Using a 1” Button Making Machine to Make Keychains

[Note: If you're thinking to yourself, "Hey! I've seen this post before!" you might be right. This post was originally published on December 15th, 2008. We are cycling it back to the front of the blog so our new readers are made aware of it, as the content is no less relevant today. And besides, it's always good to review...]

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A button making machine has a number of uses not limited to only producing pinback buttons. There are a number of other novelty items that can be quickly and easily produced with a 1” button maker machine. The front part of the button (clear mylar, graphic and front shell) always stays the same. Basically you just change the components on the back of the button to make a wide variety of novelty items such as keychains, refrigerator magnets, zipper pulls, earrings, tie tacks and more.

The process for making a novelty button with a 1” button making machine is extremely quick and easy. After you have designed your button graphic on a computer and printed it, you will need to cut the graphic out. To accomplish this, you can use our Circle Cutter, Punch Cutter or High Volume Die Cutting Press to cut your graphic to the perfect size for the front of your button. Gather the remaining button making supplies including the mylar laminate, front shell and the collet for the back. » read more

How to Make a Custom DIY Pinback Badge Button

[Note: If you're thinking to yourself, "Hey! I've seen this post before!" you might be right. This post was originally published on December 3rd, 2008. We are cycling it back to the front of the blog so our new readers are made aware of it, as the content is no less relevant today. And besides, it's always good to review...]

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There are a wide variety of uses for pinback buttons. From political campaigns to novelty items, pinback buttons are everywhere. With a professional button maker, like the ones we offer, the process for making a custom pinback button is both quick and easy.

The first step in the process is designing the button and getting the supplies ready. Designs can be printed off from the computer and, after being cut out with a circle cutter, are ready to be pressed in the button maker.

» read more

How To Prepare Pinback Button Graphics and Use Adjustable Rotary Cutter

[Note: If you're thinking to yourself, "Hey! I've seen this post before!" you might be right. This post was originally published on December 12th, 2008. We are cycling it back to the front of the blog so our new readers are made aware of it, as the content is no less relevant today. And besides, it's always good to review...]

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Pinback buttons have a wide array of uses and functions, from political campaign buttons to promotional tools for small businesses. Through the use of a button maker and button making supplies, it is easy for a small business or a school operating on a limited budget to quickly produce a number of buttons for sale as novelty items or as memorabilia.

» read more

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!

» read more

ABM Template Tutorial Video Series: Photoshop Elements

We had so much fun and received such a positive response for our Button Making How-To Series that we decided it was time to bring you, our loyal readers and customers, another video series.

And so here we are this morning, excited to unveil the first video in our exciting Template Tutorial Video Series.

The goal of this series is quite simple: we want to show you how to create perfectly sized graphics for button making. Each video post will include two primary tools to accomplish this:

1. A video that takes you through the step-by-step process for creating your graphic
2. A downloadable template for the graphics program being discussed.

Today we are going to deal with Photoshop Elements, one of the most popular graphics programs available today.

» read more

ABM Video Series: The Exciting World of Fabric Buttons!

As we continue with our button making video tutorial series, we take a quick break from the tutorials to celebrate the exciting world of fabric buttons.

And as you will see below, when set to a funky background beat, a montage of fabric buttons can be and is exciting!

Fabric buttons have been one of the most prominent topics that we have covered here at The Button Blog. Rather than try to re-invent the wheel or regurgitate old information, we will provide you with the links to our fabric button tutorial series, plus some other useful resources to help you in your fabric button endeavors.

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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

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

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.

» read more

Use 4,571 for Buttons: Encapsulating Someone’s Life Story

Do not be fooled by the specificity of the number in the title.  There is no finite number of uses for buttons, nor are we sure that what we are about to describe would fall in the exact 4,571th slot even if such a list existed.

The main idea is that there are tons of uses for buttons, and I just came across another one today.

On NPR.org, they have chosen to use political campaign buttons of recently deceased U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy to encapsulate his life. The good (his Senator elections), the bad (references to Chappaquidick), and the failed (his runs for President) are all represented in the ten-button cross section chosen by NPR.

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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!

» read more