I am the resident graphic artist at the Pin Fanatic. I delved into the world of graphic arts in 1999 when I began assembling and publishing an independent comic book. Several years later I found a niche in the lapel pins and promotional products field(s) where a whole new set of skills could be applied. Currently I'm at The PinFanatic creating lapel pins for different organizations spanning baseball, business, military and religious organizations, and white-collar criminals. In my free time I play bass in a rock band, The Killer Robots, and produce low budget B movies.
I have found over the years that different skills and thought processes learned in one area of graphic design can be applied to other areas in ways one might not expect. For instance, the dynamism found in the typical comic book panel might inspire the design of a baseball or softball trading pin. You might find a player or mascot rendered in forced perspective swinging a baseball bat and sending a screaming ball into the sky at speeds so great it leaves a trail of fire in its wake. Or the pin may aim for a humorous note such as a blind umpire with a Seeing Eye dog. Every trading pin tells a story, and it's our job at Pin Fanatic tell it in the most concise and vibrant way possible.
One might wonder how one inventive pin design can stand out amongst a sea of colorful and inventive trading pins. There are a number of options that can be added to the pin to make it even more unique. The customer is not limited to just solid glass color fills. Glitter can also be added to the color fill of an epola style pin. A transparent color may be chosen to give the pin more depth. Sometimes one pin is not enough. A second pin can be attached via several methods. The "dangler" method finds an extra pin suspended by a loop at the bottom of the pin. Another pin may be attached by a spring allowing it to bobble back and forth (the "bobble" method). A slot can be cut across the main pin to allow a second "slider" pin to slide across it. Finally, if the pin is big enough (1.75") a mechanism can be attached that allows an LED light to blink on and off.
You can submit your idea for a trading pin to The PinFanatic in any number of ways. If you have no idea what you want, we can put something together based on the name of the team, its mascot and location. We will work with you until you have something you are happy with. If you know exactly what you want you can write out a description, submit a detailed drawing or if you are familiar with a graphics program, design it yourself and send it to us in adobe illustrator format. We accept anything from Rembrandts to stick figures.
We at Pin Fanatic look forward to bringing your custom trading pin ideas to life. Just let us know what you want in your custom pin, and we will make it the best that it can be. It is our pleasure to work WITH you, and we certainly do hope to hear from you in the future.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Scottish Wedding Traditions For Your Wedding
Whether you are getting married in Scotland, or being married abroad, here are some great Scottish Wedding Traditions that can add a flavour of Scotland to your wedding!
Luckenbooth Brooch
Give your love a Scottish brooch, called a "Luckenbooth", as a token of your love or as a marriage gift. It is usually made of silver and is engraved with two hearts entwined. Many couples will then pin this to the blanket of their first baby for good luck.
Show Of Presents
Every lady who sent a wedding present is invited by the bride and her mother to their house for tea and cakes (or something stronger). All the wedding presents are opened and laid out for everyone to see. Scottish men have long suspected that this is just an excuse for a party. However, so far, there has been no actual evidence to substantiate this outrageous and scurrilous claim.
After The Show of Presents
The bride is dressed up by all her friends who parade her through the town, while banging pots and pans. Although embarrassing for the bride, it was financially rewarding as onlookers were encouraged to throw a coin into a bucket or pot for good luck.
The Stag Night
A few days before the wedding the groom is taken out on the town by his friends to celebrate his last nights of "freedom" by having "few" drinks. Depending on his friends, this can also lead to a blackening...
Blackenings
Either on the stag night or any other time, the groom is stripped to the waist (or more) and covered in treacle, soot, feathers, or flour. He is then paraded through the town with much noise and hilarity. The purpose is to embarrass the groom as much possible - and it never fails to do that!
A Sixpence in the Bride's Shoe
Traditionally, a small silver coin, called a sixpence, was placed in the bride's shoe for good luck. As sixpences no longer exist, this has been replaced by a penny or any modern "silver type" coin.
A Sprig of Heather
Another custom to encourage good luck was to hide a sprig of heather in the bride's bouquet.
The Bride's Wedding Dress
Traditionally, the bride would always wear a white dress to show her purity. Little touches of tartan are also nice.
The Groom's Clothing
Either full Highland dress or modern day dress. The modern version of the kilt wedding outfit consists of a short, Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket, a waistcoat, a kilt, white socks with tartan flashes at the top, brogue shoes, kilt pin, skean dhu (Scottish Dirk knife), sporran, black belt with buckle, and a winged-collared shirt with a black bow tie. A sprig of white heather is usually worn on the lapel for luck.
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
This is absolutely essential for any good Scottish bride. Something old can be a piece of jewellery from the bride's mother, something new can be the wedding dress, something borrowed can be jewellery or clothing from relatives, and something blue could be a blue garter, which symbolises love.
Buttonhole Flowers
Traditionally, it is white carnation buttonholes for the groom, best man, and ushers. Red carnations for all other male guests. The female guests can wear buttonholes of carnations, camellias, or orchids.
The Bride Leaves With her Right Foot
When a bride leaves her house, on the way to her wedding ceremony, she should always step out with her right foot for luck.
The Scottish Quaich or Loving Cup
The Scottish Quaich or Loving Cup is a traditional way of involving all your family and friends in the wedding. After the ceremony, the bride fills this two handled bowl with whisky and passes it around the guests so they can all have a celebratory "dram".
Creeling
This is where the bride and groom are "creeled' as they leave the church. Two people, on either side of the door, hold up fishing basket with ribbons. The happy couple then cut the ribbons and the basket falls to the floor. This is done to bring health and wealth to the couple.
Luckenbooth Brooch
Give your love a Scottish brooch, called a "Luckenbooth", as a token of your love or as a marriage gift. It is usually made of silver and is engraved with two hearts entwined. Many couples will then pin this to the blanket of their first baby for good luck.
Show Of Presents
Every lady who sent a wedding present is invited by the bride and her mother to their house for tea and cakes (or something stronger). All the wedding presents are opened and laid out for everyone to see. Scottish men have long suspected that this is just an excuse for a party. However, so far, there has been no actual evidence to substantiate this outrageous and scurrilous claim.
After The Show of Presents
The bride is dressed up by all her friends who parade her through the town, while banging pots and pans. Although embarrassing for the bride, it was financially rewarding as onlookers were encouraged to throw a coin into a bucket or pot for good luck.
The Stag Night
A few days before the wedding the groom is taken out on the town by his friends to celebrate his last nights of "freedom" by having "few" drinks. Depending on his friends, this can also lead to a blackening...
Blackenings
Either on the stag night or any other time, the groom is stripped to the waist (or more) and covered in treacle, soot, feathers, or flour. He is then paraded through the town with much noise and hilarity. The purpose is to embarrass the groom as much possible - and it never fails to do that!
A Sixpence in the Bride's Shoe
Traditionally, a small silver coin, called a sixpence, was placed in the bride's shoe for good luck. As sixpences no longer exist, this has been replaced by a penny or any modern "silver type" coin.
A Sprig of Heather
Another custom to encourage good luck was to hide a sprig of heather in the bride's bouquet.
The Bride's Wedding Dress
Traditionally, the bride would always wear a white dress to show her purity. Little touches of tartan are also nice.
The Groom's Clothing
Either full Highland dress or modern day dress. The modern version of the kilt wedding outfit consists of a short, Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket, a waistcoat, a kilt, white socks with tartan flashes at the top, brogue shoes, kilt pin, skean dhu (Scottish Dirk knife), sporran, black belt with buckle, and a winged-collared shirt with a black bow tie. A sprig of white heather is usually worn on the lapel for luck.
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
This is absolutely essential for any good Scottish bride. Something old can be a piece of jewellery from the bride's mother, something new can be the wedding dress, something borrowed can be jewellery or clothing from relatives, and something blue could be a blue garter, which symbolises love.
Buttonhole Flowers
Traditionally, it is white carnation buttonholes for the groom, best man, and ushers. Red carnations for all other male guests. The female guests can wear buttonholes of carnations, camellias, or orchids.
The Bride Leaves With her Right Foot
When a bride leaves her house, on the way to her wedding ceremony, she should always step out with her right foot for luck.
The Scottish Quaich or Loving Cup
The Scottish Quaich or Loving Cup is a traditional way of involving all your family and friends in the wedding. After the ceremony, the bride fills this two handled bowl with whisky and passes it around the guests so they can all have a celebratory "dram".
Creeling
This is where the bride and groom are "creeled' as they leave the church. Two people, on either side of the door, hold up fishing basket with ribbons. The happy couple then cut the ribbons and the basket falls to the floor. This is done to bring health and wealth to the couple.
Encourage Your Downline with Lapel Pins
Pampered Chef, Amway, Tupperware… these just a few of the many multi-level marketing giants that allow you to earn income from your sales as well as the sales of people signed up under you. The opportunities are great when your profit grows with the sales of every person in your downline. Great, that is, as long as those people continue to make sales and bring in new clients. Unfortunately, burnout and unrealistic expectations can come into play. So, how do you keep your downline growing and motivated? One creative way is with the use of lapel pins.
Generate Interest
At a time when unemployment is on the rise, many people are looking for ways to supplement their incomes. Some are even in the market for new sources of earnings altogether. Lapel pins are a fantastic way to advertise the possibilities your organization makes available. Create a pin with phrases such as "Need more $? Ask me how!" along with your business logo. When you and those in your downline wear your pins, they will serve as a portable advertisement for your business. Since lapel pins can be worn anywhere, they will work for you in the grocery store, the doctor's office, at schools, restaurants and anyplace else you might be.
Reward Top Performers
It takes attention and devotion to ensure your downline keeps producing. In most instances, when left to their own devices, new recruits may experience reduced performance. They need direction. They need guidance. And they need encouragement.
One way to keep your downline motivated and optimistic is by using lapel pins in an incentive/reward program. Whether or not the company you work for has such a program is irrelevant. Create your own just for your downline.
Set goals for bringing in a specific number of recruits or a specific level of sales in a given time period. When the members of your downline reach those goals, they move up to a higher performance level. Make a formal announcement of accomplishment via email or monthly meetings when a person reaches a new level and reward them with a custom-designed lapel pin.
Another benefit is that lapel pins create competition. Most people in sales are competitive by nature. Seeing that one person has reached a goal could encourage others to try harder.
Honor Longevity
Lapel pins can also be used to recognize people that have been in your downline a certain length of time. Award pins at one-year, five-year and ten-year anniversaries to let those people know you're thankful for the work they do. Keeping your downline motivated means they'll continue to work hard. That hard work equates to more income for everyone.
Custom-Designed Lapel Pins
Lapel pins are custom-designed to your exact specifications. Want something fun and eye-catching but worried about designing it yourself? Don't give it another thought. Choose a lapel pin company whose designers will create the perfect pin for your needs. These professionals will give you recommendations on design, color and shape… sometimes without any extra charge to you.
Because lapel pins are so affordable, they work well for you in a number of ways without breaking your budget. They can be created in styles that are fun and exciting, meaning everyone in your downline will enjoy wearing them.
When you want to motivate and reward your downline, lapel pins are the creative and economical solution for keeping sales on a continual upswing.
Generate Interest
At a time when unemployment is on the rise, many people are looking for ways to supplement their incomes. Some are even in the market for new sources of earnings altogether. Lapel pins are a fantastic way to advertise the possibilities your organization makes available. Create a pin with phrases such as "Need more $? Ask me how!" along with your business logo. When you and those in your downline wear your pins, they will serve as a portable advertisement for your business. Since lapel pins can be worn anywhere, they will work for you in the grocery store, the doctor's office, at schools, restaurants and anyplace else you might be.
Reward Top Performers
It takes attention and devotion to ensure your downline keeps producing. In most instances, when left to their own devices, new recruits may experience reduced performance. They need direction. They need guidance. And they need encouragement.
One way to keep your downline motivated and optimistic is by using lapel pins in an incentive/reward program. Whether or not the company you work for has such a program is irrelevant. Create your own just for your downline.
Set goals for bringing in a specific number of recruits or a specific level of sales in a given time period. When the members of your downline reach those goals, they move up to a higher performance level. Make a formal announcement of accomplishment via email or monthly meetings when a person reaches a new level and reward them with a custom-designed lapel pin.
Another benefit is that lapel pins create competition. Most people in sales are competitive by nature. Seeing that one person has reached a goal could encourage others to try harder.
Honor Longevity
Lapel pins can also be used to recognize people that have been in your downline a certain length of time. Award pins at one-year, five-year and ten-year anniversaries to let those people know you're thankful for the work they do. Keeping your downline motivated means they'll continue to work hard. That hard work equates to more income for everyone.
Custom-Designed Lapel Pins
Lapel pins are custom-designed to your exact specifications. Want something fun and eye-catching but worried about designing it yourself? Don't give it another thought. Choose a lapel pin company whose designers will create the perfect pin for your needs. These professionals will give you recommendations on design, color and shape… sometimes without any extra charge to you.
Because lapel pins are so affordable, they work well for you in a number of ways without breaking your budget. They can be created in styles that are fun and exciting, meaning everyone in your downline will enjoy wearing them.
When you want to motivate and reward your downline, lapel pins are the creative and economical solution for keeping sales on a continual upswing.
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