Making Your Own Buttons With Nesties and Shrinky Dink

The button that is tied with the ribbon was handmade. I love it! I also hope you can see the stamped background on the card. This is one card that I love one detail more than the card.

The idea for this project came from several places. At CHA in the Spellbinder's Booth, there was a pair of earrings made from Shrinky Dink. I thought, cool, I never would have thought of that. Then I was at Michael's and found some gorgeous buttons from Making Memories. As I pondered their purchase, I thought, wait, they are in the Labels One shape, I could make my own! Being thrilled with the results (because that doesn't happen often) I wanted to share with you how to make your own buttons.

I used a package of bright white Shrinky Dinks. Using the 2nd label down, I cut out two pieces. (just in case) It cut easily with my Cuttlebug. I started with a larger size, not knowing how small it would shrink down. (To make the actual button on the card, I used the 4th die down.)

Shrinky Dink recommends Staz On. I used Jet Black. The stamp I used is from a gorgeous set from Wordsworth. Keep in mind, the ink will stain your stamp, but not ruin it. Let it dry before you place it in the oven, this happens quickly. I also had to push the stamp down a little more than I expected, but the ink coverage was much better.

Shrinky Dink recommends placing your item on a piece of paper bag, image or colored-side up.
The piece baked at 325 degrees for about 3 minutes.

(I did try to heat it with my heat gun. It did not work, the piece was too large and I could not uncurl the ball it turned in to.)

The piece will curl. If it freaks you out, or if it isn't flattening out, just grab a butter knife and push the curled edges down a bit, while it is still in the oven. Let it continue to bake until you see it stop moving-it will look "finished."

Here is what the piece looked like from the oven. I would suggest that you put the piece image-side down and flatten it, while it is hot, with a hot pad or spatula.

To create the button holes, I punched the piece with my CropODile. It punched without much effort. LOVE that tool!

This is a look at the completed button. LOVE the results. That stamp set is also my new favorite, hang on for lots of cards! :)

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Supplies:

Stamps-Clearly Wordsworth (Paisley's Collection)

Ink-StazOn (Jet Black), Memento (Tuxedo Black), Versamark (Watermark)

Cardstock-Papertrey Ink (True Black, Stamper's Select White)

Ribbon-May Arts

Embossing Powder-Stampendous (Clear Detail)

Tools-Shrinky Dink, Nestabilities Label One, CropODile