My Badges

As promised in my last post, I’m going to do a quick ‘show and tell’ of the badges I made using my ‘Button Factory’ kit. 

I attached the fabric to the badges, then thought I could make them even cuter by sticking a teeny-tiny button on each one.  You know me and buttons!!!

Here they are close-up:

My favourite’s the orange and white spotty one with the turquoise button (in the top photo).  Which one do you like best?

Making them was such a lot of fun!  The only problem is.....  I got a bit carried away and I’ve run out of metal badge bits already.  If anyone knows where I can get some more from, please let me know..... 

Just before I go, I want to excuse myself a bit.  I know I haven't been posting as regularly as I usually do over the past few weeks.  We've been having issues with the screen of our laptop (it doesn't work any more)..... we tried to get it fixed but couldn't, trying to make do using the laptop attached to another screen, got very frustrated, away visiting family, bought a new laptop, can't put 'Word' and all that useful stuff on it until we get home, need to sort something out for editing photos on it.....  So, we're all a bit up-in-the-air with computer things at the moment.  Hopefully, everything will be sorted out soon and I'll be able to get back to my normal routine of posting and visiting you all more regularly.  Until then, please forgive me and keep on stopping by to say "hello"!

Hugs, 

Carly

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Badge Making Kit Review

I’ve done a few crafty book reviews in the past.  But, for a bit of a change this time, I thought I’d review a crafty KIT instead. 

Do you remember in my post about the Düsseldorf ‘Night ofthe Museums’, I said I’d found some really amazing things in the shop at the K20 Gallery, then sneakily checked out their prices on Amazon.  Well.....  I couldn’t resist buying this:

I had it delivered (for free) to my parents’ house back in the UK, and they brought it along with them when they came over to visit (along with Mom’s Jubilee gear).  What an exciting suitcase of goodies!!!

I LOVE the box that the kit came in.  It’s a natural-coloured box, with a gorgeously colourful label on the front.  It’s called ‘The Button Factory’.  If you’re from the UK, it DOESN’T make covered BUTTONS (for sewing on), but covered BADGES (for pinning on)!!!  I only knew this because I’d sneaked a little look inside the box at the museum! 

Inside, there’s a little booklet (which was a nice surprise):

This gives you the (very simple) instructions for making the badges, tips for embellishing them (with embroidery floss, fabric pens and layering techniques), and tips for where you could pin your finished badges (on bags, hats, shoes, gift wrapping, handmade greetings cards.....):

The last double page spread is my favourite, so I have to show you:

As well as the little booklet, the box also contains enough metal badge bits to make 25 badges, the ‘factory’ (a little green 'mould' and a little pink ‘pusher’), and 4 different kinds of cotton fabric:

I really like the little book (it gives simple instructions and lots of ideas), and I think it’s quite good that they give you enough bits to make 25 badges.  That’s quite lot!  I also find the kit really easy to use, and you can make a simple badge (without any embellishments) in just a few minutes.  It’s easy enough for a child to use (and would make a brilliant birthday or Christmas present for a crafty kid).  But it was fun and addictive enough to keep me entertained for hours on end (no comments on this bit, please)!!!

I also really love the ‘look’ of the kit.  It’s really contemporary-looking and fresh, and I was just totally drawn-in by the bright colours on the box and inside the little booklet!  The photography is brilliant, especially considering that this is just a kit, and not a proper book!!!

There are, however, just a couple of things that I don’t think are so great. 

Considering all the different fabric colours and styles shown on the badges on the box photo, I was a bit disappointed to find that there were only 4 fabrics in the kit (and that all of these were really.....  dare I say it.....  yes I dare.....  garish, 1980s-style prints).  To be fair to the company that produces the kit, there is a list of what’s included on the bottom of the box.  So, I should have read this more carefully.  It DOES say that it only comes with 4 fabric-choices.  Lesson learnt.  Also, why am I complaining about the box not containing enough different fabrics???  I can hear you thinking this out-loud.  Fair point!  I have MORE THAN ENOUGH fabric scraps to keep me going - I think I can make do!

The other thing I was a bit disappointed about is that the kit doesn’t tell you where you can buy more badge ‘backs’ and ‘fronts’ from when you’ve become totally addicted to making them, have run out of the 25 that were provided, and NEED another fix.  I guess they’re hoping that you’ll go out and buy another kit from them.  But, I just think it would have been nice if they had offered a little list of suppliers, or maybe produced a ‘refill’ kit (at a cheaper price).  If anyone knows where you can buy badges for covering, I’d me most grateful if you could let me know.....

So, all in all, I think the kit’s great!  It’s good value-for-money, gives you everything you need to get started, and is..... well, just VERY COOL!!!  If you’re looking for a simple, quick, fun, do-it-while-you’re watching-the-telly crafty project, badge-covering might just be for you!!! 

Let me know if you give it a try.....

I’ll be back soon, to show you some of the badges I’ve been making.....

Carly

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Open House

Firstly, I just wanted to say "THANK YOU!!!" to all those of you who sent me lovely messages, trying to calm me down after my panic in my last post. 

And..... you were all right!  There really was nothing to be nervous about!!! 

A few less people turned up than we would have liked.  But, apart from that, it was a really good evening!  I made quite a few sales, gave out as many of my little postcards as I could, and chatted to people about my makes.  Yes, I dared to SPEAK to people in REAL LIFE!!!

Here are a few photos of my stall.....

I’m afraid I don’t have any photos of the other three stalls (there just wasn’t any time after we got started).  It’s a pity, because they looked really fantastic!  

BUT, if you’d like to ‘meet’ the other members of my little ‘craft collective’, here are their homes on the web:

• Stones in My Pockets
• Siobhan's Secrets
• Cacotato

Michelle, Siobhan and Maria, I can’t wait to work with you again!!!  ♥

Dear readers, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.....

Carly

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Panic!!!

Phew!  I've had a ridiculously busy few weeks!!!

We're approaching the end of the school year, so things are VERY busy at work.  My 'to do' list is two sides of A4, and I'm spending longer adding more items to the list than I am crossing them off!!!

Things here at home have been crazy too!  I've been busy preparing for a joint 'Open House' party with some crafty friends....

And the big day is TOMORROW!!!  Aaaaaaaaaah!!!  

I'm excited about it, of course.  But, I'm ridiculously nervous.  What if nobody shows up?  What if lots of people show up, but none of them like my makes?  What if I'm too shy to talk to anybody about my things?  What if I forget something vital in setting up my stall?  What if I give someone the wrong change?  I know this is all ridiculous.  I've done two 'Open House' events before, and survived them both without any major injuries!  But that knowledge doesn't calm my nerves at all.  

I'm a worrier - it's what I do best!!!  Does anyone else panic like this about showing their crafts???  

Everything's ready (I hope I haven't forgotten anything) - all boxed up and ready to go.....

[a BIG basket full of stuff]

[and an EVEN BIGGER basket full of stuff]

[and HEAPS more stuff besides]

..... I'll let you know how it goes.....

Carly

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