10 Things You Can Do With: Buttons

I think buttons were some of the first scrapbook embellishments I bought when I first started making pages. I remember struggling with how to use them and make them look perfectly randomly scattered on a page. I had no clue what else I could do with them, and why they were considered such a staple supply. I can't imagine now why I had such a hard time with them, especially surrounded with ideas like these! Here are 10 things you can do with buttons:

  1. Create a garland or banner

  Practical Scrapper Christa used buttons and twine to create a button garland. She threaded her button onto the twine through their holes and added a few spools for variety. It has great dimension and actually has some movement too!

2. String them and shape them

Practical Scrapper Lynn used buttons to embellish her layout. To make a tree branch, just use twine to tie all the buttons together, then shape into whatever design you would like. She also used them to accent the hexagons on her page.




3. Fill in or embellish a die cut

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat used buttons to embellish the center of her sun and created a heart embellishment using all different types and sizes of buttons.




4. Use them still attached to the card

Fresh Face Designer Julie Tucker-Wolek used an old vintage button pack (with the buttons too!) on her layout!



5. Make a stylish accessory

 Practical Scrapper Jayma used a variety of buttons (vintage, Close to my Heart, Recollections, etc) to make a groom's wedding boutonniere.

6. Customize with patterned paper

Practical Scrapper Lanette used clear buttons to make some customized embellishments to match the American Craft Shoreline Collection.




7. Make a clever framed initial

Practical Scrapper Kimberly Congdon  used buttons to make her initial for her front door.  Each button is hand sewn through the burlap, along with  a few Tim Holtz embellishments as well. 

8. Make a border

Practical Scrapper Jenny selected coordinating buttons to make a clustered button border.

9. Add some brads

Practical Scrapper Erin added mini Doodlebug brads, and a shaped Toga brad to the holes in her buttons, and then glued them to her layout using Helmar's 450 Quick Dry adhesive.




10. Dress them up with twine

Practical Scrapper Wendi decorated her buttons using twine, adding texture and color to dress them up. She also hung her buttons with twine and then tied them with bows. 

 So the next time you are searching for the perfect embellishment for your page, don't overlook the old standby button.Like all the classics, it can easily be updated, and will never look like a dated trend on your project.

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