30 Fun and Free Button Craft Projects You can do with the kids!
Who remembers playing with tins or sewing boxes full of bright, colorful buttons in their grandmother’s sewing room? More than just plastic discs that hold clothing together, buttons come in many colors and textures, especially vintage ones. A sewing box full of buttons can feel like a treasure chest. Getting them out of the box and creating something with the kids that can be displayed or useful is even more priceless!
That’s why I have gathered a list of elevated button crafts that almost anyone can do, even the kids! These tutorials are easy to follow and include instructions for everything from greeting cards to home décor to jewelry and more. So grab your button collection and get started on a new button craft now. Make sure to tag me and show you what you’ve created on Instagram at @SewCanShe.
Folded Paper Sunflowers
Brighten someone’s day with a beautiful sunflower! Learn how to make these stunning flowers with just paper and buttons!
Button Crochet Key Chain
This fast button craft crochet pattern is a video tutorial. It goes so quickly I can see making lots of these! You could make them as ornaments or embellishments for any occasion.
Button Thumbtacks
How cute are these DIY button thumbtacks? Add them to a dollar store corkboard, and you have a darling home bulletin board or cute gift!
Mixed-Media Card Making
Buttons can be a great addition to your paper crafting supplies. It can be the perfect shape for a balloon on a birthday card or even the wheels of a car for your new driver’s memory book. Don’t be afraid to think outside the paper box!
DIY Button Tree Wall Art
Celebrate your family tree with a beautiful wall hanging featuring buttons! I love this free button craft tutorial from Crafts by Amanda.
Wrapped Wreath from Yarn and Buttons
I absolutely love this easy wreath you can make with buttons and yarn. It’s a great button craft activity to do with kids or adults!
Crochet Holiday Garland with Button Berries
Use red buttons to decorate a holiday garland. This tutorial from Sum of their Stories shows how to make this crochet garland, but I think the idea can be used in garlands made of so many other materials too!
Button Heart Pillow Wrap
Here’s a sweet tutorial showing how to sew a beautiful pillow wrap with a button craft heart design! Old buttons and a velvet heart applique give it a vintage look that’s perfect for changing up the look of any pillow.
Three Strand Wire Necklace
Have you tried your hand at crochet with wire? I’m sure you could make the same design with yarn or string; I’m not sure how comfortable wire would be. Check out the video on GoodKnitKisses.
Button Stud Earrings
Stud earrings may be the perfect way to show off your favorite buttons or some buttons that hold a special memory. Learn how to make DIY button earrings.
Ribbon Bookmark
Use this free DIY tutorial for big impact with just a few supplies. The instructions are clear, and the possibilities are endless!
Button Fidget Toy
Make a toy for small children’s quiet play time! This clever DIY toy idea is easy to make and great for working on fine motor skills and colors! Find the free felt and button craft tutorial at Apple Green Cottage.
Kids’ Button Bracelets or Necklaces
Buttons are a cute way to add color to any outfit. Grab some string and start adding as many buttons as you want! Here’s a tutorial for a kids’ button necklace.
Gorgeous Fabric Covered Button Necklace
Customize your own covered buttons with your favorite fabrics to make a beautiful button necklace. This is a great summer DIY button craft project for kids and teens.
Button Flower Pendant
There’s even more jewelry you can make with cute buttons. Learn how to make a button necklace pendant!
Bejewelled Vase and Plant Pot
Embellish a vase or pot with buttons, gems, beads, sequins, and embellishments you’ve saved from old Birthday cards. These items are all perfect for this project.
Kids’ Christmas Crafts
Paper, glue, and buttons make fun Christmas crafts for kids. Buttons can be stacked on floral wire to create a fun shape like a tree, wreath, or snowflake! Don’t be afraid to create whatever comes to mind.
DIY Button Ornament
Grab your button jar and some plastic ornaments! This is a fun craft to do with kids before the holidays. There’s a free DIY tutorial if you need ideas.
Kid-Friendly Holiday Button Wreath
This sweet DIY button craft wreath is glued to a blank art canvas so it is truly a work of art that can be displayed year after year. It’s a cute kids (or grownups’) craft for every season.
Simple Crochet Button Necklace
There is a link for a free DIY video tutorial for this button craft fringe on TwistedYarns.com. If you want to download the pattern it’s only a few dollars, and what a great way to use all the buttons you can find!
Button Embellished Note Cards
Learn how to make darling button embellishments to decorate handmade paper cards. Sum of Their Stories has a free tutorial for the button embellishment and the card.
Nesting Baskets With Button-Down Flaps
If you can sew a little bit, that’s enough to make these darling nesting baskets with fabric and felt. There is no need to trim or hem; sew the two pieces together, fold the corners, and you’ll have a cute felt basket to hold everything from glue sticks to crayons or bobby pins to lip gloss!
Easy DIY Button Bracelet
These easy button craft bracelets are so easy to make. Use them for a party activity, make lots for a class gift, add them to your craft fair booth to draw people in. The free tutorial is easy to follow and you don’t need any special tools.
Button Bouquet Craft
You won’t believe how easy it is to make a sweet little DIY button craft bouquet with an empty thread spool. Hang it as an ornament, or have your class make it as a Mother’s Day gift.
Toddler Counting Game
Your little one can have so much fun counting and sorting buttons. With the different types and colors, sorting time is endless!
Fridge Magnets
A cute button with a magnet glued to the back makes a sweet gift to hold kids’ drawings on the fridge. This easy DIY tutorial shows how to make magnets with covered buttons, but any big button will work great!
Button Cluster Key Ring
These button cluster key rings are easy to make and so cute. They would also be lovely on a long pendant or as custom DIY bag charms.
Hair Accessories
Need to dress up for a special event? Bows, headbands, and hair clips can be jazzed up by sparkly buttons in no time!
Monogrammed Button Bunting
Use your buttons to make a monogram bunting! This would be cute for a birthday party, anniversary, or just an ‘I love you’ banner.
Cute Bobby Pins or Barrettes with Buttons
If you’re into embellished hair accessories, these cute DIY bobby pins are something you should definitely make! Learn how at Easy Peasy Creative Ideas.
Letter Embellishments
Brown paper packages tied up with strings AND buttons! A DIY button closure is such a sweet way to embellish a custom-wrapped gift or love letter.
Shirt Cuff Button Pouches
Look at the cute button pouches you can make from shirt cuffs! This is a great tutorial for teaching kids to sew. They’ll have an adorable pouch when they’re done, and no one has to sew the buttonhole!
Button Clutch Bag
Cover an old clutch bag with buttons for a whole new look. You might find the bag and the buttons at your local thrift store!
Doodle Flower Greeting Cards
This DIY button doodle card tutorial is so clear and easy that you can make these adorable cards even if you’ve never tried doodling before.
Button Earrings
Combine some basic jewelry-making supplies with cute buttons, and you have a new way to show everyone how much you love crafting! Just wear your new button earrings.
Wire and Chain Necklace
This button craft necklace is so cute! Imagine using flower buttons or mixing up colors. You could use this as a bag accessory instead of a necklace too; check out the video tutorial at The Corner Of Craft.
More from SewCanShe:
35+ Free Bag Patterns to Sew With Your Stash of Beautiful Quilting Cotton Fabric
Celebrate America 250: 10+ FREE Patriotic Quilt Patterns to Stitch for the Milestone!
15+ Thrift Store Fabric Hacks: How to Find The Best Materials for Pennies!
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂