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?
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?
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!
How do I make 1″ ponytail holders? Can I do this with your machines?
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.
What is your experience selling on Etsy.com There appeares to be a lot of sellers is anyone buying?
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.
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?
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
