How to Create Cool Buttons
Whether you're a politician on the move, a band in need of an inexpensive and interesting piece of merchandise or a fashionista with a taste for unique accessories, simple pinback buttons are a fun solution. After the initial startup cost of a button maker and a bulk package of materials, they are very inexpensive to make and can be easily customized for any purpose. Buttons can be created with a rudimentary amount of computer graphics knowledge, and can also be created by hand using good old-fashioned crayons or magic markers.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- A computer (optional)
- Paper
- Color printer (optional)
- Graphic punch, adjustable rotary cutter or scissors
- Button machine
- Button components
Instructions
-
-
1
Design your button. This can be done either on the computer or with traditional media on paper.
-
2
Cut out your buttons using scissors, a graphic punch or an adjustable rotary cutter. If you are using either of the latter two, use a size of punch or cutter that corresponds to your button machine and components.
-
-
3
Place a shell dome (the metal dome that came with your button components) in the pickup die (the more shallow of the two metal plates) of your button machine.
-
4
Center your design over the shell dome, and place a sheet of Mylar (the clear plastic that also came with your button components) over it.
-
5
Rotate the pickup die until it is directly under the upper die, then pull the handle down to assemble the button.
-
6
Lift the handle and pull the button out of the pickup die. Place the button design-side-down in the other, deeper die, which is called the crimp die. Put a pinback (included with your button components) into the button.
-
7
Rotate the crimp die so it is directly under the upper die; pull the handle down to press the pinback onto the button.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Mass-produce your button by designing it on the computer. However; buttons designed and created by hand are completely unique. Decide which suits your purposes.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit pin's image by Didier Weemaels from Fotolia.com
