Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

 I've been having a love affair with antique enamel buttons. It all started when I found a few (full size) in a grab bag of junk jewelry. After looking around online, I found tons of gorgeous examples. I particularly love the little cases containing matching sets off enameled buttons, brooches, cufflinks, or belt buckles. Though the prices for the full size antique sets put them firmly out of my budget, there's no reason I can't have them in miniature! I punched the buttons out of patterned paper, then added a dome of gloss over the top of each. While I'm happy with the buttons, the cases I made for them still need a bit more thought.

 This box has six "enamel" buttons and a matching brooch on white velvet. I'm not fond of how stark the white is, so I may try shading it with some chalky pastels. I covered the outside with paper-thin imitation leather, and still need to add a  latch to the box. The brooch is only 1/16" by the way, so these boxes are tiny!

For this box, which is less than 1/2" long, I tried to include the metal "keepers" which were used instead of sewing these beautiful buttons on to garments. I used individual links from a silver chain, but I don't like how tall  they are. I will probably make them over using thin silver wire. I also dislike the way I made the box lid. The boxes were so tiny I didn't think it would be worth the extra effort to make the box top hollow, but now the flat lid is really bothering me. I guess it's back to the drawing board. Wish me luck!