Use colorful buttons to create a collage or picture. Provide the kids with tubs of various buttons. You can presort the buttons by color and size or let the children sort them as an educational activity. Have the kids arrange the buttons to create a picture, then let them glue each button to the paper to complete the picture. You can also let them paint scenery on the paper to create a background before gluing on the buttons.
Large buttons work well as the middle of homemade art flowers. Help the children put the end of a pipe cleaner through the holes on a button. Twist the end of the pipe cleaner around itself once the button is in place. Help the kids cut a flower shape from felt or other craft materials and poke a small hole in the middle. Help the kids poke the pipe cleaner through the hole in the flower and slide it up to the button to complete the flower. These flowers work well as a simple Mother's Day project.
Pipe cleaners and buttons are the main materials needed for this button art project. Help children slide different colored buttons onto pipe cleaners to create creatures. You can also offer pony beads for variety. A child might create a caterpillar by alternating buttons and pony beads on the pipe cleaner. Provide wiggly eyes so the kids can glue them onto the faces of their creatures. Stringing the buttons onto the pipe cleaners also helps improve the children's hand-eye coordination.
Instead of working with real buttons, give the kids a giant paper button to decorate. Cut the buttons out of cardboard for a sturdy base. Cut button holes in the middle of each cardboard button. Let the kids paint the buttons. They can then add glitter, sequins or other embellishments to make a custom button display. Place string through the button holes in an X pattern to make them look more like real buttons sewn onto a piece of fabric.