Makerspace - Doheny Maker Lounge

American Button Machine: 2.25" Button Maker

Button Machine Operating Instructions:

1. Gather supplies: the button maker, a button front disc, a button pin back, a button plastic film disc, and your design in the size of the template. 
2. To prevent your finished button from opening, make sure that you only use ONE button front disc at a time. They tend to stick together so make sure that you're only grabbing one!
3. Place the following items in the button maker compartment that has springs on the bottom: 
   • "Front Disc": Place the button front disc with the ridges facing down into the compartment cup.
   • "Button Design: Over the button front disc, place your design with the image facing you (not backward).  
   • Film Disc: At the top, place a button plastic film disc. 
4. Spin the compartment that has springs on the bottom clockwise until it is under the red lever. 
5. Pull the red lever up and down toward the right (toward the opposite compartment). 
   • You know you did this part correctly if you cannot see your materials in the compartment. 
6. In the opposite compartment (no spring on the bottom), place a button pin back. 
   • Be sure to place the button pin back with the sharp side (opening and closing side) facing down. 
   • On the top side of the button pin back, you should see that the pin comes in and out of two square gaps.
   • Make sure that gaps are at the top half and are straight. 
7. Spin the compartment counterclockwise until it is under the red lever. 
8. Pull the red lever up and down toward the right (toward the compartment that has springs on the bottom). 
9. Spin the compartment clockwise to reveal your finished button. 

Design a Button Digitally

You can design buttons with a variety of software!

• Canva - Online (free version)
• GIMP - download free software - can use it to design or to aggregate your designs and print many buttons at once
• Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop - if you have access to these programs
• Microsoft Word - limited design features, but you can also use this to drop your designs in a print a full page of buttons

Sticker Maker Instructions 

1. Print out or draw a design for your sticker (smaller than 1.5 inches in "width") Your sticker design can be as long as you want but remember to minimize the design to 1.5 inches in width, so it can feed through the machine.
2. Cut off excess paper surrounding the sticker if needed.
3. Feed your design through the machine with your design facing up.
4. Pull your design through the bottom of the X machine.
5. Cut the strip with scissors and retrieve your stickers.
6. Peel the back of the sticker and stick the sticker to your desired object.