header

header

4.26.2011

Tutorial Tuesday - Button Bracelets



My girlfriend came over to refill my estrogen reserves last week, and brought with her a fantastic craft for us to do together while chatting, laughing, gossiping and catching up after her long vacation. One third of the way through summer vacation with three boys, she knew just what I needed. She brought over a bunch of stuff for us to sit down and make our own button bracelets. So fun! The greatest part was that each of our bracelets turned out differently!

Do you want to join us? Let's make some funky Button Bracelets!

Materials:

Buttons in various sizes (test to be sure your cord will fit into the holes)
Round leather or coated cotton cord (1 mm in diameter)


Instructions:

Arrange your buttons ahead of time to lay out your pattern



Begin with a length of cord about 18 inches long (you will adjust this to fit at the end, but cutting it too short will result in frustration and some swearing...trust me, I know). The more knots you intend to make the longer the cord.

Fold your cord in half and tie a knot in the looped end, like this:



Now, begin threading the cord through your button holes.

Criss-cross your cord for the 4 hole buttons like this:


The same is possible for the two holed buttons. Bring a cord up through each hole then back down the next hole like this:



You might also want to thread your button onto one piece of cord then knot, like this:


To finish off your bracelet, just pull the cord through the last button and tie in a square knot. See?



You can pull the last button through the loop at the other end to attach to your wrist.

Now, go crazy! Try to be random and mix it up, stack some, knot some, criss-cross some, there is no right or wrong way to do this! Get creative, girl!

You might end up with something like this:



Or simple shell and wood buttons look like this:



Or you could go nuts and work in some beads like this:



Now, gather some buttons, call up some girl friends, set the kids into the back yard to play, and have some fun!





PS (JoAnn's has some bags of fantastic HUGE buttons with HUGE holes for the little ones to get in on the act. It will be a HUGE relief to use these buttons for them.  A bloggy friend suggested dipping lengths of yarn in clear nail polish and twisting. Once dry, they will thread easily for the kiddos.)

89 comments:

  1. thanks for the great idea! I love your blog and will follow. have a great day!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Soooooooooooo cute! I must make one soon! Thanks for sharing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a very cute project! I just love buttons! I will certainly be making one at some point.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh I love this variation, very cool, Im gonna try it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. what a brilliant project! thank you ... and thank you to your most excellent girl friend!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That sounds like a lot of fun, making bracelets while hanging out with your friend.

    From a SITSta

    ReplyDelete
  7. I posted about your tutorial on my blog giving you complete credit and a link back to your blog. This is a terrific idea and I look forward to making my own Button Bracelet. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great idea! I have a jar of buttons from my grandmother and this would be so cool...could make them for the other women in my fam for stocking stuffers. awesome idea! will be following! found you via SITS

    ReplyDelete
  9. That's a really cool idea. My mom's b-day is this weekend and that would be a fun thing to do!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great project! I have several tins of buttons to choose from, so I know I am going to make lots of these. The bracelets look very classy. Thanks for the great tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Miss!!!! I forgot about this little project!!! Thanks for the reminder......gotta make me one!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. These are SO cute! Awesome idea!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very cute. I sent the post link to several of my friends who I thought might be interested. Happy to help spread the word.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I made this as soon as I saw it and it turned out pretty well! Thanks for the great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  15. My 12 year old daughter loves to make jewelry and she just said "You've GOT to print that out", she loves it! Thank you for tutorial, we appreciate your generosity!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Did you use stretchy cord? These are great!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Am working on stocking stuffers for all the women in my life. I lvoe how I can give something similar to them all yet personalize it so it means something. Thanks for the great idea!!

    Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  18. Found this through Pinterest. Great tutorial! Re-pinned it!:)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great tutorial, I love your button bracelets and saw the shell one on Pinterest,

    ReplyDelete
  20. Found this on Pinterest...LOVE Pinterest and LOVE this project!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I think I will try this and then have my students make them for Mother's Day gifts! :D

    ReplyDelete
  22. Found you on Pinterest...and loved this bracelet with the shell and wood buttons...decided i have to make some button bracelets!! So I asked my friends if any of them had extra buttons they wanted to get rid of and wow now i have a HUGE jar of buttons and a HUGE bag of buttons and can't wait to get started....plan on getting the cord today!! Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great idea...I am also going to try making it longer for a belt!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A belt would be awesome! I'm going to look for giant buttons and do the same! Thanks for the great idea!

      Delete
  24. I am working on a very cool denim purse made from an old skirt and it has lifesaver patches and now to match the quirkiness I will do a triple strand button strap! I can connect them about every 4th button and it will be easily adjustable. Thanks for the awesome idea! I know its a step further but it will be ingenious for the purse to be....very cute idea!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am making a denim purse from an old skirt with a lifesaver patch sewn on the waist. I will use you idea one step further for a shoulder strap. I will use lifesaver colors and bead combos but triple strand it. Instead or single strings I will macrame knots and beads on top of the bottoms and maybe some other little stones. It will be easily adjustable and tied together every 4th or 5 the button. Thanks for the great base idea as I was stuck and this will save the day. I lik to make things out of peoples old sentimental reuseable ya know stuff they can't part with. I havmade quilts out or tshirts, guitar hanging deck art, crystal hangings for windows etc. Thank you thank you'll

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you so much for this great tutorial You are amazing to share this. I love it!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. We made these as a make and take at a camp scrap event at my church - so cute and easy!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Just made a wooden button version! Love the instructions, very easy to follow.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love this idea which I saw on Pinterest. My mother passed away several years ago and believe it or not I still have some of the buttons she sewed with as well as some of her blouses. Couldn't bear parting with them but didn't know what I could do to preserve some of my memories of her. Think this is it !! Can take some of her buttons from blouses and her sewing projects and make braclets using them. Thanks for the idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I view it a good way to preserve something of passed relatives, and buttons is a very practical way. Hope you can feel better with the buttons of mom with you.

      Delete
  30. Now I know what to do with all those buttons that have accumulated in the bathroom drawer! I am not crafty at all but I think even I can do this.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I saw your photo in pinterest and it interests me. Now, I have something to do with my unused buttons. Thank you.

    Diybeadingclub.com
    Diylessons.org
    Handmade-Jewelry-Club.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Obrigado por compartilhar! Uma excelente idéia. Abraço

    ReplyDelete
  33. thanks for the great idea! my 6 yr old and I just made some bracelets using hemp...really easy for her to thread and knot :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Im fixing to try it out... im super pumped!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. that is soo cool!!! great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  36. brava!!!!!!!e complimenti per l'eccellente spiegazione .....se fossero tutte come te!!!!!!!!!!grazie

    ReplyDelete
  37. A MILLION thank you's for sharing this AWESOME idea!! It was a HUGE hit for my daughter's 8th birthday party today. 2 days prior, I was feeling overwhelmed with the glitter craft I had planned... envisioning glitter EVERYWHERE & frantically looking for a frugal replacement & THAT's when I found you!!! I had NEVER thought of this!!! The kids had a great time... as did I!! Thank YOU, again!!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Rad, n so simple! Who woulda thought? Thanks!¡

    ReplyDelete
  39. Made these years and years ago. Then made them with a bunch of 3rd graders. They loved them and did a great job making them. So much fun. I still have mine.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Uht Oh, found a use for my Grandmother's box of button's...this is crack!

    ReplyDelete
  41. How do we judge what size cord to get? How does one measure a button hole?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are probably going to have to take the button over to the cord area or vice versa to try out what would fit if you can't reliably eye ball it.

      Delete
  42. Today, I ωent tо the beach with my childrеn.
    I found a sea ѕhell and gave it to my 4 year οld
    daughter and sаid "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placeԁ thе shell to hеr eаr and ѕcreameԁ.

    Therе waѕ a hermit сгab іnside аnd it pinchеd hеr ear.

    Ѕhе never wаnts to go back! LoL I knοw thiѕ іs entirely off topiс but
    I had to tell someone!

    My site: camping toilet
    Take a look at my web site : buy toilet seats

    ReplyDelete
  43. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  44. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  45. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  46. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  47. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  48. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  49. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  50. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  51. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  52. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  53. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  54. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  55. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  56. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  57. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  58. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  59. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  60. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  61. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  62. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  63. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  64. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  65. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  66. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  67. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  68. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  69. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  70. 🐝I glued tea cup n saucer n then on pole n like to hang trinkets from handle will use fishing line ~ luv buttons thanx for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  71. Found this on Pinterest. Love it! Thanks for sharing. peace

    ReplyDelete
  72. I made myself a button bracelet using old buttons and fine leather thonging. Loved the result, as did my friends. I've just made several for gifts. Thanks for the terrific, simple and unique idea.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Thanks for the great idea! I love anything to do with buttons! And this is a ve3ry unique way to use them!

    Thanks Again!
    P.S, I love your blog!

    angela

    ReplyDelete
  74. So this is a long story but I am going to take the time to type this all out because I believe. I've been talking to my son Ryder a lot lately asking him to contact me, in any way possible. Since he's passed almost 2 years ago I haven't felt like he was with me in spirit ether. Last night as I'm scrolling through pintrest in the "Hair and beauty" category I asked my son Ryder to show me a picture of a Button to let me know he was with me and could hear my prayers. I scroll down about four pictures and I shit you not, this picture of this bracelet with all these different buttons pops up. I know this wasn't a coincidence and I'm happy to know my baby boy still loves me and has forgiven me for not saving him. I love you so much Ryder, and last night you seriously changed my life in so many way! I feel so amazingly blessed!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Hi Ladies, while you're making your bracelets, make a toy for the kids. Take a big piece of cord or heavy string, 24 inches, maybe, and put the biggest button on it you can find, in and out of 2 opposite holes. Tie a knot in the cord. Now move the button to the center, put your index fingers thru each looped end, and pinch it, and start swinging it in a circle. You are winding the string. After about 6 or 7 twirls, gently and rhythmically pull out each end of the string, relax and then pull again. It should seem like elastic, and BUZZ as the button spins first one way, then the other. This is a Button Buzzer, an old favorite with kids when Grandma was a little girl. BTW, don't get this in your hair.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Just made mine!! So easy to do and pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  77. Way cute!!! I can hardly wait to do this with my girlfriend. We're in our sixties and love jewelry and buttons. Thank you for sharing this with us!

    ReplyDelete
  78. -Just did this with my residents in a Community Living facility and they all enjoyed it. It was a great way to reminisce about the button boxes in our past . . . mothers, grandmothers and our own collections. I even encouraged them to think outside the (button) box when organizing their bracelets. Thanks for an easy to follow tutorial and an great snowy day project.

    ReplyDelete
  79. This is my first visit to your blog, your post made, thank productive reading you. You can check Buy Fashion Jewellery Online here.

    ReplyDelete

Tell me what you think!

How to Avoid Stress At Work