Creative March Madness Idea: Pinback Button Survivor Pool

It is the final week of February and you know what that means…at least for all the sports fans out there: March Madness 2010 is just around the corner.

Even if you are not an avid sports fan, you undoubtedly are familiar with March Madness. This is the term used to describe the month-long process of conference tournaments and then the 65-team national tournament that ultimately results in the crowning of a single champion in mens college basketball.

It has been estimated that this yearly event costs businesses billions of dollars in lost productivity as employees research matchups to fill out their brackets for their office pools, check scores or watch games online, or are just generally distracted by all the talk of favorites, underdogs, upsets, and exciting moments.

So what in the world does March Madness have to do with buttons? Well I’m glad you asked.

Today, we are going give you a create idea for your office pool that – not surprisingly – involves buttons!

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ABM Customer Spotlight: Operation Smiley Face

We are very, very proud and excited about featuring Operation Smiley Face as our latest ABM Customer Spotlight. When you hear the story behind this wonderful operation, and the incredible woman who is its driving force, you will understand why.

Operation Smiley Face was started by a women (whose name is not listed on her website other than as “Operation Smiley Face“) who is currently dealing with stage 4 Metastic Breast Cancer that had already spread to her lymph nodes and lungs when she was first diagnosed in August of 2009. This came on the heels of more than a decade of coping with her 1998 diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

You might read that paragraph and think that she has little to smile and be positive about. And to you or I that might be the case, but this inspiring woman has chosen to focus on the positives despite the cavalcade of negatives facing her every day.

Incredibly, she has somehow found a way to not only keep herself smiling, but to make other people – including and especially strangers she has never met – smiling too.

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ABM Template Tutorial Video Series: Creating Button Graphics Using Corel Draw

Over the past couple of weeks we have been rolling out our button graphic video tutorial series, first showing you how to create button graphics in Photoshop and then showing you how to do the same using free button making software like Open Office.

Today, we are going to step into the magical world of Corel Draw and provide the same step-by-step look at how to create a perfectly measured circular button graphic using our free Corel Draw templates.

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ABM Video Series: How to Make a Pinback Button

In this, the fourth installment of our ABM Video Series, we are going to show you just how ridiculously easy it is to make a pinback button.

And when we say easy, we don’t just mean simple…we also mean quick.

Would you believe me if I told you the total time it takes to make a professional pinback button is less than 10 seconds?

It’s true. The video evidence that proves this claim awaits you at the end of this post.

But first, a quick outline of the steps:

1. Get your button machine ready. (Note: these steps will work for button sizes 1.25″ and larger.)
2. Insert shell into one of the two rotating dies.
3. Place circular graphic face up on top of shell.
4. Place mylar on top of graphic.
5. Rotate dies.
6. Place pinned back pin-side up in other die.
7. Click your heels three times and say “abracadabra” while rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time.
8. Pull handle towards you once.
9. Rotate dies.
10. Pull handle towards you once more.
11. Remove completed pinback button from die and admire your amazing craftsmanship!

Quick pop-quiz: one of the above 11 steps is actually not a necessary step for creating pinback buttons (but is, however, something fun and perhaps even challenging to try!).

If you’re having trouble with the pop-quiz question, just watch the video below. You’ll see that the entire process takes less than 10 seconds, and here’s a hint: there is no magic required.

Just you, a few supplies, and an ABM button maker!

Video: How to Make a Pinback Button

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Customer Spotlight: Barrel of Monkeys

Welcome to the first ABM Customer Spotlight! 

We are very excited about this new feature here on the Button Blog, where we will be spotlighting the wonderful and creative button making work of some of our most loyal customers.

The first ABM Customer Spotlight is Jill Hamilton-Krawczyk, the creative genius behind Barrel of Monkeys. And rather than having us tell you about Jill and the story behind Barrel of Monkeys, we’ll let her tell you.

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ABM Video Series: How to Cut Circular Button Graphics Using an Adjustable Rotary Circle Cutter

We began our video series with a quick tutorial showing you how easy it is to use a button machine to make a button. Video #2 in the series is going to show you just how easy it is to create perfectly circular graphics for your buttons using our adjustable rotary circle cutter.

Before we get to the video, a few quick highlights about the adjustable circle cutter:

• Each adjustable circle cutter has five different pre-set stops for the most popular buttons sizes (1″, 1.5″, 2.25″, 3″, 3.5″).
• You also have the flexibility to adjust to any special size for custom cuts.
• The edges are knurled, which allows the cutter to grip paper and fabric for easier, more stable cutting.
• The top-mounted, quick-release knob allows for fully adjustable incremental cuts.
• And, most importantly, if it were any easier to use all you would have to do is think about your graphic being perfectly cut out…and it would be!
• Visit our main website to learn more about and purchase our adjustable circle cutter.

Want to see how easy you can cut out perfectly circular graphics for your next button? Click play…and don’t blink!  (You’ll miss it…it’s that easy!)

Video: How to Cut Circular Button Graphics Using an Adjustable Rotary Circle Cutter

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ABM Video Series: How to Make a 1 Inch Button

Today we are starting a new series here at the The Button Blog that will feature the many button making how-to videos we have created in the past. In our effort to be outlandishly creative, we are going out on a huge limb to title this series featuring videos…the ABM Video Series.

In the video below, you will see the short, sweet, and easy process for taking a set of button supplies and making a wonderful little 1 inch button.

As the video outlines, the steps to make a 1 inch button are:

1. Get your button machine, front shell, graphic, mylar, and collet ready to go.
2. Take a deep breath and compose yourself as a thrilling ten seconds of button making awaits you.
3. Place the front shell into the die.
4. The place graphic and mylar on top of the shell.
5. Pull the handle of the button machine down once.
6. Rotate the dies and insert the collet into the second die.
7. Pull the handle of the button machine down one more time.
8. Admire your perfect little button.
9. Add a spring pin or magnet to the back of the button, should you choose to do so.

And now, without further adieu, the video is below. After you watch it, hop on over to our website to browse our complete line of button machines.

Video: How to Make a 1 inch Button

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So Many Names, So Many Uses, So Many Possibilities!

One question that we get asked a lot by potential customers and people who are just curious about button making is: “What is the difference between a button machine, a button maker, and a button press?”

Well, I am afraid that the answer is quite complicated. In fact, it is so complicated that it will require all of one word, two syllables, and seven letters to explain:

NOTHING!

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Summer Uses for Buttons!

Now that we are smack-dab in the middle of the summer, this seems like as good a time as any to discuss a few summertime uses for buttons…and even a Fall back-to-school use or two.

So what are some ways that button making especially useful during the summer?

Summer Camp

Do you help run a summer camp or know someone who does?  Do your kids attend summer camp?  If so, think about how useful a button machine and some pinback button supplies could be.  Whether for use as nametags for camp counselors, or as nametags for kids so the counselors can quickly learn their names, personalized ID buttons are both fun and functional.

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Button Maker Usability Comparison: American v Chinese Button Makers

Over the last two days here at The Button Blog, we have discussed some of the differences between button makers made in America and those made in China. If you want to get caught up before this post, here are the links to the other two posts:

• Common Myths about Chinese-made Button Making Kits
• Button Maker Price Comparison

Today, we are going to take the next step and discuss the specific usability and design factors that make Chinese 3-in-1 button machines far less effective than single-size American-made button makers which, we reiterate, can be purchased in all-in-one button maker kits that are less expensive than the single multi-purpose Chinese-made machine.

So, where do we start with the usability comparison? Simply put, there is no comparison.

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