Do you tend to keep buttons from new-bought clothes in a container packed away with the rest of your arts and crafts material? You’re not the only one… Others are doing the exact same thing, globally, because you never know when you might need it, right?!

Buttons come in different shapes, colours, and styles, from pearly white shirt buttons to cute fastenings shaped like insects and animals. One can update any outfit with the use of buttons, and we all know (well we hope you know 😉) that sewing on a button is one of the easiest needlework there is on the planet.

Apart from amending clothing styles, buttons are also very popular to decorate almost anything. Everyone seems to love them, we mean, can you imagine a world without buttons? Of course, there are other fastening ways such as zippers and Velcro, but can you imagine fastening your jeans with Velcro? Uhm… not quite.

Why Button Day?

We celebrate everyone collecting and crafting with buttons on Button Day on Monday, 16 November 2020. In 1938, the National Button Society of the United States recognised button collecting as an organised hobby. Buttons have been with us for generations – can you remember your grandmother or mother having jars or tins full of different shirts, skirts, and other buttons? They were often used to replace brittle buttons on cloth items or used by kids in games, or it was strung for ornaments and crafts.

Crafters across the globe utilise buttons in creative ways, and we’re acknowledging some of them to encourage you to observe this day with us.

DIY Button Crafts

1. Button Bowls: Perfect to store little things like jewellery or keys, these cute and whimsical button bowls are made using a balloon to mould the shape of the bowl, which is then popped and discarded when everything is set and dry.

• Button Bookmarks: This is not a complicated craft at all. A simple button bookmark made from paperclips and buttons is something that will be put to good use. The perfect accessory for scholars or teachers or, well, basically anyone that loves the idea of a diary or books in general.

• Wall Art: Using any image or monogram that’s not too detailed, you can easily pretty up any wall with button art in your home or office by gluing a few buttons together on a canvas. Yes, no sewing involved… We know it’s cheating, but it’s crafting!

• Button Christmas Tree: With a range of sizes, you can make charming Christmas tree ornaments. Don’t worry if you don’t have enough greens – we have paint for that, or you could embrace the non-traditional colours.

• Button Shoes: Vamp up an old pair of shoes by adding buttons to it. We suggest sewing the buttons to the chosen pair of shoes, as the buttons might pop off when using a glue gun, but it’s your choice.

• Button Fridge Magnets: Fridge magnets are a nice and easy craft, really! It’s a case of gluing buttons onto magnets, and you’re good to go. It adds a fun and playful element of whimsy to your kitchen or entertainment area.

• Button Gift Bags: Add some buttons to a plain gift bag or paper, or even cards. This is a great craft for the festive season. You can choose your patterns, but there are choices of trees, snowflakes, or you could follow your own creative instinct and decide on illustrating Santa, a gift, or elves.

Have fun creating with buttons this month, PNA innovators and creators! Just a friendly reminder to keep an eye on our social media for more craft inspiration to follow, and craft supplies available at the PNA store near you.