Button Up Your Memories with Memory Collages

If you like scrapbooking and have a lot of buttons, why not combine the two with fun and easy memory collages to give to a loved one this Valentine's Day? For this simple craft, you will need a 12 x 12 piece of cardboard or wood, a piece of 12 x 12 scrapbooking paper, buttons, a color copy of a favorite photo and some small pieces of decorative paper. You'll also need a hot glue gun, a tongue depressor or coffee stirrer, adhesive, school glue and a way to hang your memory collage. I used a pretty piece of ribbon as my hanger, but standard picture hanging hardware also works.

To make the collage, you will need to start by covering the cardboard or wood with the sheet of 12 x 12 paper. Don't use your glue gun for this step, because it will make lumps under the paper. I spread school glue evenly across the cardboard's surface, laid on the 12 x 12 paper and smoothed it down for a bump-free bond.

Next, on a piece of scrap paper, sketch out your design layout. You'll be spelling out the name of the person in the photo with buttons. I prefer to make the letters of the name fairly large and place them across the bottom of the collage. I tuck the photo in one upper corner and put some journaling or another photo in the other upper corner. Once you have the letter spacing right, lightly sketch the letters onto the collage.

Now, it is time to plug in your hot glue gun. Once it is heated up and ready to go, it is time to start gluing down the buttons. I got burned once and decided not to repeat the experience, which is where the tongue depressor or coffee stirrer comes in. I put down some hot glue and press the buttons into it before it cools with the tongue depressor. Then I just repeat the process until all the buttons are glued down. For a really nice effect, try using buttons of a different color on each letter. You can also create stripes of color or fun patterns. Monochromatic designs are also nice, especially if the background paper is brightly patterned.

Once your name is all buttoned up, it is time to apply adhesive to the back of your photo and glue it down. I usually layer the photo on a paper scrap to create a frame effect, but you can also glue it right to the collage. I prefer to add a bit of journaling to the other corner, but if you have something else you'd like to put there, like a lock of hair, a scrap of a wedding dress, etc, feel free to improvise.

Finally, turn the collage over and attach the center of the ribbon to the back with hot glue. Tie a pretty bow with the free ends of the ribbon, so when you hang your memory collage, the bow is centered on the hook above it.