Button Hot Air Balloon Art
Button Hot Air Balloon Art as shown here is a project that is better suited for the teen crafter. You can look at it, however, and develop a simpler version for younger children. Remember Grandma’s button box? Â Now is the time to start your own to use for art projects.
Supplies
Americana Decor® Chalky Finish™ Paint: Everlasting, Relic
Acrylic Paint: Bahama Blue, Coral Blush, Golden Straw, Marigold, Spa Blue
Bahama Blue
Matte Spray Finish
Water container
Paper towels
Sandpaper
2" Flat brush
Wax paper
1/2" Flat brush
Toothpicks
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Paper
Assorted buttons (about 120; varying sizes)
Cosmetic sponge
Vinyl
Silhouette electronic cutting machine (Silhouette America)
Wooden board
Sawtooth picture hanger
Instructions
NOTE: Let dry completely between painting steps.
Sand out the rough spots on a wooden board.
With a 2" flat brush, paint both the sides and face using Everlasting. (If needed, apply an additional coat.) Set aside to dry.
Gather buttons of varying sizes.
Begin painting the buttons by holding each button in between two fingers and painting the edge.
Set the button on wax paper and hold with a toothpick to stabilize.
Paint the face of the button. Let dry. Apply another coat to needed areas.
Make a lighter coral blush color by mixing (1) part Snow White with (2) parts Coral Blush.
Continue until you have about 18-20 buttons of each color: mix from Step 7; Coral Blush; Spa Blue; Bahama Blue; Marigold; and Golden Straw.
On a piece of scrap paper, place the buttons in a rough balloon shape.
Lightly sand edges of the wooden board using sandpaper. Clean off sanding dust using a damp paper towel.
Cut the provided pattern on a Silhouette electronic cutter.
Place "dream BIG" in the bottom left of the wooden board and the balloon basket next to it. Use the arrangement of buttons to help determine the placement on the board.
Paint the basket using Relic.
Apply the banner stencil onto the balloon basket. Paint the stencils in the following colors, using a cosmetic sponge: Coral Blush, Golden Straw, and Bahama Blue. (Refer to photo for placement.)
Apply the banner string stencil and paint in Bahama Blue. Remove the banner. Let dry.
Once the paint is completely dry, lightly sand over "dream BIG" and the basket of the balloon. Wipe away any sanding dust using a damp paper towel.
Warm up hot glue gun and begin gluing buttons on the top of the basket. (Let the buttons slightly overhang the top line of the basket.)
Continue forming the balloon using random colors and sizes of buttons as you go.
Continue until the full balloon has been formed.
Finish by sealing with Americana Matte Spray Finish.
To hang, attach a sawtooth picture hanger to the top of the back.
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Contributor
DecoArt® has one of the widest selection of paints and finishes for arts, crafts, and home decorating. All DecoArt products are non-toxic and user- and enviromently-friendly. Visit the DecoArt web site for free projects, how-to idea videos, tips and product info, and for the DecoArt on-line store.