Latest entries
Pinback Project: Meet the Judge, Jeffrey Brown

Pinback Project: Meet the Judge, Jeffrey Brown

Judging this month’s Pinback Project entries is graphic novelist and Busy Beaver pal, Jeffrey Brown. Jeffrey’s career in comics started in 2001— while working on his MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he abandoned painting and began work on his first graphic novel, Clumsy, and has since written more than a...
Beer Paws: Good Times and Good Dogs

Beer Paws: Good Times and Good Dogs

Reading our blog, you could get the impression that the whole Busy Beaver staff is cat obsessed. As the office dog person, it’s easy to feel outnumbered some days with all the talk of Lil Bub and Keyboard Cat around here. As impartial button makers, though, we take no official sides in the cats vs....
Making of a Button Mini-Comic

Making of a Button Mini-Comic

I’m admittedly the resident nerd at Busy Beaver, but it’s no secret that most the folks here are fans of comics. We have a number of comic artists on staff and based our entire 2011 Button-O-Matic series on superheroes, after all. So of course we jumped at the chance to work with Chicago Alternative Comic...
Pinback Project: June's Theme is Comics

Pinback Project: June’s Theme is Comics

Calling all comic book nerds! For this month’s installment of Busy Beaver’s Pinback Project button design contest, we’re focusing on all things comics. Whether you’re into old school superheroes, anime adventures, graphic novels, weird alternative comics or even fat, lazy cats who love lasagna, we want to see your button designs! One very lucky winner...
United State of Indiana Buttons Up

United State of Indiana Buttons Up

The Midwest may be known to some as the “Flyover Zone” but when you’re from the here, you know that some of the best ideas and brightest minds come out of the middle of America. As an Indiana native, I know that my state especially can be the butt of jokes (Hello, Dan Quayle) but ask...
Mateo: Cool Kid, Cool Buttons

Mateo: Cool Kid, Cool Buttons

As a newbie to the world of children’s birthday parties, I’ve discovered that the stakes are pretty high these days to make your kid’s event the best on the block. First on the list of must have elements for a killer birthday party: swag. Enter Goldie Gareza and her son, Mateo, birthday party swag makers...
6/13: Mini-Comic Release Party

6/13: Mini-Comic Release Party

Busy Beaver Button Co. and Chicago Alternative Comic Expo (CAKE) have teamed up to make a limited edition mini-comic and button set. Join us in celebrating the collaboration! We’ll have free chicken from Parson’s Chicken & Fish and free beer from Brooklyn Brewery, while supplies last. Plus  you’ll be able to get a sneak peak...
Design Inspiration: Flora + Fauna

Design Inspiration: Flora + Fauna

With June upon us tomorrow, the world outside is full of sprouting greenery and crawling creatures. A plants and animals theme makes for great buttons, and with the official start of summer just a few weeks away, Mother Nature is certainly on our minds here at the Beaver Dam. Thinking of making your own nature-inspired...
The Whitney Redesigns and Buttons Up

The Whitney Redesigns and Buttons Up

It’s not everyday that a a top secret button come through Busy Beaver, but back in April we were excited to be privvy to the then-secret redesign for Whitney Museum of American Art. It was tough to keep mum about such great buttons, and we’re happy to finally be able to share the Whitney’s innovative...
Meet Christen Carter at the Apple Store, Lincoln Park

Meet Christen Carter at the Apple Store, Lincoln Park

Meet Busy Beaver founder, Christen Carter, next Wednesday, 7-8pm at the Apple Store, Lincoln Park to find out about crafting buttons on a Mac. She’ll be sharing her philosophy on creating a slogan that simply and effectively communicates your message plus tips on how to get your message out into the world. To reserve your spot,...
One Week Left! 10% Off Magnets

One Week Left! 10% Off Magnets

From Wednesday, May 15 through Wednesday, June 5 Busy Beaver is offering 10% off all Magnets. Just use coupon code “MagnetMay2013” at checkout on BusyBeaver.net. Coupon code good for magnets only. One use per customer. Valid until June 5 at midnight CST.
Summer Movie Buttons

Summer Movie Buttons

Memorial Day Weekend means the beginning of Summer movie season. Which flicks are you waiting to see? Vintage buttons courtesy of TedHake.com and ButtonMuseum.org.