Sunday, May 13, 2012

The Button Swap Blog Hop Is Here!

At 2 minutes after midnight, Eastern U.S. time, it is officially May 13, 2012, the day of Cindy Wimmer's Button Swap Blog Hop.  I hope you don't mind that I'm posting a bit early, as I will be traveling tomorrow to be with my family on Mother's Day.



I received these beautiful buttons from my swap partner, Kym Hunter.   Kym sent way more than the minimum 4 buttons, and I had a tough time trying to decide which ones to use.  I knew I had to include the gorgeous handmade heart glass button, and I wanted to use the vintage plastic flower button.



I ended up using several to adorn these sewn paper gift bags, with which I am totally obsessed at the moment.   They are so much fun to make, and the vintage buttons finish them off perfectly, don't you think?   The back two are vintage Barbie Doll patterns and the small front bag is from a collection of digital images I have of antique shell book illustrations.   


The handmade glass heart button became the focal of a citrine and amethyst Swarovski crystal bracelet that I am giving to my mother for Mother's Day later today.  Purple is her favorite color and she loves dainty, tinkling bracelets, to this is perfect for her.  


I used the sparkly rhinestone butterscotch plastic button in a brooch featuring a polymer clay base with a brass dragonfly, and a vintage Czech glass crystal drop.


Finally, I used two of the Sizzix discs on a faux olive jade polymer clay covered tin featuring one of my favorite Asian images, which I transferred to the clay and embellished with burnt orange/red Czech glass feather beads.

I had a great time participating in the button swap.  Kym, it was a pleasure being partnered with you!  I hope you like these items, and thanks again for sending such lovely treasures to work with; and thanks to you, Cindy Wimmer, for including me in the swap this year!  I would love to do it again and hope you'll invite me back next time.  

Now I'm off to visit Kym's site to see what she did with the buttons I sent her, and when I get home tonight  I'm going to visit all the other artists who participated, and you can too!  The list below links to all the participants, so hop on board the button train and visit them all with me!   

Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.
* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)
Teresa Gagne and Tania SpiveyTeri 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

15 comments:

CraftyHope said...

I knew this button hop would be full of all kinds of inspiration. . .and I was RIGHT!
Your gift envelopes are really cool and I know your mom will love that bracelet. The brooches are really a fab idea too!! Oh, the button-y goodness is almost overwhelming! :)

Laurel said...

Lynda, I love those really cool gift envelopes! I knew you would do lovely things with jewelry, but the envelopes are a sweet surprise - and did you receive the best buttons, or what? Very nice.

Pretty Things said...

LOVE the bags. And I have to say I love what you sent your partner!

Shirley said...

Love, love, love all your pieces! I wish I sewed, cause I would be making a pile of those gorgeous bags! That is just a seriously creative idea!

Beadbug said...

I love the fun gift envelopes and am thinking this is what I will do with the other 3 buttons I received in the swap.

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thanks so much, ladies. I'm happy you like the sewn paper goodie bags. :)

I'm off to visit all your blogs and see what you created, too. This is so exciting!

Kym Hunter Designs said...

Lynda, I love everything that you made! The handmade gift bags are so unique and I really like the clay covered tin with the Asian design. I hope your mom liked the bracelet. Amethyst is one of my favorite stones and your bracelet is beautiful!

AntiquityTravelers said...

WOW, WOW, WOW ... can't decide where to start! Agree on the gift envelopes - those are seriously cool. LOVE them. My mom always had places to tuck things away with those stings and buttons. Such a nice memory! Lovely gift for you mom, I love the design of the Asian pendant, but I'm mesmerized by the brooch - that is awesome!

kimmykats said...

You were so wonderfully creative with your buttons...love the bags I would take that bracelet in a heartbeat! Lucky Mom!!

Cindy said...

Lynda, I had to smile because the buttons you received are the same colors of the buttons that I worked with - but we made such entirely different things! :-) Your sewn paper gift bags are really sweet, and the buttons are the icing on the cake. I sure wish I could sew! And the bracelet you made for your Mom is so pretty - I know she must have loved it. I noticed a few other button swappers making gifts for their Moms with their buttons as well. I wish my Mom liked handmade jewelry and I would have done the same. :-(

Your brooch and Asian pendant are both completely original projects as well - I love how you really thought outside of the box with your designs! Thanks for joining in and I do hope you'll join again next year! :-)

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Kym, thank you so much! I'm so pleased that you like my creations!

Cindy, thank you, too. This was so much fun, I hope I'll be able to join in the next swap, too.

Thanks, and Cynthia! I appreciate the lovely compliments!

Alice said...

What lovely buttons you received! I enjoyed seeing all the different mediums you used to make these very unique pieces!

KayzKreationz said...

Those sewn paper bags with the buttons are so cute. But I love that heart shape button bracelet. Very elegant and vintage looking. Nice job.

Julia said...

What cool looking envelopes! My mom recently gave me one that is similar, to hold business cards-- after seeing what you did, though, I just might have to try to make my own using one of the buttons that was not used already for the challenge :)

The bracelet is exquisite, as well-- I love the colors, and I can tell that heart button is quite special <3 Thank you for sharing your work with us!

*~* Julia *~* http://beautifullywhimsical.blogspot.com *~*

https://jenniferjofaypaperdolls/blogspot.com said...

This is a really cool blog. I love the button art. Really nice. I too have an etsy shop and just got that etsy button on my blog. My shop is really new though and hasn't really had any action yet. Too bad I missed the button hop. Maybe I will catch the next one.

http://jennyjofaypaperdolls.blogspot.com/