DIY FABRIC BUTTONS FROM SCRAPS & TRASH

I read of the tutorial and history on making your own Dorset Singleton buttons over at Craft /Stylish (the concept dates back to the 1600 and named Singleton after the family that first began making them and Dorset as tthey originated in Dorset, England.)

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/42746/how-to-make-singleton-buttons

For mine I used:

- Plastic ring off the top of a soda bottle

- Pop Can (to make circle template)

- Paper (to draw on to make the template

- Pen

- Scissors

- Scrap of fabric

- Thread

- Needle

- Straight Pins

I made the button using the plastic ring off of a plastic soda bottle (it is the ring that the lid twists off of) as my base.

To make a template of for the fabric to cover the plastic ring, I used a soda can and drew around the perimeter with a pen, then cut out the circle.

Here is a comparison of the template size to the plastic ring.

Pin the template to the fabric then cut to make a fabric circle. Hand baste approximately 1/4 inch away from the edge of the fabric all the way around, then put the plastic ring in the center the pulled the thread (like you do when you are making a fabric yo-yo).

Pull the fabric taut then hand stitch to secure the fabric.

Turn the button over and hand stitch close to the edge of the plastic all the way around the perimter to produce the above button.

EASTER EGG SEEDS

I read of this project on "Can't Stop Making Things" and knew I just had to make it for my son's Easter Basket.

http://www.cantstopmakingthings.com/2009/04/easter-egg-seeds.html

At the above hyperlink there is a hyperlink to where you can download a label to tape or glue to a box of Tic Tac breath mints. I don't have a printer, so I had to improvise and make my own label out of a bit of an index card with the words "Easter Egg Seed" printed on it and glued that to a bit of paper from Easter advertisements and found a picture of plastic eggs and glued it to the index card portion, then glued the entire piece to a box of orange and red Tic Tacs.

FUN FABRIC FLOWER FACINATOR MADE WITH DIY DORSET SINGLETON BUTTON

I had originally planned to make something more elaborate, but working full time and my ex still recovering from surgery and staying with us until he recouperates, I ran out of time. This quick and simple last minute project is a melding of old ideas with new technology and will go with a red dress that I have that has obnoxiously large cheery red flowers on it. The tutorial for the button in the center is based on the following, except I used a plastic ring off of a soda bottle instead of a plastic ring. http://www.craftstylish.com/item/42746/how-to-make-singleton-buttons I made the button using the plastic ring off of a plastic soda bottle and then cut a yellow scrap of fabric in a circle and hand stitched around the edges the pulled the string (like you do when you are making a fabric yo-yo) and then hand stitched just inside the inner edge all the way around the inside of the button then stitch up the button's back. To make the facinator flower, I used a scrap of red glitter nylon net about 6-8 inches wide and folded it into 8 inch squares, then sewed the button on the middle, then cut the petal into the flower, then I hand stithced the button to the fabric. I then used a hot glue gun to hot gule the flower to a hair clip.

QUICK & EASY QUESO

I made this a late night movie snack between movies we were watching - it took less than 10 minutes. It is great if you want a quick warm snack on a cold night.

• 1 2lb pkg of Pasteurized Processesed Cheese Product (like Velveeta) - cut in half (use 1 lb)
• 1 can of Dices Tomatoes with Green Chile Peppers (like Rotel)

Optional

• 1 tsp Mustard or Worstecher Sauce or Ranch Dressing (depending on what your like)

Cut the cheese product in half - put one half away as you will only need 1 lb, unless you want it to be extra cheesy.

Cut up the half of the cheese you are going to use and melt it on low heat, stirring constantly for a few minutes.

Once the cheese is melted, open the can a tomatoes add them to the cheese and stir. If you choose to add any optional items, stir them in at this point also.

Remove from heat, pour into serving bowl and serve with tortilla chips.