. Beautiful buttons and the boxes w/be more personal this way. Doncha just love those cigar boxes for mosaicing. I've only done one in poly clay tiles, and just covered the top - use it for the remotes. What color grout - or WILL you grout? Beautiful, heartfelt project.
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Button, button, who's got the button?
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Comments (23)
Like everyone else, I love buttons...... In another life - I was the Notions and trim buyer for the large Fabric store where I was the manager. The owners used to buy the buildings that huge grocery stores had been in - just to give you an idea of the size of the stores - 1971-the beginning of the superstores except these stores were privately owned. Back to buttons. I was the "buyer" for 5 stores - Buttons were my favorite- sitting down with Mfr reps & picking out individual styles & lines of buttons~I was in heaven, but too young to recognize it ~LOL~ So yes, I love buttons...... Recently, I saw watch bands made of buttons - they were beautiful. Good-fun activity for kids - small and quick project. Enjoy your button stash - great purchase your parents made :)
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boxes R done!!!!!
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Comments (23)
I was taking a break from starting the next box...I am just going to keep the rock box for myself. Thank you all for cheering me up so nicely!!!! Nice- the thing on the box with the mirrors (yes it does look like a rotary phone dial doesnt it??) is a small silver lizard with a blue body inset. I just thought it looked cool on the box cause there really is blue mixed in with that gray glass. I think if you click on the picture you can make it bigger. adina- thank you for the suggestion. I dont think I could get it fixed with the rocks spaced the way they are.
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Button, button, whose got the button?
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Comments (6)
Buttons are great learning tools in kindergarten. They can be sorted by color, shape, size, whether there are two or four holes, or attached from underneath. You can make patterns with them by size, shape, color. When I taught by themes, one of my first each year was from the book Corduroy, about a bear who lost his button. Each student was given a button or could bring one from home and he/she would make up a story about what the button was on, who wore it, if it got lost what happened to it, etc. Fun times teaching and great for creativity. I love buttons!
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Where to shop for wired doorbell buttons / chime boxes?
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Comments (2)
Amazon.com and build.com have large selections...
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becky_ia
16 years ago
I think this is beautiful! Oh, I have always had "a thing" for any thing with buttons on it. I don't think you should grout it as the grout will cover many of the button's details. Why not pour a liquid resin over top?

Becky
stjohnsgypsy
16 years ago
Love it..I really love the design.....when my mother passed away....she had a jar full of old buttons and I mosaiced a cigar box with them.....
haziemoon
16 years ago
What a wonderful, and special idea. Really nice design too.
I wouldn't grout it either.

Hazie
gretch1964
16 years ago
Very very nice. I wouldn't grout it.
seaglassic
16 years ago
no grout or resin..it's exactly right, just as it is...
that leaves the buttons the same as when she handled them last.

;(*_*);
chickeemama
16 years ago
That is too cool!!! I was just fiddling with a thing of buttons last night that I was going to use on my Xmas boxes Im doing..so when I saw you button box I just had to look!!!

I go for no grout either, but like the idea of covering them with resin so they stay perfect forever!!!!

Very creative and cool!!
bamasusanna
16 years ago
Oh my gosh! What a wonderful project with a lot of love for your moms memory. I love the design you did. That's a VERY special gift. Brought a tear to my eye!
Calamity_J
16 years ago
I LOVE BUTTONS!!! That's it! I'm gonna start collecting buttons! SHEESH! I have a mountain of dishes, glass, tiles, but oh no! I gotta go get buttons now!!! I say leave as is too, so you can run your fingers over em!!! I'm still so glad Mary left the buttons on her kitchen backsplash project! I love the sentiment that has gone into this gift you have made!!! Bless You! Jane
crackpotannie
16 years ago
Love it what a great gift.
nicethyme
16 years ago
it's really wonderful, it evokes memories
shrty411
16 years ago
Great idea. I have a tin full of my mothers buttons sitting in the storage unit. I think a jar, too. She NEVER threw a botton out!!

Maria
Shades_of_idaho
16 years ago
DIY I LOVE your mosaic button box. Your idea to share the recipes is so sweet!!! I go for no grout too!! I like it as it is.

Chris
fiddlekate
16 years ago
Love it, DIY!!! I have my Mom and Dad's box full of buttons, too. There are a couple with the big holes like yours. It's intrigued me. That is a VERY thoughtful gift!
Katie
diytrying
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all so much for your nice words. This was one of those extremely satisfying projects. My mother sewed and quilted beautifully for about 70 years and I don't. I always wanted to make a keepsake using something that was important to her. I really didn't have a design in mind when I started laying them out and think it's kind of interesting it looks somewhat like a cross. My mother was a very Christian person so I guess that maybe was guiding me. And, she would like the idea that it was useful. I am afraid of resin; maybe one day I'll get up the nerve to use it. I'm hoping I got the buttons on there well enough for them to be handled because some of them have wonderful texture and depth. The hardest part, as usual, was digging out the GEII, esp in the bigger holes.

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