Creative,  Mixed Media,  Tutorials and How to's

Making New Things Old

I love the look of old things. I found an awesome old scrapbook at a sale for $5. The binding was hurting so I saved the front and back covers and added my own pages. I wanted to embellish it with old buttons but didn’t have ones that looked old enough. So . . . I made my own.

Planning on making some yourself? You can use ‘old’ buttons to make jewelry, set in a cute teacup, or adorn your own art journal.

Want to make your own ‘antique buttons?’ Simple.

You’ll need:

  • Red colored paint (Brand I used was Folk Art)
  • Brown colored paint (Brand I used was Folk Art)
  • Yellow colored Yellow paint (Brand I used was Folk Art)
  • Tim Holtz Dark Brown Distress Crayon
  • Distress Oxide Ink
  1. The How To: Mix Red and Brown to get a Rusty color. Mix Yellow and Brown to get a Mustard color.
  2. Take a small paint brush or paper towel and dab a little Rusty Brown paint on the brush or towel. Rub it lightly on the buttons in a circular motion. Let the paint dry or use a heat tool.
  3. Do the same with Mustard Yellow paint.
  4. Rub a little Dark Brown Distress Crayon on your finger and apply on top of buttons. Water it down a little if needed.
  5. Swipe a Medium colored Brown Distress Ink pad on a slick surface. Spritz with water. Then take a paint brush and apply randomly on the buttons.
  6. I used Mod Podge to adhere the lace onto the muslin to create and strengthen the binding. I also added different paints in the grooves of the lace to add to the distressed look.

Enjoy making new things old.

Warmest creative wishes,

Daughter, Wife, Mother, Friend, artist, vintage loving, law enforcement officer, Southern Californian, God and country loving girl who loves to meet like minded creative people, share life with new and old friends. Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better. ~André Gide

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