One of my favorite things about digital scrapbooking supplies is that they don't have to stay on a scrapbook page. I love finding new ways to bring my favorite designs into everyday life, and lately I've been having so much fun turning printable papers and embellishments into custom buttons.

Like many scrapbookers, I have a growing collection of little printable leftovers.

Whenever I print a sheet of 4×6 journaling cards or printable sticker sheets from my favorite Traci Reed Designs collections, there are usually a few cards or embellishments that don't get used right away. They're WAY too cute to throw away, so they end up in my "scrap stash" waiting for the perfect project.

If you've spent any time on social media lately, you've probably seen the adorable boat-and-tote bag trend. Everyone seems to be personalizing canvas bags with patches, pins, buttons, charms, and other little touches that make them uniquely theirs. As soon as I saw the trend, I knew I wanted to create buttons featuring some of my favorite scrapbook designs.

Using my manual button maker, I turned those leftover printed pieces into colorful buttons. (I used my biggest size, 3 inches, but my machine does 3 different sizes, so you might end up doing something smaller!) It's such a satisfying project because it gives new life to pieces that might have otherwise stayed tucked away in a drawer. Plus, the finished buttons are perfect for decorating tote bags, project bags, denim jackets, pencil pouches, lanyards, and even bulletin boards in your craft room.

One of my favorite parts of this project is that it lets me carry a little bit of my favorite scrapbook collections with me wherever I go.

Don't own a button maker? Don't let that stop you! Many public libraries, maker spaces, and community creative centers have button makers available for visitors to use. Some even allow you to reserve one or check one out, making it an inexpensive way to try these before deciding whether you'd like one of your own. (But I recommend this one that does 3 sizes if you do buy one of your own!)

The next time you're cleaning up your craft table, don't overlook those leftover printable pieces. Those little scraps from your favorite collections might just become your next favorite accessory.

I'd love to see what you create! If you make your own custom buttons, I'd love to see which collections inspire you and how you use them to add a little extra personality to your everyday projects.