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Button Making Instructions

After you have created your button graphics in accordance with the button template, and have printed them out, it is time to make your buttons!

Step 1: Gather your supplies

button supplies: button machine, your graphics, button shells, plastic mylar, a circle cutter, and pin backs

In the Makerspace, we have button machines and circle cutters for both 2.25″ and 1.25″ buttons. We also have an inkjet printer you can use to print out your graphics, as well as other crafting supplies for general use. However, due to high demand and high cost of button materials (shells, mylar and pinbacks), we are unable to provide those for free. However, you can purchase them from us in sets of 10, or order them directly from the source.Information on purchasing button supplies .

Note: be sure to grab the button machine and the circle cutter which corresponds to the size of your buttons.

Step 2: Cut your designs

  1. Cut your button graphic into squares. Slide the square into the cutter so you can see your image in the center of the hole.
  2. Punch the paper in the cutter one at a time by pushing the red bar down until you hear a clink.
  3. You can remove the cut paper easily by pushing your finger from beneath
button hole punch

Tip! If you are struggling to get the square into the cutter, first check to make sure the lever arm is in the upright position (like in the photo above). If that still doesn’t work, there may be paper stuck in there, which can slide out if you tip the machine towards you.

Step 3: Load your buttons

  1. Place the shell in the “top” side of the button maker
button machine with shell placement: the top side of the button maker has the hole in the center, and the shell's edges will fit downward into the groove

2. Layer the cut image then the mylar plastic sheet on top of the shell. This makes up the Front of your button

button machine with order of supplies: first put down the shell (dome up), then the paper image, then the mylar plastic

3. Put the button back in the other slot (the “bottom” side) with the edges facing up like a dish, the center convex, and the pin opening underneath. This makes the Back of your button.

It is correct if the pin bar looks squiggly and not flat

Tip! To make it so that the pin is oriented correctly, with the pin back at the top of the pin, and not off to the side or at the bottom, align the Front and Back of the pin at 180 degrees from one another. See the picture below:

Orientation of button parts at 180 degrees

Step 4: Putting it all together

1 . Turn the “top” side of the button maker underneath the press, then pull the handle forward firmly (but not forcefully) all the way down.

Pull level or button machine
Lever on button machine pulled

2. the lever up, rotate so the “bottom” of the button us now underneath the press and pull the handle firmly down again

3. Remove your button and enjoy!

sample button