By Stacey Mullins

Using Buttons

Buttons have officially made their way out of Grandma’s sewing box and into the world of paper crafting. Coming in a seemingly infinite number of colors, sizes, styles, finishes and shapes, the right button for your project will be easy to come across at your local craft and sewing store–and don’t forget about all those spare buttons that come with your button-up shirts, sweaters and jackets!

What is it that makes buttons a hot new paper crafting must-have? Buttons are familiar objects that are easy to find, they add color and dimension to projects of virtually any theme, and you can use them as is or personalize them to fit the style of your project.

As basic as buttons are, there are many great ways you can experiment with them. Take a look at the “Best Buddies” page featured to the right. LeNae created a background for this masculine layout by layering a piece of striped paper along the bottom of the red textured paper to create a border. A series of blue buttons was added to cover up the seam between the two papers. LeNae added the buttons to this page in the simplest way possible: Mini Glue Dots™. Just apply one Mini Glue Dot™ to the back of your button, then press it onto your project. No needle and thread required!

If you prefer the look of a stitched button like the buttons you see on the “Rubber Ducky” page to the left, there are two ways you can go about this. First, you can position the button wherever you’d like it on your project, then use a needle and thread or embroidery floss to actually stitch the button onto your paper. Another option? Rather than stitching the buttons directly to the page, you can run a length of thread or embroidery floss through each of the holes on the button, then just tie the thread into a knot on the back of the button. The top of your button will appear stitched, but you can simply attach the button to your project by applying a Mini Glue Dot™ to the back of the button.

On the cheerful “Friends” layout to the right, you’ll see buttons featured in two different places using two different techniques. First, a button was added to the center of a large silk flower to accent the border on the background paper. The button was attached with a Mini Glue Dot™, but there’s something special going on on top of the button. Rather than running thread or embroidery floss through the button holes, a very thin strip of black paper was threaded through the holes to give the look of stitching. The second button on this layout is a little harder to find. Notice the tab at the top of the tag? The tab features a lime green button, accented with a heart-shaped brad! Susan simply pulled the prongs apart on the back of the brad, then slipped them through the two holes on the button for a totally unique, personalized accent.

Want to add buttons that coordinate perfectly with the papers used on your projects? Try clear buttons! Susan selected papers from Retro sarapapers™ to create the page you see at the left, then finished off the look with coordinating buttons. How did she do it? It’s easy! Just apply Vellum Glue Dots™ to the back of your clear buttons, then press them onto your choice of paper and trim the paper even with the edges of the button. After that, just stitch or Glue Dot™ the buttons to your projects. Lining the back of clear buttons with patterned paper is a great way to add personality and style to your projects. For further personalization, try sanding your buttons for a shabby chic, distressed look, or try stamping or inking the buttons with a StazOn ink pad.

And finally, want the look of buttons without having to wonder how to attach them to your project? Try button brads! Available in 10 colors, button brads make it super simple to add the color and dimension of buttons to your layouts with the ease of a brad. And button brads even come embossed with faux-stitching. (Tip: The embossed surface is great for sanding!) On LeNae’s “Cute as a Button” layout to the right, she used both Pastel Pink and Lily Pond button brads to accent the printed border on the background paper, then used one button brad to replace the letter “o” in the word “button”.

However you choose to use them, buttons are small embellishments that make a big impact on your paper crafts!

Love the look of buttons? Love the ease of brads? For more information on new button brads, don’t forget to check out this month’s Technique of the Month column!