Handmade for the Holidays: Easy Button Ring Tutorial

If you are planning to make all of your holiday gifts this year, then now's the time to start! This way, while everyone else is rushing around trying to get all of their holiday shopping or making done, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your peppermint hot cocoa. Now doesn't that sound good?

To help get you started, I'm going to "try" to do one tutorial a week from now 'til...well 'til you get a enough gifts made for all your friends and family, of course! I'm not going to commit to a particular day of the week because, who am I kidding, I am not so good with deadlines.

My very first tutorial is super-easy and super-cute! I used vintage buttons for mine, but your buttons need not be vintage. You might want to try different colors as well, depending on your tastes.

Easy Button Ring Tutorial

You need:
* buttons of different shapes, colors, and sizes
* shank cutter (if you want to use buttons with shanks (the little loop on the back)
* E6000 or another strong glue or epoxy
* Ring bases (not pictured)

You can purchase the adjustable ring bases online. Try doing a search on eBay or Etsy. I purchased mine from Jan's Jewelry Supplies.

I got most of these buttons on eBay. You can buy them in lots, just search for something like "vintage plastic buttons." Just don't bid against me!

I also purchased some of these from Miss Vicky's store (Miss Vicky is a local crafter and IndieSacramento vendor:
Funny Pharm
30 North Main Street
Downtown Colfax

Play around with the buttons to see what combinations you like. Think carefully about color combination and textures. You may also want to combine different button shapes or use a special button as the centerpiece.

If you are using buttons with shanks, you'll want to cut these off so the buttons will lie flat. this may not work with glass buttons but it will definitely work with plastic! You can get the shank cutter at your local fabric store.

Here's what the button looks like after you cut off the shank. Now it can lay flat on top of another button.

E6000 is kind of gooey and it can come out in globs. To avoid globs of excess glue, try spreading the glue on with a toothpick.

After spreading glue on the back of the button, carefully place it on top of your base button. Let dry for an hour or two.

Once you have your buttons stacked, glued, and after the glue has dried, you can glue on the ring base. Spread some E6000 on with a toothpick. Use enough glue so that the ring base will stay attached, but not so much that it oozes all over when you press it onto the back of your buttons.

After putting glue on the pad of the ring base, glue it carefully to the back of your button stack. Try to keep it centered and press it down so there isn't a lot of "air" in between the button and the base. It should be pressed flat against the button. Let it dry overnight. It should be nice and dry after 12 hours or so and will be safe for wear.

Here are the backs of the rings.

Ta-da! You're done!

Now they are ready to wear (or to give as a gift).