Many collectors enjoy looking through their buttons and mounting them on trays for competition. At the NJSBS Spring Show, most of these competitions are “Judged,” meaning that the trays must meet certain rules. “Popular vote” categories are decided by just that, popular vote. All NJSBS members can cast a vote.

At the NJSBS Fall Show, all the competitions are “Popular Vote.” To enter a competition, you must be a current member of the state society. Dues are just $15 and you can join at the door.  Click here for the tray slips/entry forms.

SPRING 2026 JUDGED COMPETITIONS:  All awards are Div IX.

1. Section 7.O. Clear and Colored Glass, 20 any size. Class 7-1 thru 7-8 with minimum of 2 sub-classes representing each class. No duplicate subclasses. Label in numerical order.  Black glass buttons are not appropriate in this class. Label back marks, studio makers if known, extra point for NJ studio artists. Tracy Bacilek, $10, $6, $4.

2. Section 17-2 Birds, 20 any size. Be sure to cover all the subclasses, as well as other identifiable types of birds. Labeling helpful. Bergen Button Club, $10, $6, $4.

3. Sec. 23-11.0 Studio Buttons, 15 any size. Label artist if known. Two points for each different NJ artist represented.  Look for as many artists as you can, in as many materials as you can. Virginia Furstenberger. $10, $6, $4.

4. 23-4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 Borders, 20 any size. Labeling what you want judges to notice about your border is helpful but not required. The entire focus and judging in this award will be about the BORDER. Jersey Shore Button Club, $10, $6, $4.

2026 SPRING COMPETITIONS: POPULAR VOTE MOUNT AS YOU PLEASE

1. Made in New Jersey, Materials Used in New Jersey Button Factories, 15 any size. Label and try to include a button from each of these sections: celluloid, Bakelite, ceramics, china, clear and colored glass, metals, shell, synthetic polymers, vegetable ivory, bone, rubber, and uniform. Central Jersey Buttoniers. $10, $6, $4.

2026 FALL COMPETITIONS: POPULAR VOTE MOUNT AS YOU PLEASE

1. Objects You Find in a Treasure Chest, Any size. Bergen  $15, $10, $5.

2. Garden Tea Party, Minimum 15 buttons. Jersey Shore  $10, $6, $4

3. Happy Birthday USA 250 Years Young, minimum 10 buttons. Annie Frazier, $25, $15, $10

4. Shapes! Minimum of 18, any size, at least 3 different linear shapes, no balance required. BE CREATIVE! Mercer County Buttoniers, $10, $6, $4

5. Fashions in Lafayette’s Time, Use craft OR collectible buttons to illustrate a fashion or an accessory that was worn furing Lafayette’s day. Optional: use a picture. Barbara Fox, $10, $6, $4

2027 SPRING COMPETITIONS:As of 4/10/2026

1. Fabric/Textiles Assorted, 15 any size. Be sure to cover as many classes as possible. Label Class number. (see Blue Book
appendix pg. 36). Look for pictorials, shapes, sew thru, movable, etc.   Jersey Shore, $10, 6, 4.

2. 8-5.1 Rhinestones/Pastes, Set in metal, 15 any size, any number of pastes acceptable. Look for different colors of
rhinestones, include various mountings (see Blue Book appendix pg. 43), pictorials, shapes, sew thrus, movables, etc. Ruth
Berry Award. $25, 15, 10.

3. 7-3 Fish and  17-4.2, Crustaceans (Lobster, shrimp, crabs, etc.) and 17-4.4 Mollusks (clams, oysters, snails other shelled animals, octopuses, squid, etc.) 15 any size specialized to 5 of each class.  Group each class together. Jersey Shore Button
Club, $15, 10, 5.

4. 19-2 Flowers, 15 any size, specialized to 4 each of the following 19-2.4 Roses, 19-2.5 Thistles, 19-2.6 Viola Family, and an
additional 3 buttons from any of the above classes. Bergen Button Club $10, 6, 4.

2027 Fall POPULAR VOTE/CREATIVE MOUNTING: As of 4/10/2026

1. Black and White, minimum 10 buttons, Stonebridge Button Club $10, $5, $5.

2. Hand Painted Buttons in any material, 6 to 9 buttons in memory of Matt Moreno, water color artist, Elaine Baur
$15, $10, $5.

3. Space: The Final Frontier, minimum 5 buttons. No maximum number of buttons. Judged soley on creativity, not on
the buttons themselves (materials, etc.) Mercer County Buttoniers, $10, $6, $4.

4. Down at the Shore, minimum 15 buttons. Anything you would find at the Jersey Shore. Jersey Shore Button Club,
$15, 10, $5.

5. Ladies Fashion Accessories, 15 buttons, Bergen Button Club, $10, 6, 4.

6. Go Hawaiian, 9 to 15 buttons depicting Hawaii, to honor the memory of Beverly Dwyer, Friendship Button Club of
NJ, Elaine and Art Baur, $15, $10, $5.

7. BLING, minimum 10 buttons, any amount of glitz on any material, Central Jersey Buttoniers, $15, $10, $5.