Button Jar!

apple_mint

I have a button jar but I really wish I'd been able to have my Granny's button tin. It was an OXO tin stuffed to the top with a wonderful range of old buttons (pearl, glass, brass etc). I used to spend hours just playing with them and pretending they were treasure

Lizbetty

Grandmas button jars are always the best ones! I started one about a year ago, dd2 is only 20 months so I daren't give her it to play with yet as she has a tendency to see if thing fit up her nose/see if they taste nice (and eat them even if they don't ) but I can't wait to give her it when she grows out of that (seeing as dh got a piece of popcorn stuck up his nose at 43, oh yes indeedy :rolleyes: , I might be keeping it on the top shelf for a while..lol!)

I used to be fascinated by the funny shaped buttons from my grandads cardies and suchlike! Old clothes have the best buttons, don't they.

Luce

Skint_Catt

Oooh good childhood memories! I remember the big jar and a brown lidded see through plastic box my mum had. I think there's even a photo of me playing with them!
I need to start my own as my buttons are everywhere!

emilyt

I have got an old tupperware box full of buttons.
Have been married 20 years and 2 DD's are 18 and 20.
Love looking through and seeing all the cute little buttons that were on their clothes when they were tiny.
Funny how when i look at some of the buttons i remember what outfit they came from and it brings back lots of memories from my teenage years.
Didn't realise so many other people did the same thing.

apple_mint

emilyt wrote: »

Didn't realise so many other people did the same thing.

We are just a sentimental old bunch

GardenMillie

Glad to see it isn't just me wandering down memory lane - not sure what it is about buttons but they are fascinating to children. We used to pretend that the brass buttons (from blazers etc) were gold - great for the imagination.

I'm going to continue adding to the collection and see if the jar interests any of my friends children when they visit.:j

TKP_3

I have 2 button tins - one for all the extra buttons off clothes, and one from my Mom with all the old buttons she has collected which I use for craft stuff (buttons are all the rage on cards and scrapbook pages).

Yategirl

I have my Nan's button box too! and I have collected hundreds as well! I started using them for scrapbooking/card embellishments but just got addicted! lol!! I have a link (somewhere!) for making a mini christmas tree decorated with buttons (tis on my list of things to do!) - if anyone wants the link.. let me know! BIG buttons on bags and clothes seem to be very "in" at the mo!

sandieb

I've got a button tin (was my grandmother's). In an attempt at being organised, I put the "sets" in those little plastic bags containing spare buttons on newly purchased garments. Even all little white shirt buttons are NOT the same!

[Deleted User]

I have just had a shufti through my button box and discovered my youngest DD's bright blue buttons off her duffel coat that she loved so much she almost slept in it when she was 2 .She will be 38 in December !!.
All of my grandchildren have played with my button box from the eldest who is going on 17 downwards.My youngest DGS is only a wee sprog of two and a half but by this Christmas he will be old enough to play with them as well.
I have used them for all sorts of things .teaching the said grandchildren to count ,as ludo counters , as a great thing to keep children amused with on rainy days . I must have collected over the years several hundred .Some I inherited from my old mum and some I cannily cut off clothes that were worn out. I hate to waste anything even a button.
Over the years I have knitted for my grandchildren, and my button box has come in handy for cardi buttons .I even have some buttons from my late husband's clothes that I snipped off and kept .I have told my grandchildren many stories about where various buttons have come from, and when they got older they used to make up stories as well. The little granchildren like to sort out my box into different colours and sometimes have even used them for tiddlywinks .A tea cup, and a nimble pair of fingers is all thats needed .Children love to use their imagination, and my tribe are great at thinking up games involving Grannies button box.We have even taken my box on caravan holidays as it always seems to have at least one day when it buckets down and it does keep the children amused .

Yategirl if you find the link do paste it here, as I too do crafting, and although it's only March I am already starting my Christmas card making. I make cards for my DD's special-needs school where she works, as they have a fund-raising fair twice a year .Last Christmas we raised over £2K for the children, this is vital as the school comes well down the list of priorities in our local education department.