One of our hottest, most popular products is the fabric covered badge reel. Not only are they fun and easy to make, but they extraordinarily useful for anyone who needs quick and easy access to a badge throughout their day.

A good example of of this is nurses, with whom monogrammed badge reels are especially popular. Unfortunately though, some hospitals are not too keen on nurses wearing buttons covered with fabric while on the job.

But wouldn’t you know it…we have a solution!

You now have the option to cover your fabric button with the same mylar (clear plastic) that is normally used to cover paper buttons. The clear plastic cover keeps the fabric dirt free and is easy to wash with a damp cloth.

Note: you cannot use a standard fabric button machine to make this type of button. Adding a layer of mylar on top of the fabric will increase the thickness of the material. That is where our expertise comes in.

We can adjust our fabric button makers specifically to accept the additional thickness! All you have to do is ask before you place your order, and we can custom-make a fabric button machine just for you!

And if you already own a button machine and want to make fabric buttons that have a mylar covering, we can even retrofit your machine for you.

To learn more, use the following links:

• Badge reels (including monogrammed) by ABM
• Convincing testimonial about the greatness of personalized badge reels

Everyone has heard of the phrases “thumbs up” and “thumbs down.”

When you agree with something, or when something is good, you give it a thumbs up to emphasize your agreement. When you disagree with something, or when something is not good, you give it a thumbs down to emphasize your disagreement.

Well here at American Button Machines, we do this…but a little differently. And – surprise, surprise! – our version of it includes buttons.

When something is good that we like, we say button ups! And when something doesn’t meet our approval, we say, button downs. And yes, we actually have “up” and “down” buttons here at the HQ that we sometimes use for extra emphasis.*

Today, we are going to highlight a few specific button ups (and one button down) that we’re thinking about as another week comes to a close.

Button Ups: Embracing the versatility of fabric buttons!

We love fabric buttons, and we think that you should love fabric buttons too. Whether you’re making them as a keepsake or gift, or for use as a ponytail holder or badge reel, or for any of other myriad ways fabric buttons can be used, this variety is one of our best sellers for a reason.

Button Ups: Planning ahead and having the right machine and supplies

It is very important that you know from the start what kind of buttons you plan to make. Different size and supplies are not interchangeable. If you need help with this, or want to know what your options are, go to our button machines page and click on any size button to see a complete chart of all the possibile button varieties you can make at that size.

Button Downs: Thinking that making buttons is too hard

What!? Too hard!? Forgive us for our incredulity, but are you crazy!?

One of the beauties of button making is that it is easy! Not only do we provide you with all of the videos and tutorials (plus free graphics!) that you could possibly need, you are limited only by your own creativity!

Button Ups: Cool new products like button necklaces

We are always on the lookout for fun and interesting new products that we can add to the list that we offer our customers. The newest of these is the button necklace, especially the chunky button necklace. This can be great for use as a gift, for displaying a sports button as you support a family, or a number of other uses.

Button Ups: Beginner? Professional? We’ve got you covered!

We know that our customers range from the hobbyist to the serious, enterprising buttonpreneur. Obviously your supply needs are going to vary greatly. That’s why we developed two different button making systems: both a beginner button making system and a professional button making system.

We could add a few more button downs, but really, why dwell on the negative?

That’s enough for now, although I’m sure we’ll be back with another installment of this Button Ups and Button Downs feature sometime in the future. In the meantime, focus on the Button Ups and let us know what we can do to make all your button making dreams and goals a reality!

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* – This is the reason why “s” is on the “up” and not the “button.” If it were “buttons up” we’d have to lift up more than one and, well, that’s just cumbersome.

I know what you’re thinking: wait, you mean a button machine merchant can help me make necklaces?

You bet we can!

Not only do we have a 1.5″ necklace kit that works with paper or fabric buttons, we also have an adjustable necklace you can use to proudly and fashionably wear your button necklace.

And that’s not all.

We are actually the only place where you turn your incredible, wonderful, charming buttons into a chunky necklace that will make you the envy of buttoneers everywhere!

Yes, one of our newest products is the 2.25″ Chunky Necklace kit. With the enormous popularity of personalized chunky necklaces, this was a no-brainer for us to bring to market.

Here is everything that you get with our kit, which allows you to make your very own chunky necklace:

• 2.25″ Front Shell
• Necklace Back
• Mylar
• Tab and jump ring to make your own printed graphic or fabric covered necklace.

And here are the couldn’t-be-easier directions: simply make a button as usual and then add your own chain to complete the look you want.

Basically, you have the freedom to create any chunky necklace you want, and we supply the parts, pieces, and directions so that you can do so easily and effortlessly. All you have to decide is which type of necklace is right for you: the 1.5″ button size or the new 2.25″ button size? With the latter, you can also use monogrammed buttons or even photo buttons (with a picture of your child, perhaps?).

Button necklaces make great gifts, they are great for supporting cause or teams, and they are hits at craft shows and fairs. And if you run a button business, they typically generate nice margins because of their uniqueness as a product.

For more information and to purchase: 2.25″ Chunky Necklace

One of the most commonly asked – and important – questions that we get from potential button makers is: what size button is right for our project? It’s a great question. With so many different button size options available, it can be hard to narrow it down and choose the one that perfectly fits your particular project.

While the 2.25″ button is the most common and versatile button size that we sell, it is just one of many. In today’s post we are going to talk about a button size that doesn’t get enough credit or pub; but hey, even big buttons need love too.

So here are a variety of uses for the 6″ button.

First of all, 6 inch buttons are terrific for photo buttons; and you can even make 6” photo buttons out of regular printer paper. But while photo buttons are the most common kind of 6″ button, they are far from the only option.

Try a game of tic tac toe using a 6” button as the game board and using 1” magnets for the pieces.  You can customize the buttons using your own graphics and imagination, as was done with the button below:

We can also customize a 6” button machine to make fabric covered buttons. Fabric button are great to display your monogram or cross stitching skills onto large 6” buttons.

In addition, 6” Buttons come with their own built-in pop-out display easel so you can stand them up and show off your craftiness on a desk or bookshelf.

You can also make custom clocks, and large 6” buttons are also great for selling custom promotional products into retail stores.

And although we do not condone it, you can also place the smaller 1” buttons you made on a cat.

Image Courtesy of Stuff on My Cat

If you are looking for a unique way to display a memory, you cannot go wrong with the 6″ button:

• 6” Button Machine
• 6” Professional Button Making System

Welcome back to another installment of Button University Lessons! In Lesson 8, we showed you some quick videos and outlined step-by-step button making guidelines, reconfirming the simplicity and speed of our machines. Today, we are going to talk a little bit about fabric covered buttons.

Our Fabric Button Machine allows you to make your own fabric buttons or ponytail holders! In fact, Using our large eyelet two-piece button sets, fabric covered buttons can be attached to shoe laces, flip flops, shoe charms, hair ties & more!

There are a couple of machines that we have that will cater to whatever needs you have. Here are the details on those machines.

The Workhorse Series: Our Black-n-Red Z-Series Machines can make 1 1/2″, 2 1/4″, 3″, or 3 1/2″ fabric covered buttons. The dies are not interchangeable, each Black-n-Red fabric covered button machine makes a specific button size. One major benefit to the Z-Series is that you can make classic button options. The Black-n-Red Z Series machines allow you to make monogrammed buttons, fabric covered buttons, pin back buttons, ponytail holders, pocket mirrors, refrigerator magnets, key chains, necklaces, shoe charms, tie tacs, earrings, rosettes, drink coasters, bulldog clips and flip flop accessories.

Specialty Series: The Green Machine can make 3/4″, 1″ and 1 1/2″ fabric covered buttons. Simply swap out the dies and you are making a different button size in seconds. The PT-150 Green Machine uses our exclusive large “wire eyelet” button back. This strong eyelet can be used to make great ponytail holders. We offer several accessories made specifically for fabric buttons. Simply snip off the eyelet back and glue your favorite option to the back of the button. Accessories include badge reels, button bracelets, button rings, shoe charms, bobby pins and cell phone charms.

For more informaiton on how to make a fabric button, check out the Fabric Button Series here at The Button Blog. And join us tomorrow for Lesson 10 of Button University where we talk about working with Badge-a-Minit machines and parts.

Custom monogrammed buttons are growing in popularity and it’s easier than ever for embroidery shops and monogrammed gift businesses to get in on the action.

Fabric buttons are extremely versatile, but most manufacturers do not offer any options for their customers. Thus, your embroidery business or monogrammed gift shop has a solid chance to capitalize on the opportunity. With inexpensive supplies and a quick, easy process, the high profit margins custom monogrammed buttons offer is an excellent way for a business to expand.

With the variety of optional backings that can be used on the buttons, monograms could be displayed as ponytail holders, necklaces, pocket mirrors, shoe charms, cell phone charms, key chains, refrigerator magnets, flip-flop accessories and more.

For fear of facing a complicated button making process, many embroiderers have avoided moving into the button phase of their business. However, in all actuality, the monogramming is actually the most challenging part. In fact, the entire process wraps up in three simple steps, and embroidery and monogramming businesses are already masters of the first step.

Step 1: Embroider the monogram on fabric.
Step 2: Cut it out using a circle cutter or fabric circle cutting press.
Step 3: Press all the components together using the Fabric Button Machine.

The circle cutter and the fabric circle cutting press can be found at the American Button Machines website, where you can find all of your button-making solutions.

The adjustable rotary circle cutter offers additional functionality as well. It was originally designed for cutting circular graphics and photos for pin-back buttons. However, the product’s innate durability allows for a variety of uses. For instance, schools, arts and crafts designers, companies, and many others use the versatile cutter to cut circles out of paper, thin plastic, construction paper and poster board.

It’s pretty safe to say that with the incorporation of both monogramming and buttons, you’re well on your way to something new, definitely fun, and with the potential to be very profitable.

For more information on the button making process, check out our how-to button making videos at AmericanButtonMachines.com.

At American Button Machines we pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop for any supply you may need for a wide range of button making projects. What a lot of our visitors and customers do not realize is that many of our products also have useful functions outside the realm of button making.

While our usual focus on this blog is to revel in the wonderful world of buttons, we are actually going to – don’t be alarmed – take a brief step outside of button making to discuss the most versatile product that we sell: adjustable circle cutters.

Obviously the circle cutter tool is a prominent product in our overall line of button making supplies and accessories because it is perfect for cutting circular graphics and photos for making pinback buttons. However, the purpose of this post is to help you step outside the button making box and understand the wide variety of additional projects for which a circle cutter tool can be a perfect tool.

In addition to cutting graphics for pinback buttons, many arts and crafts aficionados use circle cutters to cut numerous items other than paper, and have found tremendous benefits. Schools, arts and crafts lovers, companies, and families have purchased our adjustable circle cutter to cut circles out of paper, thin plastic, construction paper, poster board, and fabric.

Here is a quick video to show you how a circle cutter tool works:

Question: If your son or daughter is putting together a collage project for school and wants to cut circular images out of magazines or newspapers, what is the easiest tool he or she could use?

Answer: A circle cutter.

Question: If you are looking to dress up a button project by adding embroidered fabric to a buttons, what product is perfectly constructed for cutting circles out of fabric?

Answer: A circle cutter.

Question: If you are decorating a classroom, or an office, or a bedroom, and you would like to use circular cutouts as part of the decoration, what product would allow you to cut circles with several different diameters?

Answer: A circle cutter.

Question: What is an essential tool for any scrapbooking enthusiast who wants to vary the shapes, sizes, and display of pictures and mementos?

Answer: A circle cutter.

Question: If you are baking cookies and want to cut your dough into perfect circles, what is the best product to use?

Answer: Okay, probably not a circle cutter. (Although, if you are not averse to the cleanup and your cookie cutters are missing, you certainly could!)

While the last example is obviously on the ridiculous side (and suddenly made me very hungry), the point is that a circle cutter is a product you can use repeatedly, even when you are not working on a specific button making project.

Our circle cutters are expertly crafted and built to be long-lasting and durable, despite their economical price. In addition, they come with free centering templates and have easy-to-adjust pre-set stops for five popular button making sizes: 1”, 1.5”, 2.25 ”, 3”, and 3.5”. Each circle cutter also has top-mounted quick release knob for “odd” size incremental adjustments throughout the full range from 1.313” to 4”.

Important note: many other more cheaply made, yet more expensive circle cutters leave an unsightly and annoying pinhole in the center of your paper, board, or fabric. This is because they cut like a compass. However, our circle cutters actually hold the material with four knurled edges located on the bottom of the cutter that are kept out of the way of the cutting blade. This allows the circle cutter to hold the material steady and keep it from sliding around, while keeping the finish pristine and devoid of the holes that other cutters leave.

Find out more for yourself. Here is the link to our circle cutter at the American Button Machines main website. If you have a question about a project, and want to know whether or not a circle cutter could be of assistance, feel free to leave a comment here and we’ll respond. Also, we include an adjustable circle cutter in our Beginner Button Making Kits, as well as in our Z-Series Fabric Button Making Systems.

But, as we have explained today, you do not have to be in the market for button makers or button making supplies to be able to gain value from circle cutters. If you are a creative, crafty person, if you are a teacher or a scrapbooking buff, or even if you are just a parent with imaginative kids, a circle cutter will be a valuable addition to your arsenal of household or office tools.

One of the growing trends in monogramming and embroidery is the use of fabric-covered buttons as an accessory for a number of items, from clothing to purses to shoes. Many small embroidery shops have begun to offer a selection of fabric buttons, including custom monogrammed buttons. With a professional grade button machine, a small embroidery shop can quickly expand its product offering with a fun and versatile fabric button that has a number of uses. This post is the third in our week-long series on fabric buttons.

Tuesday, we discussed important pointers for choosing the right fabric when you begin your fabric button making project. Wednesday, we told you about the myriad uses for fabric-covered buttons. Then yesterday, we discussed why many embroidery shops are investing in their own professional button machine to create custom fabric buttons. Today, we give you a brief overview of the proper way to use a button machine to make fabric-covered buttons.

In a rotating die button maker, the materials are placed into two separate dies. The button’s front shell and fabric are positioned in the first die, which is rotated into the machine, and the lever is pulled once. The button back is then placed in the second die, which is rotated into the press, and the lever is pulled a second time completing the button press operation.

We have found that a button maker with a rotating die is the most efficient way to produce buttons in a large number extremely quickly. The button parts are loaded directly in front of the operator so they do not have to make excessive time-consuming moves to the left and the right of the machine to load parts which slows down production. The two dies swivel on a center axis providing speed and accuracy to such levels that these machines are able to produce a button in as little as ten seconds. There are other fabric button machines that are designed to have interchangeable dies, such as our PT-150  Green Machine.  The dies can be swapped out to change sizes quickly and efficiently. While production is not quite as fast as the rotating die method, these machines produce very high quality, cost effective buttons”.

A fabric button is a great way to personalize any item and to add a unique sense of one’s personal style. With a wide array of fabrics, and a number of different button making options, fabric buttons have a number of uses, such as pocket mirrors, keychains, ponytail holders, pinback buttons, shoe charms, and necklaces. By investing in a professional grade fabric button maker, an embroiderer can easily expand their offering and capitalize on the growing popularity of fabric-covered buttons.

Follow the link to see American Button Machines’ line of fabric button supplies

One of the growing trends in monogramming and embroidery is the use of fabric-covered buttons as an accessory for a number of items, from clothing to purses to shoes. Many small embroidery shops have begun to offer a selection of fabric buttons, including custom monogrammed buttons. With a professional grade button machine, a small embroidery shop can quickly expand its product offering with a fun and versatile fabric button that has a number of uses. This post is the third in our week-long series on fabric buttons.

Tuesday, we discussed important pointers for choosing the right fabric when you begin your fabric button making project. Then yesterday, we told you about the myriad uses for fabric-covered buttons. Today, we will provide an overview of why many embroidery shops are investing in their own professional button machine to produce custom fabric buttons.

While monogrammed fabric buttons are growing in popularity, it can be hard for a small embroidery business to capitalize on the opportunity. Additionally, many production methods are not efficient enough for a small business trying to establish themselves as a provider of fabric buttons. Fabric-covered buttons can be extremely versatile, but most manufacturers do not offer any options for their customers.

Most embroidery shops start slow, perhaps using a Dritz Button Cover Kit or similar type of “hand pressed” button. While Dritz Buttons are good for making a fabric-covered button, the results at times can look a little homemade as they usually do not produce the same quality as a fabric-covered button made on a professional button making machine. Dritz Buttons are good, but were never intended for the high-end production method the monogram industry demands.

While relatively inexpensive to make (with accessories basically non-existent) these fabric “press together” button styles can be challenging to assemble. They rely on an individual’s strength to press the parts together by hand or with a hammer. Once all the materials are gathered, they are placed into the press, which is then squeezed together to make a button. There are several limitations to this method. Hand pressing fabric buttons can be difficult to make and uncomfortable for the user. The person making the button must proceed extremely slowly to ensure a quality product. A rushed job can, and often does, result in a button that is not centered and looks bad. Additionally, a press together button is not an efficient button maker, as it takes longer to make a button as compared to using a professional button making machine.

Many production methods are not efficient enough for a small business trying to establish themselves as a provider of fabric buttons. For a business looking to make a large number of fabric buttons, or a variety of covered button types, the old hand-press-together buttons are simply not up to the task of producing a large number of quality buttons quickly. These press together button styles are good for a family or art class making craft buttons but an embroidery shop needing a large number of fabric buttons in a short amount of time would be better suited by using a professional fabric button making machine.”

Many gift shops and resellers simply order fabric-covered buttons from a manufacturer such as Morgan and Company With professional grade equipment, a manufacturer can quickly turn out a large number of buttons; however there are some drawbacks. The price of these fabric buttons can be quite high, as the manufacturer has to mark-up the price of the button to the reseller, who in turn marks it up again to the end customer. Additionally, if a customer wants to personalize a button with an initial monogram, a manufacturer may not be able produce a custom monogram or will charge a high price for the personalized embroidery. To reduce costs and still produce personalized embroidered gifts, many embroidery shops are beginning to purchase their own button making machine.

Making a fabric button is extremely easy using professional equipment. After selecting a particular fabric and completing any embroidery or monogramming, a Circle Cutter or Fabric Cutting Press is used to cut out each piece of fabric that will be used in the buttons. Once the other necessary supplies are gathered, a professional button maker can quickly produce a large number of buttons.

Follow the link to see American Button Machines’ line of fabric button supplies.

One of the growing trends in monogramming and embroidery is the use of fabric-covered buttons as an accessory for a number of items, from clothing to purses to shoes. Many small embroidery shops have begun to offer a selection of fabric buttons, including custom monogrammed buttons. With a professional grade button machine, a small embroidery shop can quickly expand its product offering with a fun and versatile fabric button that has a number of uses. This post is the second in our week-long series on fabric buttons.

Yesterday, we gave you a brief introduction to fabric buttons and discussed a few pointers for choosing the right fabric. In today’s post, we will discuss the wide variety of uses for fabric-covered buttons that can easily be made with the right equipment, like your own professional button machine.

The Many Varied Uses of Fabric-Covered Buttons

Most button making machines are manufactured to produce pinback buttons using regular printer paper. Fabric is a completely different type of material than paper. It is important to have a button maker calibrated properly to accommodate for the challenges in making a button out of fabric material. Proper calibration ensures the fabric button machine will produce consistent quality buttons throughout its life.

With a little creativity and the right equipment, an embroidery business can expand their offering of fabric-covered buttons and sell a large variety of novelty buttons with a number of different applications. After cutting the fabric to a specific size with our Circle Cutter or Fabric Cutting Press,  a number of different options such as the type we offer on our website www.AmericanButtonMachines.com, can be pressed onto the back of the button to make several different products.

A number of different attachments, such as a keychain, zipper pull or cell phone charm can turn any button into a personalized novelty item. This is especially useful for embroidery shops, which can make a personalized fabric button to accessorize any item. There are a number of backs that can be used with a fabric button. While some prefer a pinback to decorate a purse or to wear on clothing, a jacket, or a hat, others might want a more versatile back.

Snap-Inz shoe charms are used to turn a fabric button into a shoe charm to decorate Croc shoes. These charms can be glued to the back of a button and simply snapped into place through the holes on the Croc shoes. Another use for fabric buttons is as a ponytail holder. This can be accomplished with a special button back that has an eyelet to run a ponytail elastic through. Other specialty kits can include button bracelets and necklaces, as well as pacifier clips (paci-clip) and keychains.

Discerning customers are looking for the latest in quality button making options such as pocket mirrors, ponytail holders, keychains, necklaces, pinback buttons and refrigerator magnets. Applying a personalized initial monogram to a fabric button is a great way to decorate a favorite item or add personalized flair to a book bag, jacket, purse, or a pair of flip flops.

Follow the link to see American Button Machines’ line of fabric button supplies.