Getting Started

• Before you begin your button tree craft, take a moment to envision how you want display or assemble the buttons. One option could be to spruce up a photograph, drawing or painting you already have by scattering a selection of buttons throughout the leaves. You also could create your own tree base using a variety of mediums, whether it's with pencil or paint on paper, sculpted clay or wooden craft sticks. And if you're really a button fanatic, you could simply construct your tree entirely from buttons. Choosing a design should help you determine how many buttons and other materials you'll need, so it's important to sort this out before proceeding with the project.
  
  

Gathering Materials

• If you don't already have a collection of wayward buttons, you may want to browse local thrift shops or craft stores to gather some interesting-looking pieces. For a funky feel, go with buttons of all different shapes, sizes and colors, or you may prefer to use a uniformly designed set of buttons. The amount of buttons you'll need will depend on how you decide to construct the actual tree, as well as its size; for a large, all-button tree, you will need a considerable amount of buttons to complete the project. Other materials you may need could include items such as construction paper to act as a base for your button tree.
  
  

Construction

• If you plan to assemble your buttons by dispersing them over an image of a tree, you could scatter the pieces throughout the leaves or use them to create nooks and holes in the trunk and branches. If you wish to construct an all-button tree, you can either freely assemble the pieces to create a free-form tree or use a template for a neat, clean look. Use glue to attach the buttons to a base made of materials such as paper or cardboard. The type of glue you use will depend on the composition and weight of the buttons, but using a hot glue gun for this project should be a safe bet to ensure the pieces stick. Another option could be to sew the buttons onto a piece of fabric.
  
  

Display Ideas

• Put your button tree on display in a prominent place in your home or office; if you used paper as your base, you could frame the project, or could simply place it on the fridge using magnets. If you decided to sew your button tree into a piece of fabric, you could use similar display options, or you could turn it into a bigger project by using it to create an item such as a quilt.