I im LOVE with old buttons. But unless a button is common, it's a rotten dirty shame to risk harm to it by making jewelry from it. If you leave the shank intact, and don't clip it off, you can use E6000 glue and one day pry it out of the glue and it not be harmed, so long as you don't lacquer over it. Still...
I searched for a source for reproduction buttons and it looked like most companies that were using them were having them custom-made---especially imaginative ones. Finally I found someone who still had dies to make old cufflinks and tie tacks. When stamped into heavy gauge brass, the result looked like old Victorian and Deco metal buttons! But they are flat on the back.
NO MATTER.... To these button shanks (see the pix below) can be added by simple glue, or soldering with a gun, if desired. I use E6000 glue, and have had fab results!
This is an easy project: instant gratification for an accomplished jewelry maker, or an easily-made gift; sweet, quick success for a new, novice jewelry maker.
You will find the button tops and chain findings used in these products on my website at http://www.bsueboutiques.com
HAVE FUN!
Date(s): February 23, 2004. Album by Brenda Sue Lansdowne. 1 - 12 of 12 Total. 3284 Visits.
1 Here you find a textural mix of the buttons I've made from restruck cuff link and tie tack blanks. This set is all brass ox, but I've combined a few cool dangly cast charms as well. WHY NOT? The more the merrier.
This was made on my brass ox 4mm rolo chain, and I used a lobster claw clasp. I like 6mm brass ox jumps but you can also use our brass ox split rings. All materials found on our website, even the brass ox lever backs. AND...if you just want the finished item, you'll find it in our CHARM BRACELETS section.
2 Fast and easy! Just use E6000 glue to attach the restruck cuff link-tie tack findings to our 11 link brass ox bracelet finding. It has its own attached foldover clasp. To make the reproduction findings into earrings, I used sig tags (some call them beaver tails)---just glued em on and attached to our brass ox lever back earring findings. The completed bracelet can be found on my website in the Charm Bracelets section. All components used are also sold on our website. Don't like to glue? Yes, you can solder them on with a soldering gun.
3 This is our brass ox seven link chain (seven inch, includes clasp), item number chn08591 at http://www.bsueboutiques.com. We do carry the beautiful little medallion that fits nicely into the bracelet links. This one went together with glue in five minutes.
4 Here's a unique found item piece that I made using my usual collage crescent, which you will find in Cuffs and Bases on my site. I collaged it with a mix of vintage black glass, old trouser and jacket buttons, vintage red brass leaf stampings, charms and other found paraphernalia. This project took about an hour to complete but of course, you need to collage the front and let it cure before you can attach the beaded chain.
5 This is our completed bracelet chain in brass ox. It is item number chn6494 on our site. It's seven inches long and has its own lobster claw clasp attached. Just attach your charms or buttons (I attach buttons with 6mm jumps or split rings---use whichever you like) and away you go!
6 This is our best selling chain. Since my site specializes in stampings and charms, the right chain is very important to us. This one does the trick just about every time for charm bracelet and treasure necklace making. The links are 4mm and this is our brass ox shade. We carry many other plating shades on our site at http://www.bsueboutiques.com in the JEWELRY CHAINS section.
7 This is a button shank up eye. On our site you will find it as item number base195 in the Cuffs and Bases section. This is the finding I bond to the backs of the button top medallions to make them into buttons. At this time we only have them in dark raw brass, but it tends to blend with all the button top components in brass ox or gold ox.
8 Our very popular 11 link bracelet is seven inches long with 10mm square pads. We carry it on our site in the JEWELRY CHAINS as well as the CUFFS and BASES section at http://www.bsueboutiques.com. I have it in brass ox, copper ox, goldplate and silverplate. It's sold by the bracelet but we also have bulk deals...just ask.
9 This is our goldplated cable toggle bracelet, which is PERFECT for making charm bracelets and button bracelets, and you can pair it with either goldplated or gold ox charms. It is item number chn08113 on our site.
10 These are beautiful buttons made in the Czech Republic and recently imported. They have button shanks which allow them to be attached by jumprings to our rolo chain. You will find this lot and others like it in the CZECH BUTTONS section of our site at http://www.bsueboutiques.com.
11 Here is a sampler of some authentic old buttons. There are some fancy Austrian tinies in the lot. You would not want to destroy buttons of that sort by clipping off the shanks to glue to bracelet findings...why NOT attach charm bracelet style by jumprings? You can this way collect them and enjoy them at the same time---wear your collection where ever you go.
12 Here is a fine example of what can be done with a mix of Czech glass shank back buttons, charms and beads. This is DSN777 found in the Charm Bracelets section of our site. I used goldplated rolo, which we carry, and a simple gp lobster, which you will also find at our site. Buttons of this type will be found in the CZECH GLASS BUTTONS section.
