Appropriate age group(s):
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Estimated time to make this gift:
15-20 minutes plus drying time

Materials:
Inexpensive picture frame
(wood frame, if possible)

Craft Glue

Buttons; large assortment

Instructions:
Arrange the buttons in a pleasing pattern, then lift each button and glue it down with the craft glue.

Allow frame to dry, undisturbed, for several hours/overnight.

Insert a nice picture, then wrap in tissue for your loved one!

Other comments or suggestions to consider:
Grandma used to cut off all the buttons on cast-off clothing before it hit the 'rag bag'. If you have neither rag bag nor button box, you can likely find assorted buttons in thrift shops, and they are sometimes sold in craft stores. If you are planning this as a group activity, ask people to bring as many buttons as they can!

A variation would be to use seashells and tinted sand (perhaps mixed with glitter), beads, pompoms, tiny silk flowers...use your imagination. You could even use the ever-popular Macaroni,
;-) but that has perhaps been...overdone, and is a rather fragile art medium, for posterity ;-)