Why I Started Making Button Badges: Small Creations, Big Emotions

The hardest part of making my first button badge was choosing the photo.

The printer, paper, and press were ready. But with so many possibilities, I couldn’t decide which image should mark the beginning of this new chapter.

Inspiration came from my little ones: Bya (yes, Bya with a Y!), my Chihuahua; Pitico, my German Spitz; and Fiona, my French Bulldog.

When I saw the result, I thought it was absolutely perfect.

A photograph had become a small keepsake full of meaning. And that was exactly what had drawn me to making button badges.

It all started with a video

One day, while scrolling through social media, I saw a video of a woman making square button magnets.

She demonstrated the process so calmly and simply that it gave me confidence. I watched and thought, “I could do that, too.”

I had actually known about these machines for many years. A close relative worked at a factory here in Brazil involved in making this equipment. Still, I had never felt interested in trying it myself.

Watching someone calmly make a finished piece was what helped me see the possibilities.

And one idea won me over: a design I created could sit on someone’s fridge, becoming part of a little corner of their home they see every day.

The desire came before the courage to buy

Despite my excitement, I spent months thinking about it.

I didn’t have a steady job, and the money coming in each month was already committed to upcoming bills. Buying the press was a big decision.

Then, somewhere between hesitation and the urge to try, a funny thought came to mind:

“With enough little monthly payments, you could even buy a helicopter.”

That was my way of finding the courage. I bought the machine from abroad, paid a lot for it, and got started. And yes, I’m still paying it off.

I’m sharing this because the investment is part of the story, too. My excitement didn’t make the cost disappear, and the monthly payments were still a commitment. Everyone needs to consider their own circumstances before taking that step.

In my case, I had one thing in my favor: I already had a printer, photo paper, and plenty of enthusiasm for trying something new. The press was the missing piece.

My little ones inspired the beginning

My first creations were square magnets.

I found the process straightforward and soon realized that the biggest challenge of that first attempt would be choosing the image.

That was where Bya, Pitico, and Fiona came in.

Anyone with a pet knows how much love a photo can hold. Seeing my little ones on those pieces made the result especially meaningful to me.

After that, I kept making more button badges for myself, trying out ideas and discovering what I could create.

The more I made, the more possibilities I saw.

A toucan, the Brazilian flag, and my first orders

It was World Cup season when I made a keychain featuring a toucan and the Brazilian flag.

At the first place I showed it, I received my first order. At the second, I received another.

And things grew from there.

The reaction I kept hearing was:

“That’s beautiful… did you make it yourself?!”

And I would grin from ear to ear.

Showing someone a piece I had made and realizing they wanted one, too, brought me so much joy. What had started as a personal experiment was catching other people’s attention.

What can a button badge hold?

Today, when I look at these pieces, I think about everything they can carry.

A photo of someone we love. A message that reflects our personality. A reminder of a special moment.

Button badges carry emotions, stories, and a little of the person who chooses each design.

Over time, I began exploring other formats: keychains, keychains with mirrors, double-sided keychains, and new ways to personalize them.

That is what continues to delight me. A small piece can accompany someone every day or become a thoughtfully chosen gift.

Knowing I played a part in that moment means so much to me.

My “therapy that pays”

I still felt nervous about investing, even after my experience with mugs. But my belief that it could work was stronger.

These days, I like to call this work my “therapy that pays.” It’s my affectionate way of describing how much I enjoy creating.

Knowing that someone carries something I made, or chose one of my creations as a gift, fills my heart with joy.

For anyone who feels the same desire to begin, my encouragement is:

Start! Take a first step that works for you.

That might mean learning about the process, working out the costs, or trying an idea before investing. What matters is giving your desire to create some attention and discovering what you can do with it.

My beginning involved months of uncertainty, a machine bought in installments, photos of my pets, and a keychain that led to my first orders.

And every new piece still brings that same joy of seeing an idea take shape.

Explore Crica Studio’s personalized button badges and keychains, and imagine which story you’d like to carry with you.