[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.

After the button making supplies are gathered, place the button shell, graphic, and mylar in the first die of the button making machine and the collet back in the second of the two dies. Pull the lever on the button making machine once, then rotate the dies and pull the lever again to press the parts together and complete the button making process.

After the button is made, you can add the accessories for a pinback button, refrigerator magnet or earrings. If you want to make a zipper pull or keychain, simply snap a Versa-Back into the back of the 1” button and then add the accessory to complete the process.

(If the movie is not visible, here is the video on making keychains.)

Novelty items that can be produced with a button making machine have a number of different uses. Many schools sell regular pinback buttons to school athletics supporters and many children sell novelty buttons as a quick, easy, and fun way to make a little money. The numerous button options can be sold in a school fundraiser by any entrepreneurial-minded child. If fundraising or selling buttons online is not your focus, producing these novelty items can also be a fun project that the whole family can get involved in. With parents supervising their children, making 1″ buttons can be a fun arts and crafts project where the whole family spends quality time together.

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