First Post: Button Earrings

It seems best to kick off my craft blog with a project that is fast, easy, satisfying, and always gives great results. Considering those parameters, the first things to pop into my head were the button stud earrings that I've been mildly obsessed with making lately. Anyone can make these - they take inexpensive materials and only a few minutes of time.

My love of button studs started with this pair:
I found these shell buttons in my late grandmother's sewing basket. Since they were both beautiful and sentimental, I wanted to use them for something that would show them off and allow me to see them on a regular basis. I wear stud earrings nearly everyday, and so turning them into a pair seemed like a good option. I ran to the craft store for earring backs and jewelry glue, and soon had these. Perfect!

I loved my first pair so much that I soon decided to make more button studs. My second pair were pink plastic from my large vintage button collection:

Then I made a whole bunch more:

These are so simple that a tutorial hardly seems warranted. You can find stud earring backs at any craft store (I think I paid around $2 for 50 backs). All you do is glue the button to the back, and you're done! I've found that hot glue actually works better and holds stronger than the expensive jewelry glue that I originally bought. I also like to thread a bit of embroidery floss through the holes in the buttons - it looks cute and keeps the earring back from showing through the holes.

I have quite a nice wardrobe of button earrings now, and I intend to make more. Judging from the compliments I've gotten, even the non-crafty appreciate these. I think they would make great quickie gifts.