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Recent Button Making Discussion Page 2 RSS Hide threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • lafrei

    Organizing.. Skooter this is for you!! Y…


    posted on: 9:12 am on April 24, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 1 View Thread | Quick Reply
    Tags: organize,

    Organizing.. Skooter this is for you!! You need to come to the next show I’m working and get a single mini just for your button stuff. I know you like it for those cartridges, but I love it for my button supplies.

    I put the machine and circle cutter in the bottom 3.5″ drawer, ( I do turn it on the side… hum hey AMB will that hurt the machine to be stored on the side???) Usually it’s just sitting on the top of the single and not stowed, in the drawer). I use a 2 inch drawer with a 2″ insert (15 compartments) to hold the pieces so they are each to pull and use one at a time. Hey idea for video.. yep that’s going on my list of things to do. ALSO for taking to your shows! Use the 1″ and 2″ inserts in an ArtBin 3″ or 5″ 14×14 paper box. You can get 3-1″ or 1-2″+1-1″ in the 3″ artbin. I showed off the scrapbook pins at the Milwaulkee show last weekend and it worked great. I’ll get pictures to my blog this week.

    Anyone who needs organizing help check out my webstore http://www.lafrei.com for Best Craft Organizers they work great for buttons as well as all the other stuff :)

     
    • avatar

      Skooter 3:34 pm on April 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Well I already beat you to it!! I hadn’t filled my new cabinet yet cause I was waiting till my craft room was done.. but then I broke down.. Put ALL my button making stuff in it, except for the makers and cutters. I just LOVE it. Some I used the inserts but others so far I just put it in and labeled the draw. It’s saving me so much time looking for stuff. Just open the draw and it’s there! Those organizers are the best yet. I’m sure eventually I’ll get more!! Can’t wait to see your video. I’ll have to send you pics of my organizer too! (and some of the stuff i’m making for the museum). Oh.. I went for broke and got the 2.25 and the 2×3 maker. Just got a bunch of the Clix & Mag. pendants too. I’m going broke but loving it!!!

  • avatar

    and I will pay you per piece!


    posted on: 9:24 pm on April 22, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 0 View Thread | Quick Reply

    and I will pay you per piece!

     
  • avatar

    Have awesome fabric I will share if some…


    posted on: 9:23 pm on April 22, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 0 View Thread | Quick Reply

    Have awesome fabric I will share if someone would make me a batch of custom buttons (for my magnability jewelry)

     
  • avatar

    I purchased a font I would like to use; …


    posted on: 6:07 pm on April 21, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 2 View Thread | Quick Reply

    I purchased a font I would like to use; how do I add it to the Build-a-Button program? Thanks for any help!

     
    • avatar

      buttonman 11:13 am on April 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I dont think you can. the BAB program has it’s own internal library.

      • avatar

        jopelli 6:46 pm on April 23, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Thanks, that’s what I suspected. Bummer!

  • avatar

    I’m having trouble getting the text siz…


    posted on: 11:15 am on April 21, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 3 View Thread | Quick Reply
    Tags: Can't make curved text large enough

    I’m having trouble getting the text size big enough using the build a button program. I can make the text as big as I want when it is straight using the + or – minus size button, but when I curve the text message it goes back to the font size and say to enlarge the font size to increase text, but this is already maxed out and won’t go any larger. I never had this problem before and am wondering what’s going on. Any ideas?

     
    • ABM

      ABM 12:45 pm on April 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Sorry Jim, at this time the curved text will not allow you to increase the size as large as you can with the straight text. It works for doing text in a circle but there are limitations.  We are working on solutions but have not developed anything we like yet. We are working on it and intend on releasing an update as soon as we are successful.

      • avatar

        Jim 11:33 am on April 25, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        Well, I could make the text larger in a circle a couple of weeks ago, did you recently change the program or something?

    • ABM

      ABM 1:53 pm on April 26, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Can you email an example  to us of what you were were making and what you are making now?

  • avatar

    Compare regular magnets & ceramic magnet…


    posted on: 1:42 pm on April 17, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 4 View Thread | Quick Reply
    Tags:

    Compare regular magnets & ceramic magnets… What’s the difference between the two? (I’m specifically interested in magnets for the 1″ button size.)

    Are they the same size? How much can they hold? How weak/strong are the two? Ceramics are stronger, right?

    Ceramics don’t have adhesive? They’re just held onto the button part by magnetism? If you’re pulling one off your refrigerator, are you likely to just pull the button part off and leave the magnet part behind? Is there a recommended adhesive for attaching them to the backs?

    Are there any mailing issues with either magnet type? Meaning, if you’ve got 4 magnets glued on a card inside a little bubble mailer, is that good enough or do they need any additional packaging/padding to keep the package from attaching itself to some random piece of postal machinery? :)

     
    • lafrei

      lafrei 7:09 pm on April 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      I experimented when I started making these. I bought and tried several brands. Maybe I should have just asked here but I like to fiure things out. I tried various glues as well and I have deceided I like using terrifically tacky tape 1/2″ it’s less messy and seems to work great. I use the padded envelopes to mail usually by first class parcel since I can do lables thru paypal and parcels need to be uneven and over 3/4″ thick I don’t tape them down but put them in a snack baggie or wrap then in paper. No problems yet that I have heard. Our postal gal (small town has time to check every thing throughly) would catch it is was a problem because of the magnets but doesn’t seem to be. When I started I even did some flat metal back buttons with niodium super strong magnets inside the back so you could not see them – worked great but cost was high using them. Also websites had more information on magnets than I could undertand, so you might want to check them out. Hope this helps some….

    • ABM

      ABM 9:58 am on April 18, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Here is a blog post we made discussing the difference between ceramic magnets and our peel-n-stick magnets. Hope is helps :-)

    • avatar

      cs 3:45 pm on April 24, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      What is the size (diameter & thickness) of the two different magnet types in the 1″ sets?

    • ABM

      ABM 1:01 pm on April 30, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Approximate size of the peel-n-stick magnet is .75 Diameter x .107 thick. The ceramic magnets are slightly smaller but much stronger.

  • avatar

    Wow.. haven’t even had my button maker …


    posted on: 6:45 am on April 17, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 4 View Thread | Quick Reply

    Wow.. haven’t even had my button maker for a week and already got my first order for 100 buttons PLUS… got asked to make a bunch of different buttons for a museum. So Cool!! I’m really excited and looking to buy 2 more machines!! Thank you ABM!! ( and Lafrei for getting me hooked) Now I need to get better with my pricing on items. Still not sure what to charge for things.

     
    • avatar

      buttonman 9:58 am on April 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      once you go button, you’ll never want nuttin else.
      it’s a hobby, it’s a art, it’s a business.

    • Jean W

      Jean W 10:53 am on April 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      One of the most important things is to get your pricing down. Of course the price depends on the quantity you buy as well. What I do is take the price I was charged for the button parts, including shipping. Lets say you bought 1,000 parts. Take the total cost, divide by 1,000 (parts). Then add the cost of paper, and ink and divide by how many buttons you get to a page. Lets say the paper cost you 5 cents a sheet and ink is about 35 cents to cover a sheet. That would be 40 cents, your cost for one sheet of printed paper. I would triple the paper and ink making it $1.20 per sheet. That would also cover wear and tear of equipment as well as time. Then divide the $1.20 by the number of buttons you get to a sheet. For 2.25″, I get 12 to a sheet making the price for paper and ink per button 1 cent. Then, when you figure your cost for each button (parts) and double that.
      Hummm, sounds Greek…I have a Excel spread sheet I’ve made to figure the cost for me. If you would like me to email the sheet to you, just let me know. I would be happy to share. you can contact me at cwbj@surewest.net for the spread sheet. ;)

      • Jean W

        Jean W 10:54 am on April 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        OH…Congratulations on getting a Button job so quickly!!

    • lafrei

      lafrei 7:12 pm on April 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      yea… mf is that you??? Good job on the order I’m jealous!!!! I haven’t hit on any qty ones yet.

  • lafrei

    took time this week to shop for differen…


    posted on: 2:42 pm on April 14, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 4 View Thread | Quick Reply
    Tags:

    took time this week to shop for different papers… I liked HP gloss 44# brochure paper but it looks like they have changed it …. to 48# which caused a few mis-pressed buttons. I have settled for the HP matte 32# and it seems to be working well. – TOTALLY agree the paper makes a huge difference in making the 1″ buttons.

     
    • Jean W

      Jean W 9:50 am on April 15, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      My smallest button is 2.25″. I did a little experiment with the paper last night. I have Staples gloss laser paper, which is 32 pound. I printed a sample on the gloss and one on regular paper, made a button and really didn’t see a huge difference between gloss and paper. Maybe it is my laser printer? I did decide to start using the bright 24 pound paper for a little better look. In the larger button, and with a laser printer, I just don’t see the advantage in gloss. Oh well…I am glad I checked. ;)

      • Joyce

        Joyce 10:42 am on April 15, 2012 Permalink | Reply

        laser printers are great for saving money on ink (toner) and do an excellent job on black ink printing but (in my opinion) inkjet printers do better with color graphics and photos. You are correct Jean, laser printers do not do that well on glossy photo paper so you would not see much difference but those of us who use inkjet printers know there is indeed a big big difference in paper quality.

        • Jean W

          Jean W 10:40 am on April 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply

          I do have an Epson ink jet. Maybe I’ll try to print with it. I do like the fact that my laser printer does not smear when wet and it does pretty good for the other items I sell. ;)

          • Joyce

            Joyce 12:47 pm on April 17, 2012 Permalink | Reply

            don’t forget to use ink jet paper when you try it out or it will just smear. That is another advantage of laser printers, you can use just about any paper. :)

  • avatar

    Thanks!


    posted on: 2:22 pm on April 14, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 0 View Thread | Quick Reply

    Thanks!

     
  • avatar

    Thank you both for answering my question…


    posted on: 2:00 pm on April 14, 2012 | comments in this discussion: 1 View Thread | Quick Reply

    Thank you both for answering my question :) Now, What is the best way to stored the new one, so that this won’t happen went they become vintage too :) Thanks for your time!

     
    • Joyce

      Joyce 2:20 pm on April 14, 2012 Permalink | Reply

      Buttons were never meant to become heirlooms but because people found them attractive they just couldn’t throw them away so they ended up in drawers, trunks, barns, garages and other places we put things we value but do not want to pitch.
      I really would not worry too much about preservation, instead have fun with them. I’m sure that is what our great great grandparents did.

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