Jun 22, 2010

Button Storage

I'm failing miserably in my quest for an adorable, innovative, cheap thrifty cost effective way to store my buttons. I'm not giving up hope, though. I *will* figure something out!

Meantime, I've discovered I have a "secret" button fetish. Funny how when you start looking for something else, the things you find...

These sit on a dresser in the hallway outside my bathroom. Most of them are buttons I've saved over the years from old, discarded clothes. I think I started doing that as a teenager -- I remember my Dad telling me to cut off the buttons from his old work clothes when they were tattered and un-repairable.

The top cases are double sided. I had these *in* the above mentioned dresser. The bottom case is what I came up with to store the newly acquired buttons from last week.

Close up of the other side of the double sided cases.


Here are some nifty button storage ideas I found:





Test Tubes









Muffin Tins







Storage Boxes from Harbor Freight
(These look familiar!)








Shelves







Lunch Boxes & Spice Rack
Glass Jars from Michaels

21 comments:

Shelley said...

Some very cool ideas for storage!!

Kathy said...

My preference are glass jars. And actually I have a few large old jars that are filled with old buttons that my Great Aunt gave me. (And she passed away in 1988) I have always love old buttons.

Anonymous said...

Meari,

I love all those ideas. I like the double sided containers the best.

You always have the neatest ideas for just about anything. Thanks for sharing.

Rachel S-H said...

I've used the bobbin boxes to store. Now I just toss them into my finishing box. It's not a good idea, but . . . I wonder if a spinning spice rack would work better.

Anonymous said...

How great. So many buttons. Can´t give you words for this. Have abo your blog.

Hugs Nici from Germany

Lainey said...

Great button collection and storage ideas!

~*Sharee*~ said...

I love buttons also, but don't have the collection you do hun.

Ranae said...

I love buttons! I buy them whenever the price is reasonable

Jo said...

Love the test tube idea. I also cut off the buttons from clothes that can't be recycled, something my nan and my mum have always done so it's part of me now.

Julie M said...

Wish I could help you with the button storage Meari but I keep all mine lumped together in a big antique tin. Half the fun for me is looking through the tin when I need a button. I've got my eye on my mom's button tin too. I just have to beat off my two sisters to get to it first!

It'll be interesting to see what you finally decide to do.

Meadows08 said...

I love the ideas of button storage you came up with. Very cute!

Robin said...

love the test tubes and the test tube rack! Awesome

Lillie said...

Amazing collections. Loved those in the jars.

Anonymous said...

Meari,
Congratulations on winning my contest. I send you an email!

too_busy_to_stitch said...

I love buttons, lol! Have two tins full. Those storage solutions look SO pretty :)

Kristin said...

Oooooh, I love the buttons and the various storage ideas.

Vikki Gable said...

I really like the tiny shelf idea. But that is assuming I would have 17 feet of wall to accomodate LOL.

Kathy A. said...

Love those little glass jars on the shelves. So very pretty.
Wow, you have an amazing supply of buttons. I thought my one large mason jar was lots LOL.

stitcherw said...

Good luck figuring out how exactly to store your buttons. I'm sure you'll find the perfect solutions, you're so creative. I love the solution you came up with for the beads. Great finish on your earlier LK piece, the frame you found and refinished was perfect for it.
Sue

Akila said...

Oh my god!! So many buttons!!! I really am amazed at your patience for collecting so many buttons.
And what a cool way to store/display :)

sharona said...

What great ideas you have for buttons! I love buttons. I don't have many but I am looking all over for them. Button addiction???Oh no i don't need another addiction!lol I have read all your tuatorials and want to let you know they are all so very helpful. Very well explained. i can now say thanks to your clear instructions I am going to give framing my own xstitch project. Thanks again. i noticed you don't have one for matting, but said you did that too. i would love it if you could give directions for that. Thanks again and looking forward to your next update on your blog.
Sharon