What?
Are you supposed to use it? Well, probably. So you pull it out weeks or months after stashing it and realize...
WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?!
Yeah, you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. That's why you come to my blog. You know I understand. I empathize. I will make you feel better about yourself by revealing that I've got it worse than you.
Since I can't set a good example, let me be a dire warning.
Buttons are a real moral dilemma for me. I love the IDEA of them, and they look so cool and hip and textural and miraculous in photos on blogs and in magazines, but in reality, they are too thick and lumpy to mail easily. Sometimes, they even get crushed by the postal sorting equipment. How embarrassing. What do you say? "Yo, Grandma, I spent $40 on supplies for your 100th-birthday card and it arrived BROKEN because I'm too cheap to spring for a padded envelope and extra postage."
Not good.
But did I think about that before I joined Krystie Lee's PTI button swap a while back? Nooooooo! All I thought was DANG, that's a ton of buttons in all those gorgeous PTI colors and they're VINTAGE, so how much cooler can that be?!? They MUST be mine! They arrived, and I made a special trip to Hobby Lobby to buy containers to store them in because, you know, I had to integrate them into my Color-Coded Embellishment Drawers because I'm AR/OC that way.
And now I have to use them. And they are lumpy and bumpy and cost a fortune to mail. For those of you who can afford to send every card in a bubble envelope, buy buttons and use them and live long and prosper. For those of us who are too cheap or too broke to buy bubble envelopes in bulk, well, DON'T BUY BUTTONS.
Of course, if you listen to me, then you won't be able to make really cool and hip cards like this one.
Oooohhhhh. Aaaaaahhhhhh. *giggle*
Whatever.
Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts cloud background, PTI Everyday Button Bits
ink: Ancient Page Neptune, Palette dark chocolate, SU pumpkin pie
paper: PTI white, SU pumpkin pie
accessories: PTI buttons, dimensionals, floss
Oh yes, been there done it, never learn LOL
ReplyDeleteBUT, I love what you've done with them and this time I won't be rushing for my credit card......big sigh, xx
I totally agree about the buttons and reserve them for hand delivery. But I adore the paper buttons I can make with my Martha Stewart punch. It embosses, cuts the holes and out pops your paper button. They are adorable. I see EK has a new button punch that does 3 sizes in one punch cut. Want it too.
ReplyDeleteYou are hilarious!! Buttons are cute. Having all the gorgeous color blends in clear glass jars on a shelf is a lovely decorating idea. But that's all it would be for me...display. Just don't use them....except for teeny tiny baby buttons. I do have the MStewart button punch, which I like. (Now I want the EKSuccess punch mentioned above!!) Even using the PTI Button Bits sets, I use punched paper shapes instead of buttons. Just works better for me. Susan G.
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I love buttons... the thing I buy and do a double take at later are flowers, lol!
ReplyDeleteLMAO! That Yo, Grandma line was hysterical. And yes, most of us suffer from the same "ooh, shiny" affliction. I had to move out of the big bedroom and into the smaller one so my big room could become organized storage for my "what was I thinking" collection. Sigh. You are not alone.
ReplyDeleteWV: evertel
I don't evertel how much I really spend on "oooh, shiny" objects.
I have TONS of buttons - I am a button-a-holic. And this is one very cool and great card.
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh-Awwwww is right! Your buttons make the card! Love it! I think there are people out there that can help people like us with our addictions.... only I don't want help!
ReplyDeleteI admit, I have a bit of a button problem...but I do use mine fairly frequently. More on layouts, maybe -- no mailing problem there. My real-er problem is cheap stamps -- love the designs, usually hate the quality. Will I ever learn?
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'd just like to mention that you did a bang-up job using that cloud bg! It looks awesome!
Omygosh, Susan, I loved your commentary today! You are SO right-on! Do you have a crystal ball? Everything you said is true. I'm so glad to know you are worse than I am. Now I can go online and shop some more. That card is really "cute as a button" though!
ReplyDeleteGreat card! And I love what you wrote - it's so totally true. It's great to hear someone say they are "too cheap" to pay the extra postage and use bubble mailers. That's me:) I have buttons. Do I use them? Nope! Do I still like them? Yep! Thanks for a great post and a great blog.
ReplyDeleteFortunately I don't mail a lot of my cards! So I can from time to time send one in a bubble envelope! ;-) Love your card, such a great use of buttons!
ReplyDeleteYou are too much fun! I swear that you even read my mind sometimes! It is amazing how many boxes of things I donate, and how often I donate them! I do love my buttons. I have found if you lay a piece of CS on top of your card front, and be sure that goes in the back side of the envelope, OR actually turn your entire card inside out, it mails w/o breakage. If you use buttons, my postal people say to put them at the bottom, not the top, and if possible on the left side. Your card is totally cute as a button! And totally worthy of a bubble mailer...lol!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are too funny! When I first started seeing buttons, I didn't pay much attention. Then PTI came out with coordinating buttons and I just had to have some! Now I have an assortment sitting by my desk. Completely unused. But pretty! Some day... oh, and a very hip and cool card btw. :)
ReplyDeleteSo cute! LOVE that Hero Stamp Cloud background stamp!! and I LOVE buttons too...I try to find the flattest ones I can and so far they havent broke...that I know of....Hmmm maybe I should mail one to myself to see how it gets here...I always wonder about that...I always ask my Mom and Aunt if they came in one piece...lol...How much does it cost to bubble envie mail it??
ReplyDeleteThis blog post is so true. I use a piece of card stock run through a crimper on top of the embellished card and so far the cards have all gone through without damage. Also, as the previous comment mentioned. Place the buttons on the back side of the envelope and away from the stamp so that outside surface of the envelope is smooth when the card is run through the automatic postmark machine. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post and gorgeous card!
ReplyDeleteNow, can we see pics of your newly organised craft room?
I do love me some pics of craft rooms!
LOL - thank you! Hev:)
ReplyDeleteOh Susan, I have to case this one!! I love buttons on cards! Hope you are enjoying the long weekend!
ReplyDeleteI DO love buttons! This card is TOO cute! Now I guess I need the hot air balloon stamp...you...are...an...ENABLER!! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteSusan you are so funny!! Love the colors on this card.
ReplyDeleteHere's link for making your own bubble envelopes, maybe that will help??
http://thisis.notarobot.net/2007/08/make-your-own-bubble-mailers.html
Hey Susan, this is too cute. Love the soft blue and orange color combo. AND, sigh, add me to the list on buying SCHTUFF I think I must have and never use.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, partly from reading your purging, I am going thru my craft area and making a HUGE pile to donate -or giveaway. Feels good to get some much needed space back!! Hugs, michelle
I like buttons, too, but so far have reserved their use on cards for cards that I hand deliver. I also have the MS button punch and love it. I love your commentary!
ReplyDeleteI was giggling so hard reading your post, DH wanted me to read it out loud.
ReplyDeleteYo Grandma was priceless. I can beat it. Sent a get well card with buttons for a friend with broken ribs. They arrived broken. She never let me live that down.
Christine,
ReplyDeleteLOL! Broken buttons for broken ribs. You should have told her you KNEW they would break and thought that would be appropriate.
TFS!
You must be psychic!! After re-organising my craft room over the weekend (I wonder where that idea came from?) I finally put all my secret button stashes together - I will never, in my lifetime use that many buttons. But they are sooo pretty
ReplyDeleteTried Bahama Blue yesterday, after having it for over a year and then it sat in my desk since your post earlier in the month. It is gorgeous!! Your card is brilliant, I think I have that PTI set coming this week (possibly more buttons too).
Oh Susan, I can so relate to this post. I don't use buttons (precisely because they are bulky) but I do have a "few" just in case!! But the idea of buying craft supplies "cause it looks so good on someone's card" and then putting it away and forgetting it and/or why you bought in the first place -- oh, yes....
ReplyDeleteLove this card! The colors are great and the Hero Arts cloud stamp looks awesome with those balloons. Such a happy card! :)
ReplyDeleteI really like this card, especially the cloud bg, but the buttons, too. Buttons are one thing I don't have to worry about investing in; as long as I can remember, buttons have elicited a bit of an "ewwww" reaction in me. (Not on clothes, fortunately, but loose ones...) Alas, there are many other "must haves" out there... Did someone say ribbon? :P
ReplyDeleteI have the same button philosophy! Blame it on PTI for making such cute stamps that beg for buttons! Try putting a square of bubble wrap over the buttons before putting it in the envie. And use a bigger envie.
ReplyDeleteYou had me laughing as I read the post...tooo humorous :) The button mailing dilema was taken care of ages ago though...use paper buttons for sending...but I don´t seem to have as big a button fetish as you do so I am not all that into buttons...shock, something that I am not into...but I have everything else so I am right up there with you in what I "need" to have in the word of art.
ReplyDeleteLove your post and your card! I have my mother's button box and what I have collected through the years. I like the look but not the bulk so only use them for handouts. Need to get me a button punch-good idea.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the card - beyond that...LMBO!!! You are hilarious!
ReplyDelete:) hilarious. lovely card too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a riot! I love pti buttons. I have a whole bunch and they look really nice in their pretty jars all lined up on a shelf. At least they look nice in their pretty jars......The other stuff I don't use isn't as good for decorating.
ReplyDeleteI loved that story, and I love your card. Thanks for the entertainment and the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteIt's a fabulous card, truly, but I'm still giggling about your "Yo, Grandma" sentence . . . Yikes! I have also been there. I worry about my cards arriving in tatters. A lot of my cards are hand delivered! I've considered boxing them! (talk about AR/OC)
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post!
I'm so with you on the issue of bulky cards! They look great on blogs, but some of them won't even fit in a regular envelope, let alone go through the mail in one. I still make somewhat bulky cards sometimes, but only if they'll fit in an envelope. They wind up hand delivered with birthday gifts and such, or they go to my friend's Mom who hand delivers them with plates of baked goods to all her church friends. Your card sure is cute!
ReplyDeleteYou can see me, sitting here with a smile in my face. Love your post, so true, so true.... oh how I know the feeling, still there is no hope or change in sight! But since I enjoy it, I keep telling myself there are worse addicitons in this world!
ReplyDeleteFound your blog through SCS and enjoyed reading through it!