Display and Sell Vintage & Antique Buttons +FREE Printables
Today I’m joining my Thrifty Chick girlfriends to share projects related to buttons. After giving the topic some thought, I decided to create some simple cards that can be used to display and sell vintage and antique buttons. I have two sets available for you in my Member Library, so be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already.
You can find other blog posts related to vintage buttons here: Collecting Vintage Buttons Part I, Collecting Vintage Buttons Part II, Framing Vintage Buttons, 10 Decorative Button Ideas, and Framed Button Hearts.
Materials for Assembling Vintage Button Cards
*This post contains affiliate links for products necessary for this project. Please read here for more info.
Materials:
-
- Button card printable(s) (in Member Library–join here)
- Cardstock
- Vintage buttons (or try these)
- Hole punches – 1/4″ & 1/8″ depending on size of button shanks
- Wire (24 gauge)
- Tacky glue
- Pencil
- Tape
I have two sets of button cards for you to choose from: this set, with very simple graphics that I whipped up in Canva…
How to Place Vintage Buttons on the Cards
Step 3. Use a pencil to mark the location of each button as shown in photo (1).
Step 4. Depending upon the size of the button shank, select the 1/8″ or 1/4″ hole punch.
Step 5. Punch holes as in photos (3) & (4). [I used the 1/8″ punch for the shanks you see in photo (2).]
How to Wire Vintage Buttons on Cards
Step 6. To secure the buttons onto the card, thread a piece of wire through the shanks on the back of the card.
Step 7. Twist the ends together, or in the case of just 2 or 3 buttons, tape each end of the wire onto the back to hold the wire in place, as in photo (3).
Step 8. In the case of buttons with holes rather than shanks, I simply glued them into place with tacky glue. For less permanency, use hot glue, which can be pretty easily removed.
Vintage Button Cards
The final results are pretty amazing! I went from multiple small baggies filled with buttons (stored in a box in a closet), to darling vintage decorations that can be sold or displayed in your home.
Display Your Vintage Button Cards
I tucked a few cards here and there around the house.
Before you go, I hope you’ll drop by my Thrifty Chick friends and take a look at their creative button projects 🙂
1. Little Vintage Cottage: Button Easter Egg
2. Audrey Would: Upcycling Thrifted Buttons
3. Itsy Bits and Pieces: Fun Button Card DIY Projects
4. Adirondack Girl @ Heart (me!): How to Display and Sell Vintage & Antique Buttons
5. Lora B. Create & Ponder: DIY Button Topiary
6. Color Me Thrifty: Button Flowers Pillow Makeover
If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you’ll subscribe and never miss a post.
You’ll receive access to my MEMBER LIBRARY and get loads of FREEBIES!
Sign up and get your FREE button card printables:
Bye for now,
LOVE LOVE LOVE Buttons so this is right up my alley. Thanks for the button cards. You are the best!
So glad you enjoyed the post, Terry!! I hope you get some use out of the printables 🙂
Love this Diana and if I still had my booth these cards would be perfect for selling buttons!
Tania
Thanks Tania!
I love these! I have a bunch of my mom’s buttons (that she had stored in a contact paper covered cigar box that is falling apart, lol). I want to use this idea to display the best of them in my sewing room!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, Patty, and will be able to make use of the printables 🙂 That makes my day!
These are so pretty, Diana! I love the wonderful graphics you shared!
Thanks so much, Linda, I’m glad you liked the project 🙂
Wow! These turned out really great! For reselling (or I guess also displaying purposes, if you want!) I put a bunch of buttons in a postcard sleeve with a vintage postcard that matches the color of buttons. I suppose you could use the method you show and put them on a vintage post card too. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the idea, Melissa 🙂 Great idea to attach them to vintage post cards and slip them into postcard sleeves to sell–thanks for sharing it with us!
These are awesome, Diana! The bluebird one is my favorite, but I do also love the art decor designed ones. What a great way for dealers to sell vintage buttons, especially ones that are extra special.
So glad you liked it Lora! I like the bluebird one alot too. I’ll be reporting back on how well they sell…
Love your button cards Diana! The Eiffel Tower one is my favorite. Perfect for selling but also for displaying.
The card with the pink buttons was my fave as I would use those buttons to make awesome cakes for the dollhouse people! Buttons make such great dollhouse accessories! I did love the Efifel Tower card, though as a touch of French is so cool in any decor! I have sewed buttons onto cards–making holes with a large needle for placement first. Your way sounds simpler!
This is a total game changer Diana!! I have jars of old buttons that don’t look very interesting. These cards really let the buttons stand out! I knew I had some nice ones but mounted on a card, vintage buttons really are like pieces of art! I am now looking for a long narrow container so I can display and peruse them. Thank you for the printable!
I love the retro button cards, Diana! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Hi Diana .
This is a great post . A thanks for sharing.
I have subscribed to your blog , but I am not able to access the members library, can you please let me know how to do it . I have received the email and confirmed my subscription.
Thanks in advance
Laura
I love these button cards! I’ve had a lot of buttons around from my grandmothers, garage sales, etc…I am thinking of starting a shop or a booth (or something)- plus I want to display my favorites.
My buttons looked adorable in their jars on my shelves. When I poured some out and started looking at them and sorting them I realized my button love had turned to button obsession! These little bits of history are addicting-ly sweet.
I’m very excited to use these printables-thank you so much!
I love your blog and am looking forward to getting more acquainted.
JeanE
I’m so glad you like them Jean! I hope you get to put them to good use 🙂
Hi Diana….I’m a little late here….but never delete your posts until I’ve read each one!
How did you attach the buttons w/o the shank to the cards? Wire also?
Thanks for your great ideas….I’ve used so many of them.
You put a smile on my face today 🙂 You can sew the buttons on or use wire as you suggested. You could also hot glue them on since they’d be easily removed if you ever wanted to. I hope you enjoy the free printable button cards that went along with the post!
Thank you!!
Love, love love this post. I have tons of vintage buttons, all organized. I have put some on cards for display vignettes.
I inherited buttons from several grandmas. I am going to have to get them out of their jars and onto some cards. I see a banner of them in my craft room!
Such a cute idea & thx for sharing your button cards with us, Diana! 😍
Love love love this post. My favorite so far. I love buttons of any kind or age. I have many from my mom, mother-in-law, aunt and a friend of my mom’s. Also from thrift stores, auctions, etc. I’m 72 so many of these buttons are quite old. Looking forward to using these ideas, especially the cards. Thank you.
Hi…I love your ideas. Do you mind sharing how much you price these for in your booth? I’m pretty new to booth selling. Thanks!
Hi Kathryn! I sell them for $2 to $3 each depending on the value of the buttons 🙂