A Button on Top

Melissa has shared a wonderful tutorial on using buttons this week:

I was recently asked what my favorite paper-crafting product was and I responded without hesitation…BUTTONS of course! I love them for so many reasons. They are inexpensive, they are the perfect finishing touch, they come in any color you could ever need, they come in a huge array of sizes and shapes, and they are CUTE in every sense of the word.

So my tutorial today will be about these crazy and fun little items. I’ll show you a few ways that I enjoy using them in my projects---but the most enticing part about buttons is that there are a lot of ways to use them that I have yet to try, but certainly look forward to. One wonderful resource I would love to inform you of is the Paper Crafts 101 Special Issue http://www.papercraftsmag.com/shop/item.ihtml?idx=743. It is full of ideas not only for how to use your buttons creatively but many, many other products as well.

Let’s get started.

How about creating a photo corner or two from buttons to accent a sweet baby photo?

Create leaves from ribbon and insert just under the edge of your button to resemble a flower.

Layering is so fun with buttons---for this first card I used chipboard, a clear button, and a metal button—love the dimension this brings. And for the second card I just attached a tied button over a chipboard heart---simple.

I love adding found objects into my creations so for this I used a hat pin through a button hole and then added a flower and tag beneath.

Why not accent things such as wheels on a baby buggy, dotting the “i’s” in your title, or the center of a star---buttons can add so much interest to many different elements.

Instead of fastening a brad through the holes on your bookplate, try tying a button to the hole.

One of my most favorite things to do with buttons is to tie them to the center of a bow---I can’t stop myself from adding this as a finishing touch.

Attaching brads through button holes is a lot of fun and a way to bring in color, texture, and interest---I love how this looks.

One very common thing to do with your buttons is to accent flowers by using them in the center. These 2 pictures show the versatility and range of sizes in buttons for this purpose.

I ‘m so happy to have clear buttons at my fingertips as well---basically you get to create your own buttons with these---simply trace them onto your patterned paper, cut out and adhere to the back.

I have a lot of fun experimenting on buttons by tying them with different things such as ribbon, hemp, thread, jute---try experimenting on those naked button holes :)

And lastly, try attaching a button to the top of a tag---mix things up and see how it changes the look of your project---you’ll love it.

Paper-crafting would not be the same without these little gems---enjoy them, have fun, and experiment a little. Be sure to show me you’re creative ideas as well…I’d love to add them to my list of techniques!

Enjoy your Monday!

Melissa