Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Make a Ring from a Button

Before: Button
Buttons come in many shapes, sizes and colors. If you are like us, you or someone in your family has a box of old mismatched buttons just waiting to be used or made into something fabulous. Buttons are great for making jewelry. When we were sifting through our button box looking for a button to repair a jacket we spotted this little gem and thought: ring.

Materials
Button
18-gauge brass wire

Tools
After: Button Ring by GeltDesigns.com
Ring mandrel
Wire cutter
Needle files
Chain nose pliers

Step 1
Determine ring size.

Slide button on wire
Step 2
Cut about 12-inches of wire using wire cutters. Slide the button onto the center of the wire.

Step 3
Wrap wire around mandrel
Wrap the wire around the ring mandrel at the marker for the ring size needed. Take care that the button remains centered as you wrap.

Wrap the wire three times around the mandrel so the wire with the button is the center wire.

Step 4
Wrap around button shank
Wrap the excess wire around the shank of the button. Wrap with one side of the wire to create two complete wraps. Wrap with the other side of the wire to complete to more wraps. The shank of the button should be covered and the button sits on a seat.

Step 5
Back of button ring
Trim any excess wire with the wire cutters. File the ends of the wire smooth using needle files. Tuck the wire ends under the wire near the shank using chain nose pliers so the ends are hidden.

Related Tutorials
Make a Leather & Button Bracelet
Make a Button Bracelet
Make Button Earrings
Make a Chain and Button Bib Necklace

Further Reading
"Jewelry Studio: Wire Wrapping"; Linda Chandler, Christine Ritchey
 "Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping"; Dale Armstrong; 2009.
"Inspired Wire: Learn to Twist, Jig, Bend, Hammer, and Wrap for the Prettiest Jewelry Ever"; Cynthia B. Wuller; 2008.

Day 108. Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: buttons
New Jewelry a Day. 

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