i'm doing pretty good this week. i wanted to share a project a day, and so far, so good. today's simple valentines project is a cute button heart.
i started with a styrofoam heart, about 6 inches in size. be careful unwrapping those. mine broke in half, as i was taking off the plastic wrapper. and i was very dramatic about it, saying "ohhhhh, my broken heart" over and over. lol! i managed to glue it back together, and it should be fine as long as i'm very careful with it. i wanted a large heart embellishment, that was about the same shape heart as the styrofoam heart. this spinner chipboard heart from little yellow bicycle was perfect. and then you need buttons. lots of them. i went with pinks, in all different shades. i own about a zillion buttons, so this wasn't a hard supply to find ;)
i should have taken some photos of the process. i never think to do that. sorry. i started with the spinner heart embellishment. i put about 3 layers of pop dots on the back of the heart, and then stuck it right to the middle of the styrofoam heart. i wanted to be able to tuck some of the buttons underneath the heart, which is why i layered so many pop dots to give it more height. then i started adhering buttons.
i started with the larger buttons, right around the spinner heart, and tucking them under just a little. then i just worked in small sections, using a mix of smaller buttons and larger buttons. i used glue dots to adhere all my buttons. for buttons that needed a little lift (because they were slightly on top of another button), i used the 3-D glue dots. sometimes, i even used 2 or 3 of the 3-D glue dots on one button. lol! there are a few spots where you can see the styrofoam just a little bit. this really doesn't bother me much. but if it did, you could always paint the heart first, or work some smaller mini buttons on those spots. i did add a few mini brads here and there, just sticking the brad prongs right into the styrofoam.
as for the edges of the heart, i simple added some pink ribbon. i was going to use more buttons at first. but i went with the ribbon, since it was easier. it was slightly wider than the sides of the heart, so it does hang over the edges a bit. i'm fine with that. to adhere it, i just stuck pearl-tip pins every half inch or so. i started at the bottom of the heart, and worked my way up. so when i got to the top, i had the two ends that i could bring up and tie together. this gave it a loop to hang it from something.
VERY pretty, Laura! You are full of Valentine inspiration!! :)
Posted by: jen shears | February 10, 2010 at 09:46 AM
Laura this is so pretty and easy. Before I read the directions I thought you glued all the hearts on. Glue dots would be easiest. I'm glad you put that in there. I can't seem to have time to go to Michaels to get these crafty things to make. I might make some and leave up for awhile after Valentine's Day. I like that it has a ribbon to hang it up by. Thanks for sharing another cool idea.
Posted by: dawn | February 10, 2010 at 09:52 AM
That is ao cool. I like how it came out. Great job. It is so easy to do
Posted by: Mary Lynn | February 10, 2010 at 10:07 AM
Love, love this :) Sorry about your broken heart...glad you were able to mend it!
I'm loving all the valentine day projects you've been sharing! I love making things to hang around the house...just adds a nice touch!!
Posted by: Carla | February 10, 2010 at 10:29 AM
This is absolutely adorable Laura - thanks for sharing such a cute idea! i could totally see a few of these hanging from the ceiling light over the table. suzy
Posted by: suzyplant | February 10, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Very cute Laura..I've been enjoying all of your little projects! ;)
Posted by: Heather Crawford | February 10, 2010 at 10:57 AM
GORGEOUS!! Love the idea! I have a heart like that hanging around somewhere..need to find it & get to work! Laughed so much at the broken heart comment!!
Posted by: Sara Rossi | February 10, 2010 at 11:05 AM
Very pretty and very simple. I love the broken heart joke - I laughed!!!
Posted by: wendy myers | February 10, 2010 at 11:33 AM
Laura
Wow...your pink button heart is lovely. You
put so much time and thought into this project. Thanks for sharing. Forgetting the photo. I do this too. It is another snow day here in Ohio. I was playing a great game of hide and seek with the girls and forgot to take a photo of us playing together. Would have been perfect for the photo of the day.
Glad you heart has mended:)
Sandi N.
Posted by: Sandi | February 10, 2010 at 12:39 PM
I just had a cuteness heart attack all over my keyboard! LOVE it!!
Posted by: Sierra | February 10, 2010 at 01:12 PM
Super cute, really love all of those buttons!! Great project!
Posted by: Tiffany E. | February 10, 2010 at 01:48 PM
I adore buttons and that is simply adorable!!
Posted by: Kim M | February 10, 2010 at 04:18 PM
What a great project! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: SandyB | February 10, 2010 at 05:37 PM
so sweet Laura! Where do you find the time to be so creative!? LOL so glad you do! :D
Posted by: cindy johnston | February 10, 2010 at 06:23 PM
Totally cute!!!! I love it! I'll have to make one to go with my ruffly felt heart I made!!
Posted by: Rhonda Steed | February 10, 2010 at 06:51 PM
i love your broken heart! although it's looking like it has never been broken now all prettified!
Posted by: Sasha Farina | February 10, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Look fabulous and chic. Love all the buttons. Thanks for sharing! ;-)
**Sony**
Posted by: Sonia (Sony) | February 12, 2010 at 07:15 AM
VERY CUTE!!! What a great way to put those buttons to good use :)
Posted by: Leslie | February 13, 2010 at 01:47 PM
What a great idea! Wish I had seen this before! I covered mine in felt circles....LOL! Love the look of the buttons..and the tiny brads randomly placed. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: JEANNETTE SICILIANI | February 15, 2010 at 03:41 PM