Links which may be useful in making buttons:
Dorset Buttons
http://www.britishbuttonsociety.org/20070401DorsetButtons.htm
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/42688/how-to-make-dorset-buttons
http://www.mandacrafts.co.uk/Links.html for Dorset and Yorkshire buttons
www.willofyre.com/buttons2.pdf forTurkish and Persian buttons
Polymer clay [Fimo]
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/42722/make-your-own-buttons-from-polymer-clay
Chinese Knot
http://www.ehow.com/how_5025415_tie-chinese-knot-button.html
Wooden buttons
http://www.ehow.com/how_2294080_make-wood-buttons-from-tree.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4524283_make-wooden-buttons.html
Leather Buttons
http://www.ehow.com/how_6747635_make-leather-buttons.html
Using templates
http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2007/brigittenbuttons.html creative buttons
http://www.disswoolandcrafts.com/acatalog/Shell_Buttons.html
Felted wool
http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6969967_make-felted-wool-buttons.html
http://www.stickypawsfelting.co.uk/wordpress/?p=73 and other types of button
Button backs [for attaching to flat backed articles] available at
http://www.gregory-knopp.co.uk/
Other types of buttons
http://www.eribe.co.uk/knitting/howtoknit includes a small entry on buttons
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/8202/how-to-make-a-custom-knitted-button-and-win-the-style-game
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2010/03/24/make-your-own-buttons.aspx covering a cardboard circle with yarn