Upcycling -- Button Bracelets

A couple of years ago I was visiting my Mom and Dad back in Maine, and hanging out in their shop. My Mom was showing me these really beautiful bracelets that she had been making out of old buttons she had in her shop. She had tureens FILLED with buttons of every kind, material, color, you name it. She said I should try making one.

I spent the next couple of days sitting on the floor in the shop, combing through buttons like I was hunting for Easter eggs. I would pull a button out and say "Can I use this one?" I would get a "Sure, that's fine." or a "No, are you crazy? That one is so rare!" or a "Mmm . . ., well, I GUESS so." Let me tell ya, those rare "Well I guess so's" are the BEST buttons on my bracelet!

Here it is:

I love the color palette, mostly greens and purples, and the exquisite buttons on it. Every time I wear it I get compliments, and people want to know where it came from, so needless to say I have made a few since that first one. But of COURSE, this is my favorite!

All you have to do is buy a stretchy hair elastic (mine I get from a local drugstore, they are about 4" wide and come in black, navy or green. I just pick the color theme, and start sewing on the buttons. Easy peasy!

* * * *

I made the one pictured a couple of years ago--and want to start another.

But what color combination?

Hmmm . . let's take a look at what I've got.

Should the bracelet be blue?


Yellow?


Brown?


Pink?

Black?

Red?

White?

Sparkly?

I am leaning toward blue and brown, or white. What do you think?

I was a little late posting this for Vintage Suitcase Friday over at Thrifty Tickle, but I'll get the swing of these linky parties soon! Go visit and show off your own repurposed or upcycled vintage project!