Recycle mismatched buttons for kid projects
Mismatched, ugly, too big, or just plain oddball buttons are perfect for tons of recycled kid projects that you can make on the fly. You don’t want to toss buttons, because they’ll just sit in that old landfill forever. Yeah one button is small, but many add up, and why not use them if you have them. If you don’t have buttons, thrift stores carry bags of them for super cheap.
Here are some ideas - although I’m sure you can think of more.
Button hair bands: Cut a piece of extra elastic to an average hair band size (imagine if a hair band was cut open). Thread buttons through elastic to create a hair tie for your little one. OR your little one’s dolls.
Use for all sorts of dollhouse furniture and item ideas - pictures on the wall, table tops, garden stones, plates, etc.
Place small bits of magnetic tape on the backs of buttons and use them to create funky letters and numbers on the fridge.
Use them in scrapbooks. Most stores sell scrapbook buttons for insane prices; you can just use the real thing.
Make button beings (requires some extra scraps - but stuff you likely have).
[button beings via Family Fun]
Take an old (but small) glass jar, fill with water, add some buttons, a dash of food coloring, and some glitter. Hand to a happy baby or toddler. Make sure that you hot glue that lid on, and / or don’t leave the room while your little one plays with it. For extra fun pick a sunny spot to play in, because then the glitter really shines.
Of course you can always go super basic too. Make a bracelet, use in old juice containers or oatmeal containers to make a rattle or drum, use if you run out of game board pieces, or do what my son does and glue them on paper to create art.
Tags: button recycling, craft buttons, recycle buttons for crafts, recycled buttons, reuseRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Crafty Solutions, Fun Stuff, Kid Stuff, Reusing and Recycling
2 opinions for Recycle mismatched buttons for kid projects
ageekymom
Jul 20, 2008 at 9:18 am
I must strongly disagree on the idea of the glass jar of buttons, water, and glitter for a baby or toddler, even if you don’t leave the room. It just doesn’t seem safe on many levels.
I do like your others ideas though.
Jennifer
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I had some really strong, small glass jars, and did this and they look cool in the sun, at least Cedar liked them, but I think some odd things are ok. I know someone who did this with plastic too. But, I don’t have much plastic around.
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