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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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USA BUTTON MACHINES

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EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION

The USA Button Makers make 1” and 2.25” buttons/pins.

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DID YOU KNOW?

There is a print shop at Facebook HQ for employees to print artwork on shirts, posters, stickers, etc… There is even a Button Making station! They make buttons of famous quotes that Mark Zuckerberg uses in meetings and presentations.

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YOUR CHALLENGE

You will be designing and creating two 1” buttons and two 2.25” buttons. You will be given a template and asked to design one button of each size for yourself and one button of each size for the visitors’ bin. Follow the steps outlined in this presentation to produce these buttons. Happy button making!

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YES, AND ...

Mine could have a Cubs Logo

Yes, and it could be blue

Yes, and it could have a picture of Wrigley Field

Yes, and it could have a goat on it

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STEP 1

Download a template file - This works best when using Google Chrome.

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Single 1” Button Template

Single 2.25” Button Template

Multiple 1” Button Template

Multiple 2.25” Button Template

Mixed�Button Template

Download All Button Templates

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Button Design Instructions

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STEP 2

Open the template in Illustrator

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  • Double click the downloaded file that ends in .ai to open it in Illustrator.
  • If you can’t find the file, look in your Downloads folder.

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STEP 3

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Make the Button Layout layer active.

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  • Open the Layers Panel by choosing Window → Layers.
  • Click on the Button Layout layer to make it active.

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STEP 4

Change the color of your button

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  • Using the Ellipse Tool, draw an ellipse slightly larger than the button.
  • Change the Fill Color of the ellipse.

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STEP 5

Add images

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  • Search for images with a transparent background using Google Image Search.
  • Copy the image and paste it into Illustrator.
  • Use the Selection Tool to move, resize, and/or rotate the image.

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Understanding the Template

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STEP 6

Add text

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  • Install a font from dafont.com
  • Use the text tool to add and format text
  • Optional: Use the Warp Effect to Arch the text

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STEP 7

Print

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  • File → Print
  • Select the Canon-6008 Fiery printer
  • Notice not all the layers will print

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Note: We got a new printer. Please print to Canon-6008 Fiery

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2.25" Button

Instructions

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2.25" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Use the die cutter to cut your design into a circle.�

  1. Using Scissors, trim the paper so it can fit into the cutter.
  2. Slide the paper into the cutter.
  3. Press the red handle.
  4. Pull up on the red handle.
  5. Remove the circle.
  6. Remove and recycle the scraps.

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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2.25" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Grab all of your supplies.�

  1. Grab one of each of the following:
    1. Plastic Cover
    2. Shell
    3. Pin Back
    4. Your paper circle

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Plastic Cover

Shell

Pin Back

Paper Circle

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2.25" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Load Side 1�

  1. Find side 1.�
  2. Load side one with the Shell, then the paper circle, then plastic cover.�(Metal, Paper, Plastic)

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Plastic Cover

Shell

Paper Circle

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2.25" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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1st Press�

  • Swivel the button machine around until it stops.�
  • Push the handle down until it will not go any further.�(Use some muscle)

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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2.25" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Load Side 2�

  • Find side 2.�
  • Load side one with the Pin Back.�(Zig Zag side up)

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Pin Back

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2.25" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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2nd Press�

  • Swivel the button machine around until it stops.�
  • Push the handle down until it will not go any further.�(Use some muscle)

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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goo.gl/WoP7JT

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2.25" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Ta Da!�

  • Take your shiny new button out of the button maker and show it off to all your friends!

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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goo.gl/WoP7JT

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1" Button

Instructions

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1" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Use the die cutter to cut your design into a circle.�

  • Using Scissors, trim the paper so it can fit into the cutter.
  • Slide the paper into the cutter.
  • Line up your circle with the circle on the cutter.
  • Squeeze the cutter.

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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goo.gl/WoP7JT

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1" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Grab all of your supplies.�

  • Grab one of each of the following:
    • Plastic Cover
    • Shell
    • Pin Back
    • Pin
    • Your paper circle

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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goo.gl/WoP7JT

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Plastic Cover

Shell

Pin Back

Paper Circle

Pin

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1" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Load Side 1�

  • Find side 1.�
  • Load side one with the Shell, then the paper circle, then plastic cover.�(Metal, Paper, Plastic)

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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goo.gl/WoP7JT

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Plastic Cover

Shell

Paper Circle

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1" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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1st Press�

  • Swivel the button machine around until it stops.�
  • Push the handle down until it will not go any further.�(Use some muscle)

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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goo.gl/WoP7JT

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1" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Load Side 2�

  • Find side 2.�
  • Load side one with the Pin Back.�(Sharp side up)

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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goo.gl/WoP7JT

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Pin Back

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1" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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2nd Press�

  • Swivel the button machine around until it stops.�
  • Push the handle down until it will not go any further.�(Use some muscle)

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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goo.gl/WoP7JT

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1" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Add Pin�

  • Take your button out of the press. �
  • Flip it upside down on the table.�
  • Put the pin on the table so the "pokey" part is pointing up.�
  • Snap the pin into the pin back.

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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1" BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS

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Ta Da!�

  • You can twist the pin back so the pin is right side up.�
  • Take your shiny new button out of the button maker and show it off to all your friends!

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© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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Extras

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LINKS

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  1. The Button Guy - Great resources for button making.
  2. USA Buttons - This is where SHS’s machines and supplies are from.
  3. American Button Machines - Another good source for button making machines and supplies.

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How to Make a Button

View the video to see how to make 1 in and 2.2.5 in button using the USA Button Machines

© Adlai E. Stevenson High School | Kelly Smith

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Note: This video does not contain sound.