Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Frugal Decluttering - Buttons

The first step in re-purposing clothing for use in a quilt is to remove any buttons. Last weekend I removed the buttons from some denim jumpers and decided I should keep them. You never know when you will need a button and I've seen some really cute crafts that use buttons.

I also decided I would gather all the buttons I had around the house and put them into one jar. I have accumulated quite a few buttons over the years, having saved all the tiny zip lock bags of extra buttons that come with clothing. I don't think I ever actually used any of them to replace buttons on the clothing. I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to find the right button, since they were stuck in different containers and drawers.



Some thoughts on these buttons:

1. How blessed I have been over the years to have plenty of clothes, as all these buttons reflect!

2. These buttons didn't take up that much space, but nonetheless constitute CLUTTER!

3. I will put this jar in my sewing room and from now on all buttons from re-purposed clothing or extra buttons that come from clothing will go in there.



4. I bet you have collected lots of these little zip lock bags of buttons too! Why not put them in a pretty jar for decorative and useful purposes.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Deb, I have so-o-o many little zip lock bags of buttons, plus ones off shirts that "bit the dust" and then those cards of buttons that I bought on sale because they were just too basic not to grab. Wonder how big a jar I will have to find? But, it is a great idea.

Marjorie

Mary Ann said...

I have a candy box that I keep my buttons in. The loose ones are in a ziploc together. I did a major decluttering of my sewing supplies last month. I had 3 jars of buttons, most that people had given me but too many to use. I picked out the ones I know that I'll use and donated the rest. Now they all fit in the candy box, where before only the ones on cards fit in there.

Mom2fur said...

I actually picked up a 'button jar' from an antiques mart, and I just love to 'play' with them. Yeah, I know...it's like a kid in a ballpit, LOL!
Have a very Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

I have lots of buttons too. Hmmm...I am thinking I could use them on a few crafts - thank you for the inspiration!

Happy New Years to you and your family!!

Lori Harris said...

That's a great idea!!

Mrs. Laura Lane said...

I love jars for this purpose. Well, actually, I love jars for just about any purpose. ~smile~
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

Glimpses of Home - first quarter of 2021

I made a list of my 2021 goals that I wrote down in the back of my planner.  Its time to review that to see how I am doing! But, here are a ...