Button Button, Who Framed the Button!

Happy Thursday!!  Well finally I have another craft to share :)  I wanted to make my sister and new brother-in-law something special for a wedding gift.  I bookmarked every wedding craft I came across, but ultimately I decided to go with something a little more timeless.  The one thing that I kept coming back to was a monogram - but what medium to go with?  Buttons (obviously!)  I've seen lots of gorgeous button-monogrammed pillows, but I was afraid that their playful pup might get ahold of it (and bye bye wedding gift).  So instead, I came up with this framed button monogram.  Same concept, but puppy proof :)

Here's how I did it...

Step 1 - Find/make an initial of the appropriate size for your monogram.  I used Word and played with every font I own (and some new ones) to find a typeface that I liked.  Nope, I have no idea what it was because sadly, I forgot to save it :(

Step 2 - Print out initial onto paper (alternately, you could also trace an initial onto paper if you happen to have some wooden/cardboard/metal letters lying around)

Step 3 - Buy a lovely background fabric.  I used silk for this project, but anything that doesn't pucker would work beautifully.  Cut the fabric to your desired size (my finished project was 8x10) and press it well.

Step 4 - Buy lots and lots of buttons in varying sizes and styles.  Lots.

Step 5 - Carefully cut out the monogram from the paper (OR for you lucky cricuters...just cricut the monogram and save yourself a step) and pin the cut (negative) paper onto your background fabric

Step 6 - Tape your cut image to a work surface (I used a pan from the dollar store)

Step 7 - Using your cut monogram as a guide, start building your button monogram.  I layed out the complete monogram before putting needle to fabric (because I'm anal particular like that)

Step 8 - Using your pinned monogram negative, sew each button on...button by pretty little button

Step 9 - Cut your background fabric to size and frame your craft of art :)