How to Use a Button Box for Craft Storage
By Badge Bomb | buttons, pins, stickers + gifts by your favorite | Published: 2026-10-21
Category: How-to Guides
Turn a button box into a versatile craft organizer for small supplies like beads, sequins, and pins. Step-by-step guide with tips to avoid clutter.
Quick Answer
Use a button box as a modular craft organizer by sorting small items like beads, sequins, and pins into the 1 inch compartments. The sturdy recycled-paper box keeps supplies visible and accessible.
Why a Button Box Works for Craft Storage
A button box is designed to hold 200 1 inch buttons, but its divided interior and compact footprint make it ideal for sorting tiny craft supplies. The recycled paper and steel construction is durable enough for daily use, and the clear lid lets you see contents without opening.
The main trade-off is that the compartments are sized for 1 inch buttons, so larger items like scissors or glue bottles won't fit. Stick to small, flat objects for best results.
How to Organize Your Craft Supplies with a Button Box
- Empty and Sort Your Supplies: Dump all small craft items onto a clean surface. Group them by type—beads, sequins, pins, or small buttons. This prevents mixing incompatible items in the same compartment. Checkpoint: Keep similar-sized items together so they don't spill into adjacent compartments.
- Fill the Compartments Strategically: Place one type of supply per compartment. Use the largest compartments for bulkier items like larger beads, and smaller sections for tiny sequins or pins. Leave a little space at the top so the lid closes flat. Common mistake: Overfilling a compartment can cause items to shift and mix when the box is moved.
- Label the Lid for Quick Reference: Use a removable label or a piece of tape on the inside of the lid to note what each compartment holds. This saves time when you're in the middle of a project. Checkpoint: Update the label whenever you change the contents to avoid confusion.
- Stack Multiple Boxes for Larger Collections: If you have more supplies than one box can hold, buy multiple button boxes and stack them. The uniform size makes stacking stable, and you can label each box by category (e.g., beads, sequins, pins). Common mistake: Stacking boxes with uneven contents may cause them to tip. Ensure each box is evenly filled and the lid is fully closed.
Recommended Product
- Oregon State 1" Button Box (No PDX buttons): Oregon State 1" Button Box holds 200 1" buttons, made with recycled paper and steel, hand-pressed in Portland, OR. The sturdy recycled-paper construction and divided interior make it a durable, eco-friendly organizer for small craft supplies like beads and sequins.
Oregon State 1" Button Box (No PDX buttons)
