Sew Useful Contest: Make Your Own Buttons

This past Christmas, my parents moved away from my childhood home on the coast of New England. My mother gave me a collection of sea glass and shells as a gift so that I would have something to remember the ocean.

Right after the holidays, I popped a button off of my peacoat and lost it. I didn't want to repair the coat with a mismatched button, so I decided to make some sea glass buttons instead.

I found sea glass hard to photograph against the white background, so I am using red fused glass cabochons for this instructable. The directions for sea glass are exactly the same.

I created this instructable for the Sew Useful Contest. You can find the accompanying Etsy listing here.

Step 1: You will need...

Materials and Tools

• Glass cabochons (if you don't have access to sea glass or shells you can buy artisan cabochons)
• Drill with Flex-Shaft attachment and 1/16" and 1/32" collets (available at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc)
• Carabineer Clip
• Crystalite Triple Ripple diamond drill bits, .75 - 2.1 mm (made by Abrasive Technology, Inc.)
• Shallow plastic bowl
• Water
• Safety goggles
• Ear plugs (if you have sensitive ears)

Comments

[triumphman]

Do you have a picture of an actual sea shell being drilled or one you finished drilling ?

[thepelton]

I have been working at goodwill sorting clothing, and recently I saw a garment with buttons made of cowrie shells (Cypreaea Moneta).  The button maker drilled holes in the back running through the shell's mouth.

[Momma]

I have some very old buttons. Buttons were originally made out of mother of pearl. It's a great idea.

[SupernovaDesigns]

How can you be sure that when you flip the button over, you are drilling over the hole on the front side?

[liskidder]

I added a video showing this. :)

[KnittingFreak]

Wow!! Those are beautiful. Is there a way to make buttons from oyster shells?

[liskidder]

I've drilled muscle shells before. When I researched it, I think what I found was that tungsten-carbide drill bits were the best for shells, but I suspect diamond core bits would work too. I also remember reading something about wearing a mask because seashell dust can be dangerous (this is a good idea any time you're drilling something).

[ironsmiter]

Sure there is a way :-) goto the beach, and get a LOAD of shells. use a pair of wire cutters to rough cut the button shape from a flatish portion of the shell. drill the holes using the slowest speed possible, and with NO pressure. let the bit's weight do the work or you'll crack the shell. then finish off with sandpaper, file or emery board. Also works using coconut shell, wood, plastic... just about anything your heart desires

[thepelton]

Limpets would not have to be precut.  For other shells, I would probably use a plug cutter in a power drill.

[princessbunnyrooroo]

Best to use diamond bits (cheap at harbor freight) with rotary tool like dremel - do it under water to prevent diamond clog & inhaling the poison dust. Oil (baby oil) works well too. You can get a variety of tip shapes that will work on thicker or thinner, harder or softer shell. On the other hand you can buy metal "button shanks" at bead stores to epoxy on to whatever you want to have a button of --but it doesn't look too good with transparent bobbles like the glass. Oh also they sell "wet sandpaper" in super high grits for automotive finishes (up to 1200 I have), that will give you the final gleam that hardware stores 300 grit can't. Plus the water drowns that nasty dust. The paper is a bit more expensive, but way more long lived - it's the only type I use now.

[dataphool]

Very good job! to you and liskidder. I was just about to ask the same question as KnittingFreak. [making buttons from oyster shells]

There are no oysters around here, but there are lots of clams about 300 yards away, and local fishermen come ashore with scallop shells only a little further away.

[dottyral]

Great job Lis!

[liskidder]

I eyeball it with opaque glass by looking at the glass from the side. It's easier with semi-transparent sea glass because then you can see the hole from the other side.

[canida]

Gorgeous! I'll have to give it a try. As for photographing seaglass, try it against a black velvet background.