Buttons, Badges & Pins - People Power Blog
Fun Giveaway Idea for Spring Trade Shows with 2.5” x 3.5” Rectangle Magnets and Pocket Mirrors May 09 2017
Hooray, it’s Spring!
Besides warmer weather, it is also time for Spring trade shows and the start of a busy wedding season. Want a great, fun giveaway idea? 2.5” x 3.5” Rectangle Magnets and Pocket Mirrors are the answer!
TWO new Button Guy videos!
Learn how simple it is to make 2.5” x 3.5” Rectangle Magnets and Pocket Mirrors with two new videos from The Button Guy! The first video walks you through making 2.5” x 3.5” Peel n' Stick Rectangle Magnets.
The second new Button Guy video shows the step-by-step process of making 2.5” x 3.5” Rectangle Purse/Pocket Mirrors. Making mirrors is fun, but there are a few tricks here that will help you be successful.
Why this size?
The 2.5" x 3.5" rectangle is great size for making magnets and mirrors because you get maximum surface space to display your artwork. With a bigger mirror you have a practical item to sell or give away to Spring trade show and wedding guests. People will actually want to stick these mirrors in their purse or bag to use all the time!
Getting started!
To get started you will need the 2.5” x 3.5” Rectangle Button Maker Kit. This machine also comes with pinback parts. To make magnets, you will need to order 2.5” x 3.5” Rectangle Peel n’ Stick Magnets and to make pocket mirrors, you will need to order 2.5” x 3.5” Rectangle Pocket Mirrors.
If you are loving this fun giveaway idea, but not ready to get your own button maker or don't have the time to make them - we did say busy wedding season - then we can do it for you! We have many design options available so you can send us your artwork or we can design from scratch or we can do something in between.
See the options for custom 2.5" x 3.5" peel n' stick rectangle magnets.
Check out the choices for custom 2.5" x 3.5" rectangle pocket/purse mirrors here.
Take a look to see all of our custom magnet sizes here and all of our custom mirror sizes here.
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Say it With a 2” x 3” Rectangle Fridge Magnet: Great for Personal Statement Gifts, Promotional Giveaways and More! April 24 2017
The 2" x 3” Rectangle Fridge Magnet is a great versatile choice. A popular size for family photos and personal statement gifts, this magnet is a favourite souvenir shop idea and for real estate promotional giveaways too.
See the process of making a 2" x 3” Rectangle Fridge Magnet in this new video from The Button Guy. This video will show you important tips to successfully make magnets with the 2” x 3” rectangle button maker.
This essential advice includes how to cut your artwork, how to properly apply the peel n’ stick magnet and why it is important to let your magnets sit on a flat surface for 24 hours before hanging them on another surface.
Once you see how easy it is to make 2" x 3” Rectangle Fridge Magnets you will be able to get busy. Some projects include:
- Decorating your locker or fridge with family photos and other art
- Making personalized statement gifts for friends and family
- Creating promotional giveaways for your business to hand out to clients and at trade shows and conferences
- Designing your artwork like a postcard for your city's attractions for a great souvenir shop idea
To get started you will need the 2 x 3” Rectangle Button Maker Kit. This machine will also make pinback buttons so you can really have some fun! You will also need all the supplies to make 2 x 3” Rectangle Peel n’ Stick Magnets.
Loving the idea of these fridge magnets, but not ready to invest in a button maker? We can make Custom 2 x 3” Rectangle Magnets for you with the design of your choice. Check out the other custom magnet sizes we have available.
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Celebrate Montreal 375 With Buttons and Magnets! March 30 2017
Happy Birthday Montreal! You don't look a day older than 374! :) In recognition of your big day, we decided to celebrate Montreal 375 with buttons and magnets. Our super awesome designers decided to use rounded rectangle button parts for these fun and funky retro designs, reminiscent of Expo '67.
Fun Facts about Montreal:
- Montréal is an island.
- Montréal is the second largest French speaking city in the world (after Paris).
- Montréal's predominant religion is Hockey (haha).
- 85% of the world's maple syrup comes from Québec, Montréal's Provence
Source: ISHLT.org
Know someone who's joining the party? You can order Montreal 375 buttons and magnets quickly and easily on our site. We can also help you create and make your own custom buttons for this or any type of anniversary!
For those who are also getting ready for Canada 150 , take a look at the collection of Canada 150 Buttons and other fun stuff we made.
Get yer party chapeaus on, y'all! 2017 is going to be a big fun year :)
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Celebrate Canada 150th with Buttons and Magnets at People Power Press! January 12 2017
People Power Press has now been officially approved by the government of Canada to reproduce the official Canada 150 logo on our buttons and magnets!
Our idea is to spread our buttons far and wide for Canada 150 celebrations using the official government Canada 150 logo on various sizes and shapes of buttons and magnets. They will be available for people who want to get just 1 or for companies that want all their employees to join the Canada 150 celebrations with a button.
The celebrations start here and now at People Power Press. The first 100 people that come into our store can pickup an official Canada 150 button - Just say the magic words "Oh Canada!". First come first served. 1 button only per person. Swing by and pickup a button.
Check out our full collection of Canada 150 Official Logo Merchandise to order your own!
Or maybe you just want to wear the flag! Order Canadian flag buttons or show your national pride with our "Canada Eh!" collection!
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Great Ideas: Displays for your Button Business September 19 2016
We get a lot of question from our busy button makers about running your own button business and one of them is about displaying buttons for sale. We have some bright ideas no matter what size, style and type of product you're making!
Boards:
Buttons:
Bulletin boards are a great way to display buttons because you can stick the pins right in! You can also DIY a bulletin board by covering foam board with fabric or paper, you could even add a fancy frame!
This kind of display works well if you have lots of different designs to choose from!
Magnets:
We found that the best way to display magnets is by having them do what they do best - STICK! Buttons look great displayed on a board - you can even make your own out of a cookie sheet. Since magnets stick to almost anything metal you can get creative - why not display them on a locker door or even a paint can?
Binders:
Most Everything:
If you have lots of different designs that you want to categorize, or lots of different types of products that won't all fit on a board - why not display your buttons in a button binder! We've made this one from page protectors designed for business cards which will fit anything up to a 2.5" button. The pockets will fit things that are harder to stick onto a board, like pocket mirrors, keychains, and bottle openers. If you choose a clear type, you'll be able to see easily what the back of each item is like!
This kind of display would be great for conventions too! You can use dividers to section your binder by theme and customers can browse it like a catalogue.
Bowls, Baskets and Bins:
If you have lots of different designs or items that you want to mix together, don't forget the tried and true basket-o-buttons! Lots of folks like to rummage through a little bowl to pick a favorite design (or two, or three!). Displaying your buttons in a cute container is a perfect solution if you're not very crafty, or ran out of time to come up with a different brilliant idea! Just make sure the pins on your buttons are closed - ouch!
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Customer Profile on Flake: DIY Fabric Buttons and Magnets June 21 2016
We get a lot of inquiries about making buttons using fabric instead of paper. It's totally possible, super easy, and a great way to use up fabric scraps you have kicking around!
These is a past post on our button blog that has step by step instructions as well as tips on making your own fabric buttons. That blog post can be found through this link.
Flake Accessories by Jessica Epstein
Jessica Epstein, the super talented individual behind "Flake" uses pre-loved textiles to create custom magnets, buttons, and other accessories that are adorable AND sustainable :) Just take a look at these 1" magnets! SO COOL!
magnets like these can be made with 1" peel n' stick magnet parts. Instead of using artwork printed on paper, and finished with a sheet of mylar, BOTH are replace with a single piece of scrap fabric. Some fabrics work better than others. Find out the best fabric to use here!
Jessica also creates accessories like mittens and toques out of pre-loved fabric. The accessories below are made from old sweaters and polar fleece! She also gave the 1" lockpin button the royal treatment and elevated them into gorgeous accessories of their own!
These buttons are fully functional and can be worn on their own OR placed on a hand made one of a kind toque! These 1" fabric buttons by Flake are a great example of how far creativity can take you.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful (and successful) experiment with us Jessica!
Take a peek at all the great stuff Flake has to offer :) If you've taken a chance with a button making experiment and created something AWESOME we would love to see it! Get in touch with us at info@peoplepowerpress.org or tag us on social media (links below).
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What Magnet is Best For You? May 02 2016
"I should try making magnets instead of pinback buttons."
If you're a button maker, this phrase has probably crossed your mind before. It's easy to say, but when it comes down to it, branching out from pinback buttons to the world of magnets can be a little overwhelming.
Below is a bit of information about each type of magnet that we carry: Peel n' Stick Magnets, Ceramic Magnets, and Rare Earth Magnets. Each type is used / made in a different way. Being aware of the differences will make it super easy to select what magnet is best for your project!
Peel n' Stick Magnets
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- Pressed like a regular pinback button, but use a flatback instead of a pinned back. After the button is pressed, the magnet is placed on like a sticker at the end. - Best for holding up 1-3 pieces of paper on the fridge. - Available for making magnets in the following sizes: ROUND: 7/8", 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2", 1-3/4", 2", 2-1/4", 2-1/2", 3", and 3-1/2" SQUARE: 1-1/2" x 1-1/2", 2" x 2", and 3" x 3" RECTANGLE: 1-3/4" x 2-3/4", 2" x 3", 2-1/2" x 3-1/2", and 1-1/2" x 4-1/2"
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Ceramic Magnets
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- Unlike the Peel n' Stick, the Ceramic Magnet uses a collet to hold the magnet inside the button shell. It's made like a 1" Lock Pin Button, but the magnet is placed INSIDE the collet before pressing. - Can hold up to 10 pieces of paper on the fridge. - Available for making magnets in the following sizes: ROUND: 7/8", 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2", 1-3/4", and 2-1/4"
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Rare Earth Magnets
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- Rare Earth Magnets are not intended for making "fridge magnets." - To be used as a pinback alternative, allowing one to wear a button without putting a hole in their clothing. - Used in combination with flatback buttons, and placed on the INSIDE of clothing to hold the button on. - Available in the following sizes: 1/4" x 1/8", 1/2" x 1/8", 3/4" x 1/8", and 1" x 1/8" - THESE MAGNETS ARE SUPER STRONG! |
With this teeny bit of product knowledge, selecting the best magnet for you will now be easy-peasy! Added bonus: With all of these newly acquired magnet facts, you'll be a hoot at parties :)
Happy Magnet Making Everyone!
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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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Legends in Our Own Minds - Tales of a Dragon Boat Team August 28 2013
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Turn your Favourite Instagram Pics into Button or Magnet Art March 13 2013
Make Buttons or Magnets from your Instagram Photos
Instagram is a fantastic smart phone application which provides you with the ability to quickly and easily apply filters to your photos. There are about a dozen filters for you to choose from with brightness/contrast control and border features for each. The one problem is that with Instagram your photos only ever exist online -- so why not make them into long lasting, physical BUTTONS or MAGNETS! Read below to find out how...
Step 1: Take a picture using Instagram
You can either use Instagram to take a photo or bring in outside photos from your camera roll to Instagram.
When you have decided on a photo you may choose to apply a filter, a blur, add a border or adjust brightness and contrast.
Once published, the app will save a full size, high resolution image to your camera roll. That feature is turned off by default but can be changed in the iphone's settings app. If you get stuck, you can always save the photo by right clicking it on your Instragram feed while using your computer, but the quality might not be as high.
Step 2: Place Your Order
We have four square sizes for you to choose from: 1", 1.5", 2" and 3".
Click on the following link to be taken to our Instagram Button and Magnet order page:
http://peoplepowerpress.org/products/instagram-square-buttons-buttons-from-instagram-photosStep 3: Upload Your Artwork
Upload your Instagram picture using the link that is sent with your order confirmation
OR
Step 4: Get Excited About Receiving Your Buttons/Magnets! :)
We endeavour to make and ship your custom orders within 24-48 hours of payment and artwork being received and can often get your buttons in the mail same day!
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Stronger Ceramic Magnets now available from various sources February 13 2013
I am pleased to see that stronger magnets are now available so that there’s a bit of a snap to the magnet button when it goes on the fridge. Of course you can use rare earth magnets but ouch! They are expensive. But ceramic magnets seem to be available at about the same price as the peel n’ stick magnets. Ceramic just looks way better as well as being stronger!
Ceramic magnets are stronger and can also improve the look of the back of the button.
I see the new ceramic magnets available for 1″, 1-1/4″, 1-1/2″ and 1-3/4″ are now available from some distributors.
Checkout your favourite distributor and make your magnet buttons even better!
The Button Guy
Syndicated blog from TheButtonGuy.net
The following article is reprinted with
permission.
http://TheButtonGuy.net/
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Question: What's a good button maker for magnets and will it actually hold a piece of paper to the fridge? October 09 2012 1 Comment
What's a good button maker machine and how much paper does a button magnet / fridge magnet hold up on the fridge?
Kim: Thanks for your website. Still need help. Looking for a nice machine that I would use mainly for fridge magnets. Also what magnet to use that will actually hold a piece of paper like on the fridge. Have had some that can't do it.
The Button Guy: What size magnets are you making? Even if you are undecided, give me an idea. The 1” round machine is small but with a ceramic magnet will hold up to 7 letter size photocopy sheets on a fridge. Whereas the standard 1” sticky back magnets will only hold 3 letter size sheets on a fridge. But you may be talking 2-1/2” x 3-1/2” so let me know a size.
Kim: Thanks for such a quick response. I am thinking larger buttons like the 2 1/2".
The Red and black machine is great for magnets.
The Red and black machine is great for magnets.
The Button Guy: 2-1/2” has magnets and holds 7 sheets of letter size paper on a fridge. This is with the 4.5mm improved magnets from Button Giant. The standard 3.3mm magnets that most vendors have hold 4 sheets. (Will vary a bit according to fridge). Here’s a link to the parts page for 2-1/2” on Button Giant. http://buttongiant.com/collections/button-parts-for-button-making/products/everything-for-your-2-1-2-button-maker They have 2 button maker kits: http://buttongiant.com/products/2-1-2-button-maker-kit-500-button-parts-includes-free-sample-pack Or with the graphic punch: http://buttongiant.com/products/2-1-2-button-maker-kit-graphic-punch-incl-500-button-parts Let me know if you have further questions.
Kim: Thanks Button Guy
The Button Guy: No worries and here's a link to a YouTube video: How to make a button magnet