Fabric Covered Button Pushpins ... A Tutorial.

So, today I am going to continue my Mini Message Bunting Gift Set 3 day series.  In case you missed it, yesterday I showed you how to make the bunting itself, and a cute eraser.  Today, I am going to show you how to make a sweet set of fabric covered button pushpins to hang the bunting up with.

As I mentioned yesterday, the bunting is quite light, and I found that 6 pushpins are more than enough to hold it up.  But of course, I must say that I would not suggest using this hanging method over an infant's crib ... just sayin'. 

Something else I would like to mention before we begin, is that if you can find the fabric covered button shells that are shank-less (no shank on the back), that would be ideal.  I have never been able to find them "in real life", and have only seen them online in the past in a limited number of sizes.  I say this because, we need the back of our button to be flat to attach the thumb tack.  Have no fear, because I will show you how to remove the shank.  I highly suggest wearing a pair of safety gloves when you do this, because I got a pretty bad cut  doing this without gloves.  You can find inexpensive gloves at the home depot, or similar, that are nice and thick.

Also ... (sorry, by the time I am done here with all of my warnings you may not even want to make these, but it is my nursing school education talking here) ....  you should also wear safety goggles.  I know they can be pretty nerdy looking, but when you pull the shank off, it could potentially fly up in the air. 

Okay, okay ... I will stop scaring you now ... I just want you to be safe!  These are actually really easy to make ... I promise.

x-x-x Fabric Covered Button Pushpin Tutorial x-x-x

Supplies:

Fabric Scraps
7/8" fabric covered button kit + Six 7/8" button shells
6 thumb tacks
Strong Permanent Adhesive
120 grit sandpaper
Hammer
Small pair of Jewelry Pliers
Safety stuff: thick gloves, safety goggles

Directions:

1. First, gather up your fabric scraps, and cut them using the template that came on your fabric covered button kit. The template is simply half of a 1.5" circle.  You take the template and place it on fold to cut out a circle.  Or you can do what I do, and just eyeball it.  The important thing here is that you have 6 circles of fabric cut out that are bigger than the buttons themselves.

2. Now we are going to remove all of the shanks from the button backs.  Put your gloves on! Hold the button back with your non-dominant hand, and the pliers in your dominant hand.  Slide the the pliers under the shank, and pull the shank towards you.  You may need to use a little force here.  Once the one side of the shank is out, you can easily remove the other side.  Repeat for all of your buttons.

3. Using your sand paper, roughen up the backs of the buttons a bit.  This will give the adhesive something to grab onto.  While you are at it, use your sand paper to roughen up the surface of the  top of the thumb tacks as well (sorry I do not have a photo of a sanded thumb tack, but it should resemble the sanded button back -- nice and roughened up).

4. Using your button kit, layer your fabric into the white rubber mold (RS facing down), followed by the button shell.  Push the fabric into the button shell, and place the button back on top.  Using the plastic blue thing (sorry I don't know what it is called!), hammer the back of the button into the shell.  Voila ... a fabric covered button.  Repeat for all of the buttons.

For some reason I did not get a lot of pictures of this process, just take a look at the package, it really is quite explanatory.

5. Apply a small dollop of adhesive to the back of each button.  Place a thumb tack onto the adhesive.  Allow to dry for as long as your adhesive recommends.

Be sure to read your adhesive packaging, it may suggest to use in a ventilated area.

6. Your pushpins are done.  I like to package mine on a small piece of cork.  I purchased sheets of cork from Hobby Lobby last summer ... I found them near the bulletin boards and such.

Easy, huh?  Come back tomorrow, when I show you the last two projects in this gift set ... a greeting card, and a reusable gift tag.

Enjoy!

Hugs, Sara :)