As an antique button collector let me just remind you that you should not cover your buttons in their containers. They need to breathe. If they are in a tin box, the metal ones will rust. Newer, plastic buttons are pretty safe anywhere and probably even covered (like in plastic baggies).

Please leave the top of the tin open. Your buttons will rust or end of breaking if any of them are celluloid or bakelite. Metal buttons will rust if kept in closed tins.

To keep my, then 10 year old, grand daughter busy one summer gave her the task to sort my buttons. At the time was allocated to mason jars, plastic shoe box totes and cookie tins. Alot of buttons!~ She asked for plastic bags and a marker. She sorted by color, shades of the same color and then labled each bag. Since then I have kept her system, she will be 19 next month. Keeping all the plastic bags in one clear plastic tote makes looking for buttons easy. Sometimes children make come up with the obvious simple solutions to problems.

My button storage system evolved as my collection grew over the years. I started with baggies in a drawer, to small jars each dedicated to a specific color and placed on display in my studio. Space became an issue as the collection and jar size increased so I made the choice to toss all the cards and just save the buttons because I intend to use them. All of my buttons are currently stored in one gallon pickle jars on my shelf for quick visibility and inspiration. The categories are divided as follows: metal, browns, black/gray, blues/greens, white/cream, all other colors. I also use the gallon jars to store empty thread spools, scrabble letters, dominoes and other collectibles for mixed-media art projects. I've discovered that my creativity increased having my tools and supplies 'visually on display' instead of hidden behind cabinets and in drawers. When I do have to stack supplies on shelves or under tables, I store things in clear containers.

I found a lot of jars at Walmart that look old but are brand new. All different shapes and sizes. Cool, unique looking, kind of old fashioned. I put mine in by color. I have quite a few jars. I love buttons. I am a sucker for buttons!

some ppl are just too organized !!! *hump*........ I hate organizing... I work best in my chaos.... smile

I toss all mine in a BIG glass vase... If I ever need a button I'll worry about sorting them then....

I have mine in old Mason jars and old glass containers that have lids. They're to pretty to hide!...

I use empty "Classico" spaghetti sauce jars. They are really like canning jars. Beauty is I buy that kind of sauce and the jars are recycled. They are clear and I separate buttons by color.

That's what I'm talking about...........one place one container......yeehaw Bluteddi!

My favorite "go-to" button is the shell button that looks like mother of pearl. Local stores are usually low on the size I need on the day I go shopping, so I think I'm going to pursue buying three sizes in bulk for shirts, blouses, and jackets. I believe that online tailoring supply stores carry them by the pound.

I have a large basket of buttons on the cards, but I never use them, just add more when they're on sale.