If you’ve got a stash of extra, unused buttons – making jewelry is a great way to put them to use in a unique way. Or, maybe you just need some interesting, conversation-starting jewelry in your life! Either way, buttons make for awesome jewelry pieces.
How to Make Jewelry from Buttons
In this tutorial, you’ll learn a little about the different types of buttons and how to choose the perfect buttons for making jewelry. Plus, I’m bringing you 2 different (super fun) tutorials for jewelry made from buttons!
Choosing Buttons to Make Jewelry
The best part about making your own button jewelry is that you can choose the buttons that come together to build each piece. This means that your handmade jewelry will fit your style perfectly and be just as unique as you are!
2 Basic Types of Buttons
While there are other types of buttons out there – think jeans buttons, snaps, and toggle buttons – the 2 primary button types are flat buttons and shank buttons.
Flat buttons are your basic, standard button with holes in the surface. This type of button can have 2, 3, or 4 holes that are used to pass the thread through when attaching the button to fabric. Flat buttons are also known as “sew-through” buttons. There is a wide range of colors, textures, and sizes of flat buttons available.
Shank buttons, on the other hand, don’t have any holes in the surface – instead, they have a small metal, glass, or plastic loop that is attached to the back of the button. This loop is what thread can be sewn through to attach the button to fabric. Because shank buttons don’t have any holes taking up space on the surface of the button, they often have fancier designs on them than your standard flat buttons. Shank buttons come in all sorts of colors and shapes; and are sometimes embellished with jewels and rhinestones.
Depending on the type of jewelry you plan to make, either shank or flat buttons – or a combination of the two – will work wonderfully.
Where to Find Unique Buttons for Jewelry
Taking the time to find the perfect buttons for your handmade jewelry will make a huge difference in how much you love and wear the finished product.
There are a lot of different places you can find fun and unique buttons for your jewelry.
Starting with thrift shops is a great way to find inexpensive button options. The other awesome thing about searching thrift shops is that you may come across interesting vintage buttons that can’t be found elsewhere. Jewelry made from thrifted buttons can be truly unique!
Depending on the thrift shops in your area, you may not be able to find all the buttons you need for your jewelry – especially if you’re looking for something specific. That’s where online sources come in! There are a variety of great places online to purchase buttons, from large sites like eBay to smaller shops with a unique selection. If you’re looking for beautiful, fancy buttons – we have some gorgeous button options here at zazaofcanada.
Let’s jump into a few simple and fun jewelry-making projects!
How to Make a Ring with Buttons
Making a unique and stylish ring with buttons is easy and fast. It’s such a quick project you don’t even need to wait until the weekend to try it out!
What You Need to Make a Button Ring
Here are the supplies you’ll need to make your button ring:
- 1 beautiful shank button
- 1 flat button that is larger than your shank button (optional)
- Hot glue and glue gun
- Blank ring base in your size
- Wire cutters
- Metal file
First, cut the shank off the back of your shank button with wire cutters. Then, file the rough edges from the cut shank down until it’s smooth to the touch.
Next, if you are using a large flat button as a base, use hot glue to glue the flat button to the center of the platform on the ring base.
Finally, glue the prepared shank button to the center of the glued flat button. The flat button will show a bit around the edges of the shank button, framing it nicely.
However, if you don’t want to use a flat button as a base, just go ahead and glue the shank button directly to the ring base.
How to Make a Button Necklace
A necklace is another fun jewelry-making project that works well with buttons. Plus, you have lots of room for creativity when making your own handmade button necklaces!
What You Need to Make a Button Necklace
Here’s what you’ll need to make a button necklace:
- Several complementary buttons (use as many as you like!)
- Beads to fill in between the buttons (optional)
- Necklace chain
- 20 gauge wire
- Pliers
- Wire cutters
Start by arranging your buttons and beads on your table in the order you want them placed on your necklace. Let your creativity go a bit here!
Next, cut short pieces of wire, about 2 inches long, for each button and bead that will go on your necklace.
Thread one end of each piece of wire through one of the buttons or beads, then wrap the end around the wire above the button to secure it. There should be about an inch of wire still extending above each button, while the other end of the wire is wound through the button, then wrapped around itself to secure the end.
Thread the loose end of each wire through the link on the necklace chain that you want that specific button to be attached to. Secure the wire end by wrapping it around the wire between the necklace and the button.
Repeat this process to secure all the buttons and beads to the necklace chain.
Looking for more tutorials for jewelry made from buttons? Check out the projects below!
- How to Make Boho Bracelets
- How to Make Jewelry with Buttons: 10 Fun and Easy Projects
- How to Make Jewelry Clasps with Buttons
Click here to see our fancy buttons collection.
Related: fancy buttons, fancy button, fancy buttons for dresses, fancy buttons for suits, jewelry made from vintage buttons, jewelry made from old buttons