Paper Buttons

by Lynn Pratt

Turn regular cardstock into paper buttons.

Supplies

Cardstock
Sanding block
Glue pen
Crystal Effects™, or other clear drying glaze
Crop-A-Dile™
3/4" Circle punch
1" Circle punch
Heart punch or other shape punch

Step-by-Step

Step 1

Punch five of the same shapes out of cardstock.
Step 2

Using a glue pen, stack them one on top of the other, making sure to line up the edges as close as possible.
Step 3

With a sanding block, smooth out the edges.
Step 4

Using a pencil, mark where you want the holes, then punch them using a Crop-a-dile™ or a hole piercing tool the size you want the holes to be.
Step 5

Cover the top and sides with Crystal Effects™ and put it on wax paper to dry. It should take about 30 minutes.
Step 6

If you are making circle buttons, make the stack of cardstock out of 1" circles. Then punch out a 3/4" circle and then the 1" circle around this.
This will give you an outer ring. You will need two of these.
Step 7

Stick these on top of the stack to create your button shape.
Step 8

You have perfect buttons to match any color you are using!

Tip:
Experiment with different punches and hole sizes. Add patterned paper to the top of the card stock stack to get different varieties!
Step 8

Punch holes with a Crop-a-dile™ and then use the Crystal Effects™ as shown with the heart button.
Step 9

Use buttons on your project.

Video!

Your Turn

You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Paper Buttons. Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!

***Please note - Internet Explorer/Edge is not a supported browser, and will not allow you to see the videos. Please use Chrome, Firefox or Safari to view our tutorial videos.

Questions and Comments

We'd love to get your feedback or questions. Leave your comment below.

I use circle / heart dies with a Cuttlebug, sticking the layers together first. Then the edges are all in line & the layers are well pressed together.

Jenny | Wed May 11, 2011 at 9:25 AM

I bought Accucut's button dies...I put laminating sheets or glossy packaging tape over my cardstock, cut it into 1" squares which I place over the die and cut it out. It works great, is quick and easy. I love it for matching my cards, I have a couple of cards made with it posted in my gallery.

Kay Oxford | Wed May 11, 2011 at 9:57 AM

I just recently had a card that I couldn't finish because I didn't have the right color or size button. It sat on my table for over a month until I finally did something different. If only your tutorial showed up a few months ago!!!! LOL. Love the idea and don't know why I never thought of it. Thank you.

Kathleen | Wed May 11, 2011 at 10:06 AM

Thanks for one of the most creative tricks I've seen in a long time!!! And thanks for a simple, easy to understand tutorial!!!

Willow | Wed May 11, 2011 at 10:13 AM

This is amazing, absolutly amazing. Someone out there is very smart. Thanks for info

Mrs Carol Dekinder | Wed May 11, 2011 at 10:14 AM

Can you tell me where you got the stamp that says bloom?

Nan B | Wed May 11, 2011 at 10:40 AM

Hermoso, extraordinariamente delicado y fino, soy ecuatoriana y les agradezco tanto estos tutoriales, quiero los productos pero me parece que debere hacer un viaje express, puesto que aca no hay nada de esto.
Gracias

nancy de larrea | Wed May 11, 2011 at 10:44 AM

Love this buttons. I went to so much trouble as to try to make Fimo buttons and these look just like those. Spent too much money after trying to make them to buy these type of buttons, needless to say, now trying to match them up with the paper. I think these could me made by my Cricut...oh boy, I'm getting myself into something else now. I do have a question, How did you make the lace in on your card? Thanks so much.

Sheila | Wed May 11, 2011 at 11:01 AM

Hi Sheila!

The lace is a Die-namics die from My Favorite Things called Dizzy Border https://www.mftstamps.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1148

I also used one of their smaller doily dies behind the flower from the Decorative Doily Duo https://www.mftstamps.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=58&products_id=1209

Hope that is what you were looking for!

lydia | Wed May 11, 2011 at 11:05 AM

Genius!!!!!! I would use buttons more, but get tired of not having just the right color. I may NEVER buy buttons again now that I know how to make them. Thanks so much!!!!!!

jlr05m | Wed May 11, 2011 at 11:29 AM

Hi Nan - the stamp that says Bloom is also from MFT - it's an Inspired By set called Flowers

Lydia | Wed May 11, 2011 at 11:33 AM

This is a great idea! So many possibilities with color and shapes!

Marilyn | Wed May 11, 2011 at 12:08 PM

Brilliant!! This is a great tutorial!! TFS!

Anne Harada | Wed May 11, 2011 at 12:08 PM

Love this! the ring around the circle is brilliant!! great video! i am a tweezers person too...my favorite tool...i use the cutterpede or whatever they're called-black and yellow.
thanks!

Donna C | Wed May 11, 2011 at 12:42 PM

I love this! But I would love to know about the lace on the card as well (it's on top of the polka-dotted blue)...is it real lace or a punch? Where can I get some, if it's lace? Or who makes the punch? Thanks!

Donna Middlestadt | Wed May 11, 2011 at 1:41 PM

Hi Donna - I have all my supplies listed on the card in the gallery - if you just click for the gallery above you can see the whole list - that is actually an MFT die called Dizzy Border.

lydia | Wed May 11, 2011 at 1:57 PM

What a clever idea. Now I don't have to hunt down the right color button, just use the paper.
You are GOOD!

Kathy Siegersma | Wed May 11, 2011 at 2:03 PM

Could you tell me the punches you used along with the beautiful idea of making buttons?? the border punch and the one around the button, please. thanks...and thanks for sharing your technique. Barbara

barbara ferrans | Wed May 11, 2011 at 2:19 PM

Hi Barbara!

The only punches I used were for the buttons - a 1" circle punch and a 3/4" circle punch.

The daisy, the lace border and the doily are all three dies from My Favorite Things

I have links in comments above and the full supply list is on my card in the gallery.

HTH!

lydia | Wed May 11, 2011 at 2:33 PM

I really like the way you've done the circle one. I loved it when we learned this in a TLC and I've often returned to it since, but I'll definitely be trying out using the outer ring on top of the stack of circles.

Sabrina | Wed May 11, 2011 at 2:50 PM

Page 2 of 5 pages < 1 2 3 4 > Last »

Paper Buttons

by Lynn Pratt

Supplies

Step-by-Step

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 8

Step 9

Video!

Your Turn

Questions and Comments

The Author

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