If you've just finished making a batch of oversized paper buttons and you're wondering what on earth to do with them all, this video is exactly what you need. I walk through twelve different ideas — from journal closures and spine binding to earrings, wall art, and gift wrapping — showing you real examples I've actually made rather than just talking through concepts. Whether you want to use your buttons in junk journals or turn them into something you can sell, there's something here to spark the next direction.
What we cover
This is a roundup and demonstration video showing twelve distinct uses for handmade oversized paper buttons — covering journal-specific applications (binding, closures, dangles, embellishments), wearable and gift projects (earrings, hair clips, brooches, card making), and decorative uses (wall art, window ornaments, number and letter décor). Each idea gets a real, handled example so you can see how it actually looks and works.
What you'll learn
How to package paper buttons for selling at craft fairs or on Etsy, including:
- Sewing buttons directly onto cardstock backing cards
- Adding a fabric scrap, charm, or extra tag to make packaging feel more considered
- Using handmade fabric pouches as an alternative to plastic bags
- Wrapping with twine and border-punched cardstock for a more premium look
Why presentation matters more than the product itself when you're selling — people aren't just buying a button, they're buying the experience of receiving something beautiful. A bare card with a button is easy to walk past; the same button with a little story, a charm, and proper packaging is something people reach for.
How to bind paper buttons directly into a journal spine using a three-hole pamphlet stitch, including:
- Adding a fourth hole to the middle signature so the button can be threaded through
- How to position and tighten the thread so the button sits flush and doesn't shift
- Using a fold stitch on adjacent signatures when you're binding multiple buttons on one spine
- Leaving metal threads long and tying them together with beads at the top for a decorative spine finish
How to make elastic and ribbon journal closures using paper buttons, including:
- Threading elastic or ribbon through a button's holes from the back, looping it around the journal, and tying a square knot
- Using ribbon crimps on the journal edge to create a loop closure with twine
- Binding ribbon in place during the pamphlet stitch so it can't shift
- Creating a removable closure so the button can be taken off and reused
How to make a journal dangle from a paper button — punch an extra hole at the top of the button, attach a ribbon crimp end, and connect a swivel (the kind sold cheaply in fishing tackle shops) for a more interesting look than a standard jump ring.
How to alter paper clips with buttons — sewing the paper clip into the back of the button for a neat, decorated tab. Thread build-up at the back limits how far the clip slides onto paper, which is worth knowing before you commit to a particular button size.
Using paper buttons as general junk journal page embellishments, including:
- Gluing a button to the face of a tag, then cutting a slit in a pocket page so the tag peeks through when the journal is closed
- Adding a small glued stopper (a circle or a second button) behind a tag so it sits at the right depth inside the slit and doesn't slip too far in
How to make paper button wall art — sewing or gluing buttons directly onto a printed or painted backing board (a recycled cereal or snack box works for personal use; something sturdier for a gift or sale). Buttons can fill a number or letter shape cut from cardboard, combining handmade paper buttons with plastic stash buttons to cover large areas without running out of your handmade ones.
How to turn a paper button into earrings or a brooch — same logic as the journal dangle: an extra hole at the top for earring findings, or a brooch pin sewn onto the back for a wearable piece.
How to use a paper button as a hair clip — glue or sew onto a hairpin. Simple, and the packaging does most of the work in making it feel like a proper gift.
How to use paper buttons in card making — glue the button slightly proud of the card surface using foam stickers for a three-dimensional effect, pair with a die-cut shape and twine, and keep the rest of the card simple so the button reads as the focal point.
How to wrap a small gift set using a paper button as the closure — thread ribbon through the button holes, wrap it around a small booklet or notebook, and tie off at the back. A separate piece of ribbon can hold a pencil alongside it. Add a "made with love" sticker to flag the handmade element.
How to make window decorations and ornaments — loop fish wire through the top hole, string beads above and below the button, and hang. Because the backs of these buttons are finished nicely, they read well from both sides. Multiple buttons stacked on a single strand look a little like a wind chime or a small mobile.
Tips & gotchas
When you sew a paper clip onto the back of a button, the thread builds up and creates a small raised area — this limits how far the clip can slide onto a page. If you need the clip to grab a thick stack of paper, keep the back as flat as you can. Hot glue is a faster option, but plastic hot glue can snap over time as clipped items get moved around, so I wouldn't rely on it for anything you want to last.
For spine binding, make the spine of your journal slightly wider than the button. If you use very large buttons you'll need a correspondingly deep spine, so scale them together from the start rather than trying to fit a large button into a finished journal.
When making a slit-pocket tag embellishment, add a small stopper — a glued paper circle or a second small button — to the back of the tag, positioned so the tag sits exactly where you want it in the slit and can't be pushed further in when you wrap the closure around the journal.
On the selling side: the product alone often isn't enough. A beautifully packaged card with a small charm, a piece of torn fabric, or a thoughtful extra tag will sell where a plain card won't, even if the buttons themselves are identical. You can print your own backing cards or find free printable button card templates on Pinterest. A short handwritten or printed note about how the buttons are made adds something most buyers genuinely appreciate.
Once you've made a few hundred (and it happens faster than you'd expect), you start seeing uses for them everywhere. If you haven't watched the companion video on making the buttons themselves, that's a good place to start before coming back to decide which of these ideas you want to try first.
