We <3 East LA :) January 25 2013

Knowledge is Power!

InnerCity Struggle is a grassroots organization working with high school students and families in East Los Angeles to transform K-12 public education in LA so that all children can have increased access to college and higher education.

These Custom 7/8" Round Buttons (our smallest size) are a perfect little reminder that communities raise a child and that there is much to love about our neighborhood -especially the people in it :)

Connect 

InnerCity Struggle on Facebook, Twitter @ICSEastLA, Myspace, and YouTube

www.innercitystruggle.org

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Little Rocker Buttons January 24 2013

Nice Toss!

Did You Know: A "Button" in Curling is the smallest (2 feet) ring in the house, also called the "pot"? 

The Little Rockers of City View Curling Club know that AND they have some cool custom square pinback "buttons" to prove it!

Go Little Rocks, Go! : )

Connect:

City View Curling on Facebook and Twitter @cityviewcurling

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Were You Born In The Year of The Snake? January 24 2013

2013 is the Year of The Snake

And this snake charming 2.5" round custom button design was created by Brenda Nicholson at Ideas Online (www.ideasonline.ca) : )

If you were born during the Year of The Snake, it is said that you are likely to be thoughtful and wise. You also have the ability to approach problems rationally and logically while remaining uber stylish and fashionable, due to your exceptional taste! 

Yellow and Red are your Lucky Colors : )

2, 4, 7, and 9 are your Lucky Numbers

and Monday is your Lucky Day

Here's to a beautiful 2013!

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Gopher Button Making!! January 23 2013

Go Get This! Gopher That!

We have been so busy with custom button making that we got some help from a couple of gophers. They definitely enjoyed using the button maker and playing with the button parts : )

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Bust a Move! January 17 2013

Treasure the Chests in Your Life

The women behind "Treasured Chests" asked us to create some buttons for their team by altering their underwater treasure chest scene (above) to replace the starfish with breast cancer research ribbons. No challenge is too difficult when you've got People Power and these ladies are living proof!

Team "Treasured Chests" is a group of 10 fine ladies who are busting moves to raise $10,000 for breast health initiatives in their hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia (where the Bust a Move for Breast Health initiative began in 2010). Since its conception, over $2 million has been raised towards creating a comprehensive Breast Health Centre in Nova Scotia. With the funds raised from Bust a Move 2013, the next phase of the Centre will see two vital clinics moving into the space: high risk genetics and re-construction.

Thanks to the generosity of donations from friends and family, success with some fun fund-raisers (including Zumba classes, Christmas basket raffles, bakes sales, and themed parties through Avon, Pampered Chef, and their own gold/silver party), the Treasured Chests are so very close to reaching their goal, if you'd like to help you can do so through their donation page on the bust a move website.

If donating isn't an option, go out and bust a move on the dance floor! The positive impact of exercise on overall body health and disease prevention is well documented in scientific research :) Other less sweaty, cancer-preventing and reducing strategies have been presented in the breakthrough documentary "Forks Over Knives", which Dr. Oz says should be seen by everyone. Knowledge is power! Go Team!

If you'd like to register your own team, you can sign up online in Halifax and Other Cities in Canada

Connect & Spread the Word:

* Bust a Move For Breast Health on Twitter and Facebook

* www.bustamove.ca

* Donate to the Treasured Chests Campaign - they've got cool buttons! hehe

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A Button Story: Jack Driedger (1947-2012) January 14 2013

 Every Button Has A Story

Once upon a time, Jack Driedger had an amazing opportunity: to work on Neil Young's 1988 album, "This Note's For You". As a token of his appreciation for Jack's contribution to the project, Mr. Young gave Jack a button that looked just like this one, which he wore proudly on his jacket every day afterward. Now, the Driedger family have their own replica buttons, with Jack's name printed on the edge, that they can wear proudly as a token of their love for Jack :)

This (button's) for you, Jack!

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Conference held in "Paris of the Prairies", Saskatoon, SK January 11 2013

Custom Conference Buttons for the CHLA / ABSC

2" x 3" Rectangular Custom Conference Buttons for this years CHLA Conference.

The 37^th annual CHLA/ABSC conference theme of inspiration, cooperation, innovation is strongly reflected in the history and growth of the province of Saskatchewan.  Join us from May 22-25, 2013 in the “Paris of the Prairies” (Saskatoon)  to become inspired, engage in down home style cooperation, and let your innovative juices flow!

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Art Against Cancer Campaign Buttons January 10 2013

 Hot off the People Power Press!

AltoVenue has hired us to make some campaign buttons from their wicked designs. Get one (or the whole collection!) at the Art Against Cancer gallery opening this Saturday, January 12th at 8pm in Toronto at Saviari Tea & Cocktail Lounge and support a great cause :)

Connect:

AltoVenue on Facebook & Twitter

Art Against Cancer on Facebook

Gallery Opening Event Page on Facebook

Campaign Buttons are a great way to promote your cause!

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Idle No More! January 10 2013

Idle No More warriors for justice - We support you!! And not just because we recently made buttons for one of your events :)

We have been supporting First Nations rights in Canada for years and have an entire collection of First Nations and Indigenous button designs in our gallery.

Custom Buttons are an easy and effective way to raise awareness about social justice issues and initiate progressive discussions.

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Who wants to go for a mid Winter dip? : ) Brrrrrrrrrrrr January 09 2013

I'm willing to make the buttons, but I'm not going to swim in freezing water!

This was a fun custom job, modified from the "Extinct is Forever" design in our gallery. 

Polar Bear Swim Custom Buttons look great.

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Putting QR Codes on buttons or magnets – Why? How? December 08 2012

Syndicated blog from TheButtonGuy.net
The following article is reprinted with
permission.
http://TheButtonGuy.net/

QR Codes or Quick Response codes and buttons are a marriage made in heaven.

Pin-back buttons, pins, badges or whatever you call them are an ideal vehicle for promoting websites but what about a button that can be scanned on a cellphone and the image takes the cellphone user straight to your website.

QR codes don’t just need to go to a homepage, you can generate a QR code to lead a browser to any web address, to a special offer page, to a secret page or a surprise page.  Follow a QR code button and see where you end up!

How to generate your QR code artwork for a button.  There are dozens of free code generators online.  Try this one  or just search for one online.

What are QR codes

QR-Code in a Newspaper

“QR-Codes are two dimensional barcode (datamatrix) that is designed to have its contents decoded at a high speed.” source

With the technology of mobile phones constantly advancing, especially within mobile internet, QR-Codes are the perfect solution to quickly and efficiently bring mobile phone users onto the mobile web. QR-Codes can be used to store all kinds of data including web addresses. QR codes can also be used on:

How QR-codes Work?

Take a mobile phone such as an iPhone, android or blackberry or any phone with a digital camera. Take a photo (or scan) the QR code to capture a picture of the QR-Code.  The in built QR-Code software decoder will then transform the data into an action by the mobile phone, such as:

This is done in a millisecond making the transformation from a users mobile phone to the mobile web instantaneous.

How to put a QR-code on a button

Putting a QR-code on a button is not really different from putting anything on a button.  You need a good quality artwork and you need a reasonable printer. Artwork can be generated online.  Just decide on the url you want to link to, fill out a simple online form and most sites email you back a .png file instantly.

Try this free online QR-code generator

Layout your sheet as you would normally.  Of course a square button is great, especially if you have a square button maker or if you are getting your buttons custom made by a pro, they will have a square button machine, but a round button will also work fine.

Add some text for the visual:  What about “Scan me”,  “Follow me” or “special offer”

You can use colour – they do not have to be black – but whatever you do TEST your qr-code before you make a bunch of buttons.  Make sure your code works!!

Enjoy!

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Need help with your custom button order - Artwork questions? November 24 2011 1 Comment

 If you want to design artwork for custom buttons it can be a bit daunting the first time.  For example it is common to think that if you want 2-1/4" buttons you make artwork that is 2-1/4".  Sadly that is not the case.  The cut size for a 2-1/4" button is 2.625" and the image size is 2.063".  The image size being the viewable area on your final button and the cut size is the cut including the part of the image that folds around the back, otherwise known as the bleed size.

Sounds complicated?  No worries, it actually isn't.  Simple answer:  Download a template here.   There is a page of instructions as well as templates for many sizes.

I hope this helps but feel free to ask a question.  To upload artwork use the UPLOAD PAGE.

   The Button Guy

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