Make a Pin-Back Button Display

Pin-back buttons are great to sell at anime or comic conventions. They’re small, collectible and are 1/3 of all my sales. I found that my sales increased by creating a board to display them on. Not only does it look professional, but people can more easily see what designs you have. And it’s a good thing you don’t have to spend a lot of money or time making a button display.

So go make yourself a warm beverage and get started!

Supplies:

• 11″ x 14″ Frame (from Dollar Tree)
• Corkboard/ Roll
• Razor Blade/ Box Cutter
• Hot glue ( or Modge Podge/ Elmers Glue)
• Thumbtacks
  
• Your buttons!
• Frame hooks (optional)

Step 1: Get your Supplies

You can get any size frame that you would like, but since I have a lot of buttons, I like the 11 x 14. Plus, they are a good size for hanging on my wire cubes for my table. The cork roll I bought at Michael’s and used a discount. I think it was regularly $15 but used my 40% discount. I will say that this is a little thin, but you can probably buy thicker boards if you don’t mind spending a little money. This is the third display board I made and I have enough for one more. 

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Step 2: Disassemble

Take apart the frame, set aside the backboard and wood frame. Keep the glass for the next step. 

Step 3: Cut out cork board

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Use the glass as a template for cutting the cork. Carefully cut, use a hard surface underneath that you don’t mind getting cut up. I found a piece of flat wood underneath to protect my rugs (cause, you know I work on the floor ;P ).

Step 4: Glue

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You want to begin to glue to the backing of the frame. I prefer to use hot glue, but you can use Elmers or Mod Podge. Hot glue dries faster, so I prefer to use hot glue. Begin gluing section by section, and work quickly. 

Step 5: Put Frame Back Together

Put it all together minus the glass. 

Step 6: Buttons

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Get your buttons, make some without the pin part. Or if you have one that messed up a little, remove the pin part and use this to display if you don’t think it is good enough to sell. Hot glue a thumbtack to the back of the button. Let set aside for a few minutes to cool. 

Step 7: Add Buttons to your Button Display!

Once you got all of your buttons finished, go ahead and stick them on the board. Rearrange them however you like. 

Bonus:

If you plan on hanging these on your wire cubes, get yourself some frame hanger hooks. You can get these at Walmart for under $2.00. I have found these at an Ollie’s around me for I think about 75 cents. Still not bad, and you get plenty!