We used this button maker for our library summer reading program. After a little bit of a learning curve, we found it easy to make buttons to give to the kids for achieving their reading challenges. I used a 1.25 inch punch, and didn't even bother using the included cutter based on other reviews.We had teen volunteers create most of the buttons and found that you have to align everything just right in order to get a button that worked properly. It worked best to put the clear plastic and the paper together before putting on the metal backing. Also, there was a higher fail rate when we were sitting and making the buttons vs. standing. Not sure why, maybe it's a factor of the angle of how you pull down the lever? But we only had about a couple dozen fail out of the hundreds we made, so I call it a win. Plus the kids were so excited to earn the buttons that we are definitely going to make many more.