What To Do With Those Retired Buttons!

If you don't know what to do with those retired buttons give this a try!!

I took some buttons, beads, elastic and head pins and made a bracelet.

To make this you will need 10" to 12" of beading elastic.
Head pins
Buttons
6mm beads
Oval jump rings

Seed beads to match (close not exact) buttons
Beading wire tool (pliers)

You do need to know a little bit about beading to make this. But it's not that difficult to do. The tool you need is one that is cone shaped at the tip. Not a needle nose pliers but an actual cone shape on either tip of the pliers. Some have the cones on both tips and some have it on one with a "normal" end to the other tip. You need this to wrap the end of the headpin around. You could do without it and bend the headpin around some other small solid round object. It's more difficult to do but it is doable!

First you tie a knot around one bead at the end of your elastic. You will be using this as a stop bead until you get the amount of beads you need strung. The amount you need depends on the size of the bracelet you want to make. Now string a bead and then a jump ring and repeat until you have reached your desired length. Remove all the beads and jump rings and set them aside.

Next you will take a head pin add a seed bead and run it through a hole in one of the buttons. Holding the headpin up so the button is held on by it, you will eye about3/4" to 1" of that end of the headpin and cut it off. I usually stop here and cut all of my headpins. You will know how many you need by counting how many jump rings you used on the bracelet.

Insert the headpin into the button hole and take your cone pliers and bend the cut end of the headpin so it forms a circle. Leave it open just enough to hook the jump ring inside. Add the jump ring and close the opening. Repeat this until all of the jump rings you had strung up are used up.

The bracelet is ready to assemble. Take your elastic with the stop bead still attached and string your beads once again. A bead and a finished jump ring. Repeat until all the pieces are used up.

Now remove the stop bead and tie the two ends together using a right over left and then a left over right. Sometimes I will add a dot of Hypo Cement to make sure the knot is very secure.

Allow the glue to set for at least 20 minutes before you stretch the elastic. Though I don't recommend stretching an elastic thread bracelet. You should always roll them onto your wrist. Stretching them weakens the elastic and in time they will either stretch out or break. Rolling them on prolongs the life of the elastic. And a little FYI here. Elastic eventually breaks down and becomes brittle so someday it will break even with the best of care. You can make this bracelet using Fireline, wire or beading threads and adding a clasp at the ends too. It's all in how much work, time or cost you wish to put into it.

These make great gifts and you can use up some of those buttons too!!

Have fun with these!!!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda