To say we live in strange or remarkable times can only be an understatement. This is a moment in time that changes everything. This virus exceeds many moments in history well beyond the Spanish Flu. Imagine you were an English peasant in Southern England as the Romans invaded. Everything changed, gods changed, currency changed, and whatever your status in society as a Briton changed, declined, or you left your land and ran for the hills (Wales, Scotland, Ireland). Either way your life changed drastically. But it wasn’t actually the invasion but the end of the Roman Empire that caused possibly the biggest calamity in European history up to that moment. Imagine a world where suddenly, with the collapse of the empire, the common currency was no longer recognized which made trade beyond one’s immediate environs nearly impossible. As a result, Europe entered the Dark Ages that lasted 300 years. Maybe a 2-year pandemic lockdown is not the end of the world!
Another moment would have been the European invasion of the New World. Europeans arrived ready to occupy and colonize the Americas with armies and the sword but killed 90% of the population with flu, smallpox and many of the childhood diseases, like measles, inherent in the European population that were deadly to the native Americans. Those Europeans were themselves the survivors of the greatest plague of all, the Black Death, this bubonic plague was spread by fleas on rats and decimated as many as 25-60% of the European population and then went on to spread in a new wave through the Middle East and eventually hit Asia and China hard too.
And here we are on the cusp of what is possibly the biggest moment in history since the bubonic plague. It looks dire but there is a huge difference. We already have a vaccine in the first year of the epidemic. The difference as well is we have news and information systems that they did not have in the 1300s. We have the ability to implement and enforce lockdowns, travel bans and quarantines and by fall 2021, if all goes well, we could have achieved herd immunity (in the First World). We’ll get there not by letting the virus rip through the population, but we are lucky enough, compared to the 1300s, to have the possibility of inoculating the majority of the world. Of course, it will be the First World inoculated by the end of 2021 and then if our leaders keep it going, the rest of the world by end of 2022, I hope. I know this is an optimistic scenario that will take money and good leadership and the understanding that as long as pockets of COVID-19 remain, the virus will continue to evolve and mutate. The world cannot afford to leave reservoirs of the virus in distant lands and less travelled corners of the globe as a mutation can so easily be brought back home in our interconnected world.
So luckily for us we live in a time where herd immunity will not be achieved by sacrificing the unfortunate but by inoculating the willing. But there are many doubters. I think it is human nature to think, “I don’t want to go first.” The few and the brave volunteer to be the guinea pigs, to protect the herd, and the anti-vaxxers see themselves as brave, lone wolves. But in the grand scheme of things, we have so much more to lose if we do not beat this virus. If we refuse the vaccination, we run the risk of the virus ripping through the sick, the old and the unlucky. Of course, the strong, the young and the wealthy will be able to mitigate their particular situations. But as long as, and the longer that, pools of the COVID-19 virus remain on our planet, the risk is the next jump, the next mutation that could be the one that leaves body bags on the streets. It could mean the collapse of currency again, the end of security again and that’s just in the early days. I do not want to contemplate where this could lead. But in that scenario, the strong, the young and the wealthy will mitigate no more.
I take little medicine and avoid all pharma products if I can. If I drink too much, I do not take the tablet and suffer the headache probably because I do not trust the pharmaceutical companies. Maybe I think big pharma is big enough and I know that Pfizer, Moderna et al., will take back world domination from some of those tech giants that pushed Big Pharma off the pedestal in the last 20 years. I know this and yet I am still going to get the vaccine when my turn comes. I am not strong, young or wealthy and do not believe that I am impervious to the disease. I am also not sick, old and certainly not unlucky. I live in a country with my government printing money to pay to support the population and keep businesses going until we get through this. I consider myself lucky! I suppose what I am is some kind of pack animal, not a lone wolf. Maybe I am in a herd, maybe my survival instincts have kicked in, perhaps herd immunity through the vaccine is my only choice and the only choice for all of us.
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Now that schools will be re-opening soon, we are increasingly asked for 3 inch Photo Buttons so that when we are wearing masks people can still see your face. This has been very important in hospitals, daycare centres and basically anywhere where it may be helpful to actually see who you are talking to. In a counseling or teaching situation a friendly face on a button will help bridge the distance created by the mask. A simple button with a pin on the back is easy to use in the workplace. If you're a lawyer with a fancy suit, you can use a photo button with a magnet back instead of a pin.
Order Photo Buttons here. You can upload the photo, add text and resize the photo to get it looking how you want it and then place an order. Photo Buttons can be with you quickly and we are shipping daily.
Taking the Photos for your Photo Buttons
When taking a photo for a button remember that the photos on your phone are 72dpi but when you actually print a photo you need 300 dpi. While smart phones make it easy they also assume you want the lowest quality and tend to default to screen images not print images. So when sending photos in for buttons (or any print job) use the best quality image you can send.
Multiple Photo Button Orders for Schools, Hospitals and Businesses
If you need lots of photo buttons (25+) You can simply place an order for the number of photo buttons required. Your order will be confirmed with an order confirmation email and will have an ORDER # in the subject line. Once an order is placed and you have your shipping, size and quantity setup, simply reply with your order number in the subject line with your images attached as good quality jpegs. We will do the rest for orders over 25 photo buttons.
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Poverty has far reaching effects, and there are specific consequences for women and girls living in poverty. This is very much true in Ottawa, as it is in the rest of Canada.
We were recently introduced to local group Menstro when they needed some buttons for a conference they were attending in New York City. Menstro is working to erase period poverty through education and getting free menstrual hygiene products into public spaces and the hands of those who need them to live their lives.
When you are already struggling to make ends meet, finding the money for these products on a monthly basis can add stress and have deep consequences. This should not be a concern. It is the hope of Menstro that anyone not able to afford tampons or pads can find them readily available at school, the local library or other public spaces. And research by Plan Canada suggests an overwhelming majority of Canadians support having free products available in schools, workplaces and other public spaces.
This organization is up to good things in just a few short months, meeting with local politicians to get on board. And Menstro has been started by two Ottawa high school students, Aislynn MacLean and Izzy Lapalme, which makes the work they have already achieved very remarkable indeed.
Check them out and see how you can help their super awesome cause:
Website: https://menstrottawa.wixsite.com/menstro
Instagram: @menstrottawa
Twitter: @menstrottawa
Facebook: @menstrottawa
The finish of a button - glossy or matte are the standard two options - can be the trickiest of the choices if you aren't sure what they mean so read on to find out a bit more about making the right choice for your button's final look.
Pictured: When placed under fluorescent lights, the matte button (left) has less shine and duller finish than glossy button (right).
Glossy Buttons - This is the standard and most popular finish for custom buttons. The look of these buttons are made by adding a plastic covering to your artwork during production. The plastic both protects your paper image while also giving it that shiny look. The plastic is clear so it does not affect the colour of your image.
Matte Buttons - This is a type of finish that is considered a printing upgrade as it does not use the standard plastic mylar, but instead images are laminated before being cut and pressed. The effect is less shine on the button so under lights there will be no glare, but instead the finish is more dull.
Matte buttons can be selected for a variety of reasons:
If you are considering a matte finish or want to learn more about this style, please get in touch with us or, if you are nearby, come into the store to see both styles in your hands.
Speaking of special finishes, we also do holographic, foil and tin finishes for the really experimental folks. These are premium custom finishes so please contact us if you would like to know more about these and what they would cost for your project.
And vintage folks out there you will notice in the custom 2.25" buttons used in this post we have made the buttons with a nostalgic lock pin or spring pin instead of the more modern and typical pinned back. It is definitely a niche button type, but perfect if you want to recreate old buttons from history or are making a film or photos set back in time when buttons were made with these pins. We will happily make buttons for your period piece with these copper pins and you will get extra points for authenticity!
]]>A new 2-1/2" square button - and magnet - is now available for your custom button designs!
A square button is a great button shape. The square is distinctly different from the usual round shapes seen everywhere and it is just a really good looking button. It is an especially nice looking magnet where rectangle shapes are more commonplace. Whether button or magnet, the square just really stands out and in the best of ways!
The challenge to date is that the sizes for square buttons are few, which can be limiting if you really are a fan of the shape, but need it to be a certain size to get the job done.
Well, now the list just got a bit longer. The 2.5" square button (and magnet) is a great addition and fills the gap between the 2-inch and 3-inch square buttons that are already available.
Square buttons and magnets are great for:
The other sweet thing about square buttons is that you can order them to be made as diamond buttons or magnets so that the artwork is set up to be printed in the diamond layout and, with the pinback button, the pin can be oriented to corner-to-corner so pinning on a diamond button is a breeze.
Because the 2-1/2" square button is soooo new, pricing for this item is not available yet on our pricing page. If this is a shape and size that interests you (along with the other square sizes of 1"/1.5"/2"/3"), please reach out to get pricing or come into the store to see what we are talking about!
]]>Button makers allow you to make so much more than buttons and are great tools for adults and kids alike. Button making is a great creative outlet that allows us to get busy with our hands and away from digital devices (apart from creating your digital designs, but those can be done by hand too!) Think of it as giving the gift of creation and not consumption.
There are really so many things that can be created and used with a button press that it would be hard to list them in one blog post. And if you are gifting one to a maker then they will likely come up with their own ideas easily of all that they can do with this super cool tool. They can make a variety of items with the press as well including magnets, key-chains, mirrors, coasters and jewellery.
Schools and libraries across the Ottawa region already use button makers as popular tools in their maker spaces. Kids love using them and button makers are also well used by a variety of artists from illustrators and graphic designers to musicians and painters.
The best way to get a button maker for Christmas is to visit our Ottawa store and see a button maker in action. We have a few different models and once we know your needs, can make the appropriate recommendations. If you cannot make it into the store then definitely contact us by email or phone and we can walk you through the details that way.
Trust us, a button machine is the perfect gift for a maker this Christmas!
Consider getting custom mugs and water bottles from our Ottawa store this holiday season for a meaningful, but affordable gift.
You can place your order through our mug making partners over at What the Mug, with their super simple online mug designer to create your special gifts or you can come on into our store and order your mug with us.
Designing a mug can be as simple as pulling a photo off your phone or social media feed. Add some text for a super special message and you are good to go!
Here are some ideas for who to give custom mugs and water bottles to this holiday season:
And here are some ideas for what you can put on the mug or water bottle:
Are your creative juices flowing yet? Hope so! We also have some pre-designed mugs in store that you can purchase off the shelf.
Come on into our boutique that doesn't just include buttons, but has a wide range of fun gifts, cards, MUGS and more! Make the trip to the store and you might just leave with all your Christmas shopping done in this great Ottawa neighbourhood.
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This means lots of teachers and their supporters out on the picket lines with protest signs - and protest buttons!
When Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative Party came to power in Ontario his government started making some changes in the public education system. These changes have upset many who work in Ontario schools, along with the youth that attend those schools and their families.
Some high school students staged a walk out in the Spring to voice their concerns about changes in their schools and now support staff at many Ontario schools where ready to walk off the job before a last minute agreement was reached.
Things in labour negotiations can change quickly so just know that if you need buttons during a teacher's stirke, we have you covered.
Custom Buttons Ottawa is the best place to get your strike buttons fast. We are fully equipped for high volume button production with fast turnaround times. We';ve made 100,000s of buttons for striking unions over the years. We've also made many other statement buttons by people who want to express their own thoughts on issues that affect them.
If you would like to get protest buttons made or make your own strike buttons to get your message out en masse or just as a one-off button, we are here to help! There are a few ways to get your union buttons and statement buttons made.
You can use our awesome easy-to-use online button designer and we can get started. Election campaign style buttons are traditionally a 2.25" custom round button, but you can get buttons in bigger or smaller sizes as well.
Come into our Preston Street store located in Ottawa Little Italy neighbourhood to make your button here with us. It is a good idea to bring your design on your phone or a USB that we can then print for you here or email it to us before you come. Or you can use our supplies to hand draw your message.
Looking to make a number of buttons? Consider rolling up your sleeves to make your own buttons because it is easy and fun. You can rent machines here in store or you can rent to take home with you. Collect friends and colleagues to make a fun event of it. You can make buttons and other things like signs. Whatever you put on a sign can be put on a button!
If you will be making a lot of buttons and feel like this is something you will be doing a lot of, you may want to purchase your own button making kit. We can help you get the right size and supplies for your needs.
Seeing is believing and buttons can share artwork from a gallery show with audiences in a really tangible, non-digital way.
Pick a few centerpiece works for the exhibition or get creative and create buttons that get people's attention and tie into themes from the show.
I love art, lots of art, but I am not buying lots of art. Buttons and magnets with art from the gallery show are really accessible ways for patrons to take a bit of that show home and share it around. It makes art wearable and portable and mobile in ways a postcard or a digital share cannot.
When you offer merchandise from the gallery show at the show for patrons to purchase, you can generate some much-needed income for the art gallery and the artist whose work you are showing. It might not be huge amounts from selling a $5 button or $10 magnet, but it can add up and still generates something that is more than nothing. Especially when custom buttons can cost less than a dollar to get made.
And we get that shiny round buttons may not exactly say sophisticated art gallery. Consider these options when getting custom buttons and magnets made for your art gallery:
Matte finish is a really great printing alternative to the standard glossy finish most buttons have. It costs a wee bit more, but the effect is decidedly a more modern and premium look. Plus, it will allow the images used - if using actual artworks in the button design - to show better.
Similar to choosing a premium print finish with matte, you can ditch the traditional circle button shape for something different that will stand out. Custom Square and Diamond shapes work well for contemporary button designs while Custom Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle and Oval make for great looking magnets.
Have a gallery show coming up or just want to promote the art gallery in general, then consider custom buttons and custom magnets. Pop into our Preston St. store to see what we can do for you or reach out by phone and email so we can discuss.
]]>Run by a wife and husband team, Sadie & June hand embroiders - hearts, words, etc. - onto vintage maps. These maps can be of a special neighbourhood or city or can be to mark the special relationship between two places.
These hand-embroidered maps can be framed to make a super special gift for someone. Think of a special trip you and a significant other took and want to remember or maybe your hometown 'hood that you want to think of. These embroidered maps are framed to be displayed and make great gifts too.
You can order a custom map or you can choose from one of the over 500 (and growing) maps already available.
Sadie & June have an Etsy shop, but also appear at art and craft shows, as well as vintage and flea markets in and around Ottawa. Their maps are also sold in shops throughout Canada and the U.S. They are an awesome small business in Ottawa we can get behind.
In addition to the embroidered maps, they make and sell sweet little custom 1" buttons with images of maps of different places. We work with a number of small businesses and artists who make great art and buttons offer them something else to sell at shows and online.
In addition to the 1-inch pin, the 1-1/4" round buttons and 1-1/2" round buttons can be great sizes for custom art buttons.
For some, buttons are an affordable way to appreciate and support someone's art without being able to purchase an item that is larger or costs more than a button.
If you are are an artist based in Ottawa or anywhere across Canada, we can make buttons for you without you needing to invest in getting your own button maker. We have our easy-to-use online button designer as well so you don't have to worry about paying extra set-up fees that other button companies charge.
Etsy Store: Sadie And Junebug
Website: www.sadieandjune.ca
Instagram: @sadieandjune
Facebook: @sadieandjune
Guide to 2019 Holiday Art & Craft Markets Ottawa
Artist Buttons for Etsy Shop and Shows | Custom Buttons Montreal
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We work with a number of talented makers who make buttons to sell at various places in the city so it got us thinking, there are so many good fairs and markets happening that we need to keep track.
As we fill our calendar with shopping dates, we figured we should share our list of Ottawa and Ottawa-area holiday art and craft markets with you.
Fall markets are great for really getting all that this season has to offer before it is gone for another year. And holiday markets really are the best places to get some holiday shopping done.
[Custom vintage map buttons by Sadie & June]
Here is a quick list of only some highlights happening in and around Ottawa from now until the end of the year.
Mark your calendars - there will be at least a show a weekend until the holidays arrive. Make it a challenge - how many can you hit up this Fall?
September
Etsy Made in Canada Ottawa - September 27-29, 2019
October
613flea - October 12, 2019
Ottawa Antique & Vintage Market - October 19-20, 2019
Night Market at The Witches Thicket - October 26, 2019
November
The Christmas Ottawa Craft Show - November 2-3, 2019
Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show - November 3, 2019
613flea - November 16 , 2019
December
Holiyay Craft Market - December 6-8, 2019
If you need an excuse to take a drive and make a real day of it, visit these show and markets just outside the city. The fall colours should make the drive especially worth making.
October
Harvest Celebration Market (Carp, ON) - October 5, 2019
Fall For Merrickville: Farm & Art Market (Merrickville, ON) - October 12, 2019
November
Cheerfully Made Holiday Craft Market (Almonte, ON) - November 2-3, 2019
Ritchie's Annual Holiday Bazaar (Richmond, ON) - November 23, 2019
Did we miss a can't-miss show? Let us know and we can keep on building this list of 2019 holiday art markets and craft shows!
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Whatever party you are running for, know what we have made buttons for all federal parties so we know about party colours and branding. Your campaign buttons are in good hands with us.
While a majority of our buttons are made for local campaigns, we also ship buttons across Canada. So, even if you don't live in Ottawa or the Ottawa area, we can still make your buttons and get them to you quickly.
And with our online button designer, creating and submitting ready-to-print artwork for your buttons has never been so easy. Or inexpensive because with this program there is no need for the additional artwork and set-up fees most other companies charge.
If you are looking to get your campaign team to make buttons for you, you can also rent a button maker or buy your own button making kit.
The traditional election button size has long been the 2.25" round pinback button, but smaller and larger buttons sizes are available.
If you have any questions, please do reach out to us because we want to help make your campaign a success. Even if you have a small budget, you don't have to order a lot of buttons to get noticed on the campaign trail. We will happily make you a few or a lot!
It is not too late to have buttons made and it isn't hard to get them made either, we promise! Just contact us to get started.
Happy Election Year Canada | Campaign Buttons for Federal Election 2019
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We had the pleasure of learning about her work through making these sweet 1-1/4 inch custom artist buttons with her sur mon épaule designs, including the delightful free the n'épaule designs. For anyone needing a translation that is "free the nipple", and so it is the nipple that you see created in various media throughout this collection.
The buttons are just the latest in Gravel's sur mon épaule offerings. Her Etsy shop also includes prints, bags, t-shirts and greeting cards with the same designs. You can often find her in and around Montreal at various shows selling her work.
And now you can scoop a button or the whole button collection in addition to her other items!
Instagram: @sur.mon.epaule
Etsy Store: Sur Mon Epaule Shop
Other Work: @evelynegrvl
We may be called Custom Buttons Ottawa, but we serve the entire region and have fast next-day shipping options to Montreal. Many of our customers are from Montreal.
If you are an Ottawa or Montreal artist, we think buttons are a fantastic addition to sharing your work with the world. Buttons are inexpensive and light - both great options for shipping online orders in stores like Etsy and for offering lower price point items alongside other, possibly more expensive versions of your artwork.
To learn more about how to get your own custom art buttons, you can check out our site with its easy-to-use button designer, which makes uploading your own designs easier than any other button company's site. Or just call or email us and we can help you out. We are happy to talk buttons and button design!
]]>But it is kind of hard to explain to someone on the fence about button making. So we were thrilled when one of our customers Alex decided to create an unboxing video for her brand new button maker kit.
What is an unboxing video you ask. It is pretty much what it says and YouTube is full of them. People recording their reaction to opening up their new purchase so that you can see along with them what they got and how they feel about it all.
Unboxing videos are a big deal and this article of The Joys of Unboxing Videos breaks down what is so satisfying about them.
As for Alex, we are so grateful that she decided to record this reveal of her opening up her new 1-inch Standard Button Maker Basics Kit. And we are even more excited to see what she creates with her new button press. Judging by her other videos on her channel, she is crafty and artistic. She will make great use of her new button maker.
To follow Alex, you can find her here:
YouTube Channel: Alex's Art and Journal Journey
We have Ottawa's largest selection of button maker sizes and kits available so it can be overwhelming, but we are here to help!
You can visit us here in Ottawa. We also offer fast shipping to various parts of the Ottawa region, Montreal and the rest of Canada too.
]]>Any time there is a change in leadership, we usually see priorities change. So right now across Ontario there are many groups dealing with funding changes and cutbacks as the result of the Doug Ford government.
And coming up on the horizon is the federal election where Justin Trudeau's Liberal government's last 4 years will be judged at the polls and challenged by the Progressive Conservatives under Andrew Scheer, the Green Party under Elizabeth May and the National Democratic Party under Jagmeet Singh.
Campaign buttons from all political parties are a common sight here at Custom Buttons Ottawa and on the campaign trail. But buttons are also a vehicle for voters in Ottawa and the Ottawa area to express themselves and take a visible stand on the issues that matter to them. We are seeing more Ottawa residents taking on current political realities with buttons. The issues are wide-ranging and can be environment (especially climate change), education, public sector funding, immigration and specific bills.
What issues are important to you? Are you part of a group of citizens taking action to be heard on these issues either through protests outside political offices or at rallies and meet-ups? Are you running a campaign online to speak up and rally support?
Buttons can be inexpensive, but effective tools to aid political activism. Because we know that regular citizens often don't have a pool of donor dollars to support their work and advocacy.
Here at Custom Buttons Ottawa we can help you create simple button designs that stand out in a crowd. And our online button designer lets you do so much right online when you place your order. You really don't need a designer (though we do have design services if you need them)!
And if you are really taken by making buttons, you can even buy your own button maker from us and start pressing buttons for every issue that matters to you.
Contact Us Today or Come Visit Us in Our Little Italy Showroom to get started. It is easy than you might think!
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If you are part of a fundraising team and will be taking part in a charity walk, consider adding something extra special. Custom memorial buttons are a great way to show team spirit and remember the people you are walking or running for.
Here are a few ideas for adding buttons to your walk this year:
Nothing can bring back the memory of someone quite like a photograph.
Get your buttons printed with a photo or collection of photos showing your loved one just as you remember them. It lets you include them in a simple, but really meaningful way and also shows other who you are out there walking for.
You can add text - for example, the name of the walk with the year - to the button along with the photo or just have the photo on the button. Scroll through your phone or scan an old photo from a photo album. Anything goes as long as it means something to you.
If you are only planning on wearing the buttons for the walk, make sure you make them big. Don't be shy!!
It would be a safe bet to choose a 3" button (or bigger!) for a walk so that the buttons will be seen as you walk around and then will be a great souvenir that you can place somewhere special when you are done.
This is a special item we don't even have on the website yet, but these are buttons you wear on your shoes! They are made with a loop in the back that your shoelace can weave through and will stay snug as you move.
This is a super fun gift for run participants if you are a charity run organizer. Especially great for families and children too.
Available in different sizes so contact us is this is something you would be interested in getting!
Everyone wears t-shirts for charity walks and memorial walks, but add something extra special with memorial buttons. They are great for everyone to wear - even those cheering you on from the sidelines and also people who have donated to your cause.
https://custom-buttons-ottawa.com/blogs/ottawa-button-blog/button-maker-rentals-available-in-ottawa
]]>While the focus should be on fun, anyone responsible for organizing and running these events also needs to focus on safety.
The summer heat brings on its own safety and health considerations.
Who knows CPR on your camp and event teams?
How can others quickly find and identify who is trained in CPR?
Where is the First Aid kit located?
For kids at camp, do all staff know who has allergies and exactly what allergies each child has?
Do you have Naloxone kits on hand in case of an overdose?
First Aid, Allergy Alert and CPR-Certified Buttons are a must have for events, festivals and camps this summer. Because when a crisis hits, people just don't have the time to ask around. You need this kind of information fast and a simple button with clear symbols can communicate it fast.
We have our own set of designs (as seen in the photos here) or our you can come up with your own.
Just a few tips for making custom first aid, allergy and CPR-certified identification pins:
Events and camps bring together people of all ages and who speak different languages. Use bright simple symbols so that children and non-French or non-English speakers can get the message quickly. Think of a peanut or milk carton in a red circle crossed out for an allergy or a red cross for buttons identifying people who have CPR training.
Using buttons to communicate important information with a glance is a great idea, but make sure you make those buttons big enough. Your identification buttons should be no smaller than 2.25" round, and you may even want to consider a larger button size like 2.5" or 3". We do make 'em bigger too - 3.5", 4" and 6" - but those may be a bit too big to be worn comfortably!
Again, you want these buttons to stand out in a crowd and be seen so being subtle is not the goal here. Make them bright so people can see them pop off someone's clothing.
Buttons and magnets can be super useful communication tools in the workplace and various public spaces. Medical buttons and magnets help to easily and clearly communicate important information to people.
For example, if you have staff that works with the public, you can ask staff members whohave CPR training to wear a CPR-certified pin so that everyone can easily access help if in distress.
You can also have First Aid buttons and magnets visible so employees and the public can access first aid tools quickly. First Aid magnets can be stuck onto cabinets to make very clear where the First Aid kit and/or supplies are located.
These pins, if designed with clear designs and images can even help those who may not speak the official language or are non-verbal to get help from the right place.
You can choose from one of our pre-made designs or we can come up with a custom design that works for you to get your medical message across. We have a super easy-to-use online button designer (no annoying set-up fees or hard-to-use templates!)
]]>Most schools hold fun fairs outside in the Spring when the weather is warmer as a way to raise money for the coming year and get the school community out to have some fun. Think bouncy castles, karaoke, silent auctions, games, BBQs and ice cream trucks.
If you are a parent who is helping to organize your school's fun fair and are looking to infuse some new fun into the event, we are going to help you out with a recommendation.
Set up a button making booth!
Buttons are fun and easy ways to engage all ages of students and their parents. Little hands and big ones can make buttons. And it can be as simple or as complicated as you'd like it to be. Here are some suggestions:
1. Offer a simple crafting area with markers and pencil crayons and different papers to cut out so kids can draw and press their own buttons. Once they have their artwork, you can can help them press the button.
2. Print out paper circles with your school logo or name and then let them decorate the rest of the design. This way, they will know what the button was for when they dig it out in a few years. This will make it an extra special souvenir.
3. If your fun fair has a theme that changes from year-to-year, make sure you add the year to the button along with the year. This makes it something that kids can do every year and collect a button for each year they attend.
4. Make the booth a photo button booth. Students can take pictures on the spot with their friends and favourite teachers, which can then be made into a button for a special souvenir. Again, have a template already set up with the year and school name or name of the event so when you print the photo they have something to collect year after year.
Don't have a button maker? Ask around and see if anyone in the school has a button maker they can lend you for the event - many Ottawa schools do have button makers. If you don't have access to one, then consider renting a button maker for a low-cost activity that can yield some serious funds for your school.
Everyone knows this city's major farmers' markets, but do you know just how many markets are in this city? Here is a list of most Ottawa Farmers' Markets. Some are open all year round, but many start their season in late April or early May and run through to the Fall.
What is your favourite market? Why?
If you run a market, have you ever considered getting some farmers' market button swag? Custom buttons are also a great addition to your table if you are a farmers' market vendor.
Patrons of farmers' markets can be a loyal bunch and pins are a great way for them to share their love of the market and their market favourites.
Buttons are also a great way for Ottawa farmers markets to fundraise because they are simple and affordable to make. Your market faithful will easily pay $5 (or more) for a pin because they know it supports the market behind the pin.
You could even think of fun way to engage Ottawa farmers' market patrons with something like a button scavenger hunt. Make and place different buttons throughout the market and get shoppers to hunt for the pins and share what they find online.
Or get your very own button maker and set up a button making station where kids and adults of all ages can stop by, chat and make some buttons.
While farmers' market season is coming up fast, there is still time to get your buttons made. We have a super easy-to-use online ordering process - no templates or design software needed. Pick up your order at our Preston St. location or we can ship them out to you.
4 Ways to Raise Money With Buttons | Simple & Fun Fundraising Idea
Support Ontario Farmers' Markets with Buttons | Farmers' Markets Ontario (People Power Press)]]>Organizing a reunion is a large undertaking and we'd like to help you with some planning ideas, including having class reunion buttons to offer attendees a bit of nostalgia while also having an easy way to identify everyone with class reunion name tags.
I mentioned Spring and Summer reunions because it is true that these seasons are the most popular times of year to hold a reunion. July and August top the list and that makes sense as people can travel easier when the weather is nicer, plus you could have the party outdoors.
A few of us may not have as much hair as we did 10 or 20 years ago so name tags are a reunion must to help everyone see who everyone is. Buttons are a great choice for name tags for a few reasons.
Buttons allow you to have fun with the tags, while also giving everyone a meaningful souvenir to carry with them when the event is over. Buttons are definitely a better choice than using basic white label and a Sharpie.
You can infuse some nostalgia into your buttons by making them with the school crest or even school houses, if your school did that, or by school program. You could even dive into old yearbooks and use old photos for the buttons to have some fun. How creative you get is up to you!
Your class reunion buttons can be made with magnets instead of pins if your event is a bit more formal and you don't think attendees will want to pin their nice clothes. This way you can still get really creative and provide a souvenir, but no one will object to the pin holes.
Buttons are super affordable so you can create something meaningful and practical that won't break the budget for your reunion. Costs can add up fast, we know, but custom buttons are super cost-effective gifts especially when ordered in bulk.
So ahead and get custom class reunion buttons. We are sure they will be a talking point among guests and you will get more than a few smiles. You can design your own buttons or we can come up with an A+ design for you. Contact us today and we will get you what you need to make your reunion with former classmates a real success.
If you are looking for some more help to plan your reunion, here are a few articles to guide you:
Class Reunion Statistics to Help You Plan Your Reunion (external link)
How to Plan a Class Reunion (external link)
Great Gift Ideas for Family Reunions
Camper Buttons And Camp Reunion Buttons
Finding the Right Kind of Name Tag | Custom Name Badges
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Wok Fresh checks off all these boxes for a delicious result.
Wok Fresh is an Ottawa company that prepares vegan dried just-add-hot-water meals. The meals are Asian-inspired and use ingredients from local producers. Just add hot water to the heat-resistant pouches (that are 100% compostable) and in 20 minutes you are ready to eat. Excuse me while I clear the drool off my keyboard!
These are perfect vegan meals to take anywhere you are headed, from the office to your next camping trip.
There are currently 3 meal packages available - original fried rice, green Thai curry and bibimbap, a Korean friend rice. You can order easily online. Wok Fresh meals are also available at local Ottawa grocery stores Rainbow Food, Wild Oat Bakery and the Sandy Hill Pet & Human Food Co-op.
They had these custom buttons made in time for Toronto's One Of A Kind Spring Show happening March 27 -31. This is one of the largest handmade shows in the world so we hope Wok Fresh gains loads of new fans at this week's show.
Follow Wok Fresh Online
Instagram: @wokfreshcanada
Facebook: @wokfreshcanada
Website: wokfresh.ca
If you are a local business in Ottawa looking for buttons to wear at an upcoming trade show or pop-up location, we have fast turnaround times, no order minimums and uploading your design is so easy so you don't have to waste time with button templates. Contact us to get started!
]]>And students at Carleton University have started a campaign to get students and faculty to get people talking about how to better talk about and support people who use drugs and who have a substance abuse disorder.
#StigmaEndsAtCU is a group that is working with the Carleton Cognitive Science Association to start meaningful conversations about substance abuse and addiction in order to reduce and end stigma.
We got to learn about this valuable initiative when they asked us to make custom buttons featuring their logo. These are standard campaign buttons - 2-1/4" Custom Round Buttons - that have long been used to carry important messages and get the word out about important causes like this one.
he folks at #StigmaEndsAtCU are working hard to create a safe space for discussions around substance abuse and addiction to happen.
They are busy on campus, organizing events and creating awareness, but also online with some great storytelling and also some helpful resources so that anyone can rethink the way they talk about addiction and substance abuse and those affected by it.
Instagram: @stigmaendsatcu
Facebook: @StigmaEndsAtCU
If you have a campaign or important message you want to share and are thinking about getting buttons made, please get in touch and we can help you out.
Buttons have a long history of being used to spread the word and raise awareness for various campaigns. They are also effective tools for fundraising.
Pinback Buttons Are the Original Twitter - Make Your Own Election Pins
Feminist Buttons for Crushing Patriarchy and #BalanceForBetter
The Intersection of Black History & Button History - Black History Month
4 Ways to Raise Money For School With Buttons | Simple & Fun Fundraising Idea
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With this method, you can create a bunch of different finishes and effects for your buttons - it'll sure help the voters remember you!
Dura-lar is a printable plastic film that works with most printers. When making regular buttons, we print the button designs on regular paper. The paper is placed on top of a metal shell, and on top of the paper we place a little plastic mylar cover before pressing everything together with the pinback.
But when we make special finish buttons, we print the button design on dura-lar and place it on top of the paper. Before printing, we mirror reverse the designs - so that we can place the print "face down". This way the ink ends up on the "back side" of the dura-lar, keeping it safe and protected from wear and tear, wind and weather.
Examples of some foils or specialty papers to use with button making and dura-lar includes:
Designing buttons for dura-lar printing is really fun, and the finished product looks amazing. That being said, they are trickier to design than buttons printed on regular paper.
Button designs with dura-lar and special paper or foil tend to be most successful when paired with simple clean digital artwork. Black and solid bold colours look great!
Here are some quick tips for making your dura-lar button designs stand out and look their very best:
Are you also thinking these buttons are too shiny to resist? Get in touch with us for a quote on custom buttons with special finishes.
Please specify which button size you want, and which type of paper or foil you are interested in using, it will speed up the quoting process!
Happy Election Year Canada - Get Your Campaign Buttons Made in Ottawa
Order Holographic Foil Paper from People Power Press
]]>The theme of IWD 2019 is #BalanceForBetter. Here's what InternationalWomensDay.com is saying about this year's theme...
"From grassroots activism to worldwide action, we are entering an exciting period of history where the world expects balance. We notice its absence and celebrate its presence. Balance drives a better working world. Let's all help create a #BalanceforBetter."
This year's campaign is particularly focused on gender balance from a business perspective. People and organizations worldwide will focus on questions like:
International Women's Day has a century long history that dates all the way back to 1911.
For many, many years the day was mainly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries (March 8 was marked as a national holiday in Soviet Russia as early as 1917).
It wasn't until 1975 that the day was officially adopted by the United Nations.
Since this year's IWD is especially focused on how to create gender balance in businesses, media and political organizations - consider arranging your own IWD event at work! Invite your co-workers to a feminist film screening, or hire a public speaker to educate you about what actions you can take in your workplace to achieve better gender balance.
As an individual, you can go here and take a pledge for gender equality:
International Women's Day and Beyond, I Pledge To...
If you're in Ottawa on March 8, consider joining the challenge "Walk In Her Shoes". This is a fundraising initiative that aims to reduce the distance and time women and girls have to walk. Support will be going out to the women and girls of Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. Here's what the organizers have to say...
"When women work, economies grow. And when women's share of household income increases, spending changes in ways that benefit children. Support ONE woman to overcome poverty, and she will bring FOUR people with her." Walk In Her Shoes
If you're looking for an effective way to spread your message this International Women's Day, you can design and order your own feminist buttons right here.
Pick your button size, click *customize* and create your empowering designs with our online button designer. Once you're happy with your design, *add to cart* and head to checkout to place your order.
Then stay seated and relax while one our custom button shops in either Ottawa or Toronto makes your buttons ready in no time! If you are local, you can pick up your custom buttons in store, if not - have them shipped right to your door!
Pssst... if you like the feminist button designs we have featured in this blog post, you can order them from People Power Press.
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We have noted many times on this blog the role that buttons have had in the history of elections, but let's look at some campaigns from the past that used buttons to really change the way conversations happen in election, much like how Twitter, and social media in general, have changed the modern political discourse.
In the 1940s, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt was running for his third term against Republican candidate Wendell Willkie. Willkie was a long shot to win, but he was aggressive with his election campaign merchandise. His use of buttons, as seen in this Life article, for election were a highlight.
Here are a few of his button designs that ditched campaign slogans and were made to respond to election stories as they happened. Not as instant as Twitter, maybe, but the intention was the same.
Campaign buttons have been around since 1790, but this is the election that changed the course of election campaigns with its new focus on catchy slogans and commentary. And now Twitter plays a heavy hand in political commentary, but buttons still remain as vehicles to push a political message and candidate's name and party in a tangible, very visible way.
And buttons continue to be one of the most affordable election products out there.
To read more about Willkie's buttons, you can check out some of the great coverage from 1940 here:
Willkie's Buttons (New Yorker)
Willkie is Way Ahead in the Battle of Buttons (LIFE)
Article first published by People Power Press, check out also their comprehensive Guide to Election Buttons.
“Am I not a man and a brother?" | Black History Month Buttons
Happy Election Year Canada | Guide to Campaign Buttons
John F Kennedy & His Iconic Campaign Pins
]]>Black History Month is a time for Canadians to pay tribute to the people of African descent who have contributed to shaping the heritage of our home and native land.
Mathieu Da Costa has become known as the first black person to visit Canada (in the early 1600's). He was a free Black African who worked as a translator and navigator for French and Dutch traders and explorers.
This year, the theme of the Government of Canada's Black History Month campaign is Black Canadian Youth: Boundless, Rooted and Proud.
There will be a number of Black History Month events taking place around Ottawa this February, including workshops, lectures, exhibitions, book launches and African Day on The Hill.
The antislavery movement came to play a major role in the humble beginnings of the pinback button.
It all began in the year 1787, when Josiah Wedgewood's British pottery firm designed one of the most commonly recognized images from the British antislavery movement, an image known as The Supplicant Slave.
The design depicts a person in chains, kneeling with pleading hands, and features the slogan “am I not a man and a brother?" The design was reproduced as porcelain cameos and medallions. This is believed to have been the first time someone put a slogan on a product.
Those anti-slavery porcelain cameos from the 18th century could today be considered the forefathers of our modern pins and buttons.
If you are looking to spark social change and need an effective way to spread your message this Black History Month, you can design and order your own Black History Month buttons right here.
Just choose your size, click *customize* and create your Black History Month designs with our online button designer. Once you're happy with your design, *add to cart* and head to checkout.
Then sit back and relax while one our custom button locations in either Ottawa or Toronto prints and presses your buttons in no time! If you are local, you can pick up your custom buttons in store, if not - have them shipped right to your door!
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Just around our neighborhood here in Little Italy you can find craft breweries like Beyond The Pale, Tooth and Nail and Vimy Brewing Company.
Plus, all of us beer lovers in Ottawa can enjoy several beer festivals in the city this winter!
Craft breweries will be promoting themselves and their craft beer brands at beer festivals in both Ottawa and Toronto this winter.
Festibière, or Gatineau Winter Beerfest as it's also called, takes place at the Canadian Museum of History during the first weekend of February.
Once you've sobered up from Festbière, you can head over to Lansdowne Park on February 14 and 15 to visit Winter Brewfest (there's a Valentine's Day date idea for you).
Craft beer enthusiasts of Toronto will unite at the Winter Brewfest at Evergreen Brick Works the first weekend of March. Cold ones are also being served at Lady Beer Fest in Toronto on February 9.
If you are one of those people who doesn't just enjoy drinking beer but also have mastered how to brew your own beer, and after months of working on perfecting the recipe, you're finally ready to share your beer with other people - your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers... For you, we have a many promotional items that could help promote your craft beer brand.
We've already had the pleasure of making custom promotional products for several craft breweries around Ontario and Canada.
Scroll a little more to check out our most popular promotional products that you could put your craft brewery logo on.
Consider ordering custom bottle openers to promote your craft beer brand. People love useful promotional items that have a natural connection to the product you are promoting.
This is a great item to put in a launch party gift bag or to use as a brewery giveaway at a beer tasting.
We can make several different styles of custom bottle openers for you. Put your own design, logo or photo on either a metal bottle opener or a plastic bottle openers.
The metal bottle opener is our high quality option, and the plastic bottle opener is our more affordable alternative.
We can make magnetic bottle openers that stick to the fridge door.
We also have bottle opener keychains available.
You can select your style and order custom bottle openers here.
Coasters with your own logo or design printed on them is a given branded product to use in your bar or brewery. Consider making custom coaster sets, with two or four different coaster designs that go together under a united theme, (great ice breaker for your patrons!).
Our custom "button maker" coasters consist of a tin shell on the front and an indented, flat tin back. Once pressed together along with your printed coaster artwork, and a plastic mylar cover, a peel-n-stick cork sheet is attached to the back.
You get a durable product that doesn't wear and tear easily.
As with all our custom products, you can order these coasters with a matte or high gloss finish, to make them more resistant to dripping and condensation.
Consider using custom buttons as a promotional giveaway for your craft beer company. We see lots of craft beer brands that use super cool illustrations and sweet graphics for their craft beer bottle labels.
Why not use those bottle label designs to also make some good looking buttons that people would be proud to wear? If it looks awesome, it's not hard to get 100 people to put a free button on their backpack or jacket.
Suddenly, you got 100 billboards, all over town, advertising your brand.
Plus, custom buttons is a cheap option compared to other promotional products. For example, an order of 100 1-1/2" custom buttons is only going to cost you around 40 bucks.
$40 for 100 billboards, you can't deny it's a good deal!
Order Your Craft Beer Buttons Here
Custom Buttons Made For Catapult Brewing Company
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We can help you find the type of employee name badge, tag or button that works best for your company.
Choose from a variety of styles - like name tag pins, magnetic name tags or clip on badges.
Using traditional pinback buttons is a durable and affordable option for name tags. Made out of all metal, these name badges do not break or damage easily. The high quality pin attached to the back, keeps the badge in place throughout the whole workday.
Note that you can customize the name tags however you want them - you choose the colours, text and elements for your company's name tags.
Most businesses use our online button designer to upload their logo and add the names of their staff.
By using these little rare earth magnets with buttons, we're able to offer a name tag option that doesn't pierce through your garments.
Place the magnet on the inside of your shirt, dress or jacket and it will hold the metallic button in place. These magnets may be small, but their power is mighty. A tiny little 1/4" rare earth magnet can hold a mid size name badge in place without any problem.
Warning: Do not use with pacemakers.
Since these name tags are needle free, they leave no marks or traces on clothing and are therefore well suited for more upscale and dressed up events, such as weddings, conferences, fundraiser dinners and galas.
This is another solid name tag option for your staff to wear in store, at events or workshops. The badge itself is assembled with an unpinned or flat metal back. Then an adhesive metal clip called 'bulldog clip' is attached to the back. The adhesive is surprisingly strong and there is very little risk for the clip to fall off the button.
Here's your go-to-option if you run an event, weekend course or workshop where you will accommodate new participants on a regular basis and will need a name badge that can be reused and recycled.
Using a matte laminate finish allows you to write the name on the button with a marker. After the event, wipe the button clean and write a new name!
We have a wide selection of fun shapes to choose from.
At Custom Buttons Ottawa, we don't believe in minimum orders. We will make just one name tag or a couple for you, if that's all you need!
If you work in poor weather conditions or in another environment that can damage paper - ask us about having your buttons made with a laminate finish instead of standard glossy mylar finish. It will protect your name badges from water damage!
Learn how you can design a family reunion gift online and order gifts in bulk. Also, find out why ordering t-shirts for your family reunion is a bad idea.
Planning a family reunion can be both fun and stressful.
If you have a big family (100 people or more) you definitively want to give yourself at least 6 months, maybe even a year, to get everything ready for your big family gathering.
Getting other family members involved is essential, you will not be able to do everything by yourself!
Assign each volunteer with a specific role or responsibility and make sure you ask an artistic family member to come up with a design for your personalized family reunion gifts.
Scroll down to learn how to design your reunion present.
When choosing a custom gift for your family reunion, it's best to choose something that will fit a gift bag. This way you can welcome your guests with a family reunion gift bag or a family reunion survival kit. Include a mix of gag gifts and sentimental gifts in the bag.
All the ideas on the list below are custom gift items that you can order in bulk for your family reunion. You receive volume discounts on each item, which means that the bigger your family is, the less you pay per unit.
Ordering custom buttons for a family reunion is very popular. Buttons are affordable and enjoyable to everyone.
Compared to a hat or t-shirt, they are more likely to be worn both during and after the reunion.
Design & Order Family Reunion Buttons
Custom fridge magnets makes a sweet family reunion favor.
For your magnet design, consider a regional theme if you are hosting the reunion at a destination. They have several magnet shapes and sizes available at People Power Press.
Order Family Reunion Fridge Magnets
Turn to our friends at What The Mug to order custom mugs in bulk for your family reunion. Customize an existing design or create your family reunion mug design from scratch with their online mug designer.
Head over to People Power Press to place your order for family reunion key-chains, or get in touch with us directly to place your order.
Several different keychain styles available, including:
Why not choose something a little bit different and unexpected as a family reunion keepsake?
Custom pocket mirrors are great to use for a party survival kit because who doesn't feel the need to check their look in the mirror every now and then during a party?
Your family crest on a custom mirror would make an elegant gift, especially perfect for a more dressed up or upscale family gathering.
Order Custom Mirrors from People Power Press
Custom printed stickers are perfect to stick in your welcome bag OR you can use them to decorate the bag!
If you have a really big family that you don't see very often, consider ordering custom name tag stickers.
Let our friends at LabelsNStickers.com hook you up with some cool sticker designs for your family reunion!
Another fun idea for your family reunion could be to set up a picture of a big family tree. Put personalized stickers in each family members bag. When they arrive at the party, ask them to attach their personal sticker to the family tree. Sit back and watch the branches fill up!
There are several reasons as to why t-shirts make bad family reunion gifts. Consider this before ordering custom t-shirts for your reunion:
You don't need to have an artist or graphic designer in your family to make a unique and fun design to use for your family reunion gift.
Try your hand at our free online design software, or have us design something special for your family!
Use our website to design your family reunion buttons. Creating your own button design is really easy and quick to do. Just pick your button size, hit 'customize' and start creating!
You can use these print templates for creating your custom design in Photoshop, Illustrator, Gimp or other design software.
Download Print Templates For Custom Products
If you're not really feeling our design software, or need help with scanning your photos, please bring your physical pictures to the shop and let us scan them for you.
We also offer affordable design services. Our team of professional graphic designers would be delighted help you design your buttons, magnets, mugs or other gift you decide would work best for your family reunion.
If you are trying to think of some fun things to do at the family reunion, consider renting a button maker!
You can let your family members make their own DIY family reunion gift at the party.
Making buttons (or magnets) is a really easy craft to learn, and an activity that suits people of all ages.
Bring a camera and a little portable photo printer and you can turn your photos into buttons on the spot!
Fun Family Activity | Learn How To Make A Button For FREE
Novelty Gifts For Welcome Bags Available In Store @ People Power Boutique
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Get tips and inspiration from the leading button experts in Canada, on how to order custom campaign buttons and other promotional products that won't break your campaign budget.
We also offer DIY button machines, blank button supplies and button press rentals.
A button is a messaging tool, a small canvas for ordinary people to express themselves. A button can be the weapon of the oppressed or a quiet form of passive resistance.
Compared to other promotional products, buttons stand out as being:
What's considered the first button in history was made in 1787 and depicted a slave in chains along the slogan "Am I not a man and a brother". This historic button was meant to promote the British anti-slavery movement to the House of Commons.
Of all the button companies in Canada, dare we say that we are the NICEST!
Custom Buttons Ottawa offer a wide range of button sizes and shapes.
In addition to traditional, round campaign badges, we're also equipped to make square campaign buttons, rectangular campaign pins and oval campaign buttons. Any of those shapes will make you stand out in the canvassing crowd!
Our team of button experts are here to make sure you get what you need, when you need it. Unlike some other promotional products companies in Canada, we have no minimum orders.
Regardless if you need just 1 button or 10,000 - we're here to give you excellent service.
Custom Buttons Ottawa has a local button store in Little Italy where you can get campaign buttons made, pick up button supplies, buy or rent a button press.
Place your order online or come see us in person at 169 Preston Street.
If you are in Toronto, you can visit our affiliate Toronto button company, People Power Press.
Federal elections are usually held every four years, on the third Monday of October.
As the last election took place on October 19, 2015, the next fixed election date is October 21, 2019.
But general elections can also be called at another date, if and when the Prime Minister asks the Governor General to dissolve Parliament. Then the Governor in Council (the Governor General, acting on the advice of Cabinet) sets the date of the election.