Recent Posts at The Button Blog
Machine maintenance
So, I just acquired two ABM machines second hand. One seems to have had very little use and is smooth and *very* easy to operate. The other one, while it works well, is much harder to pull tight and the upper die seems “loose” (dunno how else to describe it!) I want to keep them working for as long as I’m making buttons (which I hope will be a loooong time) but can’t find anything about what I need to do to maintain these guys. So is there anything I need to do? Thanks!!
Hello to all. I purchased the electric button punch machine and believe it or not, I havent gotten it to ever work because it seems so tedious to me. I am still stuck punching one circle at a time with the circle cutter. This is very time consuming as I am sometimes faced with orders of 50-100 buttons! Anyone has a suggestion on how I can operate the electric circle cutter! Explaining it in its simplest form?
practise, practise, practise.
just like learning to make a perfect button for a beginner.
I don’t have an electric punch machine. Did yo get it new or used and did it come with instructions? If it didn’t you could probably do a search in Google or Yahoo and find the directions. Then, as Buttonman said, practice…
Sorry, we do not offer an electric circle cutter. If you need to cut many graphics at a time for large button making runs, we do offer a high volume die cutting press that can cut 30-50 sheets at a time.
I’m rather curious how an electric circle cutter operates and looks like.
Is it possible to take pictures of it and post them (or have a link to them) here for us to see. Maybe its name is widely varied and someone here has some experience with it for some other operations rather than making buttons.
Meanwhile, I make about 50+ buttons daily, and Graphic Punch has been the greatest asset to me. It only takes a few minutes to punch them out.
Darshay, if you can forward a picture of your circle cutter to us, we would be happy to post it and see if we can identify it for you.
I’ve been searching for what photographers with button machines really need, design templates which allows us to put rectangular pictures on a round button with colorful graphic to fill in the wasted space. We have hundreds of pictures which can’t be cut round. I tried making designs my self in photoshop, but I’m not a designer and the results look very basic. Has anyone found these?
In my button making software I just make sure I have enoght around the photo for a border, and if I take the photo myself I make sure I do this, then line the photo up in the frame, then and what ever the customer wants on it, then make sure it’s all lined up for the size button I am doing, then save and print. I learned early to save all the final button work to disc. I can’t even count the times I have delivered a custom button and they love it so much they want to get more of them. so all final button layouts go onto a cdrw disc.
Thanks, but I need to use templates for pictures that cannot fit a round button. I have hundreds of pictures that were properly composed, and will have to remain rectangular.
hmm, well you could get a rectangular button press to make these.
I think ABM can get these, or already has them. they do aim to please.
I would say go with a rectangular button maker as well.
The only other thing I can think of is to scan your photo and with a clone tool, copy the photo in the areas that are not covered with the round button. Several programs have a clone tool. I use Paint Shop Pro. You could also scan in the photo, clone in the blank space, then use the photo with the clone paper work under it. That is about all I can think of.
Templates are $15, rectangular button machines are $1600, I’ll keep looking for templates.
If you are wanting to make a circular button out of a portion of a rectangle image, you can use graphic software to accomplish this. We have several online How To Videos including Corel Draw, Photoshop, Print Shop and Open Office to assist you in isolating the circle from the rectangle.
If you are wanting to make a circular button where the rectangle image is too small to fill the circle, then you can follow Jean W’s suggestion of cloning.
Button Keychains
We have a 3 inch button machine and I am deciding whether to purchase a smaller machine such as 1 inch or a 1.25 inch machine to make button keychains. Has anyone made them? Are they difficult to make? I am also wondering if they hold together or fall apart easily. Do you have a preference for which type of keychain backing? If you have sold them, what did you charge? Thanks!
I have had some luck, but making keychain buttons has a big learning curve. I have tried various manufactors parts with varing levels of success, most of it was my fault thou, You have to read each manufactors instructions Very well. some, the clips would flatten out easy and could be pulled back out easy. some, the clips wouldn’t go in easy without a fight. some had good key rings on them and some were just cheap wire rings. I won’t mention brands or companys here because I am giving my opinon and not trying to sell any certain brand. What I did was buy sample packs of which I wanted to try. I only played with 1 1/4 and 2 1/4 sized buttons. girls also love the mirror back buttons too. The keychain buttons do sell well, I have them in some stores out here.
Thanks so much for your reply. I can see how the smaller size would make it harder to cut. A sample pack is a good idea.
I sell 2.25″ Key chains. I purchase them through ABM and I have had no problems or complaints. These are the ones you need to “click” in the button and have a chain and ring. I personally like them. There is a right way to put the chain into the button. One way goes in pretty easy and you hear the “click” when it is in properly.
For pricing, depending on how may you buy. What I would do is double the cost of the materials (button back, front, mylar, key chain) add the cost of printing, cutting and time putting it together. The cost of printing will depend on what type of printer. I usually price out what it cost me to print an entire page and then divide that by how many buttons I get to the page. I double that price as well to cover wear and tear of my equipment. Then add a little for cutting time and putting it together. That should give you a price. 
Here is a link to our video showing how easy it it to make a 1″ or 1.25″ key chain. You simply make a button as usual using our Versaback Key Chain Sets and attach 1 of 6 different kinds of key chains to it. We even have cool zipper pulls to attach to coats, book bags etc.
How do I make 1″ ponytail holders? Can I do this with your machines?
Here is a video on how to make pony tails. This one is of a 1.5″, but ABM sells parts for the 1″ as well.
Absolutely! You can follow this link to view our how to make a ponytail video tutorial. Here is another link where you can purchase our 1″ ponytail sets.
Hello. I have never made a button, so I am clueless. I want to make photo buttons with a colored edge with writing in it for my daughters softball team. Can i buy software that will help me do this? Do I have to go with the 2.25 size for the photo to be clear, or can I use the 1.75.? I am pretty crafty, but just wondering how difficult this will be. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Most photo buttons are 3 inches or larger. if you want to use real photo paper you will need 3 inches or larger, if you print the photos on regular paper you can go smaller, I have done 2 1/4 photo buttons for people with no problems, but never tried a smaller photo button.
the people who operate this message board can sell you almost everything you need to make photo buttons, and the software to add text and graphics to them. I myself use button builder pro.
Making photo buttons is easy, profitable and a lot of fun! Most photo buttons are made from a 2.25″, 3″ or 3.5″ button.
You can use true photo paper (or regular printer paper) on our 3″ photo button machine and our 3.5″ photo button machine. You can also use true photo paper on a 2.25″ button, but you have to use our special sized 2.25″ Photo Punch to accommodate the thicker paper on the smaller button.
Follow this link to read an in-depth article we wrote regarding button making software.
Please contact us at 972-985-5074 if you have any questions. We are happy to assist you in selecting the right products for your application.
What is your experience selling on Etsy.com There appeares to be a lot of sellers is anyone buying?
It depends if your item is unique. make something no one else has.
course, if it becomes a hit, 5000 people will duplicate your item.
I sell on Etsy. There are so many button makers on Etsy. Plus I see increased number of button sellers recently (possibly migrating from eBa*).
I am also a transplantee from eBa* (thou I migrated long time ago). It’s little bit different from eBa* in a way you need to have more unique and original designs rather than popular cultures. But I know there are many buyers and lookers.
In short, yes people are buying buttons on Etsy. But do remember people (sellers and buyers) are more focused on crafty-ness and uniqueness.
I sell very well on Etsy. Take a peek:
http://www.barrelofmonkeys.etsy.com
Almost all of my buttons are my original designs – I’m a graphic designer by day and a button maker by night!
I have a idea, sell a special fuzzy tiny spider on there.
you can call it, the etsy bitsy spider!
I sell on Etsy (http://www.thebuttonbabe.com goes right to my store, or you can go directly to tiarabuttons.etsy.com) but I also like Artfire – no fees for a small number of listings, a great way to test things out and/or get started! [This reply is a test because my account hasn't been working for me...]
Yeah, uh, I just bought the domain and clearly don’t have it memorized it. It’s http://www.buttonbabeboutique.com. Oops!
I love the fabric pocket mirror. I am just about to get the machine. However does anyone know could the 225 fabric button making machine be used to make paper button in smaller size such as 1″ or 1 1/2″? Thank you.
I don’t think so. you would need a machine for each size you want to make.
When you get into Professional grade fabric button making machines like ours, each button maker is made to produce a specific single size.
Hi all,
How is every ones business doing? How are you promoting your button business? Lets toss some ideas out there.
For me, I depend on my website. Button are slow right now and I would really like to get them moving. Whats working for you?
I am following the fads. like a MJ memorial button and buttons for MLM dealers like Fuller Brush and Avon and others. I did some buttons for the Coke-Cola store polar bear out here. they let me take some shots of him and I made buttons for the employees.
I like to make fabric buttons and sell them on Etsy.com. I am also fortunate to have a great little salesperson at home. My daughter took a pocket mirror to school and when her friends saw it, they all wanted one! I have not tried to sell at a crafting show yet, but I am going to start researching what is in my area.
Twitter seems to bring traffic. Of course, it doesn’t mean more sales, but I’d have to assume more the viewers, more the sales.
I have my own website along with several venues including Etsy, and every time I tweet, I get more sales (not huge but I see the slight increase).
Bringing in traffic is the key to more sales.
I have a Twitter account as well as Face Book. Just not sure how to use them for advertising. Can you give a few suggestions??
Thanks
Cheap alternative to that expensive graphic punch??
Hey everyone, I just bought a 1.25″ button press and I’m super excited. The machine set me back $250, which I was glad to pay after wanting one for so long. But I can’t bring myself to buy the graphic punch, which retails for about $150. It looks so handy, and I’ve seen it in action, but it seems ridiculously overpriced. I’ve had experience with buttons before, and cutting out 400 circles by hand (to give to my friend to punch) was definitely not fun. I can’t help but wonder if there’s a cheaper alternative out there. I read from a blog that I can no longer find that there are scrapbooking punches that work well for buttonmaking, particularly the Whale-Of-A-Punch by EK Paper Shapers (http://www.createforless.com/InterchangeData/images/2/2002/1029/2007051713515612002-1029-0055.jpg) (another style: http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/EK-Success-Paper-Shapers/3952664/product.html)
I’d much rather pay $12-$22 for an oversized hole-punch. I’ve tried looking up this topic, but I can’t find anyone else discussing it. If you look at this angle http://cdn2.overstock.com/images/products/3/P11379462.jpg of a scallop-shaped Whale-Of-A-Punch you can see there is some room to look at the area of the paper you’re punching, I can only imagine that you might have difficulty seeing the ‘mouth’ end of the punch area, after all, it wasn’t designed for extreme precision in mind. I wish these were at my craft store so I could decide whether this is worth buying by eye, but I can only observe and order these online. Has anyone had any experience with these?
I’d appreciate any help
I purchased at Hobby Lobby a 1.25″ circle punch used by scrapbookers. I can see and line up my images perfectly by turning the punch upside down also the size is perfect for 1″ buttons. I do own the circular cutter and use it for 2.25″ buttons but for the smaller ones the punch works perfectly.
I own a 1.25” button machine as well, and like you I got the machine first without the punch. I looked high and low for a cheaper alternative punch (mainly scrapbooking punches), however, I wasn’t able to find that cuts marginally good for 1.25” button templates (what you need to look for is 1-5/8” round punch).
If you are going to make dozens of buttons daily, I think it may be much better for you to spend the money and get the graphic punch. The day I received my GP, I literally wanted to slap myself for not getting it sooner.
Great thread on using the correct sized circle cutter. FYI, if you are using a hobby styled circle cutter just make sure that the circle you cut out is the same size as your plastic myar so the button machine can crimp properly all around the edge of your button.
I have seen those at joannas and michaels.
I love my button punch. I can punch 5 buttons at a time. I also have the circle cutter and find it more difficult and you can only cut one button at time with the circle cutter. I would go for the punch even for a smaller operation and there is always the electric cutter for the bigger jobs. It will be a long time before I upgrade to the electric one.
I also don’t think the scrap type punches will hold up to hundreds of punches. Just my 2 cents here.
no the blades are not made for this use. reminds me of BAMS Cut-A-Circles. blades are only good for like less than 100 cuts. I guess thats how they get you, you need a box of extra blades.
(Editor’s Note: For clarification, Cut-a-Circle circle cutters are made by another manufacturer called badge-a-minit, BAM for short).
I don’t think my hand would hold up to hundreds of punches LOL!
Thanks for all your advice! I was considering this: http://store.scrapbook.com/f-7424.html they punch 1.5″ sadly, which may be pushing it for the 1.6″ size needed for 1.25″ buttons. I hadn’t considered how the blade would wear down on a cheap craft punch.
Jean W 11:03 pm on March 4, 2010 Permalink |
The only thing I can think of is to keep them greased up to keep them working properly. ABM will probably be by to answer your question better.
ABM 11:24 am on March 5, 2010 Permalink |
Hi Jen, it sounds like the button machine simply needs to be lubricated a little bit. Please email us or give us a call at 972-985-5074 and we will be happy to help get your machine back up and running properly.