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Welded up Eye

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“Have you found an inexpensive source for the welded up eye?”

I get asked this quite a bit, so for those of you in search, I get my supply through the People Power Press.

They’ve even got a blog post on it!

 

Cheers,

BG

 

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MAKING YOUR OWN CUSTOM BUTTONS FOR JACKETS, ACCESSORIES AND FURNITURE

 

Hey Button Guy! I like your blog even though I’ve never made a single button/pin(apparently) – but I want to.

I am an incredible knit designer and I specialize in Canine(K9) doggie sweaters. I am a master certified Groomer/Handler and dog trainer… Well, moving on, I am developing a line of NCAA/NFL geared sweaters for dogs.

I would love to be able to make team themed shank sized buttons (fabric) or myler if the backing can be safely sported by a pup. Any recommendations on where to start?

 

Thanks for reading and enjoying my blog!

The safest option for doggies is (drum roll …..) Bull Dog Clip Buttons! 🙂

Rather than a pointy pin, these clip on with an alligator-like mouth. No sharp points. That being said, they do run the risk of getting knocked off the sweater, unless strategically placed … so…..

You might want to sew the button directly onto the sweater using a Center Hole Button with Welded Up Eyes. I think that’s your very best option.

If you need supplies, the fabulous folks at People Power Press  can get you set up 🙂

MAKING YOUR OWN CUSTOM BUTTONS FOR JACKETS, ACCESSORIES AND FURNITURE

It is certainly confusing when writing about buttons.  At People Power Press we call pin-back buttons “buttons” and we think of them as buttons but more commonly the word “buttons” refer to what do up your shirt.  This is the kind of button that I am about to write about (and yes, you can make them using pin-back button supplies and a button maker).

Test_parts_grande

Using pin-back button supplies and a button maker you can make your own buttons for clothing, accessories and furniture.

What You Will Need:
– Shell
– Paper artwork and Mylar OR Fabric (no mylar necessary)
– Center Hole (the back)
– Welded Up Eye (goes through the centre hole)
– Button Maker
*Note: Welded up eyes have a strange name but are a great little attachment for button making and a simple way to add a loop to a button for an assortment of crafting.
close_up_peices_grande
1. Place shell and artwork in pick up die of button maker.
2. a) Place centre hole face down in the crimp die of button maker. b) Place welded up face down into center hole.
3.  Press.

dropping_the_eye_grande

Once pressed sew thread through the metal loop of the welded up eye onto your desired surface.  This is a great way to customize your jacket, pillows or couch, and other accessories.
button_on_jacket_grande

 

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Color Combinations

experticity_colors_02

Ahhh, once again we’ll chat a bit about designing your own buttons.
A great website for helping you choose colors that compliment each
other is a great site called the Color Hunter you can upload any photograph you like (whether you took it yourself, or if you saw it on instagram and just loved that hipster filter on it), and it will pick out the colours in the photo and come up with your very own custom palette.

This will help give your button a professional well thought out design.

 

BG

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Using Salvaged finds..

 

button guy header image

Even if you have zero design skills, you can still make some pretty
cool buttons using items from your house.
A cool idea for a craft night with you and your friends is to gather
clippings from magazines, old books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, old
National Geographics, maps, or even your grandfather’s stamp
collection.
Make sure the paper quality isn’t too heavy like card stock.

 

Have fun with it!

 

BG

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Cutters… advice

 

Cutters

Cutters

Hi button guy! I recently start using my cutter (Dynamo Hand-Held Graphic Punch Cutter) but only after only 5 button pins the cutter doesn’t work properly and the paper doesn’t pop up as it should no mater the pressure used. Please take into consideration I haven’t made any for a couple of months however I still can’t believe it doesn’t work at all. Is that normal? What can I do now? I tried using some aluminium foil to sharpen it without good results. Any advice?

The problem is the Dynamo Hand-Held Graphic Punch Cutter.  I see these on the American Button Makers site but they are NOT American.  They are made in China/ Maybe Korea and are just not the quality of the actual American made products.

You cannot sharpen this kind of cutter.  I can only suggest getting a good cutter.  Good cutting makes good buttons but you need a real graphic punch “Made in USA” and you will have no problems.  Get good tools and you will never look back.

Like most “cheap” products this one is destined for the landfill I expect.

For an idea on pricing for quality cutters, check out People Power Press’s website They have various sizes of punches, and rotary cutters, that will make your life so much easier.

 

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Designing your buttons

vintage pin back buttons

The most important part of your button is the design.

What is the message you are trying to get across to your audience and how are you going to do so in a creative way. Always keep in mind when designing, “is this a button that I would wear?”

Personally, when I am designing my buttons I tend to get inspired by vintage pin-back buttons that have been created in the past. I love the colour schemes, typography, composition and placement; these are all things you should keep in mind when you start designing your buttons. Don’t forget to look at the end product; the physical size of the button is part of the design.

For some quick advice on design look at this great article “10 Rules of Composition All Designers Live By” and if you need some design inspiration I like to use designspiration.net I find looking at work from other graphic designers help me come up with my own concepts, but be sure to not copy other people’s work. Inspiration and copyright are two very different things.

Sometimes simple designs are all you need. Too much information on a button can lose the attention from your audience and lose the message you are trying to get across altogether.

If you feel as if designing something yourself is totally out of your realm and you need advice or an expert. Hire a graphic designer, there are so many talented designers whom would be pleased to help create a great logo or design for you. It may not be cheap, but your end product will be well received.

You can find a designer in Canada using this directory here. Or just google search your city and graphic designer and see what local talents pop up.

Happy Designing!

pin designs

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Printing on Dura-Lar

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I just love the principal behind those New Year buttons  (buttons by people power press)– I think I understand – print on the transfer, instead of a printed button template, cut out a gift wrap or even a Christmas Card OR use silver/gold napkin paper and then print on the Dura-Lar film, using it as the the cover instead of the round Mylar – did I say that correctly???NOW! my question – can I assume this Dura-Lar film is like a transparency? and you must use a Laser or copier – where the pattern, words or design is burned into the film instead of an ink jet printer????

 

These are sheets much like transparencies, you are right, that you place into your printer like paper. The People Power Press sell them in single sheets (so you can test it) and in packs. You would then cut the circles as you cut your other printed designs. http://peoplepowerpress.org/products/dura-lar-film-for-printing-and-button-making

You can also use brightly coloured acetate for extra bright colours: http://peoplepowerpress.org/products/acetate-for-printing-and-button-making

It is best to print so that the black text is inside the button so it won’t be scratched off. Yes, the printer matters. You need a laser printer for Dura-Lar as both sides are shiny and an Inkjet printer needs a textured side to have something for the ink to adhere to. I’ve also have found having a dehumidifier nearby helps the ink attach to the sheet much better too. (That is an important shop trick I have learned over the years!) That being said, you can get transparent sheets from a store like Staples that you can use with an Inkjet printer – just be sure that one side is textured and print on that side or else the ink will just smear when it hits the shiny side.

Then you place a glittery holographic paper that you can buy in rolls from a craft store underneath the Dura-Lar, but you can place whatever paper you would like under there. Sometimes, if I want the background to be silver we just let the tin shell show through.

 

view our similar post in 2013 for any additional questions you may have

 

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