Button Art Gifts From the Junk Drawer

By Kelly · Updated 2026-10-17

Repurposing materials from around the house allows you to create customized gifts without a trip to the craft store. The buttons found in spare sewing kits or at the bottom of junk drawers provide a variety of textures and colors that can be elevated into professional-looking home decor and stationery.

Layered Button Monogram Art

Adults · 45 min · about $5

  1. Lightly sketch a large, block-style initial in the center of your canvas board or paper using a pencil.
  2. Sort your buttons into two piles: large/flat and small/decorative.
  3. Apply a thin layer of glue to the back of the largest buttons using a paintbrush and place them to fill the interior of the letter sketch.
  4. Once the base layer is set, use smaller buttons to fill in the gaps and cover any visible pencil marks.
  5. Add a third layer of very small or pearlescent buttons to create visual depth and texture.
  6. Allow the glue to cure for at least four hours before placing the art into a glass-front frame.

Minimalist Button Tree Decor

Adults · 30 min · about $3

  1. Use the archival ink pen to draw a thin, stylized tree trunk and several delicate branches on the cardstock.
  2. Place various green buttons along the branches without glue to test the composition.
  3. Apply a small drop of liquid precision glue to the back of each button and press firmly onto the cardstock.
  4. Vary the button shades—light green, olive, and forest—to mimic the natural variations in foliage.
  5. Add one or two small buttons at the base of the trunk to represent fallen leaves.
  6. Let the glue dry completely before mounting the cardstock inside a shadow box frame to accommodate the height of the buttons.

Industrial Strength Button Magnets

Adults · 15 min · about $6

  1. Clean the back of each button and the surface of each magnet with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove oils.
  2. If your button has a shank (a protruding loop), use heavy-duty wire cutters to snip it off as close to the base as possible.
  3. Apply a small amount of E6000 adhesive to the center of the magnet.
  4. Press the magnet onto the back of the button and hold for 30 seconds.
  5. Lay the magnets flat to dry for 24 hours to ensure a permanent bond.
  6. Package a set of four in a small tin or on a piece of decorative cardboard for gifting.

Hand-Stitched Button Greeting Cards

Adults · 20 min · about $1

  1. Position 1-3 buttons on the front of the card to determine placement.
  2. Use a pencil to mark the location of the button holes on the cardstock.
  3. Place the card on a soft surface (like a folded towel) and use an awl or large needle to pierce holes through the cardstock at each pencil mark.
  4. Thread your embroidery needle with a full strand of floss and tie a knot at the end.
  5. Sew the button onto the card by passing the needle up through the card and button, and back down through the opposite hole.
  6. Repeat the stitch 3-4 times for a secure hold, then tie off the floss on the inside of the card.
  7. To hide the knots, glue a small piece of decorative paper over the stitching on the inside front cover.

Tips for Sorting and Preparation