The Button Blog - American Button Machines — Photo Buttons

Wearing a mask is unfortunately unavoidable these days in most public settings.  One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is how we communicate with each other without being able to express ourselves through all important facial expressions.  It is just in my nature, as it is for many, to smile as I pass someone, even if it's a stranger.  That smile could change the tone of the day for someone you meet but if they can't see your face, how will they ever know you are trying to share that sensational smile?  Someone told me that one of the saddest...

What makes a photo button maker different?  Do I really need the photo button kit to make photo buttons?  If you plan to use actual photo paper to make your buttons the answer is yes, you need a photo button making kit and here's why. Button makers are very finely calibrated to use a certain thickness of materials to get a good, cleanly crimped button.  When you change that thickness by too much, or too little, the button can fail.  Photo paper is significantly thicker than standard 24 pound copier paper, which is what most machines are calibrated for. You...

ABM Button Maker of the Month Contest Remember the day your button making kit was delivered? How exciting it was to tear open the boxes and get started? Well we want to share that excitement with the world! Welcome to the first installment of a new monthly contest, appropriately titled, Button Maker of the Month. When you order a button making kit online from ABM you receive an email which includes a graphic so you can make your first button right away. If you share pictures or video of the process with us, you’re automatically entered in the contest. Each month...

Patriotic Memorial Day Buttons Memorial Day is fast approaching. I don’t know about you, but for me, Memorial Day signifies that summer has begun. Yes, I know technically speaking summer officially begins in June. But with Memorial Day come parades, festivals, cookouts and family reunions. And don’t those events practically shout “SUMMER IS HERE!!”? And don't those events beg for Memorial Day Buttons? [caption id="attachment_340957" align="alignright" width="300"] Busy Beaver Buttons Photo Bottle Opener[/caption] [caption id="attachment_340961" align="alignleft" width="300"] Patriotic Nametags from Oriental Trading[/caption] Who doesn’t love a cookout? And what does every cookout need? Bottle openers and coasters, of course. There...

What do I need to know about making 2.25" Photo Buttons? ABM, as you well know, has button makers to suit any project. We offer the traditional round button makers. As well as square, rectangle and oval. ABM has button making machines for paper buttons, fabric buttons and, yes, photo buttons! Today our focus is on photo buttons. Specifically 2.25” photo buttons and how they differ from 2.25” buttons made with regular printer paper. While our larger photo button makers (3” & 3.5”) are designed to accommodate photo paper easily, our 2.25" button machine is a slightly different story. Technically,...