20 Vintage Button Embellishments to Elevate Your Junk Journal Pages

Buttons are like the secret sauce of junk journaling – they add texture, dimension, and a whole lotta character to our pages. Plus, they’re perfect for giving our layouts that coveted vintage vibe we’re all after.

So grab your stash of buttons (I know you’ve got one hiding somewhere), and let’s dive into some seriously cool ways to use ’em in your junk journals!

Vintage Button Clusters for Eye-Catching Focal Points

1. One of my favorite tricks is to arrange buttons in a flower shape. I’ll use a big, fancy button for the center and surround it with smaller ones in coordinating colors. It’s like creating a little button bouquet right on your page!

2. But why stop there? I love combining buttons with other vintage goodies like lace and ribbon for a super shabby chic look. One time, I accidentally hot-glued my fingers together trying this technique (ouch!), but the end result was totally worth it. The buttons nestled in delicate lace create this amazing textural contrast that just screams vintage charm.

3. Oh, and here’s a pro tip: use buttons to frame a vintage photograph or postcard. It’s like giving your ephemera its own little spotlight! I once framed a sepia-toned photo of my great-grandma with pearly white buttons, and it looked absolutely stunning. Just be careful not to overdo it – sometimes less is more when it comes to button embellishments.

Button Closures and Fasteners for Interactive Elements

4. One of my go-to techniques is crafting a button and string closure for envelope pockets. It’s super easy and adds this cute, vintage touch to your journal. Just attach a button to your envelope flap, wrap some twine or embroidery floss around it, and voila! You’ve got a secure little pocket for all your journaling treasures.

5. Another cool idea is making a button loop fastener for journal flaps. I use this all the time for hidden journaling spots or to keep bulky items in place.

Pro tip: use a contrasting color for your button and loop to make it really pop against your page background.

6. And let’s not forget about keeping your entire journal secure. I’ve started using a button and elastic band closure for my chunkier journals, and it’s been a total game-changer. No more pages spilling out when I toss my journal in my bag! Plus, it adds this nice, finished look to the overall journal.

Upcycled Button Embellishments for Mixed Media Pages

7. One of my favorite techniques is painting buttons with acrylic or alcohol inks. It’s like giving those old, plain buttons a colorful makeover! I once spent an entire afternoon experimenting with different color combos, and before I knew it, I had a rainbow of custom buttons for my journal pages. Just be careful with the fumes if you’re using alcohol inks – I may have gotten a bit loopy after forgetting to open a window!

8. If you’re into stamping (and who isn’t?), try stamping designs onto flat buttons using archival ink. It’s a great way to add patterns or even tiny text to your buttons. I’ve used this technique to create custom date stamps for my journal pages – so much cooler than just writing the date, right?

9. And for those of you who like to get really fancy, try embedding buttons in resin to create unique charms. I’ll admit, my first attempt at this was a total disaster (resin everywhere!), but once I got the hang of it, the results were amazing. These resin button charms add such a cool, dimensional element to journal pages.

Vintage Button Accents for Textile-Inspired Layouts

Now, let’s talk about combining buttons with fabrics for some seriously swoon-worthy textile-inspired layouts. This is where my fabric scrap hoarding tendencies really come in handy!

10. One of my absolute favorite techniques is sewing buttons onto fabric scraps. It adds this amazing dimensional element to your pages, and it’s a great way to use up those tiny fabric pieces we all seem to collect.

Pro tip: use a thimble if you’re hand-sewing – your fingertips will thank you!

11. Another fun idea is creating a button “garland” using twine or embroidery floss. I string buttons of various sizes and colors along a piece of twine, then attach it to my journal page for a whimsical, vintage-inspired border. It’s like a miniature clothesline of button cuteness!

12. And if you’re feeling extra crafty, try using buttons as centers for fabric yo-yos or rosettes. These little fabric flowers are super easy to make and look absolutely adorable with a vintage button center.

Button Embellishments for Vintage-Inspired Themes

Let’s talk about those gorgeous antique mother-of-pearl buttons. These babies are like little works of art all on their own! I love showcasing them on journal pages for an elegant, timeless touch.

13. For those history buffs out there (raises hand), incorporating military buttons into your layouts can add such a cool historical or patriotic theme. I found a bunch of old military buttons at a flea market once and used them to create a Memorial Day-themed journal spread. It turned out so meaningful and special.

14. And let’s not forget about those funky, colorful Bakelite buttons! These are perfect for adding a retro, mid-century vibe to your pages. I’m obsessed with using bright orange and green Bakelite buttons for 1950s-inspired layouts. Just be warned – once you start collecting Bakelite, it’s hard to stop!

Creative Button Applications for Junk Journal Covers

Let’s take our button game to the next level by jazzing up those journal covers! After all, first impressions matter, right?

15. One of my favorite techniques is designing a button monogram or initial for personalization. I’ll arrange buttons in the shape of my initial on the cover, mixing sizes and colors for a unique, eye-catching design. It’s like giving your journal its own little signature!

16. For a more textured look, try creating a button mosaic or collage on your cover. I once covered an entire journal with buttons, it was a labor of love (and hot glue burns). But the end result was this amazing, tactile cover that I couldn’t stop touching!

17. If you want to make a real statement, use large, ornate buttons as focal points for spine decoration. I found this massive vintage button at an antique store and used it to embellish my journal spine. Every time I see it on my bookshelf, it makes me smile!

Repurposed Button Ideas for Ephemera and Tags

Last but not least, let’s talk about using buttons to elevate our ephemera and tags. Because let’s face it, we can never have too many cute journaling spots!

18. One of my go-to tricks is attaching buttons to vintage playing cards. It turns them into these adorable, unique journaling spots that add a playful touch to your pages.

19. Buttons also make great embellishments for handmade paper clips or bookmarks. I love creating little dangling charms with buttons and beads to mark important pages in my journal. It’s like giving your journal its own little jewelry!

20. And here’s a fun idea: create button “charms” to dangle from tags or journal edges. I’ll often string several small buttons on a piece of twine and attach them to the edge of a tag or page. It adds this lovely, whimsical movement to your journal.

Conclusion:

Whew! Can you believe we’ve explored 20 different ways to use vintage buttons in our junk journals? It just goes to show how versatile these little treasures can be!

I hope this post has inspired you to dig out your button stash and start experimenting. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to use buttons in your journal – it’s all about having fun and creating pages that make you happy.

So go ahead, raid grandma’s button tin, hit up those flea markets, and start button-ifying your journal pages! And hey, if you come up with any cool button ideas of your own, drop ’em in the comments below. I’m always on the lookout for new button-spiration!

Happy journaling, button lovers!

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