Colorful Upcycled Button Bowl

Dip into your stash and create a decorative piece you'll want to display in your home. Create a Colorful Upcycled Button Bowl from Heidi Borchers using a random assortment of buttons. Upcycled ideas for home decor don't get more fun and creative!


 

Materials:

• Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
• Buttons – variety of shapes and sizes – but all buttons should be flatter style
• Wood bowl
• Sandpaper
• Grout – pre-mixed or powder (unsanded)
• Bowl of water with sponge
• Plastic gloves
• Cotton swab
• Hair dryer
• Paper towels
• Wet wipe

Instructions:

1. For this project you can use a variety of shapes and sizes of buttons. For ease when grouting, be sure select buttons that are similar in depth/height. Also, be sure to select buttons that are easy to clean. This is really helpful when you grout.
   
   
    
2. If using a wood bowl, sand to remove shiny surface.
   
   
    
3. Glue buttons to bowl starting with the bottom first. To help the bowl to sit straight, be sure to use buttons of similar height. Glue your larger buttons first and then fill in with the smaller buttons.
   
   
    
4. Glue buttons on the outside and inside of bowl. Let dry completely.
   
   
    
5. Put on gloves. If mixing grout, follow package instructions to make a paste similar to thickness of peanut butter or use pre-mixed grout. Dip gloved hand into grout and rub onto bowl. Press grout between buttons and into button holes. Continue to rub on grout until entire inside and outside of bowl is covered with grout. Use fingers to wipe away excess grout (return it to original container.) Do not rinse grout down sink.
   
   
    
6. Dip sponge into water and wring out sponge until it is almost dry. Wipe away grout. Rinse sponge in water. Continue wiping and wringing until you have smoothed grout over entire bowl.
   
   
    
7. If needed, use a cotton swab to remove any excess grout from buttons. Use a hair dryer set at low and dry grout for about 5 minutes until a chalky film appears on buttons.
   
   
    
8. Use a dry paper towel and wipe away dried grout film. Set aside to let grout dry completely overnight.
   
   
    
9. Use a wet wipe to wipe remaining dried grout from buttons.
   
   
    
10. Your entire bowl should now be free of any grout film and it’s time to display your beautiful artwork!
    
    

For a comprehensive video tutorial of this project, check out Mosaic Buttons Bowl.