Fugly buttons need love, too

Last post, I talked about what to do with buttons.  But most of what I said really only applies to pretty buttons.  The kind you want to flaunt and are willing to wear to work or church.

But what about their homely cousins?  Here's a couple of uses for ugly buttons:

Paint them!  Wash them thoroughly with dishwashing liquid to remove all traces of oil or grime, then paint them.  A flat coat of black or white will help subsequent coats adhere better, but wait 'till it's completely dry before starting the second coat.  You don't have to be an artist; just dripple and dauble and splash around.  Use acrylics for plastic or glass, but enamel (like Testors©) works better for metal.

Alternatively, glue a collection of uglier buttons around a picture frame, then paint the whole thing.  The buttons will add an interesting texture to the frame without distracting from the art or photo inside.

Use them for little "feet" on the bottoms of nice things you don't want scratched up. I have several old glass perfume bottles with finishes that are getting scruffy.  The bottoms get wet in my bathroom, then the coatings wear off when they're moved around and scooted over the countertops.  I plan to glue a small button to the bottom of each one to help keep it dry.
Bigger buttons might also work for feet on handbags that don't have any.  I detest putting my bag on a table in a restaurant or having to set it on the floor...even a little protection from who-knows-what is better than none.

Weights.... A few heavier buttons can be sewn into the hemlines of lighter weight clothing to help keep them down where they belong in windy weather or when static builds up.

I'll post some more of these in the future.  In the meantime, no button should ever end up in a landfill.  They can be endlessly recycled, and should be.  A beautiful button from a wedding dress can next be used on a Christening gown, then a prom dress, and serve as part of several costumes and dresses in the meantime.  So consider beautiful buttons to be a potential family heirloom, and invest in good ones that you will love; then find uses for them.  They belong where they can be seen, used and enjoyed; not in the bottom of a box or a jar out in the shed (although I'm guilty of both).