What types of graphics can I use for my buttons?
Deciding what your button will look like is the fun part! Use your artistic talent and layout and design skills to create unique button graphics. There are a variety of materials you can use to construct attractive buttons.
Photographs - Scan, retouch, and add special effects and text to a photograph on your computer or cut the actual photograph and place it between the mylar and the shell. Photographs can be cut easily and cleanly with Tecre's Circle Punch or Die Cutting Press.
Clipart - Create graphics on your computer using desktop publishing software such as Corel Draw, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher or Adobe Photoshop. Use the graphics provided with your software package or find free graphics on the Internet.
Magazine pages - Tear out pictures from a magazine and then trim them to fit your button. Keep in mind copywrite issues when doing this.
Recycled greeting cards - Don't throw away greeting cards after the holidays. Reuse them, they make great holiday button graphics, especially for Christmas ornaments.
Gift wrap - Pick out some colorful gift wrap to use as your button background.
Overhead transparencies - Print a mirror image on a transparency with ink or photocopy toner. Use the transparency with an image in place of the clear plastic mylar. Make sure the toner is on the inside for durability.
Embroidered or cross stitched material - Combine your craft projects and use embroidered or cross stitched material in place of a paper graphic.
Dried flower petals - Press the petals of your favorite flower between the shell, a plain paper background, and the mylar.
Postage stamps - Create a collage using postage stamps.
Paint - If you like to paint why not show off your artwork on a button?
Fabric - Instead of using a paper graphic and mylar, cover the shell with a piece of fabric cut to the appropriate size. As long as the fabric isn't too thick your button maker will crimp the fabric between the button shell and back.
Hint: If the fabric stretches too much, cover the back of the fabric with tape or an adhesive label before you cut it or make a button.
TECRE CO., INC.
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