Tag Archives: button making

ABM on Twitter and Facebook!

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While we always want you to come visit us here at the friendly confines of The Button Blog, make sure that you also check us out on Twitter and Facebook as well. We want to be sure that you can access our content and us (should you ever have questions or need us!) in the most convenient way possible.

So, to follow us on Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/abmachines.

To become our fan on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Button-Machines/303574310110.

And, of course, don’t forget about our discussions forum, which is still the easiest and quickest way to get feedback from us.

We look forward to connecting with you wherever you like to connect. As always, happy button making!

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

Customer Spotlight: Selvedge House

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Today’s customer spotlight shines on the fine folks over at Selvedge House, which is based in Brisbane, Australia. Selvedge House, as their website explains, provides a collection of hand crafted designer textiles, patterns and craft kits.

Recently, Danielle from Selvedge House sent us an email to tell us know how “brilliant” our button machine work and “how much fun” they have using it well set up at a weekend market stall. And in addition to fun, Danielle informs us that during that one weekend craft fair they pretty much made the cost of the machine back.

Here is a portion of Danielle’s email to us and some pictures from their weekend:

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ABM Template Tutorial Video Series: Print Shop

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Welcome, loyal buttoneers (not to be confused with boutonnieres), to the fourth and final installment of our video template tutorial series, which has already shown you how to create button graphics using Photoshop, Corel Draw, and the Open Office free button making software.

Today, we venture into the digital jungles of Print Shop to go on a video safari that will show you how to create circular button graphics using this Windows-based software.

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

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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 Template Tutorial Video Series: Open Office Free Button Making Software

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Last week we shared with you a video and pre-prepared templates to assist you when using Photoshop Elements to create button graphics. In the coming weeks before the holidays we he sharing similar videos and templates for Corel Draw and Print Shop.

Today, we are highlighting Open Office (program that you can download for free from OpenOffice.org) and making the creation of button graphics easy with a video tutorial and templates.

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ABM Template Tutorial Video Series: Photoshop Elements

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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.

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Customer Spotlight: Barrel of Monkeys

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

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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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Photo Circle Cutter Comparison: Photo Punch and Graphic Punch

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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.

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

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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.

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