Summer Craft Ideas

For family reunions or big outings with friends, make silly awards for everyone as a remembrance of the day (for example, “I traveled the farthest distance.”).

At large company picnics or outings, make name tags for everyone. You could also make awards, either humorous or serious, to distinguish certain individuals or departments.

Contract with local tourist attractions that have big turnouts in the summer months: zoos, amusement parks or even beaches/park districts. Sell them buttons for resale or make them name tags for employees, button registration IDs, etc.

For class reunions, make nametags by adding each person's old yearbook photo and name to the button. See how much everyone's changed!

As summer is the season for camps , give buttons as prizes for games or races, and have the counselors and campers make name tags for themselves as a “get acquainted” activity.

Make photo buttons for summer sports team members in your area (little league, soccer, softball, etc.) as well as individual player photos. Photo buttons can sell for $3.00 or more. Parents love them!

If starting an herb garden, label the rows of seeds or individual pots with garden markers you make with plain-back buttons hot-glued to popsicle sticks. You can even cut out the photo from the seed packet to use as your artwork!

Use buttons to mark place settings at birthday tables, baby or wedding showers.

Make decorative buttons to give as gifts for those attending a wedding reception . You could even make magnetic buttons, so all those in attendance will have a keepsake to remember your special day.

Buttons are also a great way to announce a birth - just attach them to a baby sock (pink or blue) and include the baby's name, weight, and length, along with any other fun information.

Local police and fire departments can always use buttons as give-aways to schools during a visit that promote what they are teaching (for example, “Stop, Drop, and Roll.”

Fraternal organizations could sell buttons as fund-raisers , or members can wear buttons around town to promote an upcoming activity, such as a pancake breakfast.

Summer is the perfect time for pom-pon squads and cheerleaders to raise funds for new uniforms or to go to camp. Sell buttons or button crafts instead of the usual candy, or sponsor a table at a fair or festival where kids can draw their own artwork - and the squad turns it into a button right then for $1.00 or more!