Author Archives: Brighid Brown

Photo Circle Cutter Comparison: Photo Punch and Graphic Punch

Posted on by

Among the many, many questions that we receive on a daily basis are:

  • How awesome is it being immersed in the wonderful world of buttons on a daily basis? (Answer: awesome!)
  • Can you make fabric-covered buttons with your button machines? (Answer: yes!)
  • What is the meaning of life? (Answer: we don’t know, but when we find out we will make custom pinback buttons and send one to all of our past, present, and future customers!)

difference between graphic punch cutter and photo punch cutter
Those, of course, are just three of the myriad questions we get asked. Another of the common queries revolves around two different types of cutters that we offer: the 2.25″ photo punch cutter and the 2.25″ graphic punch cutter. 

The primary difference between the two cutters is the size of the circle they cut out, and there is a very specific reason why this is the case.  You see, a 2.25″ button machine can’t use true photo paper because it is too thick. Thus, the photo punch cutter actually cuts a circle that is slightly smaller than the standard graphic punch cutter.

Continue reading →

Summer Uses for Buttons!

Posted on by

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.

Continue reading →

The Joy of Button Making: Pinback Buttons, Fabric Buttons, and Photo Buttons

Posted on by

When you first hear the term “button making” you may not immediately think of the word “fun.” But guess what…you should!

Making buttons is an engaging and entertaining experience, made all the more enjoyable by the fact that you end up with useful products once you are done. Whether you are looking to fundraise for a cause you believe in, promote a campaign, or show support for a person, band, or team, buttons are a terrific solution.

In this article, we are going to highlight three fun and useful types of buttons, each of which make button making a truly joyful and productive pastime.

Continue reading →

Ceramic Magnets v Peel and Stick Magnets: Which One Is Right For You?

Posted on by

Magnets are great, and they are great for a variety of reasons:

  1. They are fun and functional.
  2. They can be great memory keepsakes.
  3. They are easy to make.
  4. They are inexpensive mementos.
  5. They are typically rich with extraordinarily large net worths.

Oops…I seem to have mixed up magnet with magnate.

But those two words are not as unrelated as you might think. Check out the Wikipedia definition of a magnate:

Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus ‘great’, designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities.

Hmm, so a magnate is somebody great. Then that must mean that a magnet is something great! Do you follow my etymylogical reasoning here? No? Okay, good…because there is no etymylogical reasoning going on. This is just my long and drawn out way of saying what I already said in the first line of this post: magnets are great!

So, with that being said, the next question you must ask yourself is which type of magnet is greater for the purposes of whatever project you are working on. And that is why today we are going to break down the differences between two very distinct types of magnets:

  1. Peel and stick magnets
  2. Ceramic magnets

Continue reading →

Monogrammed Belt Buckles: Fun, Easy, and Inexpensive

Posted on by

When I say “belt buckles” what is the first thing that comes to mind?

(And if you don’t say “Texas” or “cowboy” or some synonym of either, I am calling you out right here and now for lying!)

Well the truth is that belt buckles’ reputation for simply being an accessory for snakeskin boots and ten gallon hats is far too narrow to actually represent reality. You don’t have to live on a ranch or make garish spectacles with your wardrobe to have a little fun and customize a belt buckle.

More and more people these days are finding understated yet fun and personalized ways to dress up their belt buckles. How do we know this? Because of the consistent stream of requests we get from visitors to our website who inquire about monogrammed belt buckles.

And in our unyielding quest to give our customers what they desire, we have joyfully taken the plunge into the wonderful world of monogrammed belt buckles.

And here is the best part from your perspective: it is not that expensive nor difficult for you to take the monogrammed belt buckle plunge yourself.

Here is how it works:

Continue reading →

Monogrammed Badge Reels Are Customized, Personalized, and Make ID’ing Yourself Fun!

Posted on by

We’re back!

After a brief hiatus, we are back with fresh content here at The Button Blog. And today, we are going to veer in a direction that we have not veered in since launching the blog: badge reels.

Badge reels are small round devices with a retractable cord that attach to an ID badge. And as we have become well aware through our many customers who have ordered badge reels, there are myriad jobs for which you might need an ID badge: working in a hospital, government jobs, working in the media, etc.

If you are constantly using your ID badge to gain access to different rooms or areas, it makes sense to have a reliable and convenient tool to help you keep tabs on it.

If you are unfamiliar with customized badge reels, here is a picture:

badge reels - monogrammed badge reels

Most people wear their badge reels on a pocket, collar, or belt, thus allowing them to have access to their ID badge at all times without worrying about losing it. The retractable cord allows you to quickly pull your badge out for display or swiping, and then quickly retract it back to its resting position.

The great part about monogrammed badge reels and other customized and personalized badge reels, like the one you can make using our badge reel products, is that you can add a little personality and flair to the tool you are using to identify yourself with.

Continue reading →

Button Maker Manufacturing Quality Comparison: America v China

Posted on by

So far this week here at The Button Blog we have discussed myths about Chinese 3-in-1 button makers, provided a price comparison between American-made all-in-one button making kits and Chinese all-in-one button making machines, and contrasted the great usability and design of American-made button makers with their Chinese-made counterparts.

Today, in the final installment of our four-part, weeklong lesson on the differences between American-made button machines and Chinese-made button machines, we are going to discuss the significant differences in manufacturing quality.

Continue reading →

Button Blog Update: New Posts Coming!

Posted on by

Hello there fellow button makers! We have not posted on The Button Blog since the Button University series ended, so I wanted to explain the short hiatus…because more posts are on their way.

For a long time we have received inquiries about the differences between American-made button maker systems and the 3-in-1 (or all-in-one) button makers manufactured in China. In an effort to provide a substantial and detailed response to these questions, we have been hard at work preparing some content around this topic. The articles are currently in the editing and staging phase and will be posted in various forms both here at the button blog and at the American Button Machines main website.

So stay tuned, because more content is coming. And if, for some reason, you come to the end of this post and just happen to be in the planning stage of a button making project and looking for a little guidance as to what button sizes you should choose, hop on over to the main website for our newest page about button sizes; or stay right here and read the button sizes post we did during the Button University series.

We’ll see you soon!

Brighid Brown – Director of Blogging and All Things Cool at ABM

Button Machine Products by ABM

Posted on by

We know that not all of the people read The Button Blog have visited the main American Button Machines website, and vice versa. However, we know that, if you are here, you are investigating button machine products and button making supplies. Thus, to ensure that nothing slips through the cracks, we will be beginning a series of posts that highlight some of our best-selling products.

And we thought it was fitting for the first post in this series to focus on, what else, button machines!

So here you are, a listing of the button machine products offered by ABM, along with the descriptions from our storefront.

Take note: the links will take you away from The Button Blog and to our storefront page at AmericanButtonMachines.com. We just didn’t want you to be alarmed.

Model 100: 1 inch Button Machine

button machine

  • 1″ Button Maker Machine.
  • FREE SHIPPING ON THIS ITEM!
  • Includes 1 Inch Button Machine, 15 Free 1 Inch Pin Back Buttons and a Free Crimp Die Adapter (for making flat backed buttons – $17.95 value), and Free Flat Backed Buttons to get you started.
  • Patented – exclusive design.
  • Two-step button making process.
  • Swivel die set – no changing of dies between steps.
  • Cushioned hand grip – Requires very little physical force to push the handle down.
  • Compact, lightweight machine for easy storage and transport.
  • Use with Graphic Punch Model # 1313 or our Adjustable Rotary Cutter Model# 27500.
  • Follow the link to learn more and buy this button machine.

Continue reading →