Sparkly trees

I hate throwing things out, I always think that maybe it could be useful someday. Upcycled, recycled whatever. Our attic is bursting with 'you never know when it could be useful' items. I always remove buttons and zips from clothing that is being thrown out, they may have a use....sometime. I have quite a collection of old zips, all sizes and colours. Buttons aswell.

So when I imagined my sparkly trees, I though of my shiny buttons.

I made some more Christmas Trees... sparkly frosted ones this time!

Here's how I made them.

I had bought a picture in a local charity shop, I loved the picture, hated the frame. So it was removed and replaced with a shiny new one.

I painted the old frame and gave it a distressed look, I really wanted a crackle glaze finish, but ended up with this instead. Measure the inside of the frame and add 1/2" all round. Using this as a guide, piece together some scraps of cream and white fabrics - snowflakes, plain old calico - anything goes. Place a slightly larger piece of firm wadding behind the fabric.

Free machine some wavy curls on the fabric and wadding. Using a water soluble pen, draw the outline of some trianglular trees, this gives a quideline when sewing on the buttons.

Sew on the buttons.

I tried to use a variety of sizes and different shades of white and cream.

Then, when you have completed the buttons, applique on some tree trunks.

I used some scraps of dark brown tweed, just to add some more texture.

Using the back of the picture frame as a guide,

trim your fabric to fit inside the frame.

Carefully place the fabric inside the frame so there are no raw edges showing and secure back in place.

Now sit back and enjoy your recycled work of art!