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How to Display Campaign Buttons

People collect and display special campaign buttons after an election, or display campaign buttons from past elections. You can display campaign buttons easily and inexpensively in shadow box frames, display cabinets or jewelry box displays, so buttons stay in perfect condition. Keep the buttons in an area with low moisture, constant temperatures and controlled lighting, and your campaign buttons will last for years without damage from exposure to these elements.

Things You'll Need

12-inch by 18-inch shadow box frame
12-inch by 18-inch quilt batting
16-inch by 22-inch solid colored decorative fabric
10-inch by 16-inch solid colored decorative fabric
12-inch by 18-inch foam core board
Display cabinet (optional)
12-inch by 18-inch jewelry display box (optional)
Stick pins
Hot glue gun
Glue sticks

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the 16-inch by 22-inch solid colored decorative fabric on the flat surface with the finished side facing down. Put the batting on top of the fabric, and center it. Put the foam core board on top.
- 2
  Fold the right side down to the foam core board. Put a stick pin in the center of the fabric at an angle, so it holds the material without poking out of the foam core. Repeat the procedure on the left side.
- 3
  Plug in the glue gun, and let it get hot. Glue the pinned sides of the material in place, but don't glue all the way to the edge. Leave a 2-inch area at the top and bottom that is not glued.
- 4
  Fold the top down to the foam core board. Put a stick pin in the center of the fabric at an angle, so it holds the material without poking out of the foam core. Repeat the procedure on the bottom.
- 5
  Glue the pinned sides of the material in place, but don't glue all the way to the edge.
- 6
  Tuck the top edge of the corner under the side edge, and glue it neatly in place. Repeat this procedure with all four corners.
- 7
  Center the 10-inch by 16-inch solid colored decorative fabric on the side of the board where the fabric was glued, and glue it into place. This covers the edges of the material making a neat back to the display.
- 8
  Attach the pins to the side of the display board with the batting by pinning the campaign buttons onto the board. The buttons stay neatly in place on the board.
- 9
  Remove the cardboard from the back of the shadow box frame, and slide display board inside with the buttons facing the glass on the frame. Each frame is a little bit different, so removing the cardboard requires different methods. Some have staples, tabs or nails. If you want to display the board in a cabinet or jewelry display case, slide the display board into the cabinet or case.
- 10
  Display the campaign buttons out of direct light. Sunlight and fluorescent light damages the images on campaign buttons.
- 11
  Change the display every six months, so the buttons don't get exposed to too much light. This keeps the buttons in better shape. Store the buttons on a display board in an acid free box when not on display.
- 12
  Keep the buttons in a dry area. Moisture gets under the plastic coating, and causes rust on the button.

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