Buttons buttons buttons

Reyna
by Reyna
Any ideas of what I can do with them?
  71 answers
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Aug 25, 2015
    Depends on how many you have. I have tons and I mean TONS. I filled a 1-gallon glass jar with them and turned them into the base of a lamp for my sewing space. If you only have a few, this term is relative, you could cover a wide photo frame with them and gift the frame to someone who loves sewing or is a sewing collector.
  • Chris aka monkey Chris aka monkey on Aug 25, 2015
    @Reyna you could put them in a box and send them to me lol, i have seen art with them and lamp shades covered with them and ton of ideas type buttons into search bar xx
  • Go to Pinterest and search "Button Diy" or Button projects or button crafts. Should give you lots of ideas! here is an idea of button art on a canvas...
  • Jann Mitchell Jann Mitchell on Aug 26, 2015
    Keep your jar handy for when friends with kids come over. Bring it out and ask them to do you a big favor of sorting them by color, size, etc. Let 'em pile them up or offer plastic bins or old jars to put them in. This will keep them busy (not good for kids under 3) and allow you and their mother to visit. When they leave, toss the buttons back into the big jar 'til next time! No crafting effort on your part!
  • Helen Park Helen Park on Aug 26, 2015
    I have a white casual shirt that has large, different colored buttons and the are attached by using sturdy snaps. I love it. You can also put them around the rim of a hat or on shoes, using a glue gun.
  • Penny Penny on Aug 26, 2015
    Cover lamp shade with them either small or large depending who many you have
  • Susie Karns Susie Karns on Aug 26, 2015
    I have seen some of the cutest bracelets made with old buttons! Look on Pinterest
  • DORLIS DORLIS on Aug 26, 2015
    a FRIEND FRAMED THE REALLY PETTY ONES, BY STITCHING THEM TO BLACK VELVET.
  • Janet Buechler Janet Buechler on Aug 26, 2015
    When my husband's grandmother died, his sister took her button jar and had the prettiest and most unusual ones sewn into random decorative patterns onto a jean jacket. It was unusual, stylish and fun.
  • Nancy Miller Harkins Nancy Miller Harkins on Aug 26, 2015
    I have my grandmother's button box full of her buttons. I have bought several purses over the years with large flaps and have sewn the buttons onto the flap. No matter the color as they are more vintage than matching. Everyone seems to love it and it feels like I am carrying a piece of my beloved G'ma with me.
  • Jeri Walker Jeri Walker on Aug 26, 2015
    I have old buttons in a mason jar for a decorative piece.
  • Marilyn Descours Marilyn Descours on Aug 26, 2015
    I have replaced boring buttons on a shirt or jacket with interesting old buttons.
  • Bobbie Bobbie on Aug 26, 2015
    I bought a styrofoam Christmas tree and dress pins with a pearl (or other colored ones) and the grandkids put all the old buttons on the tree. I love it!
  • Mama Rose Mama Rose on Aug 26, 2015
    You can create ornaments from them, bracelets, earrings, necklaces,m earrings, create a beautiful trre of life wall hanging, stitch them in decorative arrangements on a blouse, there are tons of ideas out there. Check out the internet for more ideas and tutotials.
  • Kathleen Hinton Kathleen Hinton on Aug 26, 2015
    I bought 6 or 8 inch Christmas trees and glued my mother's buttons on the ends of the branches. They were very festive. I gave them to my sisters, nieces etc. for Christmas. Put a small angel on the top. P
  • Dee Mock Dee Mock on Aug 26, 2015
    I have made jewelry using buttons! Turned out really cute!
  • Deb Deb on Aug 26, 2015
    There are many ideas on Pinterest - jewelry, quilts, etc. Well worth your time looking.
  • MizBruton MizBruton on Aug 26, 2015
    I recently saw where you Hodge Podge them to a balloon. Once it dries, you pop the balloon and you have a button bowl.
  • Gwen Gwen on Aug 27, 2015
    Here's ideas since you seem to have done like me: saved all those extra buttons that came with my clothing! 1. Put the entire colorful assortment in a mason jar and buy the zinc look lid ( at the craft stores) and it can be a colorful accent on a bookshelf, dresser., craft room, tray on coffee table. 2. Sort by a color scheme. Use a light colored fabric stretched or a linen looking canvas painting square. Lightly trace a heart and glue all shapes of white, off white, gold and silver buttons to form the edges and filled in center of heart. Hang in a bathroom or bedroom. Framed it can look striking. 3. Cover a styrofoam tree with paint. Chalk paint will stick. This gives a base for any holes seen through the buttons. Use off white or green. Use tacky glue to start gluing buttons to cover and layer buttons all over the cone. Stand like a Christmas tree on a candle holder. I star or small ornament can be poked in to be the tree topper. 4. I bought a square mirror at IKEA last year and was able to use buttons in the color scheme I wanted to go around middle square of mirror and then also around the edge. It made the mirror look unique yet it was so reasonable! 5. Do you have children or grandkids? Give them a dull darning needle and thread and let them " sew buttons". It was the thing I got to domifvhome sick. My daughter too. She even incorporated it into her wedding decor! 6. Buttons are great for sorting. Dump. Sort one way. Now another. Now another. Eg children may sort by color, size of buttons, shank, two hole or four hole. I hope this list begins to help!!! Even tic tac toe is fun using buttons. Have fun!!!
  • Sherry Fram Sherry Fram on Aug 27, 2015
    We use them for crafts, learning math, looking pretty in a jar.
  • DORLIS DORLIS on Aug 27, 2015
    CHECK OUT YOUR BUTTONS BEFORE YOU GLUE, ETC. THEY MAY BE VALUABLE AS IS AND YOU COULD SELL THEM AND GET MONEY FOR MORE CRAFTS.
  • Patti Patti on Aug 27, 2015
    Send them to me! :) I love buttons even if all I do with them is dump them out in the middle of floor and look at them!!
  • Trixie63 Trixie63 on Aug 29, 2015
    Hers my Pinterest board and there are many others of ideas for buttons https://www.pinterest.com/twmoritz/buttons/
    • Kim Kim on Feb 11, 2017

      OMG Trixie, I looked at your board, and I am in LOVE with your ideas!!! Thanks!!

  • Gigi Marino Gigi Marino on Aug 29, 2015
    Make bracelets with elastic they are darling. Jewelry making with buttons quite popular.
  • Rosalie chow Rosalie chow on Aug 31, 2015
    I made a button US map and an African doll using buttons.
  • Valerie Valerie on Sep 01, 2015
    Buttons are wonderful - have a look at this board for some ideas: http://www.hometalk.com/b/7088406/buttons
  • Jane R. Jane R. on Sep 02, 2015
    Put them on a string and use it to decorate your Christmas tree.
  • Donna Donna on Sep 06, 2015
    I also love buttons and have many ideas posted to my Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/purl3agony/buttons/
  • Suzanne Suzanne on Sep 06, 2015
    Buy a cheap box frame, and draw pattern , I did heart, then using glue gun, randomly glue buttons on to cover the pattern, lovely gifts too!
  • EdiLeck EdiLeck on Sep 06, 2015
    I would put them in a vintage jar, one with a wire bail and glass lid. Viola!! Decorative jar of buttons for sewing room!
  • Kjhawkins Kjhawkins on Sep 06, 2015
    I used some of my old buttons on top of the soil of a planted cactus garden. The pot is about 12' round, about 3' deep and the buttons just glisten in the sunlight. So pretty, and reminiscent thoughts of where all the buttons have been (Mother's coat, Sister's dress, etc.) while I sit on the patio in the evenings...
  • Angela Herremans Angela Herremans on Sep 06, 2015
    I sorted out the old buttons from the modern ones and then found a vintage bottle and put all the old buttons into the jar :-) as the jar was bigger than the number of buttons I bought a styrofoam ball from the craft shop "Spotlight" here in Australia :-) and painted it black as white would stand out and the poured the buttons over the top of the styrofoam ball which filled the void in the middle of the jar and allowed for more of my vintage buttons to show through :-)
  • Frances Canon Frances Canon on Sep 06, 2015
    If interested, go to Etsy and look up Megga's Corner and see what was done with buttons on crosses.
  • Cathy Bopp Cathy Bopp on Sep 06, 2015
    I separated mine by color & put them in different sized old bottles & jars. Going to use them as part of the decor in my craft/sewing room when I get it finished.
  • Molly F Molly F on Sep 07, 2015
    you can do lots with them - I've hot-glued them to a pin back and clustered them on front to make a beautiful piece of jewelry. My friend crocheted string and added the buttons as she went for a really cute necklace and bracelet. Also hot glue them on a mason jar and make a "snowman"!
  • Pollio Pollio on Sep 08, 2015
    A few years ago when I had a sewing room, I added shelves above the windows and displayed my large collection of buttons in see through glass and plastic jars by color. It was easier to find the needed buttons that way and I liked the look. Polly O
  • Barbara Heist Barbara Heist on Sep 08, 2015
    They look great on a canvas (paint you own tree with out leaves) then use buttons for leaves. looks so awesome
  • Joan Joan on Sep 08, 2015
    Someone used a picture frame and inside the frame was a large capital letter (a special persons initial) using different sized buttons to make the letter. Very cute and clever.
  • Ann White Ann White on Sep 08, 2015
    You can send them to me if you donr want them. Xx l will pay u for them
    • DORLIS DORLIS on Nov 20, 2015
      @Ann White Me too. I bought some at an auction once, got lots ofmother of pearl.
  • Anneke Anneke on Nov 19, 2015
    Maybe it's a bit of a lazy answer, but why don't you look at Pinterest and ask the same question in their search-bar ? There's a lot to find with buttons !
  • Judy Riley Judy Riley on Dec 03, 2015
    You could turn a store bought quilt into looking home made by adding the buttons at joins and corners of the fabrics. Or cover an old picture frame
  • DORLIS DORLIS on Dec 04, 2015
    Just check them out first you may have a fortune in that box
    • Dee Lace Dee Lace on Jan 26, 2016
      @DORLIS where would you go to find out what buttons were worth something?
  • DORLIS DORLIS on Jan 26, 2016
    I would go online, maybe go to an antique store, it might be worth paying for an appraisel. I bought a bunch at auction and ended up wih some great mother of pearl buttons and buckles, steel, enamel ones. Then, if they are worth something, mount them on velvet and frame them.
  • Dora Smedley Dora Smedley on Feb 07, 2016
    Hey, you know those big letters that everybody is using to decorate with, on a shelf or a wall? You could cover the front of one of those big letters with your buttons. I love buttons. They are like jewels to me. I have to admit I have never done anything with mine, but I still collect them. I hope to make designs on pillows, like flowers or stars, and the heart design you glued on your pillow is gorgeous. I love it. Dora, Chattanooga, TN
  • Ellen Beener Ellen Beener on May 05, 2016
    A button mosaic!!!!!!!!!!!
  • I have my grandmothers buttons. She was a wonderful seamstress with her own label. I have many of them displayed in beautiful rounded glass vase with her label showing, a ribbon tied at top. The opening of vase is perfect size for small glass votive holder with candle. It's beautiful and sits on shelf in my office, reminding me of her daily. Most interesting is the delicacy, the designs and type of buttons made long ago. All unique. I also found some Civil War Yankee Officer buttons that were worn on their jackets.
    • Beth Beth on Feb 05, 2017

      Cool .... would love to see a picture of this if possible.

  • Pam Pam on May 05, 2016
    So as not to take anyone's ideas I didn't post a picture but if you get on Pinterest and search for button crafts or crafts with buttons, you'll find a ton of great ideas to keep you busy with your buttons!
  • Yvette Spicer Yvette Spicer on May 14, 2016
    glue lightweight buttons on a lamp shade; cover the whole thing or just the edges. Glue them on picture frames, all over or just one corner. Make refrigerator magnets from the large ones ... I'd better stop before I get carried away ... LOL
  • Bbunny42 Bbunny42 on Feb 01, 2017

    Years ago at an antique/miscellaneous shop, I bought a 4" square cheap plastic container which had been covered in buttons. I love it and keep it in my bathroom to hold cotton squares and my lip balm.

  • Julia Julia on Feb 02, 2017

    I sew so I love trains and made a picture using bottoms of different co!ors for different things like the tracks and buildings,ect. Have been offered to sell many times.

  • Jennifer Jennifer on Feb 02, 2017

    Make a design with the buttons on canvas for wall art. Words would work too. Also try cardboard or wood instead of canvas.

    I have seen them used as trim on lampshades and curtains.

  • Nan12892628 Nan12892628 on Feb 03, 2017

    Put them in a bubblegum dispenser in your craft room.

  • Beverly Kohn Beverly Kohn on Feb 03, 2017

    you can send them to every body. Can use to decorate frames .string different lengthens of Cording. Attach with fold over end cap.and lobster clip. I decorated the lapels of a blazer with them(use quite a few buttons) glue to plastic bowl ( E 6000) With wire gauge 20-18 make dolls. Enough !! Check out Pinterest. Forgot get long shoe laces have children string them tie ends necklace or bracelets. If small no children should use them. Can easily swallow.

    • Grandmasue10 Grandmasue10 on Feb 15, 2017

      Yes, I was going to suggest Pinterest. There must be thousands of ideas for buttons. My Mom-in-law bought designer clothes, and she had a nice T shirt with large colorful buttons all over the front (maybe 7 or 9) of different colors and sizes. I copied this idea for a 2 year old with smaller buttons and a Michael's t shirt. They always have them for a bargain price.

  • Lisa Petersen Lisa Petersen on Feb 07, 2017

    They could make a great tabletop - you need to use plaster of paris for the mold, lay the buttons in the bottom of the (rubber 4' or deeper, your diameter choice) mold front-side down, pour the plaster of paris (which you can tint if you like before pouring, to match your decor) over the buttons to fill about 1" from the top of the mold, then insert table legs into the top of the mold, at least 3" deep but not so deep as to make contact with the buttons (do it slowly, and don't twist the legs, or you might move the buttons or cause bubbles). Let dry - takes about a week to cure, when that thick - then unmold, turn upright, seal and enjoy!

  • Pamela Berner Pamela Berner on Feb 08, 2017

    Make a wreath. When finished place it at eye level so you can see all the detail of the buttons.

  • I embellished plain throw pillows with buttons, sometimes making flowers or a swirling design. Good luck!

  • Trixie63 Trixie63 on Feb 12, 2017

    Right now I'm hooked on makin g flowers and then displaying them in old China salt or pepper shakers. So much fun

  • Kj Kj on Feb 13, 2017

    Mount them on bolts and use them as unusual drawer pulls.

  • Karen swift Karen swift on Feb 13, 2017

    necklaces /bracelets

  • E s desanna E s desanna on Feb 15, 2017

    Fill a big glass jar about 2/3s and present it to some creative 6-10 year old kids. I loved my mother's button box as a child. I gifted two nieces one and they spent many happy hours choosing favorites, making up games & learning about color.

    Or donate same to an elementary art teacher, a Brownie or 4H group.

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    • Lyn Buerger Lyn Buerger on Feb 27, 2017

      Me. toooo. My favoriate memories at my Grans was the tin of buttons.

      Just loved touching and looking at them.

  • Zest it Up Zest it Up on Feb 15, 2017

    Hey there! A super quick and easy project would be to glue them on bobby pins and make DIY Hair Pins! Check out our blog for inspiration: http://zestitup.com/diy-hair-pins/

  • Marge Marge on Feb 16, 2017

    I have glued them onto a wooden heart that I had painted pink first. A friend of mine attached green ones onto a Styrofoam cone. It was a beautiful idea. I think she mounted it onto a metal tin as a base. I have my buttons in Mason jars on display in my sewing room. I had an idea to glue them to a glass jar or wine bottle for another project to get to. Thanks all for sharing your ideas!

  • Nancy Gramm Nancy Gramm on Feb 17, 2017

    I have a love affair with buttons! Here are some items I've made with them.

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    • Nancy Gramm Nancy Gramm on Feb 18, 2017

      Thanks! Yes, it does take a lot. I live in an area with a high senior population and when one's cleaning out the remnants of a person's life, buttons are easily discarded. Thrift stores around here are great places to find old jars of buttons.

  • Banjojane66 Banjojane66 on Feb 18, 2017

    Wow! You have more than I thought!! I like to move them around in a game of cards! Like money chips! You might create a new kids game (Buttons? Buttons? Who's got the buttons?) Colors for each player!!

  • Beverly Kohn Beverly Kohn on Feb 19, 2017

    Can send them to me!! I have used old buttons to cover styrofoam cones as Christmas trees , on mannequins big ribbon on neck, use jump rings on open link chains to attach buttons about17"chain can do 2 rows next row 19" s , bracelets , mix with beads for jewelry. My favorite I did the lapels of a blazer with all kinds of buttons. So cool got 2 commissions then ran out of great buttons. Glue on bobby pins or hair clips(e6000) look cut in hair.

  • Rosalie chow Rosalie chow on Feb 19, 2017

    Here is my projects with button.

  • Beverly Kohn Beverly Kohn on Feb 19, 2017

    Love the cup of buttons. I found an old China teapot. Put beads button and charms on different lengths of 24 gauge wire. Start at bottom go through each piece twice with varied separations I did about 10 strands . them you twist together at top also varied lengths.of wire. Slip up through spout I used 20 gauge jump ring on handle very close to inside wrapped wire around jump ring. I put E6000 on wrap for extra strength. Hung from hook on tree limb On a slant like it's pouring. Used more large glass beads then buttons. It's a sun catcher. Beautiful colors

  • Gonefishing Gonefishing on Feb 26, 2017

    Lots of neat ideas! But if you want to sell them, I am right here in South Carolina!

  • Kate Baxter Kate Baxter on Mar 02, 2017

    Check out ebay etc. Lots of people buy them to make crafts etc.