Button Craft Project Ideas: How to Make Easy Crafts with Buttons
Buttons are an inexpensive, fun craft material that can be used for a wide variety of art projects. With a number of options for jewelry, office supplies, and home décor, there are enough ideas here to keep you creating for many hours. Whether you are making crafts for yourself, for gifts, or to sell, there is something here that will fit your interests and needs. Many of these projects are kid friendly. Happy creating!
Please note that regardless of other glue recommendations in tutorials, I highly recommend using only E-6000 for all magnets, tacks, and button jewelry that requires gluing. You will need to use it in a well well-ventilated, but it is worth it for the extra strength it ensures. Scrapbook glue, hot glue gun glue, and Mod Podge are fine for paper projects and wall decor.
1. Button Bracelets
One of the most popular options for button bracelets in charm bracelet style button bracelets where buttons are attached to links with jump rings. I have included several examples of other button bracelets, too. All of these designs can be completed with basic wire or bead weaving skills. Fun options for button charm bracelets include using buttons of variation sizes, experimenting with monochromatic and multicolored palettes, and added beads and/or charms.
The Stretchable Button Bracelet - Craft Tutorial 1
2. Button Earrings
Button earrings are so fun and unique. I guarantee that you will always get comments when you wear any style of button earrings. You can create simple post earrings with single buttons or double stacked buttons. I have included an example photo of double stacked dangle earrings, too, as well as a couple examples of button cluster dangle earrings.
3. Button Necklaces
I have concentrated most of my button jewelry energy on bracelet and earring designs and have only created a handful of necklaces. You can take any of the previously featured bracelet and earring designs and transfer the concept to necklaces. Pay attention to how the buttons hang and do some "test runs" with each new design to see if the concept wears as well as it looks flat.
4. Button Rings
I have not found a good craft store source for purchasing ring blanks. If you have one, please feel free to leave it in the comments. There are numerous resources for purchasing them online. Buttons rings are insanely fun and work up really quickly, which is good because all of your friends will want them when they see yours.
Jewelry Tutorial: Button Rings
5. Button Pins/Brooches
Buttons pins follow the same concept as button rings except that you attach a pin back instead of a ring blank. Pin backs are available at most craft stores, although normally only in one, maybe two, sizes around 1" (1.3cm) to 1.5" (3.8 cm) long. If you're looking for anything smaller or larger, you'll most likely have to look online. If you don't want to wear a pin on your clothing, it will make a great addition to a purse, backpack, or electronic case (i.e. smartphone case, laptop bag).
6. Button Hair Pins
You can see in the photo examples here that I prefer to use bobby pins with large flat ends because it is easy to attach buttons securely to these type of pins. If you have trouble finding them, they're often labeled as a covered button or fabric button supply, as many people choose to use them for that as well. Alternatively, you can use the black and brown pins that are available at any drug store or big box store. Many people find these type of pins more comfortable, even though they will be harder to use for crafting.
Easy Button Bobby Pin Tutorial
7. Button Magnets
Buttons magnets were the first non-jewelry item that I started making for craft shows, and they're still one of my most popular items. No matter what type of show I'm doing, there is always interest in the magnets. I think that it's largely because so many people use refrigerator magnets. Even if you already have a collection of them, who can't use a few more? Typically I've used round craft magnets, but you can opt for neodymium magnets, which will hold 5-6 sheets of paper.
8. Button Tacks
Flat back thumb tacks are tough to find anywhere anymore because they're considered to be dangerous. You can opt for slightly curved tacks, but I recommend looking for the flat ones. Again, searching for craft tacks or fabric button tacks can yield better results than a general search. If you regularly use a bulletin board at home or work for any variety of purposes, button tacks will add a cheerful touch.
9. Greeting Cards With Buttons
I have only just started to explore the possibilities for buttons in my own greeting card designs. I've included photo examples from a few other artists as well as links to my button greeting card articles for lots more inspiration. I am always amazed at the creativity out there, and button greeting card designs are no exception.
10. Button Wall Art
This is another crafting area that I've only just started to explore. I created the piece on the right as a wedding present for some good friends. This was the first piece I've made like this, and it will certainly not be the last. I have included links below for button letter art tutorials. Search button canvas on Pinterest for a number of great button wall art designs, including more letters as well as words, hearts, and trees.
- American Crafts Studio Blog: Element Monogram Tutorial by Jen Jockisch
- Button Christmas Tree Tutorial | Busted Button
- Button Shamrock - A Sprinkle of Joy
Looking for a fun and easy craft to do for St. Patrick's Day? Check out this button shamrock art. Its quick to do, and turns out super cute.
Button Craft Resources:
- Cover Buttons Findings and Craft Supplies by coverbuttoncity
This is where I buy my ring blanks, flat back bobby pins, and flat thumb tacks. - Take 10 off today by Karenscraftsupplies on Etsy
If you don't want to buy neodymium magnets on eBay, this is another good online resource.
More button craft resources from the author.
- Button Greeting Cards: Ideas for Handmade Homemade Card Making
This article has over ten different button greeting card ideas. These are all free ideas for handmade home card making. There are lots of photos and resources. - How to Design and Make Handmade Button Jewelry: Tips and Ideas
Are you interested in designing and making your own button jewelry? Get tips and ideas for creating bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more. - 11 Button Wreath Craft Holiday Decorations
This hub has 11 button wreath craft holiday decoration tutorials with descriptions for each. I have included other button craft resources as well as lots of pictures, too.
Comments
Now I know what I can do with extra buttons.
Voted up and interesting.
Take care :)
Wow! These are really pretty! I love the bright pictures too! I think I might have to try making a bracelet out of buttons. You don't happen to sell on Etsy do you? If so, send me a message!
Very creative ways of using buttons in craft projects. I just love those earrings and rings. Will have to try to make a few of them if I can find those colourful buttons you are using.
Very creative!
Wow..this is by far a very enlightening and creative hub with wonderful photographs of creativity at its best. Thanks for sharing. I am personally into colourful accessories and this is great.
Voted up while hub hopping and shared.
Awesome ideas! Some of these would be fun to do with kids as well. If they were ambitious enough, I could see a school group using one of these ideas to create crafts for a school fundraiser. Voted up, useful and awesome.
Wonderful hub. My favorite are the magnets and the button tacks. Thanks for sharing so many craft ideas and how to videos. Decorate packages too!
This is an awesome hub about using buttons. I have collected antique/collectible buttons and made them into rings. Your ideas are inspiring. Creativity is such a wonderful gift to share. Thanks so much! Love the arts.
What a great way to create crafts with buttons. I use them on my greeting cards but some of the ideas you have shown here are really interesting.
I like the button tacks too, something I would never have thought of
Shared on Twitter. Voted up and useful
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Sueswan, yes, these are all great ways to use extra buttons!
Melanie, you should definitely make a button bracelet sometime. I do sell on Etsy. I'll send you a message with my shop URL.
lady rain, try searching on Etsy or eBay for bulk or wholesale buttons.
ChitrangadaSharan, thanks!
K Kiss, it's always nice to meet someone else who enjoys colorful accessories.
donnah, many of these projects would be fun to do with kids. Some of them could definitely work for a school fundraiser, too, if you had enough volunteers to make everything.
bridalletter, thanks!
starstream, that's great about the button rings! Thanks. You're right about creativity.
How-to-crafts, you'll have to give some of these other ideas a try sometime. :)
Thanks for the shares and support, everyone!
Great ideas in this hub. Thanks for sharing these.
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Thanks, Shelly!
Random, what a great hub! Well done and interesting, I love the button hair pins. Watched all the videos, and passed it on to my Etsy friends. Thanks!
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Thanks so much, eHealer! I'm glad that you enjoyed this, and I appreciate the shares.
No problem, the Etsy's will eat this up!
Your craft hubs always amaze and inspire me Rose! I can see those button hair pins and ring crafts being a great activity for a party with tween girls. Thanks for your wonderful inspiration.
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eHealer, yes, I'm sure!
Thanks so much, Cara! You're right that button hair pins and rings would both make great craft activities at a girl party.
Rose...You've come up with so many cool ways to use your button stash! I love the earrings and the hair pins! And I love that you even use them in home décor!
great photos with your article! We both love jewelry and paper! {:-D
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Thanks! Yes, for sure!
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Thanks so much, Edi!
Very fun ideas for buttons! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, Kathy!
AMAZING HUB. I can't believe all of the great ideas you have. I especially like the bracelet and necklace. The colors you used are terrific. Up and awesome.
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Thanks so much, KoffeeKlatch Gals!
ooh, this is going on my pinterest wall!! Beautiful!
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Thanks, Julie!
My kids LOVE buttons! This hub is now bookmarked and we will be making many of these items :) Thanks for the great ideas! Voted up and shared :)
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That's awesome, Cassy! Enjoy! :)
The Christmas bracelet is really cute, but it would be hard to pick a favorite here. Nice ideas! :)
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Thanks, RTalloni!
Great ideas and very interesting hub. I enjoyed in this cute pictures, and shared your hub so other people can enjoy it too
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Thanks so much, diplorging! I appreciate the share.
Congrats on getting hub of the day! I knew it was only a matter of time before this hub was picked! I love my bracelet, by the way! Thank you so much!
Wow! A wonderful list of button craft project ideas! I remember that I read one of your previous hubs that you mentioned buttons as one of your favorite crafts, right? Your photos are beautiful. I myself enjoy making cards and wall art, and you provided some helpful ideas! An engaging hub! Congrats for winning the Hub of the Day! Well-done!
Thanks for SHARING. Useful, Awesome & Interesting. Voted up.
Thankyou so much- I now owna very large collection of buttons which were donated by ladies at church for me to organise a craft club- adults this time, thanks for this it has saved me a lot of work!
What wonderful ideas for buttons. I've had a huge bag that I've been saving for years and now can put them to good use.
Congrats on the well deserved HOTD!
Congrats on the HOTD!!! Not sure how I missed this one originally, but this is truly awesome and think my kids would love these activities. So I have pinned, voted and shared too.
Wow! I'm going to start collecting my buttons...my kids would LOVE doing these projects. Thank you for a great hub!
OMG! These ideas are awesome! How I wish I could go back to my school days when I had the patience for doing crafts like these... Congrats on the well deserved Hub of the Day recognition. Hub voted up and liked on Facebook...
I used to work as a fashion designer and have tons of buttons left over from those days. Probably enough to do all these projects and still have more left over. Thanks for all these great ideas, and congrats on your HOTD!!
Random Creative, congratulations on a well-deserved Hub of the Day!
Very creative and it is very interesting. They look very beautiful and to think it is created from bottons. voted up.
Fantastic hub full of great ideas. Congrats on the HOTD!!!!! Kelley
My daughter is going to go wild over these button crafts! I especially love the bracelets with buttons in shades of one color and the thumb tacks. I think we now have some cool button craft plans for the rest of the summer! Congratulations on your Hub of the Day!
Wow these are really awesome craft project ideas. I absolutely LOVE the bracelets, rings, and hair pins. I'd totally wear them and would love to learn to make them. Voted up and awesome. I'm bookmarking this and pinning the ones I adore.
Congrats on getting Hub of the Day!
Goodness me! This is by far one of the most creative hubs I have ever come across! You are so talented. What an amazing idea! Wonderful.
Congrats on the HOTD! This is another great idea on making crafts for gifts on Christmas. Thanks for sharing your creativity. Voted up and awesome. Have a great weekend!
Huge congrats on Hub of the Day. You did a really great job, it's very detailed, and I love your pictures. Thanks for sharing these ideas with us!
Those button magnets are a hit! Great HOTD.
Great hub, and what a nice idea for a kid's group to do. I always loved buttons and have collected a few.
This is a beautiful hub and you're so creative! These are great ideas for crafters and you're amazing!! I'm so glad you shared all this and the pictures are beautiful! Congratulations on your hub of the day! :)
This hub is of particular interest to me as I write craft articles. lot of great photos and good instructions. Great hu Voted UP and more.
Congratulations on your Hub of the Day! Your craft room would be a DREAM for my niece to visit. She loves making all kinds of crafts. Your button ideas are fantastic and fun. Plus, you've provided us with so many ideas with all of your great pictures. Awesome job.
Pinned!
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Thank you thank you for all of the HOTD congrats today! Your support means so much to me.
Melanie, I'm so glad that you're enjoying your bracelet. You can also enjoy the fact that so many people get to see it featured here!
ishwaryaa22, yep, buttons have been one of my favorite crafting materials for almost 4 years now. Have fun with your cards and wall art!
CASE1WORKER, enjoy your new collection of buttons!
Just Ask Susan, enjoy crafting with your buttons, too. :)
Janine and Specialk3749, these are definitely kid friendly projects.
ChaplinSpeaks, that's great. :) Have fun crafting with your daughter this summer.
Global-Chica, now you can learn to make them yourself!
Thelma, this is definitely a good place to come for Christmas present making inspiration.
MissOlive, if you lived closer, I'd tell you to send your niece over here sometime. I love passing my crafting passion on to others.
I love this!!! Great hub...my kids are going to love the button bracelets and this will keep us busy for hours. Anytime there is something that can pass the time on a stormy day is worth its weight in gold.
Congrats on your HOFT!
I love these ideas! I wish I could have come up with such wonderful creations - these buttons are cute and very effective.
I would love to have a go at the tacks and magnets and maybe get my son involved. Fantastic - voting up and awesome :)
These are fantastic ideas! These are great activities for children to do in the classroom.
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cyoung, that's great! You're right that a good rainy day project is so valuable.
Thanks, Emma! I hope that you find a chance to try the tacks and magnets.
Thanks, Learningworkbooks! You're right that many of these projects are great for the classroom.
Pretty cool stuff and quite interesting.. have to try.. thanks for sharing such a lovely info.
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Thanks, Sharda!
A lot of great ideas in this article! I love making all sorts of things with buttons; there really are so many creative crafts to do with them.
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Thanks, Miss Lil' Atlanta! Yes, for sure!
These are so, so cute! I love your ideas, Rose! The button hair pins make me wish I had a girl - they are adorable. I love the paper crafts with buttons, too - I might do something with a Christmas tree and little buttons as ornaments for our Christmas cards this year!
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Thanks, Leah! The button hair pins are perfect for girls. Christmas trees with button ornaments would be great for your Christmas cards!
Congrats on HOTD ! very well deserved and what a wonderful hub- oozing with creativity and colours and a wealth of ideas! Awesome stuff.
So many things you can do with button! I keep a little jar of random buttons for that "just in case!" Maybe I'll make those button hair pins. Love those! Congrats on HOTD! You deserve it!
Love button craft projects! Thumbs up!
I like the greeting cards the best. I found this to be inspirational. I have tons of buttons so I guess I will have to get creative. Thanks
These are all so cute! I'm going to have to start collecting buttons again.
Wow, cool! Very useful. Will try it. Oh congratulations on getting Hub of the day award!
Coming back to say congrats on your Hub of the Day award! Some of these would make such great summer projects--good stuff as always. :)
Another great craft hub that I need to pin! Buttons are great for craft projects. I've done some really cute Christmas crafts with them. Congrats on Hub of the Day.
These are ideas are so cute and interesting. And your hub is ironic for me. Today I went to the local farmer's market and saw a new place called "Buttons." There were buttons making up the store sign. So, I was excited thinking this was a new crafter's table. Nope. Instead it was a eatery. But the upshot was one of my former college students was working at the place. So it was cool talking to her.
Great hub, but you already know how awesome and useful it is :)
Congrats on HOTD! Love the button project ideas, especially the rings & hairpins. Haven't seen those before. Really charming!
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Thank you thank you for the continued HOTD congrats today!
Vicki, you'll have to give the hair pins a try!
gingerka, I'm glad that you found this inspirational! Have fun with your buttons.
Thanks, RTalloni! You're right that some of these make great summer projects.
Deb, that's awesome that you've used buttons for Christmas crafts.
Stephanie, that's too funny about the Buttons eatery. I'm glad that it worked out even if it wasn't a craft place. :)
Thanks, The Dirt Farmer!
Okay, the button rings and hair pins are ADORABLE...do you sell them on etsy or elsewhere?
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Thanks, kittythedreamer! I sell the button rings and hair pins at craft shows and don't have either of them listed on Etsy currently. If you're interested in purchasing some, I'm happy to take photos of my current stash. Let me know. :)
Amazing creation in everyday life!
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Thanks!
So many creative and budget friendly crafts you can make with buttons. I am totally going to have start saving those extra buttons up to make some of these fun ideas. I especially love your button bracelets - sooo cute! Congrats on your hub of the day!
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Thanks, Alissa! There are endless possibilities for creative, inexpensive button crafts. That sounds good. :)
Goodness! Congrats on HOTD! What a comprehensive article and great photos!
Funny, my mom, a child of the first Great Depression, had a whole cigar box full of oddball buttons, and as a kid, I loved playing with them, sorting them one way and then another. Later, my kids enjoyed the same activity. But it never occurred to any of us to MAKE things with the buttons!
Voted up, interesting, useful and shared.
Brilliant artworks! I've never seen such many button crafts before! I am particularly interested in using buttons as tacks and décor for walls and greeting cards. I hope I can make one these days. :)
Voting up and sharing!
I love buttons and these ideas are fantastic! Beautiful hub! Thanks
Congrats on hub of the day. I like to craft with buttons. Your hub is very interesting enjoyed reading it. Voted Up
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Thanks, DzyMsLizzy! That's neat about the button box. Buttons are a great tactile item for people of many ages.
thesingernurse, thanks! You'll have to give some of those ideas a try.
Thanks, Glimmer Twin Fan and moonlake!
Hey Randomcreative! You really honor your name! I can´t pick a favorite one, you´ve compiled several great and lovely ideas. This should be a great crafty-creative activity for kids.
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Thanks, Claudia! I try. :) I'm glad that you like so many of the ideas here. You're right that many of them are great kid craft projects.
Some very creative ideas here
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Thanks, dobo700!
Great Craft ideas, there is no wonder why this article is getting mad props. I will be making some button crafts with my daughters on our vacation. Thanks
voted up, awesome, beautiful, useful, and Liked on Facebook.
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Thanks so much, dndswordsmith! Have fun with your button crafts. I appreciate the votes and share!
Simply beautiful. With Bestwishes
Great instructions - thanks for the tip about what type of glue to use. I love the jewelry, but I also love that snowman! Will definitely pin this. Voted up!
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Thanks so much, farmloft! I'm glad that the tip was useful, and I appreciate the votes and shares.
Congratulations on your well-deserved hub of the day. Wow, 45 pictures! You've clearly explained how to make so many different crafts with buttons. You've made so many pretty things. I have quite a few buttons, and I should start using them up. Thanks for these great ideas. Voted up.
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Thanks so much, Shasta! When I got serious about my jewelry making a few years, I never imagined that I would end up working with buttons so much, but it's been a fun journey. I hope that you find some projects here for your own stash.
I especially liked the magnets and brooches! Wow! button bracelets, how creative! Where do you buy the buttons, at craft stores? I like the tip about the glue. This also reminds me of when I worked with Fimo clay (is it fimo?) the clay that you make jewelry with and bake in the oven, have you heard of it? I'd roll out like purple than blue then yellow and taper them, then make them into a "roll" and cut slices which where then used to cover a ball of clay and make a turtle...
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Thanks, schoolgirlforreal! I buy buttons in many different places. I'm always looking for bulk and secondhand deals. I go through so many of them that I can't pay top dollar for small packages. Fimo clay is a lot of fun, too!
How cool! I have a big thing full of buttons I use for crochet octopus eyeballs and don't know what to do with some of the smaller ones. Voted up and awesome!
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How neat, NornsMercy! Now you have a bunch of ideas. :)
Great ideas! I have a container full of interesting buttons. I like the hairpin idea - will be doing that. The button necklace is really adorable too.
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That's awesome, Rosie. :) Have fun with your button projects!
Very cute ideas - thanks
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Thanks, Karen!
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Thanks, Arielqiao! That's neat. :)
Such awesome ideas to do with cheap, colorful buttons!! Thank you for sharing randomcreative!
This is a fascinating article. I am always looking for innovative and creative new hobbies :). Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks so much, Neinahpets and DIYmommy! Enjoy these projects. :)
Awesome ideas! I love the button ring idea, that could be really cute!
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Thanks so much! Button rings are really cute. I sell them at craft fairs, and they are almost always very popular with young girls.
Awesome thanks! I have wanted to make a button bracelet for awhile now!
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That's great. :) You have everything that you need now.
Great ideas for doing projects with my nieces. I love the idea of button magnets. They are so cute. They have a lot of nice and creative looking buttons out there so you can do a lot with them.
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Thanks, that's great! You're right that there are so many possibilities for all of the cute buttons out there.
What a wonderful article; makes me want to track down my mother's button box and try many of these techniques. (I used to spend hours rummaging through my mother's button box.) I'm sending this to my sisters and crafting friends, too.
Very creative and useful. I just loved your button greeting cards, magnets and wall arts. Voted up and shared.
This is a creative hub! So many ideas on buttons. I may put some to use at some point.
Congrats on HOTD award! I don't know how I missed it that day.
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Thanks, AMFredenburg! I appreciate those shares. I hope that you are able to revisit your mom's button box one day.
Thanks so much, anuramkumar!
Kathryn, thanks! I hope that you do get to use some of these ideas. I got HOTD for this article back in the summer I believe. It was a while ago.
This is so creative! I've never thought of using buttons to make bracelets and rings. This is just wonderful! Thank you for sharing such useful idea and creativity.
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Thanks so much, VivaLaVina! I'm glad that you enjoyed this article.
You have such creative ideas. Every time I visit I leave with my mind working towards new projects. I love it.
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Thanks so much, KoffeeKlatch Gals! It's great to hear that.
Glad I came across this! I've made a few dangly button earrings for myself, but I used thin thread and I've tried to make some studs out of them as well. My problems though, for the dangly earrings, sometimes the string would come out of the earring hook and for the studs, I haven't been able to find a glue that actually holds them onto the backing. Any suggestions for glue? I've tried hot glue and cement glue. Also, I don't know if anyone's answered this, but I've found flat top rings at Michaels
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I use E-6000 for all of my button crafts that require gluing. There are a few beaded earring designs I make that require glue, and I use super glue for those tiny jobs. Loctite brand is great. I order my flat top rings from an Etsy shop called coverbuttoncity. Michaels is great for purchasing small quantities of items like that. However, if you're looking for larger quantities, I suggest ordering online.
Thanks for the advice!
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Any time!
Awesome hub! I love the tacks and the magnets, very clever!
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Thanks so much!
Hey Randomcreative, your hubs are very interesting. I really like the ideas you have portrayed here. At home we spend a lot of time doing craft activities. Thank you so much for sharing these colorful ideas. Cheers!
An update: I Pinned this a while ago, and I am getting lots of messages from Pinterest about people re-pinning; it's my most popular pin!
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Thanks, Toytasting! It's great that you do a lot of craft activities at home. I hope that you can add some of these ideas to the mix.
AMFredenburg, I am so glad to hear that! Thanks for the update.
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That's great, sginteractive. :) Thanks!
niiiiiiice!!!!!!!
I love the button tacks! Imagine a little corkboard with a gift certificate pinned to it--such a cute gift!
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Thanks, Nichelle! That's a great idea for a gift!
I love buttons! I've always liked this hub but hadn't seen it in a while. Nice one!
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Thanks, Vicki!
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