When I first started making cards I used buttons as embellishments a lot. Buttons are easy to get and some of them are so cute! But, over time, I got out of the habit of using them. So today, I’ll be showing you a few ways to use buttons on your card projects.
My first example is this cute snowman card. I found that when I am using buttons as a focal point, I need to cut down the panel that they are on. Otherwise, the buttons are minimized. For this snowman, I used 4 buttons total – 2 white ones for his body (one stacked on top of another), one for his head and one for his hat. I used black card stock beneath the body and head so it would look like buttons and eyes. I glued the body down flat, but popped up the head and hat. I made a brim for the hat, a carrot nose and a scarf out of scraps and then added some Paper Glaze in Snowdrop White from Picket Fence to look like snow. The embossing folder is Sparkling Snow from Simon Hurley. The little sentiment is a laser cut wooden piece that is glittered from Button Galore & More.
This second example is using some little flower buttons that were in my button jar. Once again because they are the focal point, I made them into a small bouquet and placed them on a die cut circle and backed it with a coordinating die for a cute edge. My layered papers came from the Cozy Patterned Collection from Scrapbook.com and the glittery centers of the flowers were from Pink Fresh Studio. I used a die from my stash for the sentiment. This definitely has an autumn feel!
For my next example I used a stamp as the base. The stamp set is Words in Bloom from Unity Stamp Company. I stamped my base first and only inked up the stem from the stamp. I made the flower from some wooden heart buttons that I purchased from Amazon. Again I layered my papers so the focal panel was smaller.
This last example is definitely my favorite. I’ve used papers from Stamperia called Patchwork. These are such beautiful papers and have a definite folk vibe. I used a button on this card purely as an embellishment, the same way I would used an enamel dot. The color and finish went well with the papers and the button really seems to fit in. I did add a bit of twine through the holes on this one.
Buttons are very common and can be bought in a variety of stores. I find cute buttons on Amazon and at Scrapbook.com. Both have a very wide variety.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this technique and it’s inspired you to dig out your buttons!
Betsy Birge is from Liberty, US. She has been writing for TPC since 2023. Betsy started paper crafting in 2006 and she mostly makes cards. Her style is a bit of everything and she loves watercoloring both her cards and fine art showing in local galleries.