Book Giveaway: The Bold and the Beautiful: Button It Up

comments (75) March 8th, 2009

Michaela Murphy, contributor

18 users recommend

Ooh, buttons never had it so good! Look at this dazzling display ringing a necklace. Find it and make it in Susan Beal's brand-new Button It Up!

Photo: All photos Courtesy of Taunton Press

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Find out who won a copy of Button it Up here.

Enter this week's give-away of The Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing here.

COMMENT ON THIS POST BY MARCH 10th AND YOU COULD WIN A COPY OF SUSAN'S BOOK, BUTTON IT UP!

Today is a big day here on CraftStylish, for today Susan Beal's eagerly awaited book Button It Up is unleashed to the world! I had absolutely nothing to do with the publication of this book, but I did have a ringside seat to its creation, and I am extremely proud of Susan and company for their great craft achievement.

First of all, it's about buttons: beautiful, unique, and crazy-cool buttons. I love how certain craft materials lend themselves to a story, and in this regard buttons are epic (the Lawrence of Arabia of craft closures), and Susan provides a terrific primer on the manufacturing history of vintage buttons, a must-read guide to incredible button shops, and invaluable resources to enrich your stash. And you'll want to do just that once you take a look at all of these buttony possibilities.

To get you ready, Susan offers some easy-to-follow techniques and super-crafty know-how, including a jewelry-making 101 section with info to serve all skill levels, whether you are a craft newbie or a seasoned pro. The book is nicely organized and the photography and illustrations are superb. Sitting here leafing through its pages reminded me of how wonderful it is to hold a book in my hands (especially when I spend so much time on the Web) and look at full-page beautiful photography—I love the Web, but there really is nothing quite like a book.

Okay, now let's talk about the projects! Stunning button necklaces, bracelets, and rings to make, or spiffy home decor delights with button embellishment ideas and quick-to make projects. You can even learn how to make your buttons in several different styles. There is an entire section devoted to accessories for yourself or your home and gorgeous button eye-candy ideas for holidays. Many of the 80 projects are brought to you by the crafty-genius of Susan, but there is also a fantastic representation of projects and ideas from other craft superstars such as Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club, Torie Nguyen from Crafty Wonderland, Leah Kramer of Craftster, and CraftStylish bloggers Linda Permann, Kayte Terry, and Diane Gilleland.

Susan has done a great job of curating these projects, and the overall vibe of this collection is intimate and inspirational. This is the book that you have been saving all of those buttons for, and CraftStylish wants you to have a copy of your own. Please leave a comment below (deadline Tuesday, March 10th@ 12:00am) and we'll pick a Button It Up winner at random.

For more info on Button It Up, go to its Website here. You can find out more about Susan Beal here and here and to read a BIG rave and see more Button It Up pics, visit Diane's awesome blog Craftypod.

Button It Up,

Welcome to the world!

COMMENT ON THIS POST BY MARCH 10th AND YOU COULD WIN A COPY OF SUSAN'S BOOK, BUTTON IT UP!

Button It Up
by Susan Beal 80 Amazing Vintage Button Projects for Necklaces, Bracelets, Embellishments, Housewares, & more $21.95 more info...

posted in: buttons, button, button it up, crafty wonderland, March book giveaway, Susan Beal, jennifer perkins, Craftster, Leah Kramer, Torie Nguyen, Naughty Secretary Club

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Comments (75)

buttonupper writes: I love making buttons for my friends. My best buttons are lady bugs. They go with everything. I do them in different colors and textures. I use them on bracelets or anything else I can find. I am really excited about the book, and I enjoy reading these comments. Can hardly wait to get a copy.
Posted: 6:28 pm on December 28th

Teks_Glutes writes: I used to have so much fun with buttons when I was a little girl. My Mom has a huge collection of every button imaginable! She first taught me to sew by starting me off with sewing buttons onto fabric. Great memories. This looks like a fantastic book! Thanks so much!
Posted: 8:42 am on May 7th

Neats writes: Hi, I just can't get enough of this site, perhaps I need to 'button up'!
Posted: 2:40 pm on April 7th

Dawn37 writes: WOW! I wish I had patterns of some of these buttons! I need to go and look at this myself.Thanks for the heads up.
Posted: 12:46 am on March 15th

miracle writes:

OH MY GOD!!! I LIKE SO MUCH, IM WRITING FROM MEXICO AND I WILL LIKE KNOW THE Button Museum in Dover, Ohio
Posted: 7:32 pm on March 10th

tonisofla writes: My husband's grandmother was an amazing seamstress and I received her button stash when she passed away. I love looking through them and imagining what I can do with them. This book sounds like it is full of wonderful ideas and makes me want to collect more buttons!
Posted: 3:54 pm on March 10th

she_eats_lemons writes: buttons! I love buttons!
Posted: 10:19 am on March 10th

corduroycat writes: buttons are fun, so many uses!
Posted: 9:43 am on March 10th

jeannearis writes: I have so many buttons! And I love idea books.
Posted: 8:00 am on March 10th

chicaem29 writes: oooh, buttons! Would love to have a book to help me figure out what to do with all of mine!
Posted: 1:30 am on March 10th

mauvedragon writes: I've just started collecting buttons again. This sounds great.
Posted: 10:04 pm on March 9th

Linny67333 writes: This is awesome. I have plenty of buttons but never know what to do with them. Some buttons I have in a old plastic canister that was my grandmothers. I have 1 grandchild and she loves to go thru it. This last weekend I went to the local antique mall and bought a jar of buttons to add to my mess. This book would give her and I loads of fun things to do.
Posted: 8:14 pm on March 9th

jmcclai4 writes: I love buttons! and would love to win that book
Posted: 4:36 pm on March 9th

KTut writes: How exciting - my favorite books are both inspirational and educational it sounds like this one fits the bill. Buttons are something I pick up when traveling (they are small affordable and useful) I'm sure there is inspiration here that would rescue my fabulous, eclectic buttons from life on a jacket.
Posted: 1:31 pm on March 9th

elizabethdee writes: What a great-looking book! and I'm loving these button projects you've been presenting this month. (Dorset buttons, here i come!) Thanks.
Posted: 12:13 pm on March 9th

gracie_girl writes: This is awesome! My large tin of vintage buttons [a thank you for some sewing I did] has been waiting [none-too-patiently] for this book! Can't wait to try these great ideas! Amazing--how classy a everyday notion can be!
Posted: 11:24 am on March 9th

quilterssister writes: I looove buttons and old jars to put them in! Many hours worth of sorting and cleaning and doing with them. This book looks like a goldmine. Hope I win! Thanks!
Posted: 12:41 am on March 9th

lisamarie817 writes: this book looks absolutely fabulous!
Posted: 12:34 am on March 9th

rabid_designs writes: Oh wow, these are some REALLY neat ideas! I'd love this book :)
Posted: 11:55 pm on March 8th

gothlita writes: I can't believe this..I just bought several hundred buttons this weekend...I NEED this book..Love the ideas, I also just bought some button coasters on sale..no way are they becoming coasters....So with these instructions, I can make them into a purse...yay...thanks so much...
Posted: 11:30 pm on March 8th

eveh writes: I am just coming off an illness and looking for something simple to get me back into crafting. This looks like something I could do while recovering, without having to leave my bed. I love the purses so much. I have some buttons in a mason jar, I have had for years. Since I am old as dirt, they are actually called vintage now. LOL. These projects would be a great way to use them and talk about the presents I could give at Christmas, if I started now.
Posted: 10:23 pm on March 8th

lisasgarden writes: I love buttons, too! I would love to see these projects, and have a go at them.
Posted: 8:17 pm on March 8th

clicketyclak writes: Very interesting book that I would like to add to my collection of crafts.

Glad I stumbled upon it.
Posted: 7:30 pm on March 8th

gelliebean writes: Who doesn't love buttons! I remember Grandma's jar of buttons, what fun! Pouring them out and looking at each one as if it was a priceless treasure, then making designs, stacking buttons and stringing them. I could spend hours with that jar! The book looks like a delight! So many great projects!
Posted: 2:25 pm on March 8th

LuvnPhrost writes: I used to have a book similar to this which "disappeared". I had purchased it because over the years I had collected so many odds and ends and while organizing I discovered that I had a truck load of buttons. I want to put them to good use and recycle then by giving them as gifts to the senior ladies of my mother's church group. They adore them!
Posted: 1:34 pm on March 8th

debdesk writes: Please include me in your giveaway. I love the necklace made out of buttons. I have some buttons and would love to try some of the projects.
Thanks
Debbie
Debdesk9@verizon.net
Posted: 12:58 pm on March 8th

ButtonNut writes: I love buttons. I've collected them for years. I have 50+ pounds but have stopped weighing them. It's an obsession. They are like a pirates treasure. I buy them on line and at auctions and at button sales. My husband thought I needed to collect something smaller when we built onto the house for all my books and toys.Buttons seemed harmless. Yeah, right! Little did he know that soon jars and tubs of buttons would consume space in our house. They are like a journey into the past and there's a story for every button in every box. It's also amazing the things that end up in button boxes that aren't buttons.

I would love to add your book to my collection. I'm also a librarian and love books so this would be a win/win for me. I'd get a FREE book and 80 ways to use my buttons!!!! My husband might think finally we will make some money from her addictions.

I've enjoyed this website since I found it and appreciate the effort all of you put into your projects. Go crafters.
Don't disappointment. I'll be watching for my FREE copy. Rhanks muchly for all the ideas. Love and prayers, ButtonNut
Posted: 12:41 pm on March 8th

LaDiggity writes: There's a button museum? How utterly cool! I make a lot of my own buttons (mostly out of polymer clay,) plus I have inherited my mother's entire collection (some of which came from her mother.) Hmmm... I'm feelin' a road trip comin' on: Anyone for driving from Phx to Dover, Ohio to hit that uber cool museum?
Seriously, thanks for publishing what looks like an essential addition to any crafter's library.
Posted: 11:48 am on March 8th

okanagan_spirit writes: I love collecting and using buttons, but I lost some of my collecation during a move. I am slowly building my collection up and would love this book for the great ideas I see in it.
Posted: 3:26 am on March 8th

Edytheanne writes: A button collecting friend of mine died last year and I have tons of her buttons. I'd love to turn them into something beautiful to memorialize her. This book and the ideas in it could be miy answer.
Posted: 12:11 am on March 8th

craftygoat writes: I love buttons, and this book looks like it would be tons of fun for button-lovers. Thanks for the giveaway!
Posted: 11:51 pm on March 7th

MizWoody writes: I confess, I slip the buttons off old shirts that are too bad to give to Goodwill. After all, I might use them! If I had inspiration like this book, I'm nearly sure I will. :-)
Posted: 8:49 pm on March 7th

samsstuff writes: So many buttons, so little time! I love buttons & have a huge # of them that I use & re-use in a variety of projects! I always save the buttons, when nothing else is worth saving on old clothes! This book sounds great, I'm always looking for more ideas! Thank you Susan Beal! (love the red button necklace, by the way)

Posted: 6:37 pm on March 7th

fujimama writes: I'm dying to get my hands on this book! I love button crafts and this book looks fabulous.
Posted: 4:43 pm on March 7th

oldjack writes: A friend gave me a huge jar of buttons years ago. I would like to try some of your great ideas on how to use them. I also have a collection that I purchased. When I shop for fabric and patterns, I always stop by the button section to see what's new. I have "Bead Simple" and I love how the projects are so easy to follow. Would love to have a copy of the new book "Button It Up".

Posted: 4:14 pm on March 7th

sALTYGAL writes: I have so many buttons, hundreds maybe thousands more than I'll ever need for sewing , but i just can't bear to part with them.I'm running out of ideas so this book is just the ticket !
Posted: 2:00 pm on March 7th

electricangel writes: Wow, this is so timely! I have been looking for inspiration for uses for my vintage button stash. This book is the ideal solution to finding new ways for these old buttons so that they can charm everyone as they have charmed me. Buttons will soon be appearing on garments from aprons to evening gowns after this.
Posted: 1:47 pm on March 7th

iHanna writes: Buttons really are a great and fun material to play with! Thanks for the review!
Posted: 1:12 pm on March 7th

Enderby writes: Buttons bring back such wonderful memories of my Grandma and me. She was a great sewer and had so many buttons. When I went to see her I got to play with them.

Thanks for giving me a chance to win

debbie peysen
Posted: 12:11 pm on March 7th

romonak writes: What a great book. Who would have thought there were so many ways to use buttons... Thanks, Romona
Posted: 11:01 am on March 7th

cherio1 writes: Oooh, break out the button box and grab the grandkids and let the fun begin!
Posted: 10:50 am on March 7th

MaggieBelize writes: I *covet* this beautiful book!
Posted: 10:39 am on March 7th

quiltinqueenie writes: This is a book I would love to have in my library. I would use it a lot. In my crafting as well as in my quilting. Thank you.

Posted: 9:14 am on March 7th

prpldy writes: This book sounds delicious! I have tons of vintage buttons and I need this book so I can put them to good use.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Posted: 8:48 am on March 7th

Paws2 writes: Buttons are a passionate subject for me. I have been collecting them for many years and have soooo many that I have organized them into divided craft boxes ( embroidery floss containers) and those little round stacking containers so I can find exactly what I want when I want it! This book would certainly give me more ideas on what I can use these buttons for. Besides if I use the buttons I have on hand then I will have a reason to purchase more or make some!!!
Posted: 8:18 am on March 7th

artlikebread writes: Just putting my name in the mix. Pick me!! :o)
Posted: 8:07 am on March 7th

Cindy_Gimbrone writes: Looks like a fun book!
Posted: 7:42 am on March 7th

thatsmyreen writes: sounds like a great book! I love buttons, have a huge collection, and this book gives me a good excuse to get more :) thanks!
Posted: 7:14 am on March 7th

gschopf writes: My very first memory of my grandmother is of when she gave me a large jar of her buttons. My grandmother was a professional seamstress and she made beautiful clothes, coats and suits. She was always at the sewing machine. I could not have been older than 3 or 4 and I remember being so stunned and excited that she chose me out of all of her 60 grandchildren to have her buttons. She taught me how to sew Barbie clothes first and then embroider, hem, and finally, to use her beloved sewing machine. I still remember her cutting off the buttons of worn out clothes and adding them to the jar so we could make a later treasure out of her colorful scraps and trims.

My love of sewing began with a button.
Posted: 6:51 am on March 7th

grannysweeper writes: I have a passion for buttons and am always looking for them wherever I go.I will pick up a button on the ground sooner than I would pick up a penny. Just can't have enough buttons! Always looking for new projects and buttons to do them with.
Posted: 2:16 am on March 7th

fraiserouge writes: This book looks like it has a lot of wonderful original ideas.
Posted: 11:47 pm on March 6th

mistyfuji writes: I'd love to win a copy of this fantastic book... the projects look amazing and I love the photograhy. Thanks for hosting!
Posted: 10:50 pm on March 6th

Mama_to_two writes: I have been drooling over this book! I would love to win!
Posted: 10:47 pm on March 6th

PhyllisAR writes: I have loved buttons all my life! I am now a Grandma and want to pass on my button love by creating button projects for my babies!
Posted: 9:45 pm on March 6th

twinmint writes: I love buttons, and I love new craft books! I'd love to win this one!
Posted: 8:39 pm on March 6th

Maji2 writes: Great Ideas! Wish I had saved some of those old buttons I had.
Posted: 6:52 pm on March 6th

csheffield writes: Wow, I've found another book for my wish list! The projects look amazing and I can't wait to try them.
Posted: 6:31 pm on March 6th

hikermama writes: Very cool! That looks interesting.
Posted: 5:34 pm on March 6th

dragonfly22 writes: I absolutely LOVE buttons. I have found so many button projects on this site but I want more more more! I'm definitely buying this book if I don't win :)
Posted: 5:33 pm on March 6th

fozie writes: Wow, how cool...my button stash is, um, prodigious, so new ideas are always welcome. Thanks for the giveaway!
Posted: 11:22 pm on March 5th

she_eats_lemons writes: mmmmmmmm, buttons (in my best Homer Simpson)
I've been fascinated with buttons since sorting and resorting my mom's collection of her grandmother's buttons when I was little.
Posted: 5:51 pm on March 5th

Bonniedoo writes: What a cool book!!! I would dearly love to own a copy.
Posted: 8:46 am on March 5th

creativekismet writes: Such a stunning book. I have a huge collection of buttons that need some inspiration. Thanks for the great opportunity.
Posted: 6:17 pm on March 4th

kcap writes: My mom and I have been collecting buttons since I was a little girl. She has tins and tins of them. This book would give us an awesome idea of what to do with them!
Posted: 4:21 pm on March 4th

sixblueirises writes: How cool! I love buttons... I love some of the projects pictured as well.
Posted: 1:21 pm on March 4th

jal_craft writes: My friend would love this book. 'Button' is her favorite word.
Posted: 5:32 pm on March 3rd

elizart writes: How cool! It sounds like a wonderful book - I know I have many a button waiting for a wonderful idea to turn them into something fabulous. Congrats.
Posted: 1:31 pm on March 3rd

ShiningStar writes: The projects look great. I love that something so simple and functional can be beautiful and decorative.
Posted: 12:21 pm on March 3rd

lifeasamama writes: i just bought a bunch of buttons on ebay (impulse!) and would love this book for some ideas of what to do with them!
Posted: 10:39 am on March 3rd

simplebeans writes: this looks wonderful! pick me!
Posted: 9:27 am on March 3rd

Joannie_N writes: I followed the links above and saw the button embellished curtain. So cute! For a crafter, I'm remarkably uncreative. I can't wait to see the book to get some guidance about the buttons I've inherited and bought.
Posted: 8:35 am on March 3rd

drsadie writes: Buttons are wonderful, little bits of color. I made a crocheted/button necklace and received many compliments on it.
Posted: 7:06 am on March 3rd

Larakate writes: That looks fantastic! I have a huge button collection - I've been collecting since I was a kid - and I'd love some ideas on what to do with it!
Posted: 5:53 am on March 3rd

alfanhui14 writes: it´s wonderful!!! wish it would be mine :)
Posted: 5:13 am on March 3rd

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