Button Making: I have questions!

[feelreal.livejournal.com]

Hello! I just joined this community in hopes of finding someone that can help me. I'm currently in high school and looking for creative ways to help my school and earn some cash along the way as well. My aspiration is to become a graphic designer so I thought I would put my designs out there in a cute way. I have an idea to make pin buttons. I have no problem coming up with graphics for them, but finding a button machine is an issue. I just went to my local Jo Ann's and Pat Catan's today and there were no button makers to be found! I've been searching online and the only ones I can find are expensive $200 machines (Dr. Don's) and a cheaper one at a more reasonable price (Badge-A-Minit) but it has terrible reviews and looks pretty inconvenient to use. So, if anyone out there has any tips or knows of a place where I can locate such an item, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks! <3