Buying a Button has Never Been More Fun! April 05 2016

If you're ever strolling around the west-end of Toronto, come by and say hello! We are the bubblegum pink building jam-packed with buttons :)

You can make-a-button, and if you aren't in the creative mood you don't have to leave empty handed!

Pay a visit to one of our lovely button vending machines (yes they are as cute as they sound). The buttons are all Toronto-themed because we love our city THAT much :)

Here's to Toronto. A super cool city, and home to our pretty delightful little button shop.

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Hope You Had a Hoppy Easter! March 28 2016

All of us here are the button store hope that your long weekend was fun and filled with family & friends, laughter, and happiness!

Oh yeah. And chocolate :)

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Kids' Lit Quiz: Fundraising with Buttons March 23 2016

Who said, "Nibble, nibble, like a mouse, who is nibbling at my house"?

If you said "The Witch in Hansel and Gretel," you're not only correct, but you might even have what it takes to hold your own in the Kids' Lit Quiz! 

What is Kids' Lit Quiz?

Kids' Lit Quiz is a literature competition for children ages 10 to 13. Quizzes take place in countries all over the world, like Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, and South Africa just to name a few. Teams compete nationally, and the winners come together annually for the World Finals!

Wayne Mills, the founder of Kids' Lit Quiz is SUPER passionate a books. If reading was a sport, he would definitely be the #1 fan!

Here's Where the Buttons Come In:

Kids' Lit Quiz loves buttons too!

Every competitor gets a "Quiz Whiz" custom 2-1/4" button, and other custom buttons are sold to help raise money, as they are a charitable foundation.

The buttons started off in our shop in Toronto just a few weeks ago, and have already been to Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and Hamilton! Spreading the love of reading AND the love of buttons, yay!!

 Check out Kids' Lit Quiz Canada on Facebook, Twitter, and Blogspot!

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Is There a Button Shell Stuck in my Machine? March 22 2016

Have you ever gotten a button part stuck in your machine?

It happens to the best of us, and can be really frustrating. However, there are a few tried and true techniques to getting that button part UN-jammed in no time!

Here is a great how-to video from The Button Guy that shows you how to un-jam that trusty hand-press.

HOW DO MACHINES GET JAMMED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Most machine jams will probably be the result of using a paper that is too thick, or putting more than 1 shell in the die. Though there are lots of different things that COULD jam a machine, these two scenarios are the most common.

HOW TO AVOID JAMMING YOUR MACHINE.

Though this instructional video makes is super easy to un-jam your machine, its a lot easier to NOT get a machine jammed in the first place. Here's some tips on how to avoid a jam all together.

1. The paper is too thick: The best paper to use for button making is your good ole' fashion printer paper. If you try and use paper of a heavier weight, you run the risk of getting the mylar, paper, and shell stuck in the top die when pressing your button. Stick with a paper that is around 28 Lbs and you should be golden!
2. There were 2 shells smooshed together and it looked like there was only 1 shell: Sometimes the shells like to piggy-back on each other. Though that sounds kind of cute, this double shell will inevitably lead to a jam, or at the very least, a button than doesn't get crimped properly. If you think there may be two shells stuck together, just throw them against a hard flat surface. Industry secret: the floor works GREAT! The impact will make the shells come apart, no tools or elbow grease required!

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March 22nd is World Water Day March 21 2016

Saying that water is REALLY important is an understatement.

That's why, in 1993, the United Nations designated March 22nd as World Water Day. 

The purpose of this day is to educate people about water-related issues and inspire individuals to take action. We decided to take action ourselves by creating some custom 1-1/4" buttons that are all about water!

Every year, World Water Day focuses on a different water-related issue. This year's theme, Water and Jobs, was chosen because many of the 1.5 billion people who work in water related fields aren't protected by basic labor rights.

If you want to learn more about World Water Day, check out their website. It's full of SO MUCH amazing information including this great video!

Official Trailer: World Water Day 2016 from unwater.org

Concept: Walk This Way
Production & illustrations: La Pompadour
Music & Sound Design: Mooders

     

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The Very First Button. Like, Ever. March 11 2016

Buttons have been around for a long time. And by "long time" I mean since the late 1700's.

The first "button" was used during the inauguration of George Washington in 1789. It looked like this:

A few decades later in 1824, election buttons hit the scene during the campaign of John Quincy Adams against Andrew Jackson.

Back then, campaign buttons look quite different from the buttons of today. Some main differences in the buttons of today vs. the buttons of yester-year include how the buttons are actually worn. In 1824, buttons were sewn onto clothing rather than just pinned on.

Keep checking in on our Button Blog for more great posts every day :)

If you can't wait to read more about the history of buttons, check out another great blog post we wrote a while ago!

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This is What a Feminist Looks Like: Women's and Gender Studies at UWinnipeg March 09 2016

Yesterday was International Women's Day, a day celebrating the achievements of women in the social, economic, cultural and political sphere.

I am sure that everyone in the Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) Department at the University of Winnipeg celebrated the day by rocking one of these great custom buttons!

The custom buttons were created for UWinnipeg's annual Open House event, and were designed by the mighty talented Erin Heroux, a Graphic Designer for  The University of Winnipeg.

Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) is among more than 50 undergraduate programs available at UWinnipeg, and the department was looking for a way to stand out from the crowd at Open House 2016.

Not surprisingly, the buttons were a massive hit :) Rumor has it that UWinnipeg is already coming up with new button designs to use in the future!

Want to keep up with all the great stuff going on at UWinnipeg? Check out their Twitter, Facebook, and website!

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Did You Know that The Button Guy is on YouTube? March 08 2016

Last week we posted about Button Designer, a great free resource from The Button Guy.

The Button Guy has yet another resource that goes beyond artwork, and touches on many aspects of the button making process: his very own YouTube channel.

Whether you need to know how to use, make, fix, or design something button related, there is bound to be a video that can help you out!

Here are just a few featured videos:

If you're looking for a "How To" video that isn't featured on this blog post, check out The Button Guy's full YouTube Channel!

If you check there, and your question still isn't answered, always feel free to Ask The Button Guy, or call into the shop for some over-the-phone assistance :)

Don't worry about asking us a question that you thing seems strange or silly. If it's button related, GO FOR IT! We love helping our customers have the best button making experience possible :) YAY!

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International Women's Day Buttons March 07 2016

Happy Monday button enthusiasts!

Tomorrow March 8th, is International Women's Day, a day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Here are just a couple of well known women who have made a hugely positive impact.

To learn more about International Women's Day, check out the official website, or take a pledge for gender equality.

If you are interested in creating your own custom buttons, we can help you out! Click here and make all of your button dreams come true!

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It's Cool to Recycle: Upcycled Notebooks are Here March 03 2016

Who would have thought that some old un-loved books could get a second chance at life? We believe that anything is possible, and we have proof. Take a look:

These books have been turned into some seriously cool notebooks and sketchbooks, ready for you to fill with whatever your heart desires.

All books are hardcover, coil bound, and use "Tree Free" recycled paper.

So whether you like retro books, sketching and writing, or just want to reduce your carbon footprint, we've got you covered.

These little beauties are available online and in store. If you're ever in The Junction, come on by and browse through our whole selection. And maybe make a button too :)

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Custom Buttons for our Friends at The Wedding Co. March 02 2016

February was a big month for weddings, and nobody knows this better than our friends at The Wedding Co.

The Wedding Co. is an awesome group of creative professionals who live and breath all things wedding! Not only do they make it SUPER simple and fun to plan every aspect of a couple's big day, they also ensure that the experience of planning is just as fantastic as the wedding day itself.

On February 21st, The Wedding Co. celebrated its 15th bridal show in Toronto, and it truly was a showstopper! Each of the exhibitors were even sporting a gorgeous custom button to identify themselves at the event. 

If you're planning a wedding, or just like looking at gorgeous wedding things, you should definitely check out The Wedding Co. on Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, Instagram, and on their website!

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Button-Designer: Quick, Easy, and Free Online March 01 2016

It's been a long day, and you still have a bunch buttons to design for that super important thing tomorrow.

Most people would start brewing that late-night cup of coffee, and get ready to hunker down for the long haul...

But not you! You head over to button-designer.com

It's a website that makes it really simple to whip together button designs. And best of all? It's freeeeeee :)

The website allows you to add an uploaded image, text, icons, etc. to a button template of any size. Once you're done, the button design is saved as a PDF print sheet, and is ready to be cut and pressed.

HOW TO USE BUTTON-DESIGER: A STEP BY STEP GUIDE

1. Go to www.button-designer.com

2. Create a Free Account

3. Select the size of button you are going to design. We carry the button parts and presses for ALL sizes that button-designer offers.

4. If you would like to upload an image, Click on "Image Upload" and select your file.

5. Click on any element of the button that you wish to change. For example, to change the maple leaf icon, click the icon on the button template.

6. Use the check boxes to turn off the elements you don't want or turn on the elements you do want.

7. Click and drag to move the elements on the button face.

8. Once you're happy with the button design, click the save button. To view the buttons you have saved, go to the button gallery. From there you can print a single button, or create print sheets of one OR multiple designs! 

9. Make your buttons

10. Wear you button proudly and get many high-fives and compliments! 

YOU CAN USE BUTTON-DESIGNER IF YOU'RE ORDER CUSTOM BUTTONS FROM US TOO!

If you are ordering custom buttons from People Power Press, you can use the Online Button-Designer to create the artwork. All you need to do is provide us with your user name and the image title :) We will retrieve your artwork and produce your custom order!

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Nothing Counts on Leap Day: Custom Buttons for February 29th February 29 2016

Happy Monday everyone :)

This is an extra special Monday, Indeed. A day that comes only once every 4 years...

That's right, it's a Leap Year!!

Put aside the responsibilities of real life and live today to the fullest. After all, nothing counts on Leap Day.

Of course, here at People Power Press, Leap Day is a perfect reason to make Custom Buttons! If you want to learn more about February 29th, take a look at some Leap Day Customs and Traditions.

Real life will resume tomorrow, March 1st.

Why does the extra day fall in February?

All the other months in the Julian calendar have 30 or 31 days, but February lost out to the ego of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus.

Under his predecessor Julius Caesar, Feb had 30 days and the month named after him - July - had 31. August had only 29 days.

When Caesar Augustus became Emperor he added two days to 'his' month to make August the same as July.

So February lost out to August in the battle of the extra days.

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Black History Month February 16 2016

Let's celebrate black history month this through buttons! A great way to show recognition towards current and past African Canadians that make and have made great contributions in art, culture, public service, politics and human rights.

Toronto itself has so many talented musicians that contribute to music history while helping Toronto's reputation grow stronger.

Drake whom was given a key to the city a few days ago, also helped host one of the most important sports events this weekend here in Toronto; the NBA all-star games. It attracted so many tourists including all sorts of celebrities and gave our residents opportunities to participate in local events and entertainment.

The Weeknd whom was nominated for 7 Grammys, preformed and brought home a Grammy for Best R&B Performance.

Rapper Shad (not originally from Toronto) took over Q on CBC Radio in 2015, and is still  somehow finding the time to create music.

21 year old Andre De Grasse  a GTA born athlete has been claimed to be the fastest man in Canada and won the 2015 Pan Am 100m and 200m.

Willie O’ree from fredericton, was the first black player in the NHL with the Boston bruins in 1957-58.

George Dixon also known as “Little Chocolate” from Halifax, was the first black world boxing champion in any weight class and first ever Canadian born boxing champion.

Also a reminder on an interesting article that came out a couple years ago on Albert Jackson, a child slave who fled to Canada on the underground railroad was to become the city of Toronto’s first black letter carrier in 1882.

Thanks to those important brave figures from the past, we have all kinds of young talented people shaping and making our future!

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Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day <3 February 08 2016

It's almost Valentines day, and everyone here at People Power Press hope you have the happiest one yet!

If you "don't really DO Valentine's Day" but have a special someone in your life, we've got just the thing for you!

Come by the shop and take a look at our super cute "Sorry, Valentine" button collection.

These sassy little buttons are a great way to begrudgingly participate in all the Valentine's hype.They're just the right amount of "salty" to balance out all of the "sweet."

Available in packs of 4 assorted buttons ($5.00), or as single button Valentine's cards ($2.00)!

Wishing you a Valentine's Day full of love and happiness <3 <3 <3

 Keep up with all of the cool stuff we are doing around the shop! Check us out on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Do you have something great you want to put on a button? Here is how you can get custom buttons of your very own!

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Button of the Week: Go Raptors Go! February 03 2016

We love our Toronto sports teams around here, especially when they are playing well.

The Blue Jays gave us a great summer and fall and now the Toronto Raptors are killing it on the court.

So, just like our Jays buttons, we wanted to make some buttons to show our love for the Raptors and celebrate their record-breaking success.

And what a year to be going hard - in a few weeks the city will play host to the 2016 NBA All-Star Game.

Oh and we have to share the video because it is awesome and these two guys will be playing together for the game.

How can you not be excited? #WeTheNorth all the way.

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DIY Project: Mystery Series Pocket Mirrors January 31 2016

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Ingenious Storage Containers: Marketing with Magnets! January 28 2016

Our friends at Ingenious Storage Containers had a predicament. How could they add their branding to the storage containers they were selling?

Stickers could do the trick, but they'd probably get peeled off as soon as the container arrives at its new home. And nobody likes that sticky residue that gets left behind.

Then, they had it! The perfect solution: Ingenious Storage Magnets!

Ingenious came to us at People Power Press with their custom magnet request, and we thought it was a great idea! After all, their steel containers, cabinets, and storage lockers are the perfect canvas for a custom magnet!

They weren't sure how their magnets would be received by their customers, but from the sounds of it, they're a big hit already! The magnets are even finding their way from storage containers to the fridge. I'd like to see a sticker try and do that! :)

You can find all of Ingenious Storage Containers' products on their website!

You can also check out Ingenious on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram and stay in the loop of everything storage containers!

Great stuff, Ingenious Storage Containers. Your custom magnets not only look amazing, but are an awesome marketing idea :)

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Canadian Women in Food: Using Buttons to Stir Things Up! January 18 2016

Canada’s food sector contributes in a big way to the national economy, being responsible for more than 9 per cent of GDP and 2.3 million jobs. That's approximately 13 per cent of all employment in Canada!

Women represent more than 60 per cent of those employed in the food and beverage industry.

Canadian Women in Food is a super cool community that supports and celebrates female entrepreneurs in this industry. And they are asking that we all do the same!

What is Canadian Women in Food?

Canadian Women in Food is a network of women from a wide variety of food-related sectors: from bakers to food photographers, sommeliers to restaurant managers!

The members of this national social enterprise have access to learning seminars and events, while providing opportunites for members to support each other.

Their Mission

CWIF supports women-owned food businesses, and cultivates opportunities for female food entrepreneurs. By 2020, they hope to be the leading connector of female entrepreneurs in Canada. We can all help them achieve their goals by spreading the word, and getting stirred up about women in food!

Become a Member

If you're a woman in the food industry, you can find out about joining CWIF here. They value their network of entrepreneurs so much, that they will even refund the entire membership fee in exchange for 4 hours of volunteering within the community. How can you say no to that?

Get in Touch

You can find Canadian Women in Food on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook,and of course, on their website! Stay in the loop and see how CWIF continues to cook up! Learn more about the awesome women in the food industry and check out their featured recipes. It all looks deeelicious!

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Happy New Year! January 05 2016

We wanna wish you a rad start to 2016!

2015 was another great year here at People Power Press and we owe a lot of that to our very awesome customers.

We want to send you all a big thanks for making our year totally rock and being one of our best yet.

Among the highlights:

- New products including button bracelets, FLEX series of hobby button makers and shoelace clips!

- Opening our Toronto retail store and getting such a warm Junction welcome!

- Introducing Daily Deals for daily specials on button making supplies, machine and custom buttons!

- Launching our new website to make placing orders and finding products easier!

- Continuing to be inspired by the awesome work of our customers - button folks really are the best! Check out some of them here, here and here.

We're beyond excited for year ahead and introducing more new programs, products and services.

We're also looking forward to what amazing button stuff we can come up with together!

Oh, we really could go on about how lovely you have all been to us, but blah blah blah...

Have a Happy New Year!

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Angelica's Dream Fund: Supporting Artists and Dreamers December 23 2015

Our shop has been looking a little bit cuter recently thanks to local artist, freelance writer and fellow button enthusiast Angelica LeMinh!

What is Angelica's Dream Fund?

An adorable array of Piggy Pins are on display in our shop as part of Angelica's Dream Fund.

The idea of the fund is to consciously cycle money raised from selling art like this to support and celebrate the arts while also supporting the many dreams of artists behind the art!

As a freelance writer, Angelica is looking to fulfill her dream: to create partnerships with people and publications that value unique voices.

Angelica's Dream Fund is super special because it is an interactive installation.

If you like anything that you see, it can be yours! All she asks is that you leave something or share something with her in return.

Next time you're in The Junction, come by the People Power Press storefront and pick out a Piggy Pin for yourself!

You'll not only get to home with the cutest one-of-a-kind creation, you will also be supporting dreams which is pretty awesome too!

Get In Touch With Angelica

If you would like to contact Angelica directly about this project or her dreams, you can reach out at angelica.le.minh @gmail.com of find her online on Twitter or on her blog.

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Too Hip for the Holidays? We've Got a Button For You! December 21 2015

We probably all know somebody who thinks they're too hip for the holiday season.

Whether they conveniently forget to wear their ugly Christmas sweater to the party or don't want to take part in the annual Secret Santa gift exchange, they just don't seem to get into the holiday spirit.

It's near impossible to buy gifts for that too hip friend of yours, but don't worry. We've got you covered!

We're proud to present our Too Hip for the Holidays Button Collection!

Featuring characters such as Grumpy Snowman, Apathetic Ornament, and Passive Pine Tree, it has never been easier to shop for that person your life who says they can't be bothered with the magic of the holidays! 

You probably won't get them to wear those reindeer antlers, but they will definitely be happy to wear a button (even if they won't admit it).

Come by the store and pick up individual button cards or a 5 pin pack. Or place your order online.

Seasons Greetings from People Power Press!

May you have a lovely holiday season :) ... or whatever.

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Video: How to Make Button Christmas Tree Ornaments December 11 2015

The holidays provide a great opportunity for us button makers and crafty folk.

We get to make personalized gifts for our friends and family and fill our own homes with crafts made by hand – all with our button maker!

One great and fun DIY project is button ornaments. Hang them on your Christmas tree or around the house. This is a great Christmas craft project for kids!

New Video: How to Make Button Tree Ornaments

 Available in 5 Different Sizes

To make ornaments you will need Everything for Slotted Backs with Tabs. You can order the complete set of supplies needed to make your ornaments here. The only thing not included is the hook, but you can pick some up at your local craft store.

Don't Have A Button Maker? No Problem!

We have a few ways you can make button ornaments even if you don't own a button maker.

We Will Make Them For You!

Use our templates or use Button Designer (a free online button design program) to create and submit your artwork. You can also take advantage of our full range of our design services.

Contact us for pricing!

Rent A Button Maker

Rent a button maker to make your ornaments at home.

Come to Make Ornaments In Store - Great for Kids Off School!

You can drop into the Toronto store to make an ornament or there is still time to book an ornament workshop party if you'd like to bring in your children and their friends. This is a great idea for those when the kids are off from school!

Call to get more information or to book a spot or contact our Events Team at events@peoplepowerpress.org.

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Introducing Daily Deals: Serious Button Savings Every Day! December 02 2015

Button lovers! We have some exciting news for you all! 

You all know how dedicated we are to our customers and how we truly enjoy helping you guys out, right?

Well, we’ve decided to start offering all sorts of button deals for each and every one of you. Every single day.

We've launched Daily Deals, where we offer one fantastic button-related deal every single day of the week. You may need to bookmark this page!

And of course because we love to keep you on your toes, you will have to check in with us everyday because each deal will only last you 24 hours.

So you’ve gotta act fast!

Not what you're looking for? There's always tomorrow.

We will be offering you deals on absolutely everything to do with button making. So that means everything from the button machine itself, parts and supplies- to discounts on custom pins and our in-house design services.

No need to thank us, we are always looking out for you!

But again..... don’t wait tooooo long! These offers will change at 12:00am EST everyday and we only have a limited amount of each item!

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One Fire Movement to Launch One Fire Clothing in 2016! November 24 2015

We recently had the privilege of working once again with One Fire Movement, a beloved customer and friend of People Power Press.

They are always busy working on some exciting initiatives, so it is no surprise they have a couple of great new projects on the horizon.

Coming Soon: One Fire Clothing!

We’re extremely excited to announce that One Fire Movement has decided to spread peace, unity, and love in yet another way: through One Fire Clothing!

The clothing line will be launched in 2016 and will consist of super cool clothing adorned with custom tags and One Fire buttons! (Yes indeed, you read that correctly. We do custom tags and packaging too!)

One Fire Movement is great organization that uses the power of music, videos, photography, art, and events to support charitable organizations. Everything that One Fire does is driven by their mission to make a difference and spread the message that “We Are One.” That is the kind of message that we can all get behind!

Holiday Concert and Toy Drive

If you’re interested in experiencing a One Fire event first hand, you are in luck!

On December 17^th you can listen to some great live music, AND support a wonderful cause.  Get your tickets for One Fire Movement Presents – Holiday Magic, A Benefit Concert for War Child Canada here or stop by the store!

In true One Fire style, the event features a handful of musical artists,while benefiting War Child Canada and the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish Toy Drive. It’s wonderful how one event can do so much good for our local AND global communities.

To learn more about One Fire Movement you can check them out on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube

Thank you One Fire Movement for making a difference in the world, and for using super cool buttons to spread the love!

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Button of the Week: Stand Up for Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week November 20 2015

Buttons are always a great way to campaign and spread a message to a wider audience.

This week we wanted to use our Button Of The Week to highlight Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week happening throughout Canada and beyond.

This is a message that we all need to hear and practice so everyone in our communities feels safe and respected.

To learn more you can check out Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week to see how you can get involved. Use the official hashtag #BAW2015 to join the conversation.

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Recycle Fabric wtih Fabric Buttons! November 17 2015

Do you have some old clothes or fabric scraps lying around, but don't want to throw them away?

Beautiful fabrics can be used to make great pins, brooches or even earrings with your button maker! Get creative and upcycle some of the materials you have at home.

When using fabric to make buttons, you can get a more textured look to your button than the usual glossy finish that comes with using mylar and paper.

Before you get started, here are some things you should know about how to make fabric buttons with your button maker.

What kind of fabric to use with your button maker

When attempting to make fabric buttons you should know that not all fabric can be used with your button maker.

You need fabric with a high tensile strength - is able to be stretched - otherwise tearing can be a problem and your buttons will tear at the edges.

You will also have trouble pressing a button with fabric if the fabric is too thick. Anytime the fabric, paper or any material is too thick your machine will get jammed.

Testing fabric with your button maker

The only way to really know if your fabric will work with your button maker is to test it.

The button making process does not put a lot of pressure on the fabric, but do a small test before cutting or purchasing a large quantity of fabric.

Cutting your fabric

Use a piece of mylar as a guide for cutting your fabric with scissors unless you have a rotary cutter. A fabric pencil will work great to mark where you should cut your fabric.

Graphic punches that often come in button making kits do not work with fabric. Trying to feed fabric through a graphic punch is pretty impossible.

A rotary cutter can work with some types of fabric, but again you will want to test it with the fabric you are planning to use as cuts will differ depending on the kind of fabric.

It's great to switch up your buttons and try new things! Just remember to always test new materials before embarking on a big project!

Want more crafty ideas and tips for button makers? Check us out on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! And of course we'd love for you to share your fabric button creations with us.

Have a question about another project you'd like to try with your button maker? Let us know and that could be our next how-to blog!

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2015 Holiday Gift Guide November 14 2015

Well, it’s that time of year again – holiday shopping season!

And this year we've got so many more fun gift ideas for you. You'll be surprised at all the different things a button machine and some people power can make : ) In fact, this year YOU can come and make the gifts yourself in our new Toronto Maker-Space. Just let us know what you want to make, book a time to use our machines in store, and we'll show you how to do it!

Without further ado, here is our 2015 Gift Guide for all the crafty people (and more!) on your shopping list.

Gift Idea #1: For the Crafters and Kids (or Kids at Heart!)

Hobby button makers are a great gift for craft lovers, young and old! And, at a significantly lower price than professional grade machines, they are affordable for many gift givers. In the spirit of the season, we have put together HOLIDAY themed kits for our FLEX Series of Button Makers, complete with everything you'd normally get in the start up kit plus a set of pre-cut holiday button art in both full colour and black and white (for colouring). 

FLEX1000 Button Maker Kits

The FLEX1000 is a durable multi-size button maker, made of solid metal and can make up to SIX different sizes! Die set add-ons (required to press different sizes) can be purchased separately, if you want to start small, or in a kit, for extra savings.

FLEX2000 Button Maker Kits

The FLEX2000 is another great all-metal button maker with interchangeable dies. While it only makes four different sizes - for now! - its sliding die system makes aligning the artwork a little easier than the FLEX1000.

FLEX3000 Button Maker Kits

The FLEX3000 is the second sliding-die machine in the series and is used for making big 3" buttons (which cannot be made with the other sliding-die machine, FLEX2000).

Gift Idea #2: For the Artist or Budding Entrepreneur

Give the gift of entrepreneurialism and self-reliance this holiday season! : ) That's right, button making is more than just fun, it can also be a successful business opportunity for someone who is keen to turn their art into cash and can even be a supplemental service for an existing business. Given the ease of use and maintenance of the professional series of machine, it is a cheap and fast way to turn fun into profits :)

Professional Button Maker Kits

Gift Idea #3: For the Musicians in Your Family

Button Making Kits – Get a button maker kit to help band members make buttons to support their music. Smaller sizes like 7/8”, 1” or 1.25” are recommended!

Pre-Pay for Custom Buttons – Don't want to invest in buying a machine, but know a musician who would love to use buttons to promote their music? Give the gift of custom buttons and we will make the buttons for them!

Guitar Pick Punches – Musicians can make their own custom picks with our guitar pick punch. They won’t have to worry about losing another pick with this handy tool!

Gift Idea #4: Personalized Holiday Keepsakes

Custom Buttons – We Make Them For You!
Buttons make great gifts, even if you don’t want to make buttons yourself. Did you know that we can make more than just buttons? Send us your custom button artwork or photos and will we make a special gift to give out this holiday season. We can even work with you to create your custom artwork by scratch.

Custom Jewelry - Magnetic necklace and bracelet bases let your pop your custom design in and out to be always changing your look.

Coasters - Make a truly personalized and practical gift with a set of 3.5” round coasters this year.

Bottle Openers - Like giving practical gifts? Bottle openers can be fun, but also useful. Keyring and magnetic bottle openers are also available.

Magnets – Send out your holiday greeting or family photo as a fridge magnet this year. Different shapes are available.

Gift Idea #5: Stocking Stuffers and Other Great Gifts - As low as $2 !

Make-A-Button Packs - Pre-packaged button packs come with all the parts needed to make 5 buttons, including the artwork. Then kids just bring the supplies into our retail store and get started.

Pre-Paid Make-A-Button Cards – Give a pre-paid card to someone so that they can just come into the store and make their own buttons. Make eleven buttons for the price of ten! Recipients can make one at a time or make them all at once.

Dry Erase Silly Face Tree Ornaments, Fridge Magnets, and Buttons – Choose from our Christmas Faces and Snowy Faces collections or have us turn your family and friends into blank faced caricatures for everyone to draw on and decorate in silly, silly ways :) Use outlines from real photos or your own graphics. Then draw, laugh, erase and repeat! Contact us for custom pricing!

Upcycled Library Books -These hardcover library books with coil binding make one-of-a-kind, Eco-friendly notebooks and sketch books for the environmentally friendly folks in your family :) Bound with unruled Tree Free or 100% recycled paper. Notebook (small) and Sketchbook (large) sizes available. Want a specific cover? Bring in one of your old books and we'll upcycle it into a notebook or sketchbook for you! Contact us for custom book upcycling pricing :)

Gift Idea #6: A Gift to Yourself (Preparation!)

Do you have enough button making supplies for all your holiday button projects and parties?

If you already have a button maker then you may already know about all of the creative ways you can use your button machine this holiday season.

Make special gifts such as coasters, ornaments, jewelry, magnets, keychains, zipper pulls and bottle openers.

Gift Idea #7: Gift Cards

Still not sure? Give a Gift Card!

If you know someone who already has a buttonmaker and is passionate about buttonmaking, but aren’t sure what machine they have or what size of buttons they make, we now have gift cards that can be purchased and redeemed online.

Gift cards are also great if you think someone would like a button maker, but can’t afford to buy a whole kit. They will appreciate your contribution to the cost of a button making kit and supporting their button making dream.

You can even use them towards button machine rentals!

An Extra Note About Holiday Shipping!

Just make sure you order your gifts and supplies in time! We recommend you place your order as soon as possible so that we have enough time to ship your order to you.

All of our couriers get extra busy at this time of year so we don’t want any delays to upset your gifting plans. Give us a shout so we can help you determine how long shipping will take to your destination.

Our Toronto retail store is now also open Saturdays so you can pick up items. Just call ahead to make sure we have what you need!

Please call us today so one of our friendly sales team can answer all your questions and help you pick out the perfect button gift.

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

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How to Make Coasters with Your Button Maker (Practical Craft Ideas!) November 11 2015

How to Make Coasters with Your Button Maker (Practical Craft Ideas!)

Did you know that with the right materials, a handy coaster adapter insert and a little creativity, you can use your 3.5” Button Maker to make one-of-a-kind coasters?

These coasters can give your cup or glass a fun place to land while also protecting your table. Practical and expressive - what a perfect combination!

Coasters are also a great way to create unique and personalized gifts or souvenirs for friends, family and customers. With the holiday season just around the corner, the 3.5” Button Maker Coaster Kit with everything you need to make coasters may be just what you need!

Here’s what you need to get started:

1 ) 3-1/2” Button Maker
2) Coaster adapter insert to help give the coaster a flatter surface than a typical, curved, 3-1/2” button

3) Coaster Parts/Supplies: Shells, Recessed Backs, Cork Discs, and Mylar (for standard glossy coasters) or laminated pre-cut art (for matte or high gloss finish coasters). For standard gloss, just order “Everything you need to make 3-1/2” Round Coasters” from our site and you’ll get everything you need. For matte or high gloss, you’ll need to order laminated pre-cut art separately.

And here’s how to do it!

Decisions, decisions… will you choose laminate matte or glossy finish?

When making coasters with your button maker, you can also make a choice on the finish: glossy, matte, or any other creative finishes you can come up with. Here are some things to consider:

1. Laminating eliminates the chance of condensation between the paper and plastic, which is typically a function of humid climates – not being exposed to water. Both laminate and Mylar (the thin plastic sheet) are water resistant and can easily be wiped clean. You just don’t want to submerge the coasters in water, because the structure is made of tin and will rust and b) if it rusts or is sitting up to the brim in water for too long, the water will eventually find its way in through the seams. Regular table surface water and spills shouldn’t be an issue. The cork backing also helps, by raising it off the table.
2. Colours pop way better with a high gloss laminate. Less plastic means more light gets to the paper, which creates greater vibrancy.
3. Matte laminate feels nicer to the touch. Ooooh, smoooooth and satiny!
4. Mylar shows scratches and shows wear more obviously because it is thicker and shiny.
5. Matte laminate reduces glare, making the words on the coaster easier to read.
6. While a warm mug will NOT melt your coaster, suction does occur between the mylar and the bottom of the mugs. This might result in the coaster lifting with the mug when someone picks it up. It will fall back off, usually on your lap or the floor – like many other coasters that you find at bars or craft shops. Laminate is melted onto the paper and doesn’t separate from the paper image (like mylar does, because it’s just layered, not melted), so no suction happens and the cup lifts off with no problems. : )

Loving the coaster idea, but don’t want to buy a button maker? We can make them for you!

Submit your artwork to us using our templates or using Button Designer (a free online button design program).

You can also take advantage of our full range of design services to have us create your very own custom coasters.

Find out more about custom coaster pricing here or contact us and we will help you create something extra special and unique!

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Unlock the Potential of your 2-1/4" Buttonmaker! November 10 2015

A Whole World Of Products For Your 2-1/4" Button Maker!

Ever thought about branching out and making more items that showcase your message, art, or brand? Your 2-1/4” button maker may be the key to creating the key chains, bottle openers and magnets you've been dreaming of!

You can get a variety of parts for you 2-1/4” button maker. Pocket mirrors, bottle openers, and key chains are just the beginning! Check out our website for a complete list of products available for your 2-1/4" machine.

The process is no more complicated that pressing a standard pinback button so don’t be thrown off by the different backings. If you need help navigating a new product visit our blog or YouTube channel for many helpful tricks of the trade.

Don’t have a 2-1/4” machine? There are plenty of options available to make different items with all sorts of button makers! Check the product page associated with your button maker to get more details!

For daily tips and ideas follow us on social media! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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Button of the Week! - Winter is coming! November 09 2015

Celebrate the Cooler Temperatures This Week!

It's Monday and that means that it's time to unveil our button of the week! Every week we make a button available in the shop and this week we want to embrace the fact that winter is really coming. 

The temperature is dropping and the sun sets at 4:30, but we've decided that instead of shying away from the cold weather, we would just embrace it! After all, winter means more than just snow, it means hockey, skiing, long johns and hot chocolate too!

We know it's hard to get on board after our endless summer but we thought we would try to spread the love with these custom buttons. Hopefully we can hold on to these good feelings until spring! It's easy to love winter when its still above freezing but it's even easier to love our cold weather pins!

Come into the shop this week and pick up a couple to show your winter spirit!

Want to look at some of our past Buttons of the Week or have your own idea? Check us out on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

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Stay Safe This Halloween! Make Reflective Safety Buttons for Trick or Treaters October 30 2015

Safety First! Halloween Themed Reflective Buttons

Going out on Halloween night is something that kids (and adults) look forward to every year. Planning ahead means dressing up in costumes that fit and function, but are also visible! Safety may not be on the minds of little ghouls and goblins, but at People Power Press we want to help make sure everyone has a safe and spooky Halloween! So we've created Halloween-themed reflective buttons.

Staying visible is key when navigating our busy neighbourhood streets, so we are making highly reflective buttons to pin to costumes, jackets and all ghostly gear. These buttons reflect light much like bike reflectors or high visibility construction clothing. Trick-or-treaters can be seen, but the awesomeness of their Halloween costume stays just as visible. No need to hide under spools of reflector tape!

Come into our Toronto shop on Saturday, October 31st to either purchase a pre-made reflective button for your and your spooky crew or join us for an in-store event to make your own!

During the in-store button making event, you can choose what your reflective button will look like from a series of pre-made designs and we will show you how to make them into a button.

We also have non-reflective Halloween button designs ready to be coloured in along with treats to appease everyone’s sweet tooth! Hope you can make it.

Registration is not necessary for this event, but if you would like to reserve a specific time to come in, just contact us and we will save you a spot!

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I Love My Library and You Should Too! Custom Buttons for the Vancouver Island Regional Library October 23 2015

October is National Library Month across Canada and we were fortunate enough to work with the outstanding folks at the Vancouver Island Regional Library.

Most of us have taken advantage of our local library at some point, but we would like to take a minute and highlight the heart and soul behind all of our local libraries - the librarians and staff who work tirelessly to provide us with this invaluable public resource.

Libraries represent spaces of equal access. They are free to the public and provide services that are essential in the digital age such as access to the internet, computers, and educational workshops.

In order to reach their broad client base, this regional library launched on its own campaign in support of the Canadian Library Association and local branches.

The VIRL started the "I Love My Library" campaign as a way to reach out to returning visitors but also reach out to those who haven’t tapped their organizations infinite resources. Using the “I heart NY” theme, their team chose to add a little west coast flair with the long-time west coast icon, the red plaid shirt.

During October Library Month, Library branches also put on Customer Appreciation Days as an opportunity to “share the love”, because the sentiment is shared both ways. Making sure that the customers feel appreciated is important to the staff behind the campaign.

As National Library Month comes to a close we want to thank all the librarians from coast to coast who make community programs possible and a big thank you to the folks at Vancouver Island Regional Library for sharing their work with us.

We really appreciate the work you do!

Want to learn more about the "I Love My Library" campaign? Check out their website and Facebook page for more information!

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Junior Achievement of Nova Scotia - Preparing Nova Scotia Youth for the Future! October 21 2015

Earlier this month we made some buttons for the inspirational folks at Junior Achievement of Nova Scotia and we want to share the great work that they do with all of you!

JA Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization that works to motivate youth through educational programing, addressing the gaps in financial and business education in school curricula. We have all experienced the stress of the job hunt or been faced with making overwhelming post-graduate life choices. It is good to know that there are organizations out there helping prepare people for their next steps!

JA volunteers donate their time through a variety of programs that highlight their experience. We love that the community rallies behind youth education, youth programing and the success of young people in Nova Scotia and beyond!

Junior Achievement programs believe in arming young people with the knowledge and experience to succeed in the global economy. One program in particular, 'Company Program' inspires high school students to understand the role of business in our society by creating an enterprise of their own. Students collaborate with professional volunteer consultants to design, organize and operate a real business. These new entrepreneurs work within the structure of our Canadian economic system and realize the benefits it provides.

As we move through Small Business Week we want to thank JA Nova Scotia for preparing future entrepreneurs for the workplace! Learn more about Junior Achievement of Nova Scotia and to follow them on social media check out their Facebook and Twitter pages.

In Nova Scotia and want to volunteer? Learn more about joining this exceptional team!

Impressed by JA Nova Scotia? How could you not be! Nominate them for the People Power Award by emailing info@peoplepowerpress.org.

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Welcome to Our New Store! September 28 2015

After spending the past few years in Toronto’s fantastic Junction neighbourhood, we’ve expanded! Same location, but we now have a storefront with workshop space to offer more button-related fun!

The Liberators,  helped us celebrate during our soft launch party on July 18, with lots of button making musical jam sessions and performances. It was a hot day, but so much fun. Thanks to all who joined us!

 

Parking and Entrance Changes

Our regular (and super awesome) sales staff will now greet you at the front entrance of 3095 Dundas St. W for all pick-ups and visits. Just look for the bubble gum pink building between Clendenan Ave. and Quebec Ave. You can’t miss us : )

Rear laneway access and parking is now for staff and deliveries only, but plenty of parking is available nearby. There is Green P parking on Dundas St. W. and lots of FREE parking on any of the side streets East, West, and North of us : ) If you have a large order and need help loading it into your vehicle, come to the store front first and we’ll happily help you out from there.
For health and safety reasons, we cannot let you walk through the factory space to get to the new store front. So, if you do go to the back door, you will be asked to walk around the block to the front. This will be an inconvenient transition for many of you and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation : )

New Hours – We are Open Saturdays!

Having a new storefront space means we also have new hours. In addition to our regular hours during the week, our store is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are not open Sundays.

That means you can now pick up your orders on the weekend. You can also give us a call to place new orders and get a real person on the line to help you with any other customer service needs you might have. Or come by in person to pick up supplies and make your own buttons at our new work stations.

As usual, if you have hard deadlines and just want to drop in to pick up supplies, please call a week in advance to make sure we have enough stock on hand (or can have it sent over) before you come to pick up your order.

Shipping, Design, and Custom Button Production Services are only available Mon-Fri unless a special arrangement has been made in advance.

Make Something Different with In-Store Button Maker Rentals

Our storefront is a bright space with work tables so you can use any of our hand presses, for any size or shape, and just rent by the hour without the hassle of putting a hold on your credit card or having to lug the machine home and back again. This is especially great if you want to make a variety of items, but don’t necessarily want to buy all the machines to do it. There are so many things our machines can make: necklaces, bracelets, square, oval or rectangle buttons, magnets, and more!

Maker Space Memberships coming soon!

Make-A-Button Stations and Packs

Make-A-Button stations are set up so kids (and kids at heart) can drop in and make a button or two using artwork and art supplies already set out for you. You can pay per button and collect stamps to earn free buttons as you go! Or you can purchase prepaid button making cards, drop in whenever you want, and leave your pocket book at home : )

Give the gift of Make-A-Button with prepackaged Make-A-Button packs. The packs include artwork and supplies so all they have to do is bring the package in and we’ll show them how to do the rest : )

Birthday Parties and Workshops

We love running button making events in and around the city, but until now we have never had the space to run events at our location. Now we can! If you would like to have a birthday party or other special event, please contact our Events Team for more details about creating a special custom event for that special day.

We will also be running fun design and button-making workshops throughout the year so be sure to connect with us through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, the newsletter and blog for more details about what we’ve got planned. (Psst…we will be soon announcing plans for a spooktacular Hallowe’en button making event!)

Create and Print Your Own Designs In-Store

We also soon have a computer station set-up with our templates and button design programs so you can design and print off your own unique designs here in store. We will show you how it works and then it is up to you what you create!

These are just some of the exciting new things we have planned for our new store space.
Stay tuned as we roll out more great stuff. We can’t wait to share it all with you!

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It’s Election Time: A Guide to Campaign Buttons June 24 2015

Well Canada, this is an election year. While we don’t know what day we will be headed to the polls to vote in the next federal election, we do know that buttons will be part of the plan for many candidates.

Buttons actually have a long history of being used by politicians during election campaigns. Abraham Lincoln and his opponents used a precursor to the pinback button in their election campaigns as far back as 1860.

So if you are running for office or involved as part of an election team for anyone running in the upcoming federal elections, you might want to think about using custom election buttons during your campaign.

Here are some ways that buttons can be used for political campaigns:

1) Identifying volunteers canvassing on behalf of the electoral candidate or political party
2) Low cost promotional hand-outs for supporters to wear and share along the campaign trail
3) Branding! Buttons can carry your message/slogan, your name and your colours to help people know who you are and what you stand for. And, if they wear one, it helps them tell others who they are voting for and what they stand for.

Which type of button should you order?

2.25” to 3” round buttons are the most commonly ordered custom campaign buttons, but if you stand for change or simply want to capture peoples’ attention, you might want to consider a more unusual shape (like Oval, Rectangle or Diamond).

What should you include in your design?

That’s really up to you, but common things to be included on a custom campaign button are:
1) The name of the candidate
2) The party he/she represents
3) The riding he/she represents
4) The year of the election
5) The colours of his/her party
6) A declaration of endorsement (usually along the outside/back edge), which declares who has sponsored/paid for the promotional materials and that the person in question is authorized to be campaigning on behalf of that party

Colour matching your party’s colours

We have made buttons for all of Canada’s major political parties so we know that having your buttons match your party’s official colours is very important.

If you are submitting your own design files, but colour matching is crucial, please tell us when you place your order. While we cannot guarantee “colour matching” (due to the limitations of our printers), we do a very good job of getting very close. This does, however, take a bit longer than a regular button job, so give us extra notice and we’ll make sure you get exactly what you want by the date you need it. You may also want to consider getting a physical proof shipped to you. If that is the case, we’ll need at least an extra week of lead time to account for shipping time and any edits that may need to be done before going to production.

Ways to create the design files for your custom button order:

If you are familiar with graphic design and using design programs, you can check out our free design templates.

If you aren’t a designer, you should check out the easy-to-use and free online button design software Button Designer.

We also provide design services and can create top notch campaign button designs for you in house. Pricing runs from $15 - $60 per design.

Want to make your own campaign buttons?

Here are some button maker kits that will make traditional sized campaign buttons:

If you already have a button maker, make sure you are well stocked with all the button parts you need when an election is called.

Not sure what you need, but just know you want to be election-ready?

We have lots of experience producing quality buttons in high volumes, have fast turnaround times, and ship all over Canada and beyond! Give us a call today and we can help you get what you need.

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Buttons for USC Canada’s I Am A Seed Saver Campaign - Supporting the Seeds That Feed Us! April 01 2015

We have been making buttons for the fantastic folks at USC Canada and their I Am A Seed Saver Campaign for a while now and we love food, so we’re excited to tell you about the great work they are doing!

The I Am A Seed Saver Campaign is meant to #CelebrateSeeds, which are the foundation of our food system and are source of the rich and resilient biodiversity of what we eat.

USC Canada is working with family farmers in 11 countries around the world, including Canada, so they can continue saving good seeds and growing good food for their communities.

They have recruited some big name friends to support the campaign and be seed savers. Musicians Feist, Tim Baker of Hey Rosetta!, Jim Cuddy, Amy Millan of Stars, Ian Thornley of Big Wreck, Tim Kingsbury of Arcade Fire, Bruce Cockburn and Sam Roberts are all standing up for seeds. Go to iamaseedsaver.org to see what they have to say.

In addition to this great video, USC Canada’s awesome site is full of great information and resources. So take some time to look around and learn how you too can become a seed saver!

To keep up to date with USC Canada and the great work they are doing, you can also check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you would like to nominate the good folks at USC Canada for the 2015 People Power Award, you can fill out the form here.

If you would like us to make custom buttons to support the work you do, give us a shout and we will walk you through the process – we can use your artwork or design something for you from scratch.

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We Love Teaching Assistants March 27 2015

While the weather here in Toronto is still trying to make up its mind, we are thinking of all the Teaching Assistants from York University and the University of Toronto who have been outside on the picket lines daily for the past few weeks.

Education is so valuable! And we are pleased that buttons are helping these guys get that message out. :)

If you would like to show your support for TAs, you can find them online:

CUPE 3093 (York University) is on Facebook  and Twitter. Follow #BetterYork.

CUPE 3092 (University of Toronto) is on Facebook  and Twitter or follow #WeAreUofT.

Need custom buttons for your own union, protest, or demonstration? We can help! Contact us :)

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Farmers’ Markets Ontario – Support Farmers and Your Local Markets March 06 2015

Farmers’ Markets Ontario played host to the 2015 Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention where the theme was Connect for Success as horticultural specialists gathered from around the world to share stories, strategies and networking opportunities.

These buttons and cards were distributed at the convention that took place Feb. 18-19 in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

“We are hosting a market manager’s day and I’m quite certain the managers are going to love these buttons,” said Christine Scheer, a member of Farmers’ Markets Ontario and the farmers' market manager at London's Covent Garden Market. “What a great way to promote our markets.”

If you liked the Farmers’ Markets Ontario buttons and want some for your own market, you can order one of our market-friendly designs here!

Love farmers and the markets that support the great work they do,? You should seek out a market in your area.

Want to know more about Farmers’ Markets Ontario and the wonderful farmers and markets they support? Check out www.farmersmarketsontario.com or make friends with these fine folks on Facebook  and Twitter.

If you would like us to create some equally awesome buttons, with or without custom packaging, for your event or organization, please give our sales team a shout!

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Make Your Own Button Necklaces with Magnetic Pendants! February 28 2015

Available in two shapes and three different styles to suit your taste, these fun and classy magnetic necklace pendants are a great way to show off your favourite button creations in new and original ways.

Designed to hold a 1" round or square flat back button, the pendants are made with super strong rare earth magnets that won't let go of your button until you want them to.

Pendants for 1" ROUND necklaces:

Pendants for 1" SQUARE necklaces:

Infinitely customizable, you now have the greatest excuse to make all of the buttons you could ever want to wear and change up your look weekly, daily, hourly, or as often as you'd like! Without poking holes in your shirt! :)

Like a locket, button pendant necklaces make a meaningful personalized gift, arts and crafts project, or raffle giveaway.

Create and sell a series of interchangeable designs that people can buy together as a set or collect over time.

They can also be used as a unique and creative marketing tool. Above all else, they're a one of a kind accessory that will never get old.

Available individually or by the thousands (volume discounts apply).

To DIY it up and make them yourself, you’ll need a standard size 1” button maker.

Or a 1” square button maker.

You will also need flat back button parts to make your masterpiece.

Order everything for 1” ROUND Flat Back Buttons here.

Supplies for 1” SQUARE Unpinned Back Buttons are here.

Watch this great how-to video to see how effortless it is to make these new necklaces:

Don’t have a 1” machine?

If you love these pretty little things and want some of your own, but don’t own a 1” machine, you can buy the necklace pendants and then rent a button maker from us or have us make your buttons for you.

The pendants for the necklaces are sold without chains so you can wear your design with a chain you already own or choose exactly the style you want. We have a few necklace chain styles in stock and are adding more. If you are looking for a chain style we don’t have, just let us know and we can likely get what you need!

Be sure to check in often to see what new style options we have. Stay tuned for customizable bracelets and other new items to be introduced in the coming weeks and months!

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Buttons to Celebrate the Year of the Sheep! February 14 2015

Chinese New Year is just around the corner, so we made these custom buttons to mark the occasion.

Stop by, say “Hi” and pick one up in store, if you’re in the neighbourhood :)

February 19th marks the beginning of the Year of the Goat or Ram or Sheep, depending on who you ask or where in the world you are celebrating.

Folks born in this year (1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 and 2015) can expect the year to be very favourable. Read here to find out more about what’s in store for you!

This month-long celebration is full of superstitions so everyone, sheep or not, should be sure to abide by some certain rules during this time if you want the year ahead to be a good one.

If you are in Toronto, you should check out our friends from the great not-for-profit group Chinese Collective Arts Association. They will be holding a free event on Sunday, February 22nd that includes button making!

Are you holding an event and want to make buttons? It’s fun! And easier than you think! :)

We rent button makers in various shapes and sizes and have all the supplies you’ll need. We’ll even show you how the machine works before you leave the store : )

Not mechanically minded? Or maybe you need to focus your attention on other tasks? No problem! We also have an amazing events team who can run the button booth for you. Write them at events@peoplepowerpress.org to learn more.

Regardless of what you’re doing for Chinese New Year, we would love to see how you are celebrating!

Share your photos and links with us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

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Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre presents Canoe 2015 January 30 2015

Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre produces a festival every year called CANOE2015. #CANOE2015 runs from Jan. 28 to Feb. 2 and will be presenting some of the most ground-breaking theatrical events by local, national and international artists.

“Every January, Workshop West turns its word-based mandate upside down to program non-traditional theatre that pushes boundaries and buttons” says newly appointed Artistic Director Vern Thiessen. “It’s our chance to show people what kinds of theatrical experiments people are cooking up from around the world.”

Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre is an Edmonton-based professional theatre company. The company is dedicated to the development, production, promotion, and presentation of new Canadian playwrights and their plays, and to the education of the public in playwriting skills.

If you want to learn more about the CANOE2015 Festival, check out their site: www.canoe2015.com.

To find out more about the folks at Workshop West and all of the other great stuff they are up to, you can check out their website, follow them on Twitter and make friends with them on Facebook

These awesome buttons were designed by Half Design and made by yours truly! ;) 

If you think buttons would make a great complement to your festival, play, concert or other event you have planned (we sure think they would!), then reach out to us today!

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Button of the Week – Haggis and Poetry Buttons for Robbie Burns Day! January 23 2015

Well, it’s that time of year again everyone! Haggis time!

January 25th is Robbie Burns Day. Burns was a Scottish poet and his birthday is a national holiday in Scotland and is celebrated by Scots and those with Scottish roots around the world. Traditions include reciting some of the bard’s beloved lines, raising a glass or two of whiskey, playing the bagpipes and eating the Scottish delicacy haggis. Haggis used to be made with sheep parts, but modern haggis usually is a variation of lamb, beef, oats, onion and seasonings. Vegan haggis is a thing too!

We might not be eating haggis here, but we did make a haggis button in honour of Burns. We made some with his poetry too. So come in to our Toronto shop, say “Hi”, and pick one up for free! : )

See, we really do make custom buttons for any occasion!

To learn more about haggis, check out these fun facts!

In Toronto and looking to celebrate?

Here are some picks for where to take part in the festivities in the city.

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Happy New Year - Start a New Hobby Making Buttons January 12 2015

2015 is here! A brand spanking New Year is before us!!

Did you make any resolutions? If you did, you might like some of the resolution buttons we made at the office. They are our Button of the Week so if you are near our store in Toronto’s west end, please make sure you pass through to pick one up!

Resolutions or not, the New Year is usually a time for new beginnings... like starting a new hobby! Or a small business! Making buttons is great for both : )

In this week’s blog post, we will focus on getting started making buttons as a hobby. Next week’s post will focus on resources and tips for starting your own button making business.

If you are already a crafty person, then you will probably (very likely!) love designing and making buttons. They are also great for organizations looking to promote events or causes, for schools to keep kids creative and busy, or for bands looking for inexpensive ways to support their music.

A Button Maker!

We sell a variety of button making machines. If you are going to start buttons as a hobby, making only a few buttons at a time and not for reselling, then we recommend one of our hobby button making kits. We sell two different types:

1. The T150 Hobby Maker – plastic body, with parts to make 250 parts. Only makes 2.25” buttons.

2. Multi-Size Hobby Maker – Make a variety of different sizes with the same all metal body hobby machine! Comes with your choice of a) just the 2-1/4” size or b) 3 different sizes (including 2-1/4”) to get you started.

If you have a bit more money to spend and think that you may end up making thousands of buttons, will be selling the buttons you make, or need to be able to make lots of them fast, then you should look at purchasing one of our heavy duty button making kits. These machines are built to last and consistently make great buttons!

Button Supplies

All of our button making kits come with parts to get you started making pin back buttons and include a sample pack of all the different products you can make with your machine. Once you’ve had a change to experiment and play around, you will definitely want to make more and can order parts for magnets, keychains, bottle openers, necklaces, bracelets, zipper pulls, and more (depending on what size of badge maker you have). Just scroll through the drop-down menu on the appropriate product page to see what other items your machine can make.

If you have a T150, order here:

If you have a Multi-Size Machine or Tecre Machine, order here for Standard 2.25” items:

Here for 1.75” items:

And here for 1.25” items:

Other sizes are also available for the Multi-Size Machine. Just ask! : )

Button Designs/Artwork

Once you’ve picked your item type, you can also get creative about what designs or materials you use to put on your buttons. You can print your own custom artwork or use fabric, photos, Dura-Lar and acetate to create unique and interesting buttons.

Here are some resources for getting your designs together:

For Newbies! Use our Free Online Design Software – A Great Starting Place :)

Not a graphic designer? Don’t have Photoshop or any other design programs? Don’t worry! Button Designer is a free and easy-to-use software available online. This is a basic program intended for making simple button designs that you can design, print and press at home. It is a good starting point for folks who are new to button design and the world of design in general.

www.button-designer.com

Do you know something about design and have access to design programs like Photoshop or Illustrator? Then you can use the free templates available for download on our site. Make sure you use the right template for the size of button you are making so that, when printed and cut, your designs will fit your machine.

VIDEO: How to use the T150

You can also check out our YouTube page for more videos and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to find out when new videos are available :)

Buttons are easy to make once you get the hang of it. If you have any questions after you’ve checked out these resources and links, give us a shout and we’ll be more than happy to help : )

We love making buttons and want to make sure you do too!

You can also sign up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss out on our regular updates with new product information, sales, and other helpful button making resources. We only send it out a few times a year, so keep your eyes peeled! :)

All the best in 2015!

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Button of the Week - Buttons to Make Your New Year Sparkle! December 21 2014

Celebrate the New Year with a little sparkle! A glittery button like these make the perfect complement to your New Year’s outfit. Make them as a pinback button or as a flat back button with a magnet attached to prevent pinholes in your festive frock.

You can make buttons like the ones made by our designers by printing directly on Dura-Lar film and putting some festive paper underneath to match your party mood. You can even make buttons with some of that leftover wrapping paper!

Do you like these buttons so much you want some for yourself and your party-going posse? Are you a hostess who is thinking that these custom buttons will make great gifts for your guests? Why not let us make some for you in any style or quantity you would like!

Other ideas for great New Year’s buttons include resolution buttons and other messages that you would like to carry into 2015. You can use our templates here or create simple designs on Button Designer, a free online design program for buttons!

However you choose to start the New Year, start it with a button!

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The 2014 Gift Guide December 16 2014

It is time to shop for the holidays! Button makers, buttons and button supplies make great and unique gifts for the crafty person in your life. If you don’t know this yet – buttons make people very happy. And we are happy to bring you a gift guide to help you figure out the perfect button gift for that special someone. : )

Gift Idea #1: For the Kids (And Kids at Heart!)

A hobby button maker is great for anyone who likes to do crafts. The T150 and Orange Multi-Size Hobby Button Makers will both make fantastic gifts for kids and hobbyists who will not make a lot of buttons and won’t be selling their buttons as a business.

T150 Hobby Button Maker Kit - This machine has a plastic body and makes 2-1/4” buttons only. The kit comes with enough parts to get you started.

Orange Multi-Size Hobby Button Maker Kits - If you are looking at a hobby maker, but want something that is a bit more durable and offers a few different size options than the T150, then you may be interested in getting our new multi-size button maker kit. This machine’s body is metal (not plastic like the T150) and can make up to three different sizes!

Gift Idea #2: For the Artist or Budding Entrepreneur

Button making is loads of fun, but it can also be a successful business opportunity.

Professional Button Maker Kits - Make the investment in the one of the fantastic and oh-so-robust Tecre button presses and you can give a gift that will last long after the holidays are over. These machines can make thousands of buttons with consistent quality suitable for people who want to sell buttons as a business pursuit, to make some money as a fun side project or to showcase their fine artwork. Different sizes available.

Gift Idea #3: For the Musicians in Your Family

Button Making Kits – Get a button maker kit to help band members make buttons to support their music. Smaller sizes of button makers are recommended!

Pre-Pay for Custom Buttons – Know a musician who would love to use buttons to promote their music? Give the gift of custom buttons and we will make the buttons for you!

Pick Punches – Musicians can make their own custom picks with this new guitar pick punch. They won’t have to worry about losing another pick with this handy tool!

Gift Idea #4: Personalized Holiday Keepsakes

Custom Buttons – We Make Them For You! - Buttons make great gifts, even if you don’t want to make buttons yourself. Did you know that we can make more than just buttons? Send us your custom button artwork or photos and will we make a special gift to give out this holiday season. We can even work with you to create your custom artwork by scratch.

Necklaces – One of our newest products, these magnetic pendants let your pop your custom design in and out to be always changing your look. Contact us for pricing!

Coasters – Make a truly personalized gift with a set of 3.5” round coasters this year.

Bottle Openers – Like giving practical gifts? Bottle openers can be fun, but also useful. Keyring and magnetic bottle openers are also available.

Magnets – Send out your holiday greeting or family photo as a fridge magnet this year. Different shapes are available.

Family Photo Silly Face Buttons – Create your own dry erase design so that you can make your own silly faces. Use outlines from real photos or your own graphics. Then draw, laugh, erase and repeat!

Gift Idea #5: A Gift to Yourself (Preparation!)

Make sure you have enough button making supplies for all your holiday button projects and parties.

If you already have a button maker then you may already know about all of the creative ways you can use your button machine this holiday season. Make special gifts such as ornaments, jewelry, magnets, keychains, zipper pulls and bottle openers in addition to buttons.

Just make sure you order your supplies in time to make something for everyone on your list! We will be closed Dec. 24-26 and Jan. 1-2. We are not open on weekends. We recommend you place your order as soon as possible so that we have enough time to ship your order to you. Give us a shout so we can help you determine how long shipping will take to your destination.

Please call us today so one of our friendly sales team can answer all your questions and help you pick out the perfect button gift.

Gift Idea #6: Gift Cards

Still not sure? Give a Gift Card!

If you know someone who already has a buttonmaker and is passionate about buttonmaking, but aren’t sure what machine they have or what size of buttons they make, we now have gift cards that can be purchased and redeemed online.

Gift cards are also great if you think someone would like a button maker, but can’t afford to buy a whole kit. They will appreciate your contribution to the cost of a button making kit and supporting their button making dream.

You can even use them towards button machine rentals!

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Button of the Week - Happy Holidays! December 14 2014

Looking for a fun way to make your holiday celebrations a bit more festive? We have a few button ideas to help you with that!

Custom holiday buttons can be used in so many ways.

You can pin them to your favourite holiday sweater, tie or hat. How about an ugly Christmas sweater button to wear with your ugly Christmas sweater?

You can create button ornaments with photos of family or special holiday messages. Use mirrors to create something extra shiny.

You can pin your buttons to gifts in place of gift tags.

There really are so many ways that buttons can be used to make your holiday season extra special. Have we missed something? We would love to see what you are creating this holiday season.

If you are in the Toronto area, you can also drop by the store to pick up your very own free holiday button of the week. So come by and let us share some button holiday cheer!

We are open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. We will be closed December 24 to 26, 2014 as well as January 1st and 2nd, 2015.

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Introducing The People Power Award and the first winner! October 24 2014

Have you ever seen someone doing great work and think, “Man, I wish I could give that guy an award?”

That’s exactly what happened at here at the People Power Press office when we learned about Blake Morgan and the I Respect Music project. Blake is a recording artist, producer, and label owner who has created a campaign that asks people, including the music industry, digital economy and politicians, to treat artists like professionals and compensate them fairly. He is also asking artists to show respect and pride for themselves and their work.

And he is using buttons to spread this message, which is very cool!

This is a movement that the musicians and music lovers in our office really support. And others around the world are responding too. Just follow #IRespectMusic to find out!

Blake and his work with I Respect Music have inspired us to create the People Power Award. This is an annual award we will give to a grassroots organization that is working hard to make a difference and is using buttons to spread their message.

Many of our clients are charity, not-for-profit and campaign groups.

They often ask for discounts when placing orders. We want to help all the great work being done, especially with buttons, but to be a sustainable business we are not in the position to grant everyone discounts. We are hoping that with the People Power Award, we can have a greater impact for one group.

Along with a custom six-inch button award, the winner will receive a free order of custom buttons so that they can continue to spread their message! Through our promotion of the award and the recipient's work, we can help create greater awareness for the work they are doing.

Recipients of the award will demonstrate our own values here at People Power Press. We believe in the power of people working to create positive change in the world. Buttons are an effective, fun and low-cost way to share the spirit and message of any organization’s work.

So here’s to Blake Morgan and the #IRespectMusic campaign as the inaugural recipient of the People Power Award.

Congratulations and keep up the amazing work!

We cannot wait to start accepting submissions for next year’s award. You can find the submission forms here or contact us to find out more!

The People Power Award: For excellence in grassroots campaigning and inspiring positive change.

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