Whether you use the Button Builder Software or something else, you will always have two circles in your template. The first circle is larger than the button itself. It is larger because both the mylar and paper wrap around the shell and are crimped under when the button is made. Needless to say your cut out paper will be the same size as your plastic mylar. This cut out line is always shown as a solid line. This solid line will serve as a guide for cutting with scissors or lining up your circle cutter.

The next circle is smaller and is shown in red or dotted. The Button Builder Software will be a dotted circle, we usually set our circle to a red color. This smaller circle is where you need to keep your text and imges so they are visible on the button. This is important because you don’t want your text/images getting lost when it’s wrapped around the shell. This size is smaller than the button size.

By having these two diameter sizes you can create your template in Word, Illustrator, Paint Shop, Corel Draw, etc. There are too many to name. If you still have problems creating your circles and just want to get started then you can always purchase Button Builder created by Badge-a-Minit. Click here to learn more about Button Builder. You’ll find that once you have your designs saved, the rest is pretty easy.

Oh here’s another tip….Save your template as something generic like “2-1/4″ Template”. After you create your work of art, “Save As…” whatever you want to call it, like “Halloween Witch”. Why? That way whenever you open your “2-1/4″ Template” it will be a fresh canvas for you.

1-1/4″ Badge-a-Minit or Standard Size Template

1-1/4″ Badge-a-Minit or Standard Background Sheets – Print on any color sheet for kids to draw on

1-1/4″ Badge-a-Minit PhotoShop, PrintShop, and Fireworks Template – Available Upon Request

2-1/4″ Badge-a-Minit Size Template

3″ Badge-a-Minit (not available)

Well here is one of those moments. Assembly rings are used to make buttons with Badge-a-Minit hand press and bench press systems. There are 6 steps in making one of these buttons and each step is manually executed by the user inserting or pushing rings/pieces together.

People from all walks of life demand answers to why they can’t make a button. They proclaim the machine is faulty, it’s a toy and doesn’t work. I know the product works, I speak to customers over the phone and walk through each step. I make a button every time. And now my desk is full of random buttons..LOL! People that walk in my office are more than welcome to take some.

When I walk through each step with customers, they make a button too. So why is this? Maybe it’s patience. I often find that the customers are anxious. You have to complete each step! If the instructions say, “YOU WILL HEAR A SNAP”, then you better keep pushing down until you hear that SNAP!

They are not the easiest machines to use, but guess what? You get what you pay for.

First, I had to explain that the kits are NOT created by our company. We provide the same kits that Badge-a-Minit provides. If anyone feels like we should create different kits that suite your needs or wants better, please let me know. Many of our customers trying out button making for the first time don’t want to invest too much and can get by with their first 25 buttons by using scissors to cut thier graphics out.

Next, was my apologizes for having a circle cutter demo on the same page as the starter kit. On the page you will find a list of what is included in the Starter Kit. We are sorry if this is misleading. However, we have customers that don’t know what is involved with making a button so we included the cutter making the cut out circle and then being used in the assembly rings.

Finally, I think it would be great if we had a video CD of someone making a button with the type of button maker you purchased. Our videos online are accessible via the internet 24 hours a day and at this time we think that is sufficient. We still have problems with people improperly loading their machines and they ARE watching the video. The video CD is still a work in progress and that is why we are including the videos online little by little.

Well, that was my Monday morning. We can only make things better if we get input from you, the customer. I honestly don’t understand why some of the Badge-a-Minit kits are put together the way they are. I agree that a starter kit should include all the items one would need to make button. I am sure Badge-a-Minit was trying to create a kit with an affordable start up cost. It’s not their fault, it’s just a marketing strategy. We do have better packages for the Professional Button Makers manufactured by Tecre. The kits are leveled based on what circle cutter fits your button making needs because we do believe that circle cutters are important. I don’t like cutting circles out with scissors. Everyone have a great week!

Even if you have the 1-1/4″ or 3″ assembly rings the steps and the color coded rings are the same.

Here is a direct link just in case you can’t view the video below.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=amRRBNYy-Zs

It might be easier to view the Badge-a-Minit Instructions (badgeaminit_instr.pdf) to see how the process works. Since the assembly rings are the building blocks you can buy the additional size assembly rings and still use the same press. However, the bench press is the only press that will accommodate the 3″ assembly rings. This is also the reason why you can NOT buy a 3″ Hand Press Starter Kit.

The 2-1/4″ size assembly rings are plastic. “How many buttons can I make with my assembly rings?”, is a common question. Well I really can’t answer that. Sometimes the rings last for months or even years. And then there are times when someone makes 20 buttons and the blue piece cracks.

This is one of the reasons why there is a Lifetime Guarantee on the Badge-a-Minit machines. (The hand and bench presses are plastic and can break as well.)

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You might wonder, “What are these things called assembly rings”? The assembly rings are used to make your buttons. The 1-1/4 inch size is the smallest button you can make with a Badge-a-Minit machine and they are metal pieces.

These assembly rings also include an “adapter” because both the hand press and bench press can accommodate the 1-1/4 inch and 2-1/4 inch assembly rings. Since the 1-1/4″ is much smaller you have to use the adapter to take up the extra room between the rings and pressure pin.

The other benefit of assembly rings is that if you already own the 2-1/4″ hand or bench press, all you have to do is purchase the 1-1/4″ assembly rings and buttons to make the smaller size. And of course vice versa.

Come back for more information about 1-1/4″ Assembly Rings.

**Please Note: The picture is missing the silver piece.

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PROS

1. Template is designed for 1-1/4″, 2-1/4″ or 3″ button size.
2. 8,000 Pieces of Clip Art
3. Change the Background Color of your button.
4. Add an Image
5. Resize and Center Image
6. Add Text Art
7. Add Text
8. Import images easily in the following formats: .WMF, .JPG, .BMP, .PNG, .WPG
9. Insert scanned images
10. Rotate an image
11. Insert a shape and choose a color
12. You can print multiple buttons on a single sheet or different buttons on a single sheet

CONS

1. The clip art is not the greatest quality. Many customers think they are getting the stock designs from the Badge-a-Minit catalog.
2. You “MUST” save after every time you make a change or add something.
3. You can only print up to (6) 1-1/4″ or 2-1/4″ buttons, or up to four 3″ buttons.
4. Button builder Pro only supports the TrueType font format.

Recommended System:

• 133 mHz PentiumTM Processor
• WindowsTM 98 2nd edition, ME 2000, XP, NT
• 64 MB RAM
• Monitor set to high color (16 bit)
• 50 MB hard drive space available
• CD-ROM Drive

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There is also a misconception about the name. Some call it a Badge-a-Mint or Badge-a-Minute. The truth is they really did spell “Minute” incorrectly on purpose.

Badge-a-Minit also has a higher quality line of button makers that are called Badge-a-Matic I and II.

Hope to see you back here learning about all the things Badge-a-Minit has to offer.