Quick answer: Button crafts are small sewing, jewelry and home decor projects made from loose buttons, and most of them need nothing more than a needle, thread or a dab of strong craft glue. Beginners can start with button earrings, a magnet, a bookmark or a greeting card in under fifteen minutes, while a button bracelet, a framed monogram or a garland makes a good weekend project. Below are 25 ideas sorted from quickest to most ambitious, plus notes on which buttons, thread and glue to use.
Every sewing drawer seems to collect them. Spare buttons from shirt labels, a handful of odd ones from a coat that went to the charity shop, a small tin inherited from a grandmother. They are too pretty to throw away and never quite matched enough to sew back on, so they sit there. The good news is that a mismatched button stash is exactly what these projects want: the charm comes from the mix, not from having a perfect set.
At a Glance
- Skill level: Most ideas below are beginner-friendly; five are marked as weekend projects
- Time: 10 minutes to 3 hours
- Core tools: Hand-sewing needle, strong thread, small scissors, strong craft glue or two-part epoxy
- Extras for jewelry: Earring backs, flat-pad rings, elastic cord, jump rings, round-nose pliers
- Buttons that work: Flat sew-through buttons for glue-on projects; shank buttons for stitched and strung projects
- Good for: Using up a button stash, kids’ craft afternoons, handmade gifts, quick wardrobe refreshes
What Are Button Crafts?
Button crafts are projects that use buttons as a decorative material rather than as a fastening. Instead of closing a shirt, the button becomes a flower center on a card, a bead on a bracelet, the eye of a fabric animal or one tile in a mosaic of color. Because buttons are already finished on the front and drilled or looped on the back, they behave like ready-made beads and cabochons, which is why so many of these projects need so little skill.
What Do You Need to Start?
You need less than you think. A hand-sewing needle, a reel of strong thread, small sharp scissors and a tube of strong clear craft glue will carry you through most of this list. Add a pair of round-nose pliers and a few earring backs and you can make jewelry too.
A few practical notes from making these ourselves:
- Use glue made for hard surfaces. A clear multi-surface craft glue or a two-part epoxy grips resin and metal buttons far better than a school glue stick or a hot glue gun, which peels off smooth resin after a few weeks.
- Nip the shank off when you need a flat back. Shank buttons are lovely for stringing, but for earrings, magnets and ring blanks you want a flat back. End-cutting pliers remove a metal or resin shank in one squeeze; file the stub smooth before gluing.
- Sort before you start. Half of button crafting is arranging. Tip the tin out onto a pale tray, group by color and size, and the project usually chooses itself.
Set out on the table, the whole kit is small enough to fit in a biscuit tin.
25 Button Craft Ideas
Jewelry and Accessories
This is the quickest group to start with, because a button already looks like a finished bead or cabochon. Most of the ideas below need two matching buttons and either a dab of glue or a length of elastic, like the earrings and bracelet here.
- Stud earrings. Remove the shank from two matching buttons, file the back flat and glue on flat-pad earring posts. Faux pearl flower buttons and enamel flower styles look the most like fine jewelry.
- Stacked button ring. Glue a small button on top of a slightly larger one, then fix the pair to a flat-pad ring blank for a layered, vintage-style look.
- Elastic button bracelet. Thread shank buttons onto a length of jewelry elastic through their loops, alternating two or three colors, and knot with a dab of glue.
- Sew-through button bracelet. Stitch flat four-hole buttons to a strip of grosgrain ribbon in overlapping rows, then add a snap fastener at each end.
- Button pendant. Add a jump ring to a shank button and hang it from a fine chain. A single large decorative button makes a surprisingly elegant necklace.
- Hair clips and bobby pins. Glue three small buttons in graduating sizes along a plain snap clip.
- Brooch or lapel pin. Cluster five to seven buttons in one color family onto a felt circle, then stitch a pin back on behind it.
- Keyring charm. String four or five chunky buttons onto a short length of leather cord and finish with a knot and a split ring.
Clothing and Mending
- Refresh a cardigan. Replace the five plain buttons on a knit with decorative ones. This is the fastest way to make an old piece feel new, and it takes about twenty minutes. If you would rather not unpick anything, no-sew button covers snap over the existing buttons instead.
- Decorate shirt cuffs. Swap only the cuff buttons for something prettier, so the detail appears just where a sleeve is pushed up.
- Cover a stain or small hole. Stitch a cluster of three buttons over a mark on a jumper. A deliberate detail always reads better than a patch.
- Button-trimmed collar. Sew a neat row of tiny buttons along the edge of a shirt collar or a pocket flap.
- Denim jacket back panel. Outline a simple shape, such as a heart or a moon, with sewn-on buttons across the back yoke. A weekend project, but a real conversation piece.
- Button-embellished tote. Scatter buttons across one corner of a plain canvas bag, densest at the bottom and thinning out as they rise.
Home Decor
- Framed monogram. Draw a large letter on card, fill it in with overlapping buttons in two or three shades, and frame it. A weekend project and a favorite gift.
- Button vase or candle holder. Glue flat buttons around a straight-sided glass jar, packing them close so little glass shows.
- Fridge magnets. Glue small disc magnets to the flat backs of bright buttons. Twenty minutes for a whole set.
- Button garland. String large buttons onto twine with a knot between each one and drape it along a shelf or mantel.
- Coasters. Fill a shallow round wooden coaster blank with buttons laid flat, then seal with clear resin or a thick layer of craft varnish.
- Push pins for a noticeboard. Glue flat-backed buttons to plain pin heads so a corkboard suddenly looks styled.
- Wreath. Cover a small foam or wire ring with buttons in one color family, working from the outside in. A weekend project, and a lovely seasonal piece.
Paper, Cards and Kids’ Crafts
- Greeting cards. Glue one button as a flower head and draw the stem and leaves in ink. Three buttons, three stems, done in ten minutes.
- Bookmark. Stitch or glue a single button to the end of a ribbon so it sits neatly out of the top of a book.
- Button snake for toddlers. Sew one large button to a strip of felt and cut buttonholes in several smaller felt shapes, so a child can thread them on and off. A quiet, screen-free fine-motor game.
- Counting and sorting jars. Sort buttons by color into labeled jars with a child, then use them as counters for simple sums. Supervise closely with under-threes, as small buttons are a choking hazard.
Which Buttons Suit Button Crafts?
Start with what the back of the button looks like, because that decides everything else.
- Flat sew-through buttons with two or four holes sit flush against a surface, so they suit cards, frames, coasters, magnets and anything glued. The holes also give glue somewhere to grip — resin four-hole patterned buttons are an easy place to start.
- Shank buttons have a loop on the back, which makes them ideal for stringing onto elastic or cord and for stitching to fabric where you want the button to sit slightly raised. For glue-on work, remove the shank first.
- Size matters more than material. A project with three sizes of the same color usually looks more considered than one with a single size in many colors.
- Mixed materials read as vintage. Resin, gold-tone metal, wood and faux pearl together give that inherited-button-tin look that people love in button crafts.
If your stash is short on the pretty pieces, a few decorative styles go a long way. Heart faux pearl buttons and enamel flower button covers are the two that turn up most often in the jewelry projects above, simply because they already look like jewelry.
How Do You Attach Buttons in Craft Projects?
- Decide sewn or glued. Anything that will be washed, worn or pulled should be sewn. Anything on paper, glass, wood or metal can be glued.
- Prepare the back. Wipe the button with a dry cloth so no dust stops the glue sticking, and remove the shank if the button needs to sit flat.
- Glue sparingly. Apply a small bead of clear craft glue or mixed epoxy to the back of the button, press it down and hold for thirty seconds.
- Let it cure properly. Leave the piece flat and undisturbed for the full curing time on the tube, usually several hours, before you wear or move it.
- For sewn work, come up and go down in the same holes. Two or three passes through each pair of holes is plenty, and a small knot on the back of the fabric finishes it.
How Do You Sew On a Four-Hole Button?
- Mark the button position and thread a needle, doubling the thread and knotting the end.
- Bring the needle up through one hole from the back of the fabric.
- Pass it down through the diagonal or opposite hole, keeping a little tension so the button sits flat, then repeat across both pairs of holes to form parallel bars or a cross.
- Stitch through the holes several times to secure.
- Finish with a few small stitches on the back of the fabric and knot the thread.
How Do You Sort and Store a Button Stash?
Sort by color first and size second. Colors are what you reach for when you plan a project, and sizes are what you fine-tune once you start arranging. Clear screw-top jars, a divided bead box or small zip bags inside one tin all work. Keep the buttons that came sewn to a garment label in their own bag, labeled with the garment, so a genuine replacement is still findable.
Store buttons away from direct sun and radiators. Strong light fades dyed resin over the years, and heat can soften adhesive on any button with a glued-in stone or pearl.
How Do You Care for Finished Button Crafts?
Wipe finished pieces with a soft dry cloth. Keep glued jewelry and decor out of water, since soaking loosens most craft adhesives and can dull enamel-look and faux pearl finishes. For sewn items on clothing, hand wash in cool water or use a laundry bag on a gentle cycle, and avoid bleach and the tumble dryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I make with buttons? Jewelry such as earrings, rings and bracelets, home decor such as framed monograms, magnets, coasters and garlands, paper projects such as cards and bookmarks, and clothing upgrades such as swapping the buttons on a cardigan or trimming a collar.
What glue works on buttons? A clear multi-surface craft glue or a two-part epoxy holds resin, metal and glass buttons securely. Hot glue is quick but tends to peel away from smooth surfaces, and a glue stick will not hold at all.
How do you remove a button shank? Grip the shank close to the button back with end-cutting or flush-cutting pliers and squeeze, then file the remaining stub flat so the button sits level.
Are button crafts suitable for children? Yes, with supervision. Cards, sorting games and felt button snakes work well for older children, while small buttons are a choking hazard for under-threes.
Which buttons work for earrings? Small flat-backed buttons about 10mm to 15mm across, in matching pairs. Faux pearl and enamel flower styles look the most like fine jewelry, and you can browse the full range of decorative buttons to find matching pairs.
Can I order buttons in bulk for craft kits? Yes. These buttons are available for wholesale and bulk orders with trade pricing, alongside smaller packs for home sewing and single projects.
Rule of Thumb
If a project will be washed or worn, sew it. If it will sit on a shelf, a card or a fridge, glue it. And when a mix of buttons will not settle, cut the palette down to two colors and three sizes; the arrangement almost always falls into place.
Where to Buy
Ready to fill a gap in your button tin? Browse our decorative buttons and no-sew button covers, including heart faux pearl buttons, faux pearl flower buttons and resin four-hole patterned buttons, and pick the colors and sizes your projects need. Get in touch using the contact details below and we will be happy to help.
Making kits or stocking a craft shop? These buttons are also available for wholesale and bulk orders, with trade pricing for boutiques, makers and studios — get in touch for a wholesale quote.
Can You Buy Craft Buttons Wholesale?
Yes. As a button manufacturer, we supply craft buttons for wholesale and bulk orders, with trade pricing for boutiques, fashion brands, tailors and craft studios. Whether you are filling craft kits, stocking a haberdashery shelf or fitting out a production run, we ship factory-direct internationally. Tell us the styles, colors, sizes and quantities you need, using the contact details below, and we will reply with a wholesale quote and bulk availability.
Get in Touch
Have a question about our buttons, or want a wholesale quote? Contact our customer service team and we will be happy to help.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +86 158-8823-7906
- Address: No. 163, Hanbu Road, Qiaoxia Town, Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, 325106
Recommended Reading
- Types of Buttons: The Complete Guide to Button Styles and Materials
- How to Dress Up Plain Buttons: 7 Small Details That Refresh Any Outfit
- Button Size Guide: How to Measure Buttons and Choose the Right Size