So here is the NON video Badge-A-Minit 1 1/4 in. button tutorial.

It’s long and has a heck of a lot of images, so dial-up users, you might want to click the break and then make yourself some tea or something.

Step One: Get Your Stuff Together!

Step Two: Put the Button Front Together

Note that the blue assembly ring has a notch. This is the “top” of your button and you should always make sure it’s facing away from you so you don’t put it together upside-down. The yellow ring goes in with the black indentation down. Make sure that it is pushed in all the way.

 

Step Three: Smush and *Thock*

Flip your button assembly over (making sure that the notch is still away from you) and insert the silver die with the indented edge up. Place the green die over it. Stand up (no really, stand up) put one hand over the other and push steadily and evenly until you hear a *thock* sound. If you do not push evenly here, the plastic cover will not properly be tucked into the pin back later and you will have to chuck the button.

Step Four: Setting the Pin-Back Up

Take out the silver and green pieces and flip the assembly back over. Take the red die and place it over your button front, notched side up. Push down with steady and even pressure until the red piece no longer moves. Making sure the red die remains in place. Flip the assembly over without removing the red die and give it a little more pressure. Now, double check the edges of the back of the button front. They should be of even length around the circle and be curled slightly towards the center. Also check to make sure the edges of the plastic cover match up to the paper. If things are uneven, save yourself a pin-back and chuck this button front now.

Notice that there are handy-dandy lines on the back of the blue ring. (The notch on the front of the blue ring is still away from you, right?) Take your pin back and line up the holes so that the shaft of the pin forms a line with the two lines on the blue ring.

 

Step Five: Putting it all together

Now, place the green die over the pin back. Very carefully flip the entire assembly over. If you feel anything move while flipping, back up and make sure all the pieces are in place. If you don’t, the pin will not form correctly.

Place the entire assembly on your press (or in your press if you are using a hand press), lining the notch in the red die up with the moving pieces of the press. Apply slow, even pressure only until the red die stops moving. Too much pressure can snap the parts. Uneven pressure will form the button incorrectly.

 

Step Six: Ta-da!

If all has gone well, you can now take the button off of the assembly and show it off.

 

Step Seven: Uh-oh!

Common things that people screw up.

• Not applying even pressure on the green die in step three. Use both hands and cover the die entirely with your palm.
• Not applying even pressure on the red die in step four. Use both hands and cover the die entirely with your palm.
• Letting the red die slip out slightly while moving is in step five. If you feel anything at all move - check it out before you put the assembly in the press.
  
• Applying too much pressure in step five. The press amplifies the pressure, a little goes a long way.
• Putting the pin-back in “upside-down”. Not the end of the world, the button is still wearable, just awkward to put on.

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