DIY Wedding

How to Turn Blah Buttons into Bodacious Buttons

Diane Gilleland, contributor

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These buttons were customized with Sharpie paint markers—one of four methods for painting buttons we'll explore in this post.

Diane Gilleland

Here's a set embellished with ordinary hobby-store model paints.

Diane Gilleland

This group of buttons gets luminous color from nail polish.

Diane Gilleland

These buttons were customized with Sharpie paint markers—one of four methods for painting buttons we'll explore in this post.

Photo: Diane Gilleland

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I love buying old tins and jars of buttons at thrift stores or on eBay. They always contain a few treasures—but they also usually contain a lot of rather uninteresting white plastic buttons. As much as I love buttons, these plain ones don't seem to lend themselves as well to crafting as their prettier counterparts. So I've been experimenting with ways to brighten them up with paint.

What you'll need:

• Plastic buttons
• Paint (see types below)
• Thinner (as needed—see below)
• Paper towels or cleaning rags
• Small paintbrush
• Round toothpicks

A couple of notes before we begin: Plastic buttons can be made from lots of different plastics, and if you get them in thrift stores, you'll probably have no way of knowing what kind of plastic you're working with. The paints I'll recommend here may perform differently on different kinds of plastics, so I recommend keeping an experimental mindset. If you like, you can make a little test spot on the back of the button first and see how it performs and how it dries.

All of the paint options I'll cover here will release fumes. Please be sure to use them in a well-ventilated room.

I subjected all four paints to a washer and dryer test: I sewed a few of each kind of painted button to some muslin, and then ran this through a cold-water wash and tumble dry along with a regular load of laundry. You'll see the results below. Overall, I would recommend that if you use painted buttons for a wearable project, it's probably best to wash it by hand or on the gentle cycle of your machine, and hang to dry.

Ordinary toothpicks help hold the buttons in place while you paint them.

A Great Tool for Painting Buttons
Keep a handful of round toothpicks near you when you paint buttons. They allow you to move the button around easily without touching fresh paint. I usually hold two toothpicks at a time, placing them through two of the holes in the button to hold it steady.

Poke the toothpicks through the holes in the buttons, and they form a convenient handle.

If you want to paint the edges of a button, just put the toothpicks through the holes, and use them as a handle. Works like a charm!

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Comments (20)

BluKatDesign writes: Fun idea! This could add a whole new dimension to my button earrings :)
Posted: 10:18 pm on April 26th

mrsg3 writes: Thanks for all of the ispirational ideas! I'm off to play : )
Marie
Posted: 2:23 pm on May 2nd

KimberlyJDC writes: I've been using nail polish for about a week now until I found this tutorial... I'll be buying Sharpie paint markers tomorrow! I've been using a piece of styrofoam to stick my "buttons on toothpicks" in to let them dry too. Thanks for a wonderful tutorial!
Posted: 10:53 am on March 31st

BeckyN writes: I knew there was a reason why I've hung onto all these old white buttons for so long - that some day I could justify this habit!

Thanks! Off to get Sharpies!
Posted: 8:42 am on March 28th

beaderonboard writes: What a great idea!!!
I have lots of white buttons, as soon as I get some Sharpie Paint markers I will paint them all.
Yeah, no more boring white buttons,
Now I'm thinking I will buy nothing but white buttons from now on, they are cheaper, and I can customize them.
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful idea.
Posted: 3:12 pm on March 22nd

pinkroses writes: You can make earrings too.
I have made some
you need a jewerly plier and you pop off the back and put on a post of finds and there you have it pinkroses
Posted: 1:29 pm on March 22nd

paperrain writes: This is great stuff. I especially like the use of different paints, and polishes, in case you can't find the right color. And I think of all the plain buttons I've given away because I thought they were blah!

never again!
Posted: 4:52 pm on March 21st

samsstuff writes: Too cute & so simple, what a great idea! Thanks for trying out the different methods for us! Thanks for the article.
Posted: 4:23 pm on March 21st

Inba_Weisman writes: Great tutorial!
Posted: 3:49 pm on March 21st

DonnaLee50 writes: I have used the sharpies for designs with great results. One of my favorites ways to use white buttons is to dye them with fabric dye. Just add boiling water to a jar with a teaspoon of your choice of powdered dye and let sit until cool. Some plastic buttons will take the dye well and become vibrant and others do not work at all.
Posted: 3:29 pm on March 21st

PamHarris writes: I would never, ever have thought to paint buttons! I love the way they look and that you can make them truly your very own. -No two alike!
Posted: 1:12 pm on March 21st

kathidahl writes: I cannot wait to try this. I have some granddaughter projects coming up - these clever buttons will really make them pop!
Posted: 12:48 pm on March 21st

TisMsMarlo writes: This is a great way to add a personalized touch to a project and it's thrifty too. Another inspiring project thanks Craftstylish!
Posted: 11:57 am on March 21st

Average_Jane_Crafter writes: Such an awesome tutorial! First off, the toothpick idea is beyond brilliant - I love it! And I love the idea of customizing plain buttons. Fantastic!
Posted: 11:21 am on March 21st

sweetserenity writes: A perfect tutorial.
Posted: 11:05 am on March 21st

walkinthewoodsllc writes: This is such a fun-fun-fun idea! And, as a rabid waste-not upcycling champion, I adore the nail polish idea! While I don't wear it, I know several who do and who likely have bottles that they (shame on them) regularly discard! :)
Posted: 7:54 am on March 21st

sandysheep writes: What an excellent article!! So great that you showed the laundry results as well as all of the different materials!!
Great pix too. Can't wait to try it!
Posted: 7:48 am on March 21st

Glorijane writes: I wish I thought of that, you just added a whole new level to my Button Bracelets that I make.
Posted: 5:21 pm on March 20th

JenniferStern writes: I love it...what an easy way to get buttons that match the fabric!!
Posted: 2:34 pm on March 20th

eyesaflame writes: Great job giving us not only the toothpick holder tips, but also showing how they hold up after washing! That's invaluable . . .
Posted: 1:05 pm on March 20th

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