Is there a way to make pins/buttons…without the machine?
I don’t know of any way to make the metal badge-style pins and buttons without the machine. I tried to find a hand-held dye set but had no luck. Try to find one used, if you can, but you’ll probably still have to pay more than half of what the machine is worth new. If that’s just not an option, and I understand if it’s not, try around at local craft stores and flea markets and find out if anyone has a lead on a hand-held dye set or a style of buttons that fit together without a machine. You may even luck out and find someone who has either a machine or a hand held set to rent or sell for a good price.