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No, It can only make brads. You know DH & I were looking at it we think you could "hack" it to make buttons. I have not tried it yet. I am sure somebody will beat me to it.
I went to my local craft store yesterday, and they didn't even have one open to demo. I asked for a demo and they said none were open, so I suggested they open one, because no one is going to buy one if they can't see how it works, but they still didn't open one. Idiots!
I seem to remember that my mother had a simple tool to cover buttons with fabric. The buttons were 2-parts (a dome and a base with a shank) . Some how you put a small piece of fabric around the dome, pushed it into a rubber holder and then pushed the base into that. I think I'll check the notions rack at Jo's to see if this type of thing is still around.
I seem to remember that my mother had a simple tool to cover buttons with fabric. The buttons were 2-parts (a dome and a base with a shank) . Some how you put a small piece of fabric around the dome, pushed it into a rubber holder and then pushed the base into that. I think I'll check the notions rack at Jo's to see if this type of thing is still around.
I seen that our Michael's got them in, but I didn't pick it up to investigate what it did.. it was hanging next to the cropadile and I was really hoping to find the corner chomper.. but they didn't have it. I guess I'll have to pick it up next time and look at the packaging.
__________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
I went to my local craft store yesterday, and they didn't even have one open to demo. I asked for a demo and they said none were open, so I suggested they open one, because no one is going to buy one if they can't see how it works, but they still didn't open one. Idiots!
I'm waiting to get one at our local LSS, they don't have them in yet.
Denise
__________________ Denise
"If a person who indulges in gluttony is a glutton, and a person who commits a felony is a felon, then God is an iron.�
― Spider Robinson
Covered buttons are what your grandmas had. Any fabric store and walmart should have therm. You can buy the kit with the plastic to make the button and you can buy just the refill kits with the snap togethger metal parts.
__________________ "Teaching. Real Teaching, is-or ought to be a messy business" -Harry Crews
My sister - who doesn't craft - saw this in the Archiver's ad before I did and bought it for me for my birthday!!! It comes with a DVD and looks super simple. I'm going to run out later and use my bday $ to get two of the punches. You don't have to have them, but I know my luck on cutting things out correctly to make it fit... Although, they did show using fabric cut in circles, instead of the flower punch for paper shapes, so I'm guessing it's no biggie... Can't wait to actually sit down and try it out
__________________
"The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it." ~Charles Swindoll
Thanks for sharing the video. The fabric looked great for the brads but the paper looked like it wasn't quite a smooth on the edges. Is there a way to smooth them out or is it just my eyes?
TIA
Thanks for sharing the video. The fabric looked great for the brads but the paper looked like it wasn't quite a smooth on the edges. Is there a way to smooth them out or is it just my eyes?
TIA
It wasn't smooth when I saw samples in person either. I just figured that was the nature of paper.
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It is the nature of the paper...the thicker the paper the harder it is to control wrinkles . . . but it doesn't look bad, I made a brad using me & my big ideas specialty paper (which is pretty thick) and the brad was gorgeous w/glossy accents. You can use fabric too.
I saw some brads made from it, and the edges looked puckered....... you could tell where the creases were..... I would think the smaller the head of the brad and the heavier the paper or cloth the more "clunky" they would look, If i see one at Ms today and i can use a coupon, I may get one to try out....... I have tons of quilt scraps and i think a lite weight fabric but give a smoother finish product
I got to try this out at CHA and it is fun! You can use fabric and paper and it's pretty easy. The only thing I didn't like is you have to buy punches for the paper so they fold around the metal part. The actual tool itself isn't too expensive but I don't like that it doesn't all come together in a set.
I bought the I top to day and have only tried it cardstock............. looks awful.
I will try it tomorrow with thin paper and fabric....... but i think i will probably return it, I am not happy with the creases....... they look messy.
I tried the I top with think scrapping paper this morning......... same clunky look....... I had it all packed and read to go back to Ms.........and i decided to give fabric a try.
It is a medium weight 100% cotton from Ikea.......... It did a very good job....
I can only see 2 small puckers....... I am still not sure I am going to keep it, but i do have tons of quilting scraps......... the brads and toppers were almost as expensive as buying premade ones and I am not sure its worth the time and the expense of the tool to keep something that doesnt make something I am 100% happy with.
Anyone else tried this........ please share your results
I'm thinking that if I run out and get this today, and believe me I'm tempted, that within...oh, say two weeks time it will move right to the top of my "what did you spend money on but never use" gadgets list...
My thoughts exactly.......... although i like the job it did with fabric.... The brads with paper are bulky and just look poorly done......
I can buy brads for the nearly the same price, done well.....
I dont see how i could ever take a swatch of paper or fabric and know for sure that the flower, bug or whatever would end up centered on the brad.
Also, when I need refills, I dont want to wait a week for mail order........
The more, I think about it, the more i am sure this is going to be returned
Last edited by GrammaPixel; 08-16-2009 at 05:24 AM..
After seeing the i-top, I bought it at Michael's with 50% coupon. I thought the tool came with some brad blanks, too. Or, even the template or measurements included would have been helpful. I had some difficulty in producing a smooth look and was disappointed. But, I am going to try to soften the paper (SU) to see if that works. I also had some problems in centering the topper.
All in all, it is a fascinating tool and I do hope it will work out.
I'm too tired to repost my first I-Top brad on SCS tonight, but if you'd like to see the big one made with a picture, it's on my blog.
I can honestly say, had it not been a gift, I probably wouldn't rush out and buy it. BUT if I had a coupon, I would probably change my mind! I think it's one of those things that is not a HAVE TO, but it is fun and I will definitely use it since I have it
__________________
"The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it." ~Charles Swindoll
I have an iTop and I think it's very cool. I used M's 50% coupons for the tool, small punch, and large head attachment. I hope M's decides to carry the medium and large punches because hand-cutting the paper/fabric to fit would be a drag, even with the templates. (I agree with the previous poster who mentioned that these things should all have been sold together!)
A couple things I've learned:
1. Thin paper and fabric give less puckered results, but even cardstock can be smoothed pretty well with a fingernail before adding the prong piece. I "helped" the cardstock cup the brad by starting the fold under the top and smoothing it a little. Also, it's a handmade item, so I don't expect perfection (especially since it's handmade by me! LOL).
2. To make sure the paper/fabric stays centered, I put a dab of adhesive on the top piece and stuck the paper/fabric on before sliding it into the tool. This solved the "slipping off center" problem I had the first couple times I tried to make a brad with a centered image.
3. If the brad didn't come out the way I liked, I simply grabbed the prongs with pliers, gently pulled the top piece and prong piece apart, and tried again. I wasn't able to reuse the piece of paper, but I used the same top & prong pieces 3 times before I got the ducky paper centered. (And that's when I thought of sticking the paper on the top first to keep it in place.)
I wouldn't pay full price, especially considering there are so many accessories to purchase as well, but it's fun to have for 40-50% off.
Since I sew, I have many sewing accessories, including cover button kits. The brad maker is the same concept. I decided to try making brads using my cover button kits. It worked fine.
If you have cover button supplies already and want to try, here are the things I learned:
Remove the "shank" from inside the top using a pair of pliers. It's very simple.
Take an old brad (I used an office-type with longer prongs) and slip it through the slit in the flat piece of the button. I secured it with a dab of hot glue. If the prongs are too long for your project, you can clip them to the appropriate length.
If you do not have a brad to use inside the cover button, you can put it together without one, and attach to your project with a dimensional.
Cut little slits around the edge of the piece of decorative paper before adhering.
If your paper is too thick and puckers, dampen it just a bit by wiping with a wet paper towel -- not too much, or the paper will tear.
This worked fine for me, so I won't be buying the brad maker. I'll simply use the supplies I already have. For those who are not familiar with covering buttons already, the tool may be an easier option.
I don't think anyone answered the question as to how much it costs. I got mine at Michaels for $34.99 and used a 50% off coupon. I'm not sure why it doesn't come with the plastic templates for cutting out the paper, but they're sold separately for $2.99. I might get the small punch this week with another coupon. I wish I had fabric scraps to try because I think it will work the best. The thinner the material/paper, the better the brad will look.
I have one and have enjoyed using it. You are going to get puckers since you are making a larger circle and folding it into a smaller circle. Lighter weight papers would work better - less bulk. I have used the Imaginsce papers, and Strano ribbon and have been happy with the results. I have used their punches to get my circles though. I will be reviewing this tool in about 2 weeks on Scrap Time.
I saw this yesterday at Michael's and thought about getting it but
wanted to see what others had to say about it.
One of things that I didnt like was that if you dont want to have to cut out
the paper using the plastic templates, you have to buy each punch individually (there are 3).
I know I dont want to have to cut out each little paper/fabric piece!
For those of you that mentioned you dont like the way the paper looks
puckered, here is a video from their web site that may help with this:
At first it looked like something I really wanted and the possibilities of
it with fabric and paper are endless, but now Im not so sure :rolleyes:
Hope the video helps those that have it.
In case the video is no longer the first one on their site, its called:
The SECRET to the SMOOTHEST i-top Brads REVEALED
I saw a card someone had used this tool to cover a brad, i am sorry to say it looks awful. The paper was not smooth. I won't waste my money on this tool.
I've been lurking in the background to see if this was going to be my next fav tool and this time I'm going to opt not to buy something that I just won't use that often. I have too many tools that I've given away or just use.
thanks for all the insight and saving me the money. I can now buy more stamps or paper instead.
It looks great with fabric, but the cost factor just wasnt worth the limited use for me and i have a huge stash of quilting cottons/scraps...... By the time i bought all the punches and the brads and the tool even with a Ms coupon, I just didnt think it was worth the price for a good look with fabric only. I love the concept, but the refill brads were very expensive in my opinion.
Question about I-Top Brad Maker
Doomed to be enabled!
