DIY: Homemade Buttons

I have a fascination with making basic necessities that a normal person would just buy: deodorant, crackers, ketchup, paper, pickles, butter, lip balm, yogurt, soap... you get the idea. It makes me feel all Laura Ingalls Wilder-esque, like I could survive out on the prairie or through peak oil. So I thought I'd start highlighting some of these DIY projects for building a handmade life -- just in case you ever end up living on the prairie and then run out of crackers.

I'm interested to know what you think: What basic necessities are you making? What would you like to make but haven't tried yet?

How to: Make Wooden Buttons
Thanks to my man for being the hand model/saw operator and inspiration. Note to all the single ladies: do try to marry a man with calloused hands, it'll make your life so much easier and more interesting!

1. Gather your tools and supplies. You'll need: a drill, a saw (I used a skill saw but a hand saw would work at least as well), sandpaper (100 grit and 220 grit), a wooden block, and oil (I used sesame, but olive or mineral will work too.)



2. Choose a nice branch for your button. A few things to keep in mind:

• The branch's diameter without bark will be the size of your button
• Use a hardwood such as oak
• Avoid rotten wood
• Using downed branches that have already "cured" while they were lying on the forest floor will prevent your buttons from cracking and make it easier to remove the bark.
  

3. Cut rounds from the end of the branch. They should be between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch in width.


4. Remove bark from the button rounds.


5. Drill 2 or 4 holes in each button, using your wooden block to drill on so that you don't damage your work surface. It's not important to get the holes perfectly spaced as the buttons are meant to look rustic and homemade.


6. Sand your buttons. Start out using 100 grit sandpaper and then finish with 220 grit.


7. Rub the buttons with a little bit of oil and then polish with a clean cloth. All done!



Now take some photos of those buttons in action.  Congratulations, you're one step closer to self-sufficiency and that homestead on the prairie!