Step 1: Get all of your supplies together. One-inch button machines and supplies can be found at a variety of online retailers. Supplies include: 1-inch button machine, a 1 1/8″ circle cutter, mylar plastic top coats, metal shells, metal collets, spring pins and the paper image you will be making into a button. I punched my images out of a larger piece of paper before the tutorial.
Step 2: Load a shell facing smooth-side-up into the circular crevice on the left side of the machine (the one with a indented rim), and your collet facing upside down in the circular crevice of the right side of the machine.
Step 3: Place your image facing right-side-up on top of the shell, directly in the middle of the circular crevice. Place your mylar directly on top.
Step 4: Rotate the two button sides until they are vertical and flush with the machine, with the image side under the base and the collet facing you.
Step 5: Clamp the handle of the button machine firmly down onto the imaged side, then rotate the two sides 180 degrees. Now the image side is facing you (the button piece will be hidden inside of the machine). Clamp again firmly.
Step 6: Remove the finished top of the button from the pin and get your spring pins ready!
Step 7: Squeeze the spring pin into the back opening of the button and adjust appropriately.
Voila! A button! We love making them, so let us know if you need any buttons for an event (or just for fun).
Images via our Instagram
