After a few bad morning-sick weeks, I have finally been back to painting! Here is something that I finished today! I’ve done a similar one before, and you can check out that post here. It includes all the details on how to create this nifty crackled effect with your paint- but for this post I thought I’d share a quick tutorial on how to deal with something that can be quite obnoxious for the avid buttoner. Yes, I am talking about nub buttons. You know- the ones with the nubs:
They’re always such awesome buttons, but gluing them to a canvas can be a huge pain! I’ve tried using mounds of glue, or trying to surgically remove the nubs, (so much button blood!) but those options just didn’t cut it. Well thankfully I stumbled upon this post, which happens to be written by the person who claims to have invented the button tree!!! Pretty nifty! I was definitely inspired by one of her branches I saw last year on Pinterest, but haven’t been able to find the original source until recently! Check out her stuff!
And now let me share the trick to fastening these filagrees onto their rightful places!
Get stabby. Use an exacto knife to cut a small hole into the canvas where you want to put your button. Worry not, young button! I have a perfect little place for you to rest your nub!
Slather that nub in a small mound of hot glue. This is risky business. Be prepared to endure some war wounds, and then display them proud. I wont tell you the strangest place I’ve gotten a hot glue scar. my inner thigh.
Anyways…
Place the button into the slot and apply enough pressure to have the button sit flush against the canvas. Make sure you support the canvas around the button- if you push too hard without supporting it, you might dent and misshape your canvas.
Now repeat the process with all your nubbed and non-nubbed buttons! Look at this fabulous assortment! Does this make anyone else unnaturally excited???
I wanted to use a lot of nub buttons in this particular piece because I was going for the antique theme and a huge portion of my nubbed collection happen to be real antique buttons! I couldn’t have them go to waste- they needed to be on display!
When all is said and done, the back of your canvas should look something like this. Not too pretty, but it’s hidden, so simmer down.
Here is the final product! What a special tree!!! I hope the recipient (who shall remain anonymous for a while) likes it!
And here is a close up, cuz it deserves one:
Well, I hope this post was helpful and/or inspiring and/or entertaining!
Happy button-nubbing and seal-clu… nothing.
~Dot
