St. Patrick's Day Shaker Cards - Shamrock and Mug -Cheers

St. Patrick's Day - Shaker Cards with Cheer

Happy start to a new month.  Jennifer O'Sndyer here celebrating a month of cheer and festivities that include St Patrick's Day on the path to Easter and Spring.  I'll be featuring those themes all month, but today is a focus on St. Patrick's Day.   

While not of Irish descent myself, my husband plays in an Irish band so it's always a wee bit Irish in the O'Snyder household. 

I've created some cards I wanted to share before sending to friends.  They were inspired by the March Challenge at Creative Embellishments.  

This month Creative Embellishments is also collaborating with Rinea Foiled papers.  Look for a variety of ways to use the fabulous Rinea products on projects.    

Scroll down to see some fun tips and techniques to create your own DIY shaker mug and pot of gold. 

The collage above is the image from the Creative Embellishments March Challenge.   My inspiration was the magnificent purple and green colors and the magical aura in the images.  Green...purple...magic...in March???  That says St. Patrick's Day to me and shakers are the toast of the month. 

My Creative Embellishments chipboard pieces featured today include: Root Beer Glass Shaker and the Shamrock Shaker enhanced by the Shamrock Border and Celtic Border. 

Have you checked out Creative Embellishments ever growing selection of shakers?

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Creative Embellishments  - Root Beer Shaker

Creative Embellishments - Shaker Set

Creative Embellishments - Shamrock Shaker Set

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DIY Shaker Mug 'o Suds  -  Tips and Techniques 

Step 1.  
You can see the rich brown foil paper in the mug from Rinea Autumn Foiled Paper pack.    I used the textured foil for the liquid in the mug and shiny foil for the base and handle of the mug.  

Step 2.
Shaker cards come "to life" when filled with fabulous shaker mix from Buttons Galore.  The mix I selected for this mug is really cool because it looks like more bubbles inside the mug.  It's  Buttons Galore - Shimmerz Shaker Mix -Desert Sky.

Step 3. 

 To add dimension and create suds and frothy foam on my mug, I filled the shaker and added the acrylic window to layer as if the shaker were completed.  Normally the shaker is done at this point. 

In my opinion, the foam is most effective when added to the top layer of the mug - because foam typically froths over the glass.  

 I slathered a generous amount of transparent Heavy Body Gel  (any brand works) to the shaker.  This product acts like glue (concrete) and dries absolutely clear with a matte finish.  The beads, from Buttons Galore /28 Lilac Lane - Embellishment Bottles - So Shiny, settle nicely into the gel medium and hold perfectly.  

The dried results are perfect; sudsy, frothy, foamy and delicious. 

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Here is the second card in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  

The Shamrock is backed with the silver foiled paper from Rinea Metallics Foiled paper set and filled with Buttons Galore - Sparkletz - Lucky Charmz  shaker mix.  

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Rinea Metallics Foiled paper

Buttons Galore - Sparkletz - Lucky Charmz SPK136

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The Creative Embellishments chipboard Shamrock Shaker has been adorned with fun St. Patricks's Day icons...which are 3D buttons from Buttons Galore modified to fit the celebration.  

I used the  Glitter Shamrock 3D buttons, the caldron from Buttons Galore - 3D Buttons - Bewitching set, and finished off with the rainbow from the Biblical Symbols 3D button set.

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Buttons Galore and More  -3D buttons - Glitter Shamrocks

Buttons Galore - 3D Buttons - Bewitching HH127

Buttons Galore - 3D Buttons - Biblical Symbols BZ135

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Thanks for stopping here.  Check out all the Rinea products.  

Rinea’s Store>>https://www.rinea.com/

Rinea’s Blog >>https://www.rinea.com/blogs/rinea-inspires

Shop Here

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Creative Embellishments  - Root Beer Shaker

Creative Embellishments - Shaker Set

Creative Embellishments - Shamrock Shaker Set

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Creative Embellishments -Shamrock Border

Creative Embellishments - Celtic Border 3

Prima - Finnabair - Art Basics - Heavy Body Gel - 8.5 Ounces

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Rinea Autumn Foiled Paper

Rinea Metallics Foiled paper

Rinea - Foiled Papers

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Buttons Galore and More  -3D buttons - Glitter Shamrocks

Buttons Galore - 3D Buttons - Bewitching HH127

Buttons Galore - 3D Buttons - Biblical Symbols BZ135

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Buttons Galore /28 Lilac Lane - Embellishment Bottles - So Shiny - LL612

Buttons Galore - Sparkletz - Lucky Charmz SPK136

Buttons Galore - Shimmerz Shaker Mix -Desert Sky RZ105

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Bridal Button Bouquet - Vintage DIY Button Bouquet - Tips and Instructions

DIY Vintage Bridal Button Bouquet 

I had a special request to create an elegant vintage looking bridal button bouquet.  More specifically, the request was to make something soft, elegant, romantic and memorable.  
Challenge accepted!    

 My color palate: soft pinks, rose, gold, cream and white. 
 I scrolled through the multitude of button selections at Buttons Galore and More to find the perfect colors of buttons needed.  

Supplies: 
Buttons, buttons, buttons (and sequins too) 
7.9" smooth Styrofoam half ball 
Wood dowel (for the handle)
Jewelry straight pins 
Floral Pins with pearl heads
Wire for securing buttons 
Drawer pull (gussy up the handle)
Ribbons/lace ( hides the mess)
and the secret to holding everything in place...Heavy Body Gel





The Base
Warning:  If you use a Styrofoam base, please make sure you add the wood dowel handle before you do anything else.  I drilled a hold in the Styrofoam and glued the dowel in place. 
 My first attempt at the bouquet threw caution to the wind and I had to start over.  

My floral bouquet has a homemade Styrofoam base with a wood dowel  handle because I know nothing about floral supplies.  My suggestion is to find the easiest base with Styrofoam for your comfort level.  

The process:  
Here are the Buttons Galore  buttons I used.  I think the Cookie Jar of Fancy Gold Buttons    set the tone for the bouquet. 

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Buttons Galore - Button Bonanza - Pink BB9

Buttons Galore - Button Bonanza - Ivory BB18

Buttons Galore - Button Bonanza - White - BB20

Buttons Galore -Cookie Jar - Fancy Gold Buttons CJ100

I spread out packages of buttons on the table and started creating  stacks of two or three buttons each, attached together with wire.  I'd cut the wire and string it through all three buttons and set aside busily making little piles. 

Then I realized...Christmas tree ornament hangers are wire, AND already cut for me.  What a bonus.   Easy to reshape and bend as desired, long enough to go into the styrofoam, and pre-cut. 
 YES - pre-cut.   
Ohhhhh my hands thank you, little pre-cut metal darlings.   

Worth a closer look...

The gold vintage style buttons from Buttons Galore's Cookie Jar full of Fancy Gold Buttons  - a gorgeous, rich collection of various gold buttons; some have jewels, some look vintage, some are shiny, a wonderful surprise in the jar.

Securing the buttons in place for durability 
The image above shows how tightly the buttons are placed creating  layers.  I left no bare spaces.  

This was a learning experience for me. After completing the bouquet and adding all the buttons, I realized the buttons were not super secure.  I was not confident that the layered buttons would not fall out. They also jiggled around  a bit when gently shaken.  

I tried adding glue to a few of the base layers but it wasn't a solution to the jiggling. I thought adding a straight pin with an  opalescent sequin would help because those pins are really long.    Nope. Not enough.   

What's the best way to keep the buttons securely in place?   
I slathered a generous amount of Heavy Body Gel directly on the top of the button right over the sequin.  I also used the gel as a glue and slathered around the button layers to lock them in.    

Why this particular product?  It dries totally clear and NOT glossy.   And because it's super thick it holds the buttons nicely and doesn't drip. 

Finishing the bottom and wrapping the handle  
The image below shows how I created loops of ribbon to finish the base.  Do not use wired ribbon.  It ends up looking sloppy and messy.   I found the satin ribbon to be the best in my opinion. 

All the ribbon and lace are held in place using floral pins with pearl heads.  You can use ling sewing pins as well but they are significantly more expensive. 

Here is one last look at the button bridal bouquet.  Very fun to make and quite satisfying when complete.  

Thanks for stopping here today.  Happy crafting. 

Shop Here: 

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Buttons Galore - Button Bonanza - Pink BB9

Buttons Galore - Button Bonanza - Ivory BB18

Buttons Galore - Button Bonanza - White - BB20

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Buttons Galore -Cookie Jar - Fancy Gold Buttons CJ100

Buttons Galore - Sequin Tin - Fairy Sparkle - LL308

Prima - Finnabair - Art Basics - Heavy Body Gel - 8.5 Ounces

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