Stickers That Keep it Straight: The Eyebox Organizer

With a number of different pairs of contact lenses, Sharena Walker had a hard time keeping them all straight. That's because contact lenses--whether prescription or decorative (colored)--typically come in vials printed with all their pertinent information, and when those lenses get transferred to a case, all that information gets thrown out.

What to do? Keep all those empty vials cluttering the medicine cabinet? Open every case and try to figure out which pair is which? Sharena had a better idea: a compact jewel-case organizer which would not only keep all those lens cases neatly organized but which would identify them, via a simple system of (what else?) stickers. 

Her innovative invention--the first offering of her new business, Lovely Ideas--is the Eyebox. To use, you simply place a colored sticker on the bottom of a contact lens case and a sticker of the same color next to a line on the Record Keeper, a card that fits neatly in the bottom of the box. Record the info specific to those lenses--brand, color, purchase information, date, cost, expiration information, sphere, base curve, and diameter--and voila! No more wondering, and no more fumbling. 

In creating the Eyebox, Sharena ordered sticker samples from three other companies. Custom Sticker Makers won because of the quality/price ratio. "These little round stickers needed to adhere to the type of plastic used for most contact lens cases," Sharena told us. "They had to be durable, very sticky, and water resistant. CSM stickers fared above the others and won my business."

Stuff We Like: Stickers for the Holidays, Part 1

When you think of stickers as Christmas presents, chances are, you're thinking of stocking stuffers. But this holiday season, we ask that you think a little bigger in terms of what stickers can do for the kids in your life--a lot  bigger.

From Yoda with a light saber to Tinkerbell, space-rockets, dump-trucks and fairy-tale castles, there's not much in the way of childhood obsessions that are not available as a mural-sized repositionable wall-sticker, it seems, as far as Wall Sticker Outlet goes. We're especially fond of this t-rex busting through the wall, though we're not sure it's suitable for kids who wake up at night scared of the boogie man.

Wall Sticker Outlet offers everything from single character stick-ons to full-scene murals, available in Girls Themes and Boys Themes, as well as more mural-oriented wall-stickers aimed at adults. There are also stick-on chalkboard options.

These wall-stickers will run you anywhere between $17 for a single character to $325 for a giant wall mural, just in time for the holidays.

Taking It to the Streets: One Street Helps Bike Groups Help Others

One Street is a nonprofit organization based right here in Custom Sticker Makers' hometown of Prescott, Arizona, but their mission is global in scope--to lift bicycling to the forefront of society around the world by helping bike organizations help others. 

One Street was founded in September 2007 by Sue Knaup, a long-time bicycle advocate at the local, national and international levels. The name came from an idea she had at the age of six on a family trip when she realized that one street connects to other streets and, if the world is round, never ends.

Since then, with the help of advisors ranging from leaders of large and small non-profits and government agencies to corporate CEOs, One Street has helped a women's center offer bike repair job training skills in Uganda, sponsored the manufacture of bikes internationally in disadvantaged areas (with funding from the bike-friendly Ft. Collins-based New Belgium Brewing Company), created a Bed and Bike website listing bike-friendly overnight accommodations in North America, and much, much more.

The One Street logo combines an image of the world with a peace sign and the letters O and S in a kind of continuous street, and stickers bearing this logo have become an important way for the organization to promote the essence of its mission in what Sue describes as "a really cool and simple form." She reports that she's seen them on the bikes, brief cases and backpacks of strangers passing her in different parts of the world.

Why Custom Sticker Makers? The answer is simple enough. "I like you guys," said Sue. "You do great work and you’re right here in town."

Laptop Stickers Pimp Your MacBook (Logo)

We all know Mac enthusiasts are a little different. Now there's a way for them to show the world (and each other) just how different they are, by pimping their Macbooks with laptop stickers from StickWithMeBaby.

StickWithMeBaby is a collection of laptop stickers designed to personalize the apple logo on your MacBook with into something resembling a cartoon head. Each of these heads have plenty of attitude, and come in three distinct categories: Bros, Hos, and Mos.

(While women everywhere will certainly take issue with the title of the second category, there's no denying, it's got a certain ring to it. There's also no denying that these stickers are hilarious.)

The Creepy Uncle

The Horny Librarian

The Stick With Me Baby line of laptop stickers for the Mac is the brainchild of Herraizsoto&Co, an independent creative agency based in Barcelona that's done work for folks like IKEA and BMW.  Stickers are interchangeable, low-tac, and will run you around $10 a piece (8 Euro).

Smoking Out the Competition: HotVapes Personal Vaporizers

HotVapes started in early 2010, after Tim Roche's girlfriend Helen got her first personal vaporizer (also known as an e-cigarette). At the time, she was a pack-a-day smoker who had no intention of quitting--but after using her new vaporizer, she walked off an airplane and never bought another pack. Tim realized that if it helped her, there was a good chance it would be able to help others, too. Thus was HotVapes born.

Currently, the company sells a number of different personal vaporizer packages at different price points, as well as a selection of different flavored liquids. These liquids contain propylene glycol (a common chemical approved for foods) mixed with flavors, much like a hookah tobacco, but without the toxic chemicals such as carbon monoxide, tar, and benzenes. These liquids are available in flavors like Mango, Blueberry Fest, and Coconut Dream Pie, and are available with or without nicotine.

While HotVapes is still just starting out--and mainly sells through its website, HotVapes.com--the company is seeing more and more distribution at tobacco and headshops across the country. (In case you were wondering, despite the fact that they've been covered in Headquest Magazine, HotVapes cannot be used for marijuana.) The company's merchant customers are expected to display the HotVapes sticker in their storefront windows, letting the public know that they carry HotVapes personal vaporizers. In this way, HotVapes hopes to make its brand easily identifiable to anyone familiar with personal vaporizers.

Why did Tim and Helen choose Custom Sticker Makers for their sticker printing?  "Mainly we liked your site, found it easy to navigate and your customer service was very good," said Tim. "Reasonable prices always helps, too."

(Bottom photo: Ash's Wicker Park Tobacconist, Chicago)

Stuck Up Piece of Crap: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art

Memorably title, "Stickers: Stuck Up Piece of Crap: from Punk Rock to Contemporary Art" is a new art-book by DB Burkeman with a little help from street art icon Shepard Fairey (as well as Monica LoCascio and Carlo McCormick). Together, the authors tackle the history of stickers in a variety of musical sub-cultures, including punk rock, raves and hip-hop.



Says one Amazaon reviewer: "To be brief, if you have even a passing interest in Punk Rock, Graffiti Art, Rave Culture, Club Culture, Sub Culture or just Graphic Design, this book is an absolute must have. Essays by the Authors and Shepard Fairey beautifully connect the dots from the sub culture of sticker design, production and broadcast to its influence on our every day lives. The book is wonderfully, curated, and the design on the pages is beautifully laid out."

MTV.com chimes in with:
"For DB Burkeman, stickers are those little markers that document our culture. Whether it's the first 'Watch out! Punk is coming!' sticker slapped up on the Lower East Side in late 1970s or a 1930s R. Stanton Avery silk-screened political bumper sticker, they capture a point in time that somehow defined American culture. So it only makes sense that Burkeman, along with his partner, Monica LoCascio, got to researching the art of stickers and churned out Stickers: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art. The 300-page book traces the visual and social history of the medium, and explores the relationship artists have with their pieces and how they communicate with viewers." ~MTV.com


Jeff over at the Websticker blog also has good things to say, so we know, as far as stickers go, this book has got the goods.


At $23.10, this book seems like a good deal for a coffee-table book--but here at Custom Sticker Makers, we're interested in the deluxe hardcover $175.00 version, complete with vintage stickers. 

Sneaker Sticks: Vans Fansite Goes Off the Wall

Bill Cruz is man with a passion for sneakers--Vans, in particular. A few years back, he discovered a number of kindred souls online, many of them Vans collectors, all of them part of a bigger sneaker subculture that's seen rapid growth over the last decade. Together, they created a web forum for fans of all things Vans, now in its second incarnation at www.offthewallsite.net. 


Since launching the new site last year, Bill-and friends have amassed about 550 daily hits on average to their blog, and grown a forum to the 200 member mark. Clearly, there are a lot of people with a passion for Vans. The question, of course, was how to reach more of them. 


Custom stickers were a natural fit for a  fansite promoting this brand, as custom stickers have long been a staple of the streetwear clothing industry (which no doubt appreciates the free advertising on skateboards, BMX bikes, and the like). In creating a sticker for the Off The Wall Site, Bill and company took an iconic Vans model and produced a die-cut version of it, with their website across the sidewall of the shoe. 

Why Custom Sticker Makers? Bill--officially known as DJGaumstyles--was looking for a sticker site that was willing to do small orders, as most sites require a 1000 minimum--far more than they needed to get started. "I have never ordered stickers before, ever, but ordering from you guys was so seamless, and quick, that I will definitely be using you guys again, and I will refer others for sure," he told us. Apparently, CSM's prices didn't hurt, either. "Your prices are the cheapest around, but make no mistake, we are getting well more than what we pay for, when ordering from you guys!"

Annals of Sticktivism: Textbook Disclaimer Stickers

Since 1996, Alabama has mandated that an evolution disclaimer sticker be placed in every biology textbook in the state. Frustrated with this--as well as a similar set of stickers used by the Texas Board of Education and Georgia's Cobb County School District--Swarthmore associate professor of evolutionary biology Colin Purrington decided to take matters into his own hands and create some stickers himself.

Printable on a home printer on standard-sized labels, many of these stickers mimic the language of the Cobb County disclaimer, which reads: "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."

Many of Purlington's labels were also designed to go on science textbooks, pointing out that things like gravity and heliocentricism are also scientific theories--while others are actually designed for pseudo-science books promoting creationism.


Apparently, Purlington has received some hate mail for his efforts on behalf of science education--but we imagine, with over 4 million visitors to this page, he's made some friends, as well. 

Aspen ZGreen: the Green, Local Label

In Aspen, Colorado, being green and being local both mean a lot. In order to help the Aspen's businesses and events show their community pride and commitment to the environment, the City of Aspen offers an innovative program called Aspen ZGreen. Under this program, businesses, citizens and events can apply for ZGreen certification. If they meet the standards (and complete a successful audit), they become ZGreen certified.


The City of Aspen rewards certification with space on their website, radio and newspaper ads and publicity at local events. Members of the community reward ZGreen certified businesses by voting with their dollar. The name ZGreen comes from the old Aspen license plates that used to start with ZG. (Apparently, if you still have a ZG license plate, then everyone knows you are a true 'local' or 'old timer'--which, in Aspen, means a lot.) 


Although the program is local, the program was created to provide a model for other cities and towns interested in going green and promoting the local economy. The program has grown in the last few years, and recently, Aspen took a big step in making ZGreen certification mandatory for all large public events. A key grassroots strategy for promoting the Aspen ZGreen brand has (of course!) been custom stickers. 


These stickers, designed to resemble the Colorado license plate, are distributed all over Aspen at City-sponosred events. Ashley Cantrell of Aspen ZGreen told us that custom stickers were the easiest way to start branding, and so far, they've worked great.

"We choose Custom Sticker Makers because the prices were reasonable and the website was easy to use," said Ashley. "I had a question about my order, so I called and I was amazed that someone actually answered the phone and knew about my order without having to go into some database for 15 minutes. Since then, I always work with CSM because it feels like a small company, almost like they are right here in Aspen."

Stuff We Like: Cheeky Suitcase Stickers

Sick of searching among hordes of similar suitcases in baggage claim? Have a snarky sense of humor? Well then, you are a prime candidate for these cheeky suitcase stickers.

Designed by Colin Hunt and Ryan McCormick, two enterprising Vancouver entrepreneurs, these large stickers can be placed directly on your luggage to give the impression that something (in the words of Canada's CBC) "strange or nefarious" is going on inside.

The Abducted Flight Attendant is one of four designs, which also includes the Suitcase Full of Cocaine, the Suitcase Full of Money, and the ever-popular, Suitcase Full of Personal *ahem* Massage Devices. They're available for $15 each or $40 for 3 via The Cheeky, which has this to say about them:

"Take a stand against monotonous travel with Suitcase Stickers. Designed to stick to anything, they will draw attention to your bag making it easily identifiable and sure to make you some new friends.

Caution: Some of these stickers may cause offense to airport and immigration staff. But you would have figured that out whilst enjoying those cavity searches."


We sticker connoisseurs at Custom Sticker Makers think these are hilarious--but wonder, will they really stick to anything? (Even the canvas-type material of most roller bags?)

Making Tracks with Kids: Cheeky's Security Blanket

Lindsay N. Lewchuck had always dreamed of being an author, but it wasn't until she brought home a little black puppy with oversized paws that she found the inspiration to write. The precocious antics, wonky ear and unique personality of her Great Dane, Cheeky, proved to be the natural subject for a series of children's stories.

Lindsay's first book about Cheeky--Cheeky's Security Blanket--is out this year from Castle Keep Press (an imprint of James A. Rock & Co.). Featuring illustrations by Isaac Klunk, the tale follows Cheeky as she learns that while her security blanket makes her feel happy and secure, there really are some things in life that are more important. The book is intended for 2-100 year olds and is mostly aimed at 3-6 year olds.

In order to promote her book to her pint-sized target market, Lindsay hands out lime green and purple "Cheeky Approved" stickers after all of her readings. These stickers have proven a big hit with kids, and they leave a Great Dane "paw-print" impression with their parents, too--not unlike the paw-prints hidden by the illustrator on every page of Cheeky's Security Blanket. 


Why Custom Sticker Makers? "CSM had very competitive prices," Lindsay told us. "That is what brought me to the site. But the low-VOC ink is what made me choose them over the competition. Whenever there is a choice available, I go with the healthiest."

Annals of Sticktivism: I Park Like an Idiot

Most of our posts from the wide world of Sticktivism deal with people doing their best to make the world a better place with stickers. (Yes.) Through Journalism Warning Labels, for example, or These Come From Trees.

These stickers, however, don't want to save the world. They just want to provide some stress relief for the driving public.

Now you, too, can turn your annoyance at the sheer stupidity of those who park badly into an instant laugh, for yourself and others. Just keep your I Park Like an Idiot stickers handy, when you see someone hogging two parking spots, blocking traffic, missing those white lines by a mile (or in any other way parking like an idiot) just pull out one of these stickers while no one's looking and...well, we didn't tell you to do it.

I Park Like an Idiot stickers are 10 x 3 inches and bright yellow, so no one will be able to miss them--and they're low-tac, so they're not that hard for the offending driver to remove. Available in packs of 20 for $10.

Band Promo: Mike Peralta Sticks with the Fans

When Southern California singer/songwriter Mike Peralta was in high school, his love of Nirvana inspired him to learn to play an old guitar his mother got him--but it wasn't until a tragedy rocked his school that he came home and wrote his first song. In the years that followed, Mike found he had a knack for turning life's difficulties and dysfunctions into music, and when he finally decided to take his solo act to the streets (in bars, coffee shops, fairs, private parties, farmer's markets, even out in front of movie theaters) he found that people responded.


Now, with 150 original songs to his credit--as well as an acoustic/folk album and a new Single on iTunes--Mike Peralta has made a name for himself in the SoCal music scene. Along the way, he's learned a thing or two about using the internet to connect with fans: currently, he has 800 email subscribers on his blog, 6,500 Twitter followers, 27,000 MySpace peeps, 352 Facebook fans, and a website, www.MikePeralta.com.

Off the internet, of course, Mike knew he needed a way for fans to spread the word. So everywhere he performs, you'll see custom stickers alongside CDs, shirts, and buttons on his merch table. At $2 each, Mike's able to make a small profit on his stickers while keeping costs within range for the fans. Over the years, he's sold and given away hundreds of stickers at shows, and considers them an important part of his branding.

Why Custom Sticker Makers? "They have a personal touch," said Mike. "I can send them an email or a question and expect it to be answered by an actual human, with a real answer (not just a template), in a reasonable amount of time." He adds that CSM hasn't grown so big that they "don't care about the little guy" and are willing to actually talk about orders, "instead of replying with some BS response like a copy/paste of a slightly related Question/Answer topic like some other companies do." He also enjoys being able to customize the dimensions of his stickers, both for aesthetics and cost-control, and CSM's competitive pricing.

Stuff We Like: Groovy 70's Skateboard Stickers

From Dogtown to downtown, skateboards have come a long way since the 70's--as have that equally venerable institution, the skateboard sticker. But some of the most memorable skateboard stickers we've seen recently are some of the oldest.

These groovy 70's era skateboard stickers (which come to us via Skateboarding Magazine) were taken from 70′s trading cards. Apparently, the front of these iconic cards featured pro skaters in action and the back of the cards featured stickers

For those who've been searching in vain for these collectibles, here's some small condolence: within the next ten years or so, presumably, these images will enter the public domain. At which point you'll be free to get these images printed into stickers of your own with Custom Sticker Makers =)

Hello Kitty Stickers Grow Up

Hello Kitty stickers, Hello Kitty stickers! You can almost feel your inner (small, female) child jumping up and down, can't you?

Well, maybe you can and maybe you can't. But here at Custom Sticker Makers, we like to keep track of hot search sticker search terms--and while stick figure families come and go, Hello Kitty stickers seem to have some real staying power.

Hello Kitty was "born" in Japan in 1974, when a young Tokyo-based company called Sanrio asked designer Ikuko Shimizu to invent a cartoon animal who would appeal to the preteen girl in everyone; they planned to use it to decorate a plastic coin purse. Thirty-six years later, Hello Kitty's adorable, oddly mouthless mug has adorned everything from erasers and barrettes to bowling balls and sewing machines--all with that distinct style of Japanese consumer culture ultra-cute known as kawaii.

Because so many grown women grew up with Hello Kitty, there are now all kinds of Hello Kitty items aimed at big girls--such as this Hello Kitty bumper-sticker.

But our favorite Hello Kitty stickers are the ones that are still most likely to send little girls into kawaii-induced fits, such as this massive sticker pack, perfect for slumber parties.

Annals of Sticktivism: Journalism Warning Labels

There has been plenty of bellyaching recently about the state of modern journalism, from the increasingly accepted use of unnamed sources to veiled (or not so veiled) political biases in ostensibly neutral publications.

Frustrated no end by this sort of thing--especially among the free publications he often found while traveling the London Underground--UK resident Tom Scott decided to take matters into his own hands.

His "Journalism Warning Labels" function like a DIY guerrilla media criticism class for travelers. They're available in both the UK and the US and formatted for print-out on standard sized Avery labels.

How do they work? Simply locate the offending article, select the most appropriate label from your sheet, stick it on or near the article, and leave the publication in the subway, bus, or coffee shop where you found it. Those who peruse the paper later will be forewarned.

Midterm Election Sticker Wars!: Road Rage Edition

As we gear up for midterm elections, campaign stickers are once again appearing on the nation's bumpers.

High dollar television ads and internet campaigns aside, nothing speaks more to a candidate's grassroots support than the number of bumper stickers and campaign lawn signs bearing his or her name.

However, amid the nation's current political climate, campaign stickers are also a heated subject. In Nashville, Tennessee, a man has claimed that he was the victim of road rage due to the Obama/Biden bumpersticker on his car. 

Curious what the assailant was most likely driving? Check out this site, which has unofficially tabulated a breakdown of political affiliations by makes and models of cars from the 2008 election.

Here at Custom Sticker Makers, we're hoping that those with strong opinions this election season will choose to express them via their bumperstickers, rather than their driving habits...

Mrs. Grossmans Stickers: the Woman Behind Stickermania

Stickermania: it's a phase most kids go through, at one point or another. (There are those of us, obviously, who never get over it.) But 'twas not always so. Once upon a time, there were more kids who collected stamps than stickers. That is, until Mrs. Grossman came along.

Andrea Grossman is a graphic designer who started her sticker business because of a printing error. In 1979, a local paper store asked her to produce a red heart sticker to decorate shopping bags for Valentine's Day. Grossman couldn't find anybody who made such a thing, so she cut a heart out of black artist's paper and sent it to a label printer. Instead of coming back on sheets of paper, as expected, the hearts came back on rolls, like ribbons.

A natural entrepreneur, Grossman created nine more designs and introduced "Stickers by the Yard" at a trade show. Retailers swamped her with orders, and within three years, stickers had become one of the hottest-selling products in the country. Grossman was featured in People Magazine as the woman who started "stickermania."

Here at Custom Sticker Makers, we tip our hats to Mrs. Grossman's Stickers--a business that operates today out of a 110,000-square-foot corporate headquarters with 90 employees, home to the world's only sticker factory tour.

Temecula Wedding Photographer Patrick Anibaldi: Stickers That Take the Cake

Anyone who's ever gone through the effort and expense of a wedding--plus, of course, the joy and beauty--knows that, in the end, it's all about the pictures. The right wedding photographer can make all the difference, and in Temecula, California, that photographer is Patrick Anibaldi.

Anibaldi's photographic style is creative, fun, and artistic. Rather than settling for the basic, canned shots, Anibaldi focuses on capturing the moments and emotions of a wedding as they unfold, creating a visual narrative that speaks for itself. He's been photographing weddings since 2007 and reports that he's fallen in love with both the technical and artistic sides of it. To Anibaldi, a great wedding is not necessarily a "Platinum Wedding" (i.e., one with a lot of bling) but one that has a "real-life love story begging to be told."

When customers work with Anibaldi, one of the final products they receive is a collection of wedding images on a CD. While the disk itself may not look like much, it is, in many ways, priceless--so the packaging materials need to help convey the value of the product. In order to accomplish this, Anibaldi knew he needed high-quality custom stickers.

Why Custom Sticker Makers? "I can upload my own design and choose the size of sticker I want," said Anibaldi. "Plus, ordering through the website is simple and the quality of the stickers is top-notch!"

Stuff We Like: Facebook Stickers

If there is any lingering doubt about the degree to which Facebook has taken over our lives, these stickers should settle the question. On Facebook, of course, you can click the "Like" button to express your enthusiasm for everything from causes to comments to relationship changes to what your friends had for breakfast this morning. Now, you can do the same in the real world, via Nooooel's hilarious "button stickers."

Even better, these stickers (which come to us via The Creative Times) provide us with what FB, so far, has failed to: a Dislike button. Let's face it, there are plenty of things (including causes, comments, relationship changes, and what our friends had for breakfast) that deserve to be Disliked. With these handy-dandy stickers, at least in the real world, we can have our say.

While they do not as yet appear to be available for purchase, we imagine that comparable stickers could easily be had via a little graphic design know how and an order to Custom Sticker Makers.  

Delicious Branding: Three Seeds Natural Skin Care

We've all heard the saying: you are what you eat. But what about the products we put on our skin? The skin, after all, is a porous membrane, and whatever we slather on after a shower might as well be sitting on our dinner table. Three Seeds Naturals handmade skincare products was founded in November of 2009 with a vision of products that were simple, natural, and delicious.

When founder Sarah Maloy thought about natural skincare products, she thought about all the wonderful scents that really bring the four seasons to life. It turns out that in Greek mythology, the seasons were set in motion by Persephone and Demeter, and three pomegranate seeds. Thus Three Seeds Naturals was born--all-natural Sugar Body Scrubs, Everyday Body Lotion, Ultra Moisturizing Creamscents, and Lip Balms. All products are available in Three Seeds Naturals five signature scents: Fresh Lemongrass (Spring), Coconut Lime (summer), Almond Vanilla (Fall), Vanilla Fig (Winter) and their signature scent, Pomegranate. These natural products have a hit with customers at local craft fairs, and now, via the Three Seeds Naturals website, they're available everywhere.

As Three Seeds is a start-up business, Maloy needed a quick, easy, and affordable way to really make her products look professional. Many of these products come in round jars, where CSM's stickers go on top and provide branding from any angle. They've also helped Maloy bring to life the spirit of her brand, as she has a different color sticker for each season. She's found that her stickers look great on the shipping boxes, as well.

Why Custom Sticker Makers? "CSM is really quick and easy to use," said Malloy. "I was able to use the online ordering tool to easily and accurately place my order. I really appreciate being able to get a price estimate before making any decisions or contacting anyone. I've also contacted the folks at CSM with questions and they are always friendly and responsive. And the stickers look great!"

(Interested in natural skincare? Follow @3seedsnaturals on Twitter.)

Bumperstickers, Plato and You: If You Can Read This...The Philosophy of Bumper Stickers

There are those who may think political bumperstickers, philosophical or just plain funny bumperstickers are a less than serious form of discourse. But at least one thinker with real academic credentials seems to take them seriously: Jack Bowen, author of If You Can Read This: the Philosophy of Bumper Stickers, (which comes to us via Websticker's Marketing and Custom Sticker Blog).

Mr. Bowen--a graduate from Stanford University and holds a Masters Degree in Philosophy from California State University--has dedicated his big brain to dissecting the deep thoughts behind such common sentiments as:

• If Ignorance Is Bliss, Why Aren't More People Happy?
• At Least The War On The Environment Is Going Well
• Less Bark: More Wag
• Don't Believe Everything You Think

From the website:
"Long before blogs, tweets, and sound-bites, people were telling the world how they felt in brief, blunt bursts of information plastered on the backs of their cars. Whether they're political or religious, passionate or proud, controversial or corny, these brightly-colored, boldly-lettered mini manifestoes are declarations of who we are, where we stand, and what we'd rather be doing. But as bestselling author and noted philosopher Jack Bowen reveals, there's much more to this pop-culture phenomenon than rolling one-liners and drive-by propaganda--no less, in fact, than a wise, funny, poignant, contentious, and truthful discourse on the human condition."

This book has received some great reviews and we're looking forward to reading it here at Custom Sticker Makers.

Curious? The book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indie Bound, and elsewhere.

SB 1070 Sticker Wars! Part 3: Voices from the Left

With the recent announcement that key provisions of SB 1070 state law will be blocked, subject to
a preliminary injunction by Federal District Court Judge Susan Bolton, Arizona's controversial immigration law is once again in the news. Governor Jan Brewer says Arizona will appeal this decision in the Supreme Court, but for now, much of the bill remains unenforceable.

Of course, like all highly charged political issues, this one is being debated on the nation's bumpers. In the last installment of our SB 1070 Sticker Wars! series, we brought you some of the more creative sticker designs from the red side of the political spectrum. Now we bring you a few of the stickers that can be found on the bumpers of those celebrating this week, in Arizona and beyond.

No SB1070--The Show Me Your Papers State
By playing on the design of the Arizona license plate, this sticker makes a statement about how SB 1070 has caused the state to be viewed in some other areas of the country.

We Are Human
Shepherd Fairey, the street artist who came to national recognition for his iconic portrait of Obama during the 2008 election, has created a series of designs opposing SB 1070, one of which appears here.

I Could Be Illegal

These small, round stickers from Cafe Press, come in packs of 10 and are designed to be worn on clothing,

 outerwear and hats.

Have a favorite SB 1070 sticker, from either end of the political spectrum? Custom Sticker Makers wants to know! Leave a link in the comment box and it could be featured in the next installment of our Sticker Wars! 

 

The Threadless Test: Does Your Sticker Design Have What It Takes to Be a T-Shirt?

So you've got an amazing custom sticker design that's proven popular. Does that same design have what it takes to be a popular t-shirt?

While the answer, as far as your particular design goes, may seem intuitive, it may not be, as the same image that appeals to people as a sticker may or may not inspire them to emblazon it across their chests.

Fortunately, there is a way to test your crossover sticker-to-shirt idea before you invest in getting it printed. Threadless Tees is a website where registered users can submit prospective t-shirt designs, via easy templates, and get them scored by their sophisticated design community.

Of course, Threadless has its own agenda: to find great designs for use on their t-shirts. However, if your design scores high with the Threadless community, chances are, you won't object, as the website awards $2,000-$22,500 for the most popular designs.

Even if your t-shirt design doesn't take the cake, though, this service offers a free and fun way to evaluate the potential of a sticker design as a t-shirt, offering the kind of market research on-the-cheap you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. (And if you're considering multiple designs, send your online friends over pick their favorite.)

Alphabet Woof!: Family Fun with a Message That Sticks

Children's author Sherrie Madia has a fertile imagination--and so do her daughters, Emma (14) and Anna (12). Together, they created a one-of-a-kind children's book called Alphabet Woof!--the tale of a dog who eats magic soup that allows him to talk. As you might have guessed, this unexpected gift leads Moxy (the dog) and his family on some exciting adventures, told through fun rhymes and illustrations with a great family message.

Alphabet Woof! may be a whimsical tale, but it does some seriously good work in the world, as a portion of the sale of each book goes to support the SPCA International, which helps animals in need--yet another passion Madia shares with her daughters, who started volunteering with their Mom at their local animal shelter when they were young.

Madia and her daughters do a lot of events--from children's events to events for dog lovers--and wherever they go, they witness the same scene: once word gets out about their stickers, children run up in droves with their hands outstretched, asking, "Can I have a sticker?" Followed by, "And can I have one for my little brother? And my cousin, Marco? And my other cousin Sonia..." Recently, Alphabet Woof! Custom Sticker Makers stickers made it to the Tribeca Family Festival (Tribeca, NY) the International Children's Festival (Philadelphia, PA)-and soon, they'll be headed off to PetFest and Woofstock!, also in Pennsylvannia.

Why Custom Sticker Makers? "Not all stickers are created equal!" said Madia. "Our Custom Sticker Makers stickers get rave reviews from children--when kids leave our events, each wearing a Moxy the dog sticker, we know we've gotten it right." She adds that when she and her daughters do events supporting causes for animals and the SPCA, they see their stickers go home on pet carriers and even on the bumpers of people's cars--which they believe is due to the quality of their stickers and their bold, bright colors. Plus, that durable, high-quality vinyl, really helps their message stick.