You’ve got a jar (or three) full of buttons, right? Maybe you inherited your grandma’s sewing box, or you’re like me and just can’t throw away a random button that falls off a new shirt. “I might need this someday,” I tell myself. Spoiler: I never need that specific shirt button.
But here’s the thing—that collection of mismatched plastic, wood, and metal is basically a treasure chest waiting to happen. It’s time to turn that clutter into something awesome. I’ve been hoarding—sorry, curating—buttons for years, and I’ve finally put them to good use.
Grab your stash, and let’s get crafty with these 15 DIY button crafts that are actually fun and, more importantly, will use up some of that scrap pile.
Why Buttons Are the Best Craft Supply You’re Ignoring
Seriously, why do we all have so many buttons? It’s a universal phenomenon. But they’re the perfect embellishment. They add texture, color, and a touch of whimsy to almost anything. Plus, they’re cheap (often free!), and there are a million ways to use them. It’s not just for sewing anymore, folks.
1. The “I Can’t Draw” Button Tree Art
This was the first button craft I ever tried, and honestly, it looked way better than I expected. If you’re artistically challenged like me, you’ll love this.
What You’ll Need:
- A canvas (any size, but an 8×10 is perfect to start)
- Brown paint or a brown marker
- A glue gun (the queen of all craft tools)
- A pile of green and brown buttons in various shades
First, paint a simple tree trunk and some branches on the canvas. We’re talking stick-figure level of drawing here. I once tried to make it look “realistic” and it ended up looking like a sad broccoli stalk. Keep it simple.
Then, start hot-gluing your buttons all over the branches to create the leaves. Mix up the sizes and shades of green. Throw in a few brown or tan ones for acorns or bare spots. It gives it a really organic, dimensional look.
Pro-tip: Don’t glue them in a perfect circle. Nature isn’t perfect, and your button tree shouldn’t be either.
2. Button Monograms: Your Initial, But Way More Interesting
Everyone needs a little personalized decor, right? A button monogram is an easy win.
You can buy a large wooden or papier-mâché letter from any craft store. I grabbed a chunky “S” for my living room, and it’s now a total conversation starter.
The Process:
- Sort your buttons by color if you want an ombre effect (like dark blues at the bottom fading to light blues at the top), or just go for a totally random mix.
- Start gluing from the edges. I find it easier to outline the letter first so you have a defined border.
- Fill in the middle. Overlap them a bit! Don’t be shy. The more dimension, the better.
This looks fantastic leaning on a bookshelf or hanging on a wall. IMO, it’s way more interesting than a store-bought sign.
3. Upgrade Your Plain Photo Frames
Got a boring, plain wood frame from the dollar store? I do. I have like ten of them. They’re just sitting there, waiting to be fabulous.
Slap some buttons on them! You can do a neat, organized pattern around the border, or go full chaos mode like I usually do. I like to mix in buttons with shanks and flat buttons to add even more texture.
- For a shabby chic look, use white, cream, and pastel buttons.
- For a kids’ room, use all the bright, primary-colored ones.
- For a modern look, spray paint the frame a matte black first, and then glue on only black and silver buttons.
See? Instant upgrade.
4. DIY Button Napkin Rings for Fancy Dinners (or Tuesdays)
Who says you need silverware that matches? For the holidays last year, I made these for the Thanksgiving table, and they were a hit.
How to make them:
- Take an empty toilet paper roll (classic crafting right there) and cut it into 1.5-inch rings.
- You can paint the cardboard rings or cover them with ribbon or fabric. I wrapped mine in a strip of burlap.
- Glue a few coordinating buttons onto the front. A small one on top of a larger one looks super professional.
Slip your napkin through, and boom—you’re a host with the most. 🙂
5. The “Button Bomber” Vase Makeover
Do you have a sad, old vase that’s seen better days? Maybe it’s a weird shape or just plain glass. Let’s fix that.
You’ll need a clean, dry vase and a bunch of buttons. You can either cover the whole thing completely, or just do a cluster around the middle. I did a full-coverage on a short, round vase once, and it took forever but looked like a million bucks. It’s heavy now, but gorgeous.
Just be sure to use strong craft glue (E6000 is my go-to for glass), not just a hot glue gun, as hot glue can pop off glass if the vase gets bumped.
6. Kid-Friendly Button Cards
This is a perfect rainy-day activity if you have little ones. It’s simple, low-mess, and the results are super cute.
Grab some cardstock, fold it in half, and let the kids go to town gluing buttons on to make a design. You can pre-draw a simple shape like a balloon, a fish, or a flower for them to fill in, or just let them create abstract art.
I have a card my niece made me years ago that’s literally just a bunch of buttons in a pile with a googly eye on top. She said it was a “monster.” It’s still on my fridge. Use tacky glue for this so it dries clear and holds well on the paper.
7. Evergreen Button Wreaths
Mini wreaths aren’t just for Christmas. A button wreath can work year-round.
You can buy a cheap foam or straw wreath form from the craft store. Wrap it in ribbon or fabric to cover the base. Then, glue buttons all over it.
- For spring, use pastels and florals.
- For fall, use browns, oranges, and deep reds.
- For Christmas, use red, green, white, and gold.
I made one for spring and hung it on my pantry door. It makes me smile every time I walk by, which is a lot, because… snacks.
8. Fix a Sweater (But Make It Fashion)
Okay, this one is less of a “craft” and more of a “life hack.” Remember how I said I keep random shirt buttons? If you have a favorite cardigan that’s lost a button, don’t toss it!
But here’s the twist: if you don’t have the exact match, replace all the buttons on the sweater. It completely transforms the garment.
I had a plain grey cardigan that was collecting dust. I swapped out the boring plastic buttons for a set of chunky wooden ones I had in my stash. It went from “meh” to “oh, that’s nice” in about ten minutes. FYI, this works great on coats and blazers too.
9. Felt and Button Bookmarks
Are you still using a receipt as a bookmark? Let’s fix your life.
Cut a rectangle out of felt. Cut a second, slightly smaller rectangle out of a contrasting felt. Glue the small one on top of the big one.
Then, glue a button right in the middle. You can get fancy and sew the button on for extra durability, but I’m lazy, so I glue it. 🙂
Add a ribbon tassel to the top if you’re feeling extra fancy. It takes five minutes and makes you feel incredibly productive.
10. Dangly Button Earrings
If you’re into jewelry making, this one’s for you. Lightweight buttons make fantastic earrings.
You just need some jump rings, earring wires, and a pair of jewelry pliers.
- Find two matching buttons (this is often the hardest part!).
- Use the pliers to open a jump ring, thread it through the button hole(s), and then through the loop on the earring wire. Close the jump ring.
- You can stack two buttons for a longer look.
I’ve gotten so many compliments on a pair I made from two vintage gold buttons. They look like expensive designer pieces, I swear.
11. Upcycled Button Magnets
These are the ultimate last-minute gift for coworkers or hostesses.
Grab some plain round magnets (the self-adhesive kind are a lifesaver) and your smallest, cutest buttons.
Just peel and stick the magnet onto the back of the button. That’s it. If your magnets aren’t self-adhesive, a dab of strong glue works too.
Stick them on your fridge, a magnetic board, or your locker at work. They’re tiny, useful, and use up all those tiny orphan buttons that are too small for anything else.
12. Button-Adorned Throw Pillows
Want to zhuzh up a plain pillow cover without learning how to embroider?
Sew or glue buttons onto a store-bought pillow cover. You can create a pattern, spell out a word (like “H O M E”), or just scatter them randomly.
I did this with a plain beige linen pillow. I sewed a bunch of white and navy buttons in a loose “S” shape across the front. It took the pillow from boring to custom decor in an afternoon. If you don’t sew, fabric glue works in a pinch, just be careful the first time you wash it.
13. The Mason Jar Makeover
Mason jars are the unofficial mascot of DIY, right? Let’s pimp one out.
Cover a mason jar with buttons to use as a:
- Pencil holder for your desk
- Vase for flowers
- Cute storage for cotton balls in the bathroom
You can cover the whole jar, or just do a band around the middle. For an extra touch, wrap some twine or jute around the rim.
14. A Button Coaster (That Actually Works?)
Okay, so this one is more decorative than functional, but hear me out.
Glue a bunch of flat buttons together in a circular or square shape on top of a felt backing. The felt protects your table, and the buttons look cool.
Will it catch a full glass of condensation? Probably not. I wouldn’t trust it with my favorite oak table. But for a coffee mug at your desk? It’s perfect. And it’s a great way to show off a collection of really unique, flat buttons.
15. Button-Adorned Bulletin Board
Remember that ugly corkboard in your home office? Let’s class it up.
You can glue buttons directly onto the cork to create a border, or even cover the tacks themselves.
- For the border, just glue them around the wooden frame.
- For the tacks, you can glue a small button onto the head of a standard pushpin. Just be careful—the glue needs to be strong, and the pin might be a little heavier, so it won’t hold papers as tightly, but it looks amazing.
It turns a purely functional item into a piece of art.
Wrapping This Button Party Up
So, there you have it. Fifteen ways to finally do something with that jar of buttons that’s been staring at you from the shelf. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie who just wants to glue stuff to other stuff (no judgment, that’s my favorite kind of craft), there’s a button project here for you.
My advice? Don’t overthink it. Just start gluing. Some of my favorite projects have been total accidents where I ran out of a color halfway through and had to improvise. Embrace the mismatched chaos! That’s the beauty of a scrap stash.
Now, go forth and raid your sewing kit. I want to see what you make! Got a project idea I missed? Drop it in the comments—I’m always looking for an excuse to buy (or hoard) more buttons.
