Button Dolls & Ornaments

 Our Button Dolls and Ornaments!

Over the holiday break my family often tries new crafts - this Christmas we tried making some button doll ornaments!  The original pattern is from Diane Fitzgerald's book "Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects" - I found the book at my local library and found the book to have beautiful, fun, and simple projects in it, unlike some of her other books that are for the more experienced beader.  This was one project that I thought my daughters would enjoy with me - my sisters and mother had fun too!

Diane's Book and 1 of her Button Doll Ornaments

 

I loved the inspired designs of my sisters - one made a little girl with a bell and the other made a boy with a yoyo and a dog!

 Button Girl with Bell

 Button Boy with Yo-Yo & Dog

 

We also found that you can make the dolls without a hanger if you want a true doll instead of an ornament.  My girls loved these - I let them pick out the buttons to use and they chose larger buttons for the feet!

Button Dolls without a Hanging Loop

 

We just used old buttons that my mother had saved for years - this is a great project for using up loose buttons - each doll uses over 30 buttons!  You can also buy button kits and jars of buttons at craft stores - or find bargain collections at garage sales.  I personally loved the look of the old buttons - we found some really neat designs that were fun to incorporate as hats, skirts, hands, and toys!

I'm not going to give a tutorial on these adorable dolls - that's Diane's job!  Please purchase or borrow a copy of her book for detailed directions.  If that's not your style, then just go for it!  We didn't follow her tutorial - we made it up as we went!  If we hadn't, my sister may not have tried to make that cute dog.....

Happy Creating,
PZ

Beaded Suncatchers: Beyond the Spiral

Sun-inspired beaded and wire wrapped suncatcher with antique chandelier crystals. 

There is nothing as mesmerizing on a sunny day as watching rainbows glitter on the walls through a suncatcher - or several!  I remember playing with suncatchers as a child - heck, I still play with suncatchers as an adult!

Beaded and wire-wrapped suncatcher with antique chandelier crystals.

While I love the rainbows splayed from traditional crystal suncatchers, I also love stained glass, witchballs, and beaded window ornaments.  I have not learned how to make stained glass or blown glass, so while I purchase the first two, I happily make the beaded suncatchers!

Simple spiral beaded suncatcher with antique chandelier crystals.

Many beaded suncatchers are simple to make - crimp beads onto fishing line or string them on a wire spiral and hang!  I like these, but I also like more detailed window ornaments - ones that remind me of stained glass.....or are fun and quirky!

Suncatcher for those who like rain - even sunny days can bring joy!

And crystals can always be added to these, too, if you desire a bit more sparkle - and the lure and nostalgia of rainbows! 

Nature-inspired suncatcher with crackle glass and quartz chip beads.

This is my biggest and sparkliest all crystal suncatcher - Columbine - made from Swarovski crystals and entered in one of Fire Mountain Gems' beading contests:

My largest and most detailed suncatcher yet!  Swarovski crystal and copper - "Columbine".

Wish Me Luck and Happy Creating!
PZ