Looking for a quick craft for your Autumn Thanksgiving decor? One that also keeps the kids busy? Pull out the button jar, grab the glue and get started.
First — — the buttons! I save all of the buttons that come attached in the little plastic bag or the extra thread from all the clothes I buy. Vintage re-sale shops also sometimes have bags of them to buy — super cheap. They’re great to have around to use if you ever loose board game pieces — think Bingo?
DIY Fall Decor: Transform Vintage Buttons into Pumpkins and Turkeys
Why Use Vintage Buttons for Fall Crafts?
Craft with buttons- especially vintage ones- allows you to show off some of the prettiest buttons in your collection. So, get them out of the jar, and onto these pretty pumpkins. Materials Needed to Make Button Pumpkins and Turkeys
You’ll need some basic supplies to create your vintage button pumpkins and turkeys. Here’s a full list to get you started:
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Vintage Button Pumpkins
Vintage Buttons—in shades of orange, brown, green, and any other fall-inspired colors. Mixing sizes and shapes adds to the charm.
Cardboard or Thick Card Stock (Cereal boxes work, too!) – Cut into shapes for pumpkin and turkey bodies.
Glue Gun or Craft Glue – Ensure it’s strong enough to hold the buttons securely.
Red Yarn — for the Turkey’s Waddle
Thin Twigs or Brown Pipe Cleaners – For the pumpkin stems.
Green Felt or Small Leaves – For the pumpkin’s vines and leaves.
Googly Eyes or Small Beads – For the turkey’s eyes.
Feathers or Small Fabric Scraps – For the turkey’s feathers.
Scissors – To trim felt, card stock, and fabric scraps.
Marker or Pen – Optional for adding facial details.
How to Create Vintage Button Pumpkins and Turkeys for Fall Decor
Step 1: Prepare the Pumpkin Shape
First, draw a pumpkin shape on your cardboard. Then, cut the shape with an exacto knife or scissors.
Step 2: Select and Arrange Your Buttons
Pick out your orange, brown, and cream buttons for the pumpkin body. This is the fun part—try different arrangements of button sizes and colors on the pumpkin before you start gluing. Mix large, small, shiny and colorful buttons to make a circular pattern.
Step 3: Start Gluing the Buttons
If you’re using a glue gun, attach the buttons one by one onto the cardstock. If you’re using glue (which dries, transparent) you can remove the buttons (take a photo with your phone so you’ll remember what goes were!) and spread the glue all over the cardstock. Then, starting in the middle, start re-applying the buttons.
Step 4: Add the Stem and Leaves
To make the pumpkin stem, take a small twig or a piece of a brown pipe cleaner and glue it to the top center of the pumpkin. For leaves, cut a couple of small leaf shapes from green felt or use small faux leaves, if available, and glue them next to the stem.
Step 5: Let It Dry and Display
Allow your pumpkin to dry completely before framing. Once it’s dry, you can prop it up on a stand or find a cheap frame at the dollar store to display your handiwork. Just remove the glass.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Vintage Button Turkey Crafts
Step 1: Draw the Turkey Body
For the turkey, you can use your own handprint — or a child’s handprint to use as your guide. Cut with an exacto knife or scissors — exacto knife will be much easier! For the head, cut a circle using a bottle cap, and attach it to the body with glue.
Step 2: Select and Arrange Buttons for the Turkey Body
Choose brown, black, and tan buttons for the turkey’s body. Arrange the buttons around the turkey’s body shape, similar to how you did for the pumpkin. Layering smaller buttons over larger ones works well for creating texture and interest.
Step 3: Add Feathers
You can use real feathers or cut-out feather shapes from fabric or felt for the feathers. Glue them to the back of the turkey body, arranging them in a fan shape behind the buttons to give the effect of a full turkey tail.
Step 4: Create the Turkey’s Face
To give your turkey character, glue on googly eyes or beads. Draw a small beak and add red yarn for a wattle, attaching them with glue.
Step 5: Let It Dry and Display
Like the pumpkin above, you can frame this turkey using a cheap dollar store frame.
Ideas for Displaying Your Button Pumpkins and Turkeys
You could also arrange your button turkey and pumpkins as place settings for your Thanksgiving table. Or, if you’re really ambitious, attach them to a grapevine wreath base and hang them on your door. You could also add them to your mantle display — adding pinecones, cinnamon sticks and tiny pumpkins.
Using vintage buttons to make pumpkins and turkeys adds texture, color, and a vintage bit of beauty to your Thanksgiving day theme vibe! Make Adorable DIY Button Pumpkins for Fall
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