Making Button Bracelets

Metal Button Bracelets

If you have a lot of gold or silver shank buttons in your button box, especially if you are fortunate to have inherited some vintage buttons, this is a really great gift for someone.

You will need at least 55 buttons, so you will have a few extras, as you might want to change out a couple as you go along or at the end of your project. Other supplies needed are 55 jump rings, a medium sized toggle clasp, and 7 or 8 inches of flat length medium sized chain to fit your wrist. Keep in mind that the toggle will make the bracelet about an inch larger in size also. I prefer split style jump rings, as they will slide onto the button shank and then onto the links of the chain and hold secure. I used a size 6mm or 8mm split ring. You will need 55 of those for your bracelet.

Start putting the jump rings onto your buttons first to get them ready to slide onto your bracelet and also put the same style or similar buttons into groups, so you can vary the buttons nicely as you go along. Start sliding your buttons on one side of a link and then the opposite side, and just keep adding until you get to the end of the chain. I leave one link at the ends to attach the toggle clasp on, using one of your extra split jump rings.

By CDC from FL

Craft: Christmas Button Bracelets

You will need an assortment of non-shank buttons for this craft project and you can use buttons with either 2 or 4 holes in them. Each bracelet takes approximately 7-8 buttons, depending on the size of the buttons, approximately 24 jump rings (not split rings) that are large enough to go through the holes in the buttons, a toggle clasp, and some good pliers.

First of all make 'links'. Put a jump ring through the first hole in the button (see picture), then add another jump ring to the other hole in the button, and keep doing this until finished, then link these all together with a jump ring in between.

Last of all, add your clasp. Make sure the bracelet is the correct size, as you may need to add an extra jump ring or two, at the very ends of the bracelet to make it larger, if needed.

Also, if you want to add buttons to a flat link chain, all you do is measure out your chain, add buttons with jump rings, then add your toggle, as per large picture of red/green button bracelet.

These button bracelets make great Christmas gifts for people you work with, or for family and friends. They are also nice for all occasions. Use red/green buttons for Christmas, blue/silver for Chanukah, pink for cancer awareness, your favorite sports team colors, etc. and this great little gift doesn't cost an arm and a leg to make!

By CDC from FL

Vintage Button Bracelet

Got a stash of old buttons? Use a handful of your favorites to make a great bracelet.

Approximate Time: 1 hour or less

Supplies:

• old buttons
• narrow elastic
• needle
• dental floss

Instructions:

1. This can't get much easier. Simply measure a length of narrow elastic around your wrist, adding about 1/4 inch extra for sewing the ends together.

2. After cutting the elastic to size, lay it out on your work surface and use it as a guide for the number of buttons you will need to cover the elastic completely.

3. Now you can arrange your buttons alongside the elastic until you get them the way you want them. Don't forget, you can stack them, too, for a more interesting combination of colors and shapes.

4. When you sew them on, be sure to overlap a bit in order to hide the elastic.

5. And before you do anything, check a price guide to find out if you might have some buttons of value. Old Bakelite buttons are collectible as are some others. Researching old buttons can be very interesting. But wearing them is fun, too.

By Gloria from Western, NY

Halloween Button Bracelet

The Halloween Button Bracelet is a very simple project that can be done by adults and children. This project can be a very personal and special project because you can use new buttons or older buttons that may have been your mother's, aunt's, or grandmother's.

Approximate Time: 10 - 15 minutes

Supplies:

• old, new, or used buttons
• .8 or .1 mm jewelry beading elastic
• Scotch tape or small clothespin
• scissors

Instructions:

Cut a piece of jewelry elastic 9 inches long. (7 inches is generally the standard size for an adult bracelet and this leaves 2 inches to tie the knot.) Then tape one end of the elastic to a desk or table and begin stringing your buttons onto the elastic starting with orange, then yellow, then white, and then black buttons. Repeat the process until your bracelet has been filled to 7 inches, leaving 2 inches to tie a knot.

Carefully remove elastic from taped surface or unclip the clothespin and take both ends of elastic and tie first overhand and then reverse the tie and pull elastic snug and then tie another reverse tie and pull snug and trim off excess elastic leaving a quarter inch tail on both tails. You can tie another knot if you would like to secure your button bracelet even further.

By Beth from Fairfield,PA

Craft Project: Button Bracelet

This is an easy gift you can make with all those leftover buttons you have lying around.

Supplies:

• buttons
• elastic (A piece just a little bigger that your wrist)
• thread
• needle

Instructions:

1. Choose the buttons that you want to use. You'll need approximately 20 buttons depending on the size of button, wrist and width of elastic. You can choose buttons that are the same color, colors that compliment one another, or random colors.

2. For a clasp closure, measure your wrist and cut a piece of elastic about 1 inch larger. If you plan to sew the two ends together, so that the bracelet slips over your wrist, then cut the elastic so it fits comfortably around you wrist leaving just a little extra to sew the two ends together.

3. Make a small hem on each end so the elastic does not fray.

4. For the clasp closure, use a larger button to start with, it can be used as a clasp to fasten the ends together. On the opposite end from your button, overlap and sew enough elastic so the button will fit inside of the loop. Try it on and make sure it still fits.

5. Sew buttons on to the elastic until it is completely covered, I used clear thread but you could also use thread that compliments the color of your buttons.

By Stella Rivét

By Stella Bui-Rivet