Not able to modify and configure instance variables from within my init method but still in same class. Python Tkinter

I am writing a quick program for a class project. I am fairly new to tkinter and most problems I have been able to find answers for. However, now I am stuck. I want to disable buttons on my widget when a new window pops and then reactivate them when the windows close. Pretty simple concept, and from what I read should be easy to do. However, I am still learning class structures and struggling with the idea of object-oriented programming. I set up my buttons in the init method for the class on my main window.

Then I defined the button command method inside the same class. Everything works great, but when I try to disable the buttons from a config method defined in the same class, the method doesn't recognize the button variables I created. I have a feeling this is because they are only instance variables and have no memory outside the instance. So I need to know how to initialize the buttons and then access theirBrief look at my code and how things are set-up currently variables to force action on them.

I have tried moving them to a class Variable, but that doesn't set the buttons up. I have also tried changing or removing prefixes (didn't expect it to work and it didn't) I have tried everything I have found online, but I am stuck. (I commented out the disable options for now until I get it to work) full code available on github https://github.com/mgentile77/DnD5e.git

class Horde_Maker:
#Main Window class all other windows come from here
def __init__(self,root):
#Initializes the main window and starts program
self.app = root
#This sections creates window size and location on pop up 
width = 300
height = 200
screen_wid = root.winfo_screenwidth()
screen_hei = root.winfo_screenheight()
x = (screen_wid/2) - (width/2)
y = (screen_hei/2) - (height/2)
self.app.title("Horde Maker")
self.app.geometry("%dx%d+%d+%d" % (width, height, x, y))
self.app.protocol("WM_DELETE_WINDOW", self.disable_Xclose)
#Begins layout of window widgets
self.set_up()
def set_up(self):
#sets up window widgets for this class    
self.frame_header = ttk.Frame()#Frame for image
self.frame_header.pack()
self.frame_start = ttk.Frame()#Frame for start welcome and instructions
self.frame_start.pack()
ttk.Label(self.frame_start, text = "Welcome To The").pack()
ttk.Label(self.frame_start, text = "HORDE MAKER").pack()
ttk.Label(self.frame_start, text = "Choose Your Path").pack()
self.frame_buttons = ttk.Frame()#Frame for buttons and pops buttons
self.frame_buttons.pack()
but_horde = ttk.Button(self.frame_buttons, text = "Horde Maker", command = self.hordebutton)
but_horde.grid(row = 0, column = 0)
but_char = ttk.Button(self.frame_buttons, text = "Character Builder", command = self.characterbutton)
but_char.grid(row = 0, column = 1)
ttk.Button(self.frame_buttons, text = 'Exit', command = lambda : exit()).grid(row = 1, column = 0, columnspan = 2)
#Begins Class methods used in functions of of buttons
def hordebutton(self):#opens Horde window
self.hord_button = Horde()
# self.disable_but()
def characterbutton(self):#opens Character Window
self.char_button = Character()
# self.disable_but()
#Creates parent class instructions for other windows    
def clear_frame(self,frame):#Destroys child window on exit 
for widgets in frame.winfo_children():
widgets.destroy() 
def disable_Xclose(self):#prevents closing the window by using corner X
pass
# @staticmethod
# def disable_but():
#     but_horde.config(state = DISABLED)
#     but_char.config(state = DISABLED)
# @staticmethod
# def enable_but():
#     but_horde.config(state = NORMAL)
#     but_char.config(state = NORMAL)

You need to use instance variables instead of local variables if those buttons are accessed outside the function where they are created.

Also static method of a class cannot access instance variables of that class. Use normal class method instead.

To access those instance variables from other class, you can pass the instance of the class to other class.

class Horde_Maker:
    ...

    def set_up(self):
        ...
        # use instance variables instead
        self.but_horde = ttk.Button(self.frame_buttons, text="Horde Maker", command=self.hordebutton)
        self.but_horde.grid(row=0, column=0)

        self.but_char = ttk.Button(self.frame_buttons, text="Character Builder", command=self.characterbutton)
        self.but_char.grid(row = 0, column = 1)
        ...

    def hordebutton(self):#opens Horde window
        self.disable_but()
        self.hord_button = Horde(self)  # pass instance to class Horde

    def characterbutton(self):#opens Character Window
        self.disable_but()
        self.char_button = Character(self) # pass instance to class Character

    ...

    # change to normal class method
    def disable_but(self):
        self.but_horde.config(state=DISABLED)
        self.but_char.config(state=DISABLED)

    def enable_but(self):
        self.but_horde.config(state=NORMAL)
        self.but_horde.config(state=NORMAL)

class Character(Horde_Maker):
    ...

    def __init__(self, app):
        self.app = app
        ...

    ...

    def leave2(self):
        self.app.enable_but()
        ...

    ...

class Horde(Horde_Maker):
    def __init__(self, app):
        self.app = app
        ...

    def leave1(self):
        self.app.enable_but()
        ...

    ...

Thank you, everyone, for the assistance. It did help me discover the root cause of my mistake. It was how I organized my classes and attempted to create a new hierarchy chain. I tried to create my own parent class and open new windows from within their own child class. This means I was passing objects to my objects that were calling other objects to do the work and returning the results to my object to return the result to another one of my objects. I should have realized that my classes were child classes from the tk parent class, and new init statements needed to be passed to the parent tk classes. Once I reorganized my classes to follow this hierarchy, everything worked perfectly, and I gained the functionality I wanted for my program. I still have a lot to learn, but I feel confident that I am beginning to catch on. Please let me know what you think of this explanation.