A lot of things have been pressing my buttons lately, so why not take those buttons and make a DIY button bracelet by literally hammering out my frustrations!
And since April Fools day is just around the corner, this button bracelet is just the thing to bring some fun to the equation because there’s more to it than meets the eye! It not just beautiful to look at, there’s a twist: it’s functional too!
Hidden behind all that brassy metal and innocent charm is a secret purpose that you’d probably never guess just by looking.
Easy DIY Button Jewelry
Do It Over Designers
This post is part of the Do It Over Designers blog Hop, hosted by Ann at The Apple Street Cottage. We’re a group of bloggers who take something old and/or unused and ‘do it over’ into something new. These items can be found in closets, barns, garages, yard sales, thrift stores, you name it! Be sure to check out the projects at the very end of this post!
I love to craft with vintage buttons – especially metal ones (as you may have seen with this vintage button necklace). That’s because I didn’t have to hand-emboss all that gorgeous metalwork… I’m crafty, not crazy!
For this project, I flattened some of my Mom’s vintage metal buttons and tucked them into lace-edged bezels to create a piece of metal button jewelry full of texture.
Materials for Button Jewelry
- Vintage metal buttons
- 2 needle nose pliers
- Hammer
- 3/4″ (20 mm) antique brass bezels (I found mine on Ali Express)
- Antique brass jump rings (6 – 8 mm)
- Antique brass lobster clasp
- 20 x 1 mm ultra slim magnets. Note: Buy the size that fits the size of your bezel. Here are some other options: 1×1/32 inch (25x1mm) ultra slim magnet disks and these are 3/4″.
Here’s how I did it:
How to Make a Button Bracelet
1. Clean the buttons.
I like to use my ultrasonic cleaner for this. But at the very least, some good old fashioned soap and water should suffice to remove years of grime.
Spread the buttons out and let them dry thoroughly.
Sort the vintage buttons you want to use.
2. Dry Fit Button Jewelry DIY
That will largely be determined by the buttons that actually fit into the bezels.
Be sure to dry fit them – not only for size, but to see how they look together in the bracelet.
3. Attach Bezels Together
I’m getting ahead of myself. First you’ll need to attach the bezels together. Using needle nose pliers, twist open a jump ring. Then, slip it through one of the lace edges on two of the bezels.
Do the same thing in the next available space, so you have attached the bezels in two spots.
Keep going until you have the length you need for your own wrist. My wrist is small, so I only needed to attach six bezels.
By the way, I’m just crazy about this antique brass metal these days. It’s a refreshing change from gold and silver! And the best part is that it lets the vintage buttons take centre stage!
4. Flattened Metal Button Bracelet
Now it’s hammer time! Use a piece of soft t-shirt fabric when flattening the metal to prevent scratching the beautiful surface.
Then hammer away. The trick is to hammer the shank so it sits below the edge of the button; you want it to sit flat against the bottom of the bezel. You also need to flatten it enough that there’s room inside the bezel for one more thing.
4. Assemble DIY Button Bracelet
You could glue the vintage buttons of this bracelet to the bezels or you can bend the inner lace edge to hold them in place. Admittedly, I didn’t do either.
That’s because there’s a hidden purpose and the part I ordered to see my vision through never arrived.
There are supposed to be ultra thin magnets under the buttons to magnetize this bracelet so it can hold pins or my darning needle! I tested my theory with a regular (i.e. thicker) magnet and it would’ve worked a charm!
Then, I’d have somewhere beautiful to set my needles when I sew or my darning needle when weave in yarn ends. I’m a little disappointed because I’m currently working on a great knit project this would have come in handy for!
Anyway, as amazing as it would’ve been to actually get delivery of the magnets, you get the idea. I’m off to find a more reliable source of ultra thin magnets and finish this upcyled button bracelet as it was meant to be.
Pin DIY Button Bracelet
If you found this project inspiring or helpful, why not share the love? Pinning is a great way to support our charitable work and helps others discover creative ideas too! Just click the Pin button and save it to your favourite board; you’ll be able to find it later when you’re ready to try it yourself. Every pin makes a big difference and keeps the creativity flowing!
Do It Over Designers
Now, our talented blogger friends have some amazing and inspiring DIYs for you! Don’t forget to visit these posts for more upcycled do-it-over transformations!
I love your bracelet, Sara and the magnet idea is brilliant! I hope you find the right ones soon, but in the meantime, you have a beautiful bracelet to wear.
I’m still on the search; they disappeared from shop I originally tried to order from. As difficult as they are to find here, they seem to be easier to find in the U.S.!
Lovely bracelet and I love the magnet idea. That is inspired! I remember my grandmother used to have a wristlet pin cushion. So did the ladies in the clothing shop I worked in during high school. Your version would be much prettier!
That’s exactly what I was going for; something pretty to look at, but functional too :).
I was so intrigued to find out what the secret was, you really had me guessing! Such a clever idea, a needle minder incorporated into your jewellery, so useful. I make button needle minders which I sell in my etsy shop and use very thin but strong neodymium batteries in them. I buy mine online from a magnet specialist company but do have to get quite a lot at once buying that way. If you only want a few I’m not sure where you could source them.
I have a few metal buttons in my stash that have been there for years, I’m going to have a bash at flattening them (pun intended!)
Bashing buttons is very cathartic; you’ll love it!
Cute bracelet – there always seems to be a snafu when we have a great idea! I have a whole tin of buttons and little inspiration, so maybe this will motivate me!
Yes, hopefully it will still work out; I’m determined to see it through!
Oh, I love the idea of a bracelet that also is a pin holder. Like a fancy schmancy spin on those old clip on pincushions that go on your wrist!
That’s exactly the term; ‘fancy schmancy’ lol!
What a beautiful way to repurpose vintage buttons, Sara! Your bracelet is a real statement piece and lovely keepsake! I do hope you’ll find your smaller magnets. Adding them is such a unique way of making a pin and needle holder!
Thank you Gail; the search continues until I find them!
Sara, I love the functionality of the magnets once you get them in place, that is genius! Plus… it is beautiful. I have a jar of buttons my grandma had been saving, and I have not put them to use just yet. I have been thinking of the perfect project. I love the idea of a bracelet so I could wear it everyday. I agree with you, antique brass is something I adore too.
I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot more antique brass Cara! I can stop crafting with it!
Well aren’t you a smarty pants coming up with this idea. It is so cool, I love the vintage look. Awesome project
Ha, ha; thanks so much Anita! Guilty as charged :).
Such a unique way to save old buttons! And pretty too. Good luck on the magnets – I think that idea is brilliant!
Thank you Donna; so far they’re elusive, but I’ll probably find them when I stop looking ;).
Decadent! I never know what to do with my gorgeous collection of buttons but you give me great pause on this one. That bracelet is exceptional! I hope you get your magnets soon because the next step is even more fun!
I couldn’t agree more Donna; the next step is definitely more fun!
Thanks for this! Love the bracelet, great idea. I’m wondering how hard it was to flatten the back of the button without damaging the front? Yours look perfect.
Thank you Barbara! It wasn’t difficult at all. I simply made sure each button was well padded with T-shirt fabric before hammering; that way the surface didn’t get marred. I’ve also seen a similar technique used for another type of bracelet, where the buttons are completely flattened so they can be added to a chain like charms/coins. My blogger friend Sarah at Sadie Seasongoods tried this approach, and it looked smashing (couldn’t resist that pun!). You can find her tutorial here if you’re interested: https://www.sadieseasongoods.com/coined-metal-button-jewelry/
So, if you try this and take the hammering too far, you can still pivot the project and end up with something unique and beautiful :).
Nicely executed, Sara. I love a good repurpose. I hope the magnets work out in the future. That’s a clever idea.
So far they’ve been elusive, but I’m hopeful I can source them! I’d really love to wear the bracelet while I knit; I’m always misplacing my darning needle!
Brilliant idea, Sara and sorry the magnets didn’t arrive. Here in SA you can find magnetic sheets of paper (well they’re the size of paper anyway) in all the craft store. Maybe they’ll work as a stand in?
I do have some of that and unfortunately it isn’t strong enough; they really need to be super magnets in order for the pins to stick properly. I’m sure I’ll source them eventually :).