Technique Thursday - Button, Button, Who's Got Buttons?

Buttons seem to be such an easy embellishment on cards and layouts. You don't need to know how to sew, just adhere one with a glue dot and you're done! However, buttons can be the focus on your card instead of an embellishment. Here are a few ideas that will make you pop your buttons (in a good way):

Button Birds: Use a large round button for a bird's entire body. The two button holes make great eyes, or you can attach google eyes to the felt buttons shown here. You can draw long or short legs down from the button body, and even draw a little beak so it can sing its own song.

Button Eyes: Tiny buttons make great eyes on your images, giving them dimension and color.

Altered Paper Clips:

Some of the most gorgeous paper clipos I've seen on cards and even layouts have been handmade using a large plain paperclip, a button and some creativity. Just as classy as a decorated stickpin, paperclips are so versatile and fun to use.

Bugs:

Adhering buttons together on cardstock can create cute as a button bugs, like a caterpillar, an ant, a ladybug and a spider (technically not a bug, but...).




Clasps:

If you're into altered art, buttons can be used to hold your projects closed, as in purse cards, altered notebooks, etc.







Wheels: Buttons make great wheels on car, truck and bicycle images.

Snowman:

I have a big can of white buttons my grandmother gave to me when her eyes gave out and she had to give up sewing. Not only can I color them with Copics or paint, I can make my own little army of snowmen to defend my fort when winter snows us in.




No matter how you play with them, there are no ifs ands or buts, just BUTTYONS. They are more versatile than you think! Next time you need a killer card for a blog challenge, think BUTTONS!