What Called You To Button Making?

[Former_Member]

Hello Fellow Etsians,

My name is John Joseph I live in Metro Atlanta and I see some of you are as well. I am new to Etsy and button making. But I want to know, how and why did you get into button making?

Here's my short story. I've been working a part-time job that I like but the pay is not so great. I've been praying and asking God to help me find a way to make some extra money from home and doing something I love to do.

Woodworking was the first option but it takes too long to make pieces to sell and it's just take up time and space. So I didn't pursue that option.

But one day I got my mail and I received some junk mail which were postcard advertising. And in it was an ad for Badge-a-Minit's starter kit for 29.99 and it caught my attention. So I looked into it, bought it and researched the concept. I bought a different machine since, but it's been great. I get to create, re-use stuff and I love it. Now I am learning to use Inkscape to draw things. As of now I haven't made my first sale but I'm still excited.

So, how and why did you get into it and started?

[PeriwinkleDzyns]

Welcome to the group John!

I bought a used tecre off Kijiji for my tween daughter a few years back so she could make buttons to sell at all the craft sales I was doing with my recycled jewelery.
In order to save money she decided to make buttons out of things we could get for free for very cheap.
She sold enough buttons at our first sale to pay me back for the machine and then made enough $ for herself for the next few holiday seasons
Eventually she got old enought to get a job and lots interest in making buttons.
I then took it over and have been making buttons from maps, dictionaries and unwanted books since. I especially love the wedding favor orders I get here on Etsy, it's lots of fun to find words for such a happy day!

[Former_Member]

Hi John,
I guess it all started back when i was 14 (18 years ago), i grew up a punk rocker and just loved 1" buttons. when i was 18 i started screen printing and with the extra cash i bought a model 100 from buttonsonline.com. Ever since then i've been able to avoid actual work. We table at the local farmers market and sunday we're heading down to venice beach. We take the machine and we make buttons for people right on the spot. We have different colored disks and markers as well as a little template jack so that people know where to draw the image.
I tell ya bro, my screen printing press and my button machine are the best investments i had ever made! The profit margin is freaking amazing even if you sell a button for a buck!

[Former_Member]

@PeriwinkleDzyns; that is so cool how you use the dictionary pages to make your buttons. And your daughter selling enough buttons from her 1st sales...even cooler

@grue grimman; Actual work avoidance is awesome, that's my aim. Yes, you are right the profit margin is really good.

Thanks to you both for sharing.

[Former_Member]

@Bayleaf, same here! I wasn't a big fan the first time I saw buttons. Why would I pay a dollar for one tiny pin? But over time (and several conventions) I feel in love with them and I decided I wanted to make buttons for myself. Now I just sell a few extra here or there to help pay for the cost of the machine. Lovin' it!

[Former_Member]

My story is very boring! I wanted to start a second business, and somehow came across a button machine website and thought it was a very affordable start up cost for another business. Plus, my husband and I already own a photo print shop, so we could add photo buttons, mirrors, and magnets to our line of printed items.

[Former_Member]

@Jessica - good deal that's sort of how I came to it too. It came to me via "junk" mail...lol But in hinds sight I think that was the best junk mail I've ever received.

[huee]

i once fund a button with a picture of the moon on it at work. i kept it for 2 years and i always want to make moon buttons myself.

this is the first moon button i made. it's in 3D.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87814375/3d-moon-and-moon-landing-set-of-2

[badgebliss]

I used to sew (and sew and sew) Baby and toddler items.Then 18 months ago hubby had health probs and I no longer had the time. I've always been crafty and needed something that was not so time consuming ( and easier on my neck!) I lauched Badge Bliss earlier this year and I'm loving it.

[SayItInASnapJewelry]

I am obsessed with jewelry. I got a button machine when I saw a shop had made some very inexpensive pendants at a retail store and were selling them for a crazy amount of money. I thought "I could do this better!" So I did. I purchased a button machine. And after several prototypes and about a year, I created magnetic bracelet and soon to be pendant jewelry that uses flatback buttons (or magnetic buttons) which can be rotated in and out of the bezels. http://www.etsy.com/listing/88559904/red-and-green-peppermint-clixby66