Square Ruler
What everyday items can I use to make buttons?
I thought of using an old wooden ruler, cutting into squares, and then drilling holes. I could even use scrabble tiles. I’m interested in recycling, upcycling.
These are some great ideas! I don’t see an option to choose a best answer.
AnswerDu has already given you some great ideas 
) and i like the scrabble tile idea too.
since you are interested in recycling, here are a few more -
- all the plastic & some other components from your old electronic gadgets like computer, mobile, remote, etc. If you have a proper cutter, fine; otherwise, heat an old knife & use it to scour through in desired shape. [and as mentioned, cover with scrap fabric if they are not cut evenly or smoothly.
- any plastic buckets, tupperware, etc. Use the above technique.
- shells
- seeds of watermelon, etc.
- bunch up your used aluminium foil into cute spheres, adding a loop at one end for the attachment.
- broken pieces of glass, ceramic, tiles, vases, …. bevel the edges or cover with fabric or glue satin ribbon or embroidery floss or yarn as couching along the edges.
- old plastic bags, bunched up into spheres & covered & tied with burst balloon bits.
- lego & other bits & pieces from kids’ toys.
- artificial flowers – you can use the smaller flowers as is. for larger flowers, you could use the petals folded & tucked decoratively; or the centre without petals.
- twigs collected from your garden or during your walk. they shouldn’t be too brittle tho’. or use pieces of swizzle sticks, toothpicks, wooden skewer sticks, ballpoint pen rifles….since they are thin, tie them in bundles & use.
- plastic cutlery that you get with take-home food
- nuts & bolts & screws
- scrap wool or string – dip entire length into glue & roll into balls, with a little length of loop hanging out. leave to dry.
hope these inspire even more creative ideas
all the very best & have fun )
Fons and Porter Half and Quarter Square Ruler demo
| | 2 Pcs Clear Plastic 22.5cm 15cm 36/60 45/45 Set Square Rulers $6.91 |
| | Protractor 20cm Straight Ruler 45 60 Degree Set Square $7.92 |
| | 80mm x 50mm 90 Degree Right Angle Metric L Square Ruler $12.67 |
| | 2 Pcs Triangular 0-10cm Scale 30/60 45 Degree Set Square Rulers $3.57 |
| | 2 Pcs Triangular 0-10cm Scale 30/60 45 Degree Set Square Rulers $3.91 |
| | POST LEVELER AND SQUARE RULER LEVEL POST PIPE STUD CARPENTER CARPENTRY TOOL NEW $9.99 |
| | NIP Home/Craft/School Blue 6″ Multi-Tool: Ruler, Square, Level, Plumb $6.99 |
| | 25cm Length Stainless Steel L-Square Angle Square Ruler $6.60 |
| | NEW Fit to be Square Ruler by Open Gate OGR101 9 ½” X 9 ½” Acrylic Ruler $16.90 |
| | LOT of 12 different sizes OMNIGRID quilting ruler square TOOLS NEW NIP $44.53 |
| | 2 Pcs Hole Centering 17cm 12cm 36/60 45 Set Square Rulers $5.21 |
| | 2 Pcs Triangular Plastic 6″ 5″ Range 36/60 45 Degree Set Square Rulers $6.66 |
| | 2 Pcs Clear Triangular Plastic 30/60 45 Degree Set Square Rulers $3.90 |
| | 2 Pcs Stationery 30/60 45 Degree Set Square Rulers $4.66 |
| | 2 Pcs Clear Plastic 22.5cm 15cm 36/60 45/45 Set Square Rulers $6.60 |
| | Aluminum Handle 50cm 90 Degree Metric Try Square Ruler $10.96 |
| | METRIC L-SQUARE RULER $13.95 |
| | Vintage Valentine ♥ “On The Square I Want You For My Valentine” Pig, Ruler,Heart $1.99 |
| | RARE TOOLS wood handle hammer saw nails square rule ruler RARE STAMPIN UP stamps $6.99 |
| | Stainless Steel 250 x 500mm 90 Degree Try Square Ruler $13.94 |
| | 1.4″ Width Blade 30cm Scale Silver Tone Metal Try Mitre Square Ruler $5.95 |
| | Steel Try Metre Square 90 Degree Angle Ruler 50cm New $10.94 |
| | Woodworking 80mm x 50mm Scale Right Angle Square Ruler $9.73 |
| | 130mm x 305mm Metal Right Angle Square Measure Ruler $9.93 |
| | 90 Degree 12 Inches Metal L Square Ruler 130mm x 30mm $9.24 |
| | 130mm x 305mm Metal Right Angle Square Measure Ruler $9.89 |
| | Plastic Protractor Set Square Ruler 4 Pcs Drawing Tool $4.21 |
| | 125mm x 80mm Non-marked Scales L Square Ruler Tool New $14.29 |
| | 1~Standard Aluminum T-Square Ruler~12″x1-1/2″x9″head~US $10.50 |
| | Stationery Set Square Ruler Compass Drawing Tool w Holder Case $6.19 |
| | Clear Blue Plastic Set Square Protractor Ruler 4 Pcs Drawing Tool $4.06 |
| | 29.9cm 90 Degree Angle Metric Try Mitre Square Ruler $8.27 |
| | 2 Pcs Stationery 30/60 45 Degree Set Square Rulers $5.04 |
| | Stainless Steel 250 x 500mm 90 Degree Try Square Ruler $13.69 |
| | 160mm x 100mm Scale Right Angle L Square Ruler Tool New $20.85 |
| | Vintage Samco’s Advertising Square Yardstick Ruler Walking Stick Salesman Sample $14.99 |
| | Aluminum Handle 50cm 90 Degree Metric Try Square Ruler $10.96 |
| | Restoration Medium Square Reclaimed wood ruler Planter Magazine Hardware $95 $34.99 |
| | Clear Blue Plastic Set Square Protractor Ruler 4 Pcs Drawing Tool $4.17 |
| | Woodworking 50cm Blk Scale Marks Try Square Angle Ruler $10.98 |
| | Stationery Set Square Ruler Compass Drawing Tool w Holder Case $5.71 |
| | Vintage Union Tool Co. Metal 12″ Combination Square Ruler, VGC $8.99 |
| | 8″x12″ Framing Square / Carpenters Ruler, Metric & Inch $3.99 |
| | Aluminum Handle 50cm 90 Degree Metric Try Square Ruler $10.48 |
| | Fit to be Square Ruler by Open Gate $17.95 |
| | Little Tikes Workshop Work Bench Tools Replacement: Square Ruler $6.99 |
| | New 24 Packs of 12 Inch Silver Combination Square Ruler $30.55 |
| | New 48 Packs of 12 Inch Silver Combination Square Ruler $50.88 |
| | New 72 Packs of 12 Inch Silver Combination Square Ruler $68.67 |
| | New 96 Packs of 12 Inch Silver Combination Square Ruler $88.72 |
| | Steel Aluminum Dual Reading 30cm Scale Try Metre Square Ruler $8.96 |
| | STANLEY ODD JOBS NO 1 ANTIQUE VINTAGE CARPENTRY BRASS RULER LEVEL SQUARE GAUGE $79.99 |
| | Triangle in a Square Ruler By Quilt in a Day $13.99 |
| | 6-1/2″ Square Ruler By Quilt in a Day $10.99 |
| | Engineers Double Side 30cm Metric Ruler Try Mitre Square Silver Tone $8.85 |
| | Stationery Set Square Ruler Compass Drawing Tool w Holder Case $6.18 |
| | 7″ ALUMINUM RAFTER ANGLE MEASURE & 300MM L SQUARE RULER $18.71 |
| | Plastic Protractor Set Square Ruler 4 Pcs Drawing Tool $3.54 |
| | 9-1/2″ Square Up Ruler By Quilt in a Day $12.99 |
| | 20.5″ Square Creative Grids NEW QUILT RULER Gripper Dots Top Quality Made in USA $52.95 |
| | Restoration Small Square Reclaimed wood ruler Planter Basket Hardware $65 $19.95 |
| | 3 RULERS T Square Ruler DRAFTING * Letterpress Printers Block $9.99 |
| | Omnigrid Quilter’s Square Ruler 4-1/2″ X 4-1/2″ R45G $7.99 |
| | Deluxe 12″ Combination Protractor Tri-Square Multi-Purpose Home Ruler Leveler HD $18.49 |
| | 12.5″ Square FUSSY CUT Creative Grids NEW QUILT RULER $29.45 |
| | 10.5″ Square Creative Grids NEW QUILT RULER Gripper Dot NEW CREATIVE GRID $19.95 |
| | Lot 3 Old Antique Stanley Carpentry Tools Wood Gauge Square & 2FT Folding Ruler $24.99 |
| | Steel Try Metre Square 90 Degree Angle Ruler 50cm New $10.99 |
| | 250 x 500mm Scale Marks Metric Try Square Angle Ruler $13.94 |
| | Protractor 20cm Straight Ruler 45 60 Degree Set Square $5.24 |
| | Sanrio Hello Kitty Set Square + Ruler + Protractor $5.99 |
| | Steel Try Metre Square 90 Degree Angle Ruler 50cm New $10.64 |
| | Steel Try Metre Square 90 Degree Angle Ruler 50cm New $11.07 |
| | Omnigrip 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ Square Ruler -New- Quality Craft & Quilt Omnigrid Tool $5.55 |
| | Antique Fulton slide rule ruler cast iron level square ruler $24.99 |
| | 6.5 INCH SQUARE QUILTING RULER – OLFA – 45 Degree Angle Marked $5.50 |
| | Make Accurate 4 Triangle Squares – Precision Trimmer 3 Quilt Ruler New Sew Tool $2.55 |
| | 300mm Combination Square Ruler Scriber Level Hand Tool $10.73 |
| | Scovill Dritz See-Thru Ruler, The Sewer’s “T” Square $8.99 |
| | Standard Aluminum T-Square Ruler 24″x2 USA $29.00 |
| | Disney Winnie the Pooh Geometry Set Ruler Square NEW $6.30 |
| | Pink Compass Set Square Centimeter Ruler Protractor New $6.55 |
| | Quilt in a Day Ruler 6″ Square Up $20.94 |
| | Clear Blue Plastic Set Square Protractor Ruler 4 Pcs Drawing Tool $4.38 |
| | Aluminum Handle 50cm 90 Degree Metric Try Square Ruler $10.48 |
| | 80mm x 50mm 90 Degree Right Angle Metric L Square Ruler $10.03 |
| | Pink Compass Set Square Centimeter Ruler Protractor New $6.05 |
| | 24″ 600Mm Aluminium Folding Square Ruler Builers Tool $14.52 |
| | 250 x 500mm Scale Marks Metric Try Square Angle Ruler $13.74 |
| | SQUARE IN A SQUARE TECHNIQUE RULER BY QUILTINGLY YOURS $20.00 |