When I was growing up, my mom kept a big jar of buttons in her closet. My sisters and I would spend hours playing with those buttons. I loved looking at all the different sizes, shapes, textures and colors. I loved scooping up handfuls and letting them trickle through my fingers making a musical clinking as they landed back in the jar. And I can't count the number of times we served "Button Soup" to the family.
Perhaps because of that, I have always loved buttons. And, as buttons have become such a popular craft embellishment, I have accumulated my own large jar of random buttons. So, for today's Inspiration Monday, I thought I would show you one way that I alter buttons.
Aged Buttons
You will need:
Buttons *light colors are easier to paint over*
Sticky note
Creative Inspirations Paint *color of your choice*
Crackle Accents by Ranger
Dye ink *I like Distress ink by Ranger*
Makeup wedge
Ink blending tool
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LATX5KqkOZdtuL7fhZizamHpFdNKk_aUuDG7Rn2XTAX6cm6_XCAFLJqd6Yz-AtBVejt8NMXoW7l3LaKxof9NqjcjjYnTuCJZQyG1dbzWx1o6EyEYeTq9XXdC79x2Ob5PGB_YzpVml4uJ/s320/DSC_0274.jpg)
Step 1: Pull off a sticky note, and flip it over. There is a strip of temporary adhesive on the back. Stick your buttons onto that. This allows you to hold you buttons without your fingers getting in the way.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KrE1KbVehn4RjGaRGSFqYhL7RihvJGFMVVl3LVS13COaV8LSl0BcI1HGDHuO2J-qEy1_Ynw_7N_NEdbS0QiQR2vZb_EzmZWJAgYVA9Qt3iTgVqjLNezIEA43Op_0D33f1HdqFE55lspT/s320/DSC_0275.jpg)
Step 2: Using a makeup wedge, apply the Creative Inspirations paint to your button in a pouncing motion.
Step 3: The paint will go on fairly thinly, so you will need to build up a few layers. Allow your button to dry, and pounce on your next layer.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGGiIa3_lNq7712Z221J0XTXSCk5XiOp1ikF6rijMJ2etzcbQ-iHs4bFyl9dAEt3XqiHdV96jZtpkPVSbM8AAW-0FCmi_jFUeLEVJguaw6Ev3JWOPArat09pWEduo-7n7V1BcvnZW3fmg/s320/DSC_0277.jpg)
Step 4: Continue adding layers until your button is completely covered and the original color of the button no longer shows through.
Step 5: Let your button dry completely. This is important!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nQupc9pVJz9jVVWy3VU7qRNZYi03jdlxInYN7FPaJ45xz_TTa2VXlh7xwNamJ64G1em1Kx5l5GdRKBUXvh9TCGB9aciEzSR7IqDt7DD3TkrM_ccaONv_OTKktIMN_VGG9C0txEqAETv_/s320/DSC_0278.jpg)
*Crackle Accents by Ranger is the real secret to this technique. *
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5H43uTDRiAdw-VJODUhl_umraJ_3qXDZNVi0I6_dOUP0DxWzfXIFOW31oHBGZbAAAYnaY3fiy9BMuAREYZVHCzx1Rlmjl3d-YyoqucMryAxh70uLYov3c4X0cibu85mOKNhKo8e12PynK/s320/DSC_0279.jpg)
Step 6: Apply a coat of Crackle Accents to your button. How thick you apply it will determine how small or large your cracks are. I like to apply a nice thick coat for larger cracks, but it is up to you.
Step 7: Let dry NATURALLY. Depending on how thick your coat is, this could take a while. Don't be tempted to speed it up with a heat gun as that will ruin it. *This part is the hardest for me. I HATE waiting! I usually set the buttons aside and work on another project. Because they are on the sticky note, they are easily moved.*
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD6AUel_NZ8pmCCoVXoNQoJstoT54ZJkk6bDtfz_cc9W68VTlAaZkR9Px4pIb2H6AQOvOMCTRHiXASBc9uSUowXa8giEkf-1-onr_ltH71w4-m7E8YJudMPVyFV5u3misvUBfgr0huI16/s320/DSC_0282.jpg)
As your button dries, cracks will form. These cracks are random and no two buttons will end up the same. *I love that!*
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpCD0F9U5Q6tdLlTmao8c1nqb_zsn4zHZnoncq5kuPnCszJawTpSDbZAAYJjevAkDtIHuIu8UfiWDXMqQunYQcoi626jKOdKB1yqwt6U5J2Pw2GXnxxrKn9XQFhAxyrihUGITuNKH1Fwg/s320/DSC_0283.jpg)
When your button is completely dry you can add ink. You don't have to do this, but it does add contrast and the cracks show up better.
Step 8: Using an ink blending tool, rub ink into the cracks. This takes a little pressure, so don't be afraid to really work the ink in.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5X6_Q6YxgELA_OCAgaL7AB8u6_tVVjbwKyNtsgfwqffqGP5vPJCPqvy0A-jAZrN114K4H6IESMGMQ1Vb6yYasTKXFkKOMN0_xYcg6u-tad2MoaAE73x7tP4jwQD26ZiCt6Uhz4-rl8in/s320/DSC_0284.jpg)
Step 9: Gently wipe the excess ink off of your button with a slightly damp rag.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0ybwZARPkVO7QWcme8ZRKNo5CfI9ODU_vVSSuT4mGS9V9mgOuEV8J7ArMx6yz5q_3GXjLMJpazWtxdRbIycsba7NfbmRf2T7bpVj0rHaiOXDs-9tt-rhhvxDF5Mf-zX-foIj6wAJygnr/s320/DSC_0285.jpg)
You will be left with ink only in the cracks like this. When your ink is dry, you are ready to attach it to your project.
Here is the project I did featuring this technique:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqo4idcCOPTVZUe37s1ZSCuIOjKDKTDXynq2Yqm82rlNhhytB-1pQgusB7aYtz1FIZuCCpz4UldnyY_4CkSVb8MMKPbDtHRQa-2OhfvbB-bfvBn3nOsx9EM-InKVGUtWA5_nKheTidCKJ/s320/DSC_0286.jpg)
Paper: Coredinations, white cardstock
Stamps: Fancy Pants "Doodles and Things", "On a Whimsy", Glitz "Distressing"
Ink: VersaMagic, Distress Ink, Memento
CI paint: Mango
Other: Provo Craft "Polka Dots" embossing folder, ribbon, buttons, Crackle Accents by Ranger
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFyhdfjftFM6RUpWmbh4KU-oYz9VzcsO_JOttXINV0IY-eTr3wrFc6vl3rLiOYl8BKdOpJK6nXDHYO4NS_HzRwJbMRjq8oFYJ98mBKWdANzj-vSwGu6N1Z6JMvaXwZJCima44SwWrKxmG/s320/DSC_0290.jpg)
You can see that the shimmer from the CI paints still shows through beautifully.
Here's to having fun with your stash of buttons today!
12 comments:
i LOVE your buttons! they came out perfectly vintage~y!!! when i was a little girl my great aunt had a HUGE glass jar filled with buttons, too, and it was my favorite thing to play with as she and my mother would visit... i remember making "button soup" myself :)
KASSI!!!!! I absolutely LOVE this tutorial! I never would have thought to do this and it's FABULOUS!!!
Wow, those buttons look fabulous. I have always loved buttons too, since I read a story book about buttons that all had histories to tell each other! I have two ice cream tubs full, and my daughter (aged 2) loves playing with them, sorting them into patterns and colours. I will have to try this technique! x
wow this is great...I don't have any dye ink...is that the same as pigment ink...I only have pigment ink, chalk ink and one SU pad
goatesgirl: Pigment inks are thicker and more opaque than dye inks. However, I just tried it out, and pigment inks will work for this technique. =)
Those are some awesome buttons! What a great technique!
what an awesome tutorial!!! would love to do this with some of my buttons. thanks for the inspiration!
What a neat tutorial, great job Kassi!! Love the beautiful shimmer on the button! I'm going to have to try this!
Awesome idea! I love how you can still see the shimmer through the crackle glaze. I've gotta try this sometime. Thanks for the inspiration!
How awesome...definitely one I am going to have to try.
That is an amazing tutorial! Love the buttons! Never thought of crackling my buttons!
These are fantastic!
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