How to Use Old Buttons

Old buttons can be used as fashion accessories in a myriad of ways. Aside from those you might already have in your own button box, look for them, often sold by the jar-full at antique malls. You might also look at clothes in thrift shops—and buy items just for their attractive buttons.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Glue buttons to shoes. A plain pair of flats or pumps can be totally transformed by the addition of as few as a couple of buttons. For example, one jeweled or rhinestone button can turn plain black pumps into elegant evening wear. Also, for daytime summer wear, pick out a colorful assortment of flat buttons (the kind with two or four holes in the center) and glue these randomly spaced onto a pair of plain white flats. A glue gun works well for this process.

2. Replace buttons on a shirt or blouse. Start by removing the buttons from the shirt. For replacement buttons, pick out buttons which are the same size as the ones you’ve removed so that they’ll work with the buttonholes. You might replace black buttons with silver ones for a dressier look. Another idea would be to sew—in spectrum order—a red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple button onto a white shirt.

3. Decorate a purse or bag with buttons. For fabric bags, it’s possible to sew on buttons, using a heavy needle and thread. You’ll need to use a glue gun to attach buttons to leather or plastic bags. An assortment of different kinds and shapes of red buttons glued onto a red bag can give a dramatic look. Or you might customize a bag for one particular outfit; for a tan and brown outfit, glue brown buttons onto a tan bag.

4. Create earrings. From a craft store buy appropriate earring backs and posts for gluing or stringing on buttons to create one-of-a-kind earrings.

5. Customize a sweater. Sew a cluster of unusual buttons on one shoulder of a pullover sweater. Another treatment would be to outline the neckline of the sweater in matching buttons.