Thursday, June 28, 2012

POP UP SALES

Good evening, everybody! I will get straight to the point with this post and give you the details regarding our POP UP SALES...

We love doing POP UP SALES. Why? Because it gives our customers an opportunity to purchase items at low prices. In case you're new to our POP UP SALES, here's how we've managed them in the past...

We'll post items on our FB fan page, price, quantity, size (if applicable to clothing) and retail/shipping cost. The first to comment with their email address receives an invoice via PayPal. If there's 5 available, the first 5 will receive an invoice and so on. The individual has 12 HOURS to take care of the invoice, otherwise it will be voided and reissued to the next individual waiting in the comment section. This is a "first come first serve" type of sale. This has worked for the most part but I'll be very honest with you, it's a lot of work to manage invoices and to send them, especially on really large sales. For the most part we do a good job of staying on top of invoices and getting orders out but there are cases in which we simply overlook an invoice because the volume of sales is so high. Another issue is people do not pay their invoices and when we go to cancel the invoice, we get an email shortly after asking if we can reissue it. Overall, these are great sales and we love offering them to our customers but we're going to make a couple changes that will benefit everyone. We're moving our POP UP SALES to our etsy shop. We will directly post the links onto our FB wall so our fans can see what's being offered, they can click on the link and purchase. Ordering through etsy allows you to choose the number of items you want with combined shipping and allows us to efficiently manage orders as they come in avoiding any cases of unpaid invoices, upset customers and overlooked transactions, resulting in delayed orders. 

How do I purchase on etsy? It seems difficult.

Etsy is a great place to purchase items and it's very easy to get a username. You simply register for a username and you're set to go. Etsy does allow third party transactions, as well. The benefits of ordering through etsy are:

1. You can email us directly regarding your order.
2. You can track your order.
3. You can purchase all items together at once with combined shipping.
4. There's no fighting over who gets what.

NOTE ABOUT TOMORROW'S SALE...

We happen to have a selection of fabulous patriotic scarves. These will be shipped tomorrow afternoon, priority, in order for you to receive by the 4th of July. Please note, this is only on what we tag as patriotic. All other scarves will be shipped within a week's time. 

Will we see you tomorrow in our etsy shop for our Scarf POP UP SALE? I hope so! Look for the links to be posted on our FB wall tomorrow beginning at 10 AM (PST). We strongly recommend you to sign up for a username tonight so you can purchase right away tomorrow. Good luck!

Charity and DB Team

Monday, June 25, 2012

Waistbands, sizing and EVERYTHING in between!

Let's talk waistbands, sizing and everything in between! Dainty Button originally started off as an accessories line. Earlier this year my best friend and I sat down and designed a maxi skirt not knowing just how much our customers would like it and where this would take us. We strive to meet our customers needs, so when we say please let us hear your feedback we want to hear it. Even negative. Negative feedback (done in the right way) drives us to be better. We want to produce quality clothing and in order to do that, there will be tweaks, nips and tucks, here and there to do that. So, let's break this down for you and fill you in on one of our most recent improvements in production. Last week I posted a picture on our FB fan page of a new waistband. Let me explain...

All of our skirts, with the exception of a couple are designed and made with jersey knit. We use a variation of jersey knits. There's jersey cotton knit, jersey knit, lycra jersey knit, silk jersey knit, ribbed jersey knit, etc. All of these textures differ. Most of the maxi skirts that you will find at your local retail store offer the traditional waistband, which is what's pictured below and the traditional wide band that rolls down (not pictured). 


This is a great band. We use this on many of our skirts but due to the way some jersey knits fall, this can result in a problem. That problem being the skirt will fall off if it doesn't have enough support, because of the stretch and elasticity of the material. We're just being very honest. That's what customers want, yes? One skirt in particular is our very popular The Juliet. This skirt is a fabulous skirt and also made with an extremely soft and stretchy jersey knit. I emphasize on the "stretchy" part. This is one skirt that by the end of the day, it will have stretched quite a bit but rest assure, after a good wash, it's back to its original size. Because of the elasticity and stretch of this skirt and a traditional maxi waistband, we want to prevent the skirt from falling off, which is why we are improving the waistband. We strive for comfort clothing but there's a fine line between comfortable and well, falling off. We'd like to err on the side of comfortable. Jersey knits are naturally stretchy and the waist needs support, which is why we designed and created this new waistband...


This waistband is amazing. When Deana (the other half of DB) experimented with this band on The Juliet, I fell in love. It's extremely flattering, comfy and the best part...it stays on! We have already switched our Juliet maxi's to this waistband due to the issue we were having with the original band stretching. Please note, if you have already purchased the Juliet, there is nothing wrong with the original, we are simply improving for future purchases. 

This waistband does not change the look, appearance or design of the skirt. In fact, it's better, in my opinion. We've already started shipping out orders with the new waistband per customers request and we've heard great feedback. With any new business comes things that need to be improved, tweaked and fixed. We're not perfect but we're striving to be the best we can and to meet our customers needs. We hope you enjoy our new waistband as much as we do!

Because not all customers will want the skinny elastic band, we're going to offer the choice of traditional or elastic upon checkout. Please note that if a waistband preference is not chosen upon
checkout, we will send the order through production with an elastic band. The Juliet Maxi will not have the option of an elastic or traditional. It will come standardly with the elastic band.                              

Sizing...

Where do I start with this part of the blog? This is something that I'm not sure we can stress enough and truthfully speaking, not everybody is going to read this but it's worth a shot. Over the last 4 months that we've started our clothing line, we can count a small handful of customers with exchanges for the wrong size. So why this post? Well, it's better to cover all ground and emphasize our size chart and the design of our skirts and too much information never hurt, right?

Last week we posted a blog about handmade items Handmade vs. Mass Produced. Handmade items ARE NOT mass produced therefore will not be identical. When you purchase more than one skirt from us, receive the package and compare the two you WILL more than likely see a difference in size and length. 

Is that normal?

Yes, it is. Especially, with handmade items. When we say you'll see a difference, it's not going to be a drastic difference but a small one. Each item varies a little different from the other. This does not mean that we use different patterns or size charts. It's simply because the item is handmade and done individually and not through a machine in a factory. We use an American size chart that is true to size. You will find this size chart in each listing on etsy and a tab on each listing on our website that will direct you to the SIZE CHART. This is a general size chart simply to assist you in choosing the right size. Chances are when you receive your package it could be too small or too big, which is why we offer exchanges. You're ordering online, have not tried it on, so therefore that is why we offer exchanges. To review our exchange policy click here

I bought three skirts and they all fit but one, which is too small. I ordered all the same size. What's wrong?

As mentioned in the beginning of this blog we use a variation of jersey knits. Each jersey knit falls, hugs and fits differently. When you're purchasing more than one skirt, PLEASE do not compare the skirts because they will not be identical. Chances are they're made from different jersey knits so they're going to fit differently. Our skirts are not identical to each other, not cookie cutter, therefore they WILL  be different. This is not a bad thing. You don't walk into your local retail store and except every single skirt to fit the same. This is the same with our products. We produce every skirt from the pattern we have created for that skirt and some skirts have different patterns BUT PRODUCED FROM THE SAME SIZE CHART. Because we are always looking to make improvements, we will be posting what will be called a BUYERS HINT. This will give the buyer a helpful hint in selecting a size by us stating what type of jersey knit and how it falls.

5 Helpful Hints About Our Maxi Skirts...

1. Our Chevron Maxi's are designed more straight.
2. Our traditional maxi's are more flared.
3. Our REGULAR LENGTH maxi's range from 38"-40" in length, which means that they will hit somewhere between those measurements. Another reason to not compare skirts with each other.
4. Our TALL LENGTH maxi's range froom 41"-43", which means that they will hit somewhere between those measurements. Another reason to not compare skirts with each other.
5. Our Juliet Maxi does stretch. It will appear to be bigger than the rest of your maxi skirts (if ordering more than one) and more flared. Yes, another reason to not compare it to other skirts.

The above helpful hints are something to keep in mind when you receive more than one skirt. Again, these are handmade and we go off of the above size chart and measurements. If you choose a REGULAR LENGTH maxi it could be 38" OR it could be 40". We cannot determine the exact length, as there are dozens upon dozens of orders that come through, four individuals in our production team and all of them working on different orders. Getting an exact length with an item being handmade is very difficult, hence the reason we say between 38"-40". This applies to our TALL LENGTH maxi's, as well. Our suggestion is if you're a short person, go with the REGULAR LENGTH because it's either going to be just right or a little long and let's be honest, it's much easier to take up an inch with your local seamstress. If you are a tall person, we suggest the TALL LENGTH and the above mentioned suggestion, as well. Our SHORT SKIRTS standardly come 23"-24" BUT we do offer two other length options in our etsy shop and website. This is designed for tall ladies to purchase a short skirt and still fit in length. 


Last but DEFINITELY not least...

Checkout on etsy, fine print and reading the entire listing...

The one thing I don't like about etsy is they don't offer drop down boxes for customers to choose sizes. Blah! This truthfully makes our job even more difficult. In our etsy shop you will find two different listings for the same skirt. This is our REGULAR SIZE listing (XS-L) and a PLUS SIZE listing (XL-3X). When you checkout you MUST state what size you need. Believe it or not, there are some customers that don't put a size and we have no idea what size you need as the listing is for 3-4 different sizes. This really creates more work for the production team as they then have to email customers and sometimes we don't get a response, which stalls your order until there is communication. This applies to  LENGTH, as well. We have more customers not choose a length than size and again this makes it more difficult for our production team. 

Where do I put my size on etsy?

Upon checkout in our etsy shop Dainty Button Etsy there is a section "notes to seller". This is where you state your size. Simply state what size and REGULAR or TALL. Below is an example...


I didn't see that I needed to put a size or length, so that's why I didn't put anything.

This leads up to reading the ENTIRE LISTING. You would not purchase a car without reading all the fine print or sign legal documents without reading the fine print, so why would you purchase something online without reading the fine print? This is not just for our good but yours too. We want our customers to be very well informed when they purchase our products. When you read the entire listing, a lot of questions are answered. We're often emailed about shipping times, which is clearly stated in each listing and our polices section on our website. It's very important to read the entire listing before purchasing and the end result is everybody is happy. 

And now I can quite using all caps. I feel as if I've been yelling this entire blog post and I hate that. This post is simply our way of providing our customers and future customers with information regarding our product. Again, we are a handmade business and we strive to meet our customers needs. If you have suggestions or feedback, please don't hesitate to contact us at daintybutton@yahoo.com. We'll be more than happy to hear from you and it really helps us in future decisions. Thanks for your time and have a wonderful Monday!

Charity and DB Team!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Handmade vs. Mass Produced



Handmade vs. Mass Produced

Growing up, handmade items were looked down upon. It wasn't very cool to wear something handmade. Now, handmade is all the trend. When starting my accidental business at the beginning of 2010 I wasn't much aware of etsy, which is a marketplace to buy and sell handmade items. You can find our etsy shop here Dainty Button Etsy Shop. In fact, I wasn't too fond of etsy. I warmed up to the idea and created a shop, not really knowing what I was getting myself into. I was so amazed that only after a few weeks of creating headbands so many people wanted to buy them and it wasn't my sweet grandma. I will save the story of how Dainty Button came into existence for a later time and get to my point. After 2.5 years of owning a business that designs, creates and produces handmade items, I thought it would be nice to break it down and give you the "411" on why handmade items are worth every penny.

What's so special about handmade items?

Have you ever received a gift that was handmade? A truly beautiful item that when you unwrapped it, you felt so special because you knew someone had spent a lot of time, energy, and thought into it. That is what you get when you buy handmade. When I purchase something from Target, a department store, etc. I hardly ever think about where it was made or how it was made. I know it was made in a factory somewhere but that's as far as I get. Oh and the fact my money is going to a big CEO somewhere who already has enough money than he/she knows what to do with and I will probably see a dozen different posts on FB with someone wearing the same article of clothing. Original, right? Let's talk handmade...

Who works at Dainty Button? 

1. A young married woman who works very hard to help her husband make ends meet. 
2. Two single college students living in San Francisco, voted one of America's most expensive cities, working different jobs, trying to pay the rent every month and put food on their table. Surviving. 
3. A housewife needing extra income to help put her children through college.
4. High school students wanting afternoon work to help learn responsibility and prepare them for "life".

These are the people that work putting your purchase(s) through production and shipping. A lot of time goes into each and every purchase. When you purchase and receive an item from a handmade business, you're helping someone pay their rent, put food on their table, further their education, etc. You are supporting the country you live in. America. You're blessing others.

I bet you just learned more about a small business than you know about more large companies in America, right? 


Why you SHOULD buy handmade...

1. You can purchase clothing in any size you want and it actually FITS! None of this skinny minnie Forever 21 size chart. Handmade is custom made so chances are if you ask real nicely, most businesses will be happy to make it the size you need and want.

2. They're original! When you're wearing a local designer's clothing or accessories, you are in a different league and make a statement other than wearing your local box store brand.

3. A special garment or accessory that is meticulously designed and crafted for a truly unique fit and feel.

"My favorite reason to buy handmade is just that - it's handmade, which means quality, and a whole lot of love!"

Another reason:

"I buy handmade because someone else is using their talents to create gifts and decor that I myself cannot make. Buy handmade today!"

Cammie Higley

 "When something is handmade, very likely the craft person is deliberate and mindful about that next right stitch, next right bead, next just right rusty object that looks more like a dog nose on a found object sculpture than the last rusty treasure they picked up. Handmade products always feel more personal to me. I think about who might have been the artisan and wonder at how they managed to produce the item of the moment I am most smitten with and can't live without (no doubt, that rusty dog sculpture). I love knowing I'm supporting someone's passion. And even though I buy from handmade artisan's in states and countries I've never visited, I feel a sense of community when receiving an item that travels from their hand to mine. I like that I know who to contact to say "it's here! I love it!" - one person to another. "

Manny

"You are supporting local artisans and craftspeople and not large big box stores."

 "It guarantees that no one will give the same gift as you!"

"The items are much more fashion forward....there is no "wait-time" for large businesses to design and then mass-produce. One indie designer can list something *today* that he/she made *today.* (So it wasn't designed and planned last Christmas...for this Christmas)"

"Many items are much more environmentally friendly since there is no use of large manufacturing machines, chemicals, labor (some of it probably illegal) and waste. Many Annie and Olive items (for instance) are made from sustainable wool felt that has been naturally dyed, a needle, thread and my two hands."

"It's fun to see the creativity and excellence of the very, very talented designers out there. It harkens back to the days of old when craftsmanship, creativity and quality were paramount - You are buying items not mass-produced and impersonal but are very personal not only to the buyer, but to the maker."


Bethany

I think the most frequent question we're asked is...

When will my item ship? or...Why hasn't my item shipped yet?

Imagine making your own headband or skirt. Ok, now multiply that by about 12 each day (and that's a minimum). This is our day, every day. As much as we would love to get your purchase out within 48 hours, it's just not humanly possible. When you purchase handmade, you're purchasing good quality items and the wait is worth it! I promise. At Dainty Button our items normally take 2-3 WEEKS (excluding weekends/holidays) to go through production before shipping. Again, it's worth the wait. When you purchase mass production it's going to go out much sooner but it's mass produced. Think about it : )

Originality is not cookie cutter...


Handmade items are original, which is the reason when you purchase from handmade businesses, some items, although duplicated, are going to differ a little. Remember, when items are identical it's cookie cutter and let's face it...handmade is not cookie cutter. 

A little glimpse of "behind the scenes" at Dainty Button...









Do you sell handmade? 

Selling handmade items is definitely a trend and the "in" thing now, so are you selling handmade? Do you have a special talent? Here's some great places to promote your handmade business..

60 Killer Places to Promote your Handmade Business


Other helpful tidbits for online handmade businesses...

Take it to social media! 

The key to having a successful facebook or twitter fan page is....

1. Consistency. Your followers and customers won't know who or what you are if you're not posting anything. At least once a day promote an item...talk it up! 

2. Be personal with your followers on social media. People want to know who's behind your business and what makes you tick. The more personable you are with your clientele and followers, the more they feel connected. 

Get connected with other businesses...

I think the best thing I ever did as a business owner was/is promote other businesses. This is a great way of connecting with other handmade business owners/artists. You're getting their name out there and yours as well. This also boosts self esteem and confidence in your business and you as a business owner. 


Vend at craft fair venues...


I started Dainty Button in January of 2010 and I vended my first event in February of the same year. It was horrible. Not many people knew who I was, where I was from. I was the new kid on the block. I was so frustrated when I went home that I really wanted to throw in the towel. I made just enough to cover my booth expenses. My mom (my #1 fan) encouraged me to keep at it. I'm so happy I did. I vended my next event later in the spring and it was so much better. I took opportunities as they popped up and the more events I did, the more my name got out there and now I love doing craft fairs and vending venues. I will say this about craft fairs. Don't jump at every single one because the truth is, you will not make a good profit at every single event. When choosing a good venue, research it out. Find out where it's at, what the attendance is like and ask around if anybody has done that event and how they did. What you don't want to do is jump at every single vending venue and lose money. Be wise about it.

Market your product...


Most people have at least one handmade store/boutique in their area. This is where you want to market your product. It's a 50/50 chance and there's always that possibility of them saying "no" but just as much as that could happen, they could say "yes". You won't know until you try, right? I walked into a handmade boutique here in San Francisco wearing one of my headbands and it caught the owner's attention. By the next week they were carrying my work, which led to several other boutiques throughout the city, which led to boutiques across the states and even overseas in Naples, Italy. Take your work, present it to stores and see where you get. It's worth the try : )

Note: ALWAYS have a contract drawn up when partnering with any business when they want to carry your work. It protects both parties and keeps your work just that...yours.




Here's a couple of our favorite handmade shops and websites that we want to share with you...


The Mrs. Darcy


Halo and Meme

Soap Garden



Hope you've enjoyed this post and remember to buy handmade!


Charity and DB Team








Tuesday, June 12, 2012

DIY Father's Day Ideas



Well, we took a little break in our Father's Day feature week so we wouldn't overwhelm you guys, as you can see our poster says through the 8th. Good idea? Bad idea? We love blogging so if you guys like something every day, we'll do it! Anyways...we have a special blog for you today (actually, tonight as I'm putting this together at night). If you've been following us you'll know that we've brought on a creative blog team. We have two special blog team members for you today and they have some fabulous ideas! Father's Day is right around the corner and if you're wanting something to do with the kids this week or maybe something budget friendly with sentimental thought put into it, you've stumbled upon the right post. We hope you enjoy what our blog team has come up with and feel free to email us (daintybutton@yahoo.com) or comment below with your thoughts, "shout outs" and even ideas. Meet our first blog team member, Susanna Simpson. She put together some wonderful Father's Day DIY cards. Hope you enjoy!


Charity
DB Blog Editor

DIY Father's Day Cards

I love to make handmade cards! There is something very special about spending time to express your love or appreciation for that special person, through the labor of a card made from your heart! And with Fathers Day right around the corner, what better project to give your children that a few pieces of paper, some markers, and their imagination to make something extra special for their super hero! I have compiled a few neat ideas for every type of Father. From a first time Father, to the one that has many years and stories etched on the lines of his face, these cards will not disappoint!


For a first time Father, their first Fathers Day is something very special. It is a time for them to be very grateful for the special bundle they hold in their arms! The perfect card would be anything that has a special touch from their sweet baby, so add a handprint or a footprint! I found an adorable card that had the child's thumb print made into a cute bunny rabbit and said "Some Bunny Loves You!" How easy is that! Even the smallest of children can get in on the fun! And if you want to break out of the "box", instead of a rectangle shaped card, make it a heart shape! For a first year father, this will sure to bring out a smile! Another suggestion would be to make it small enough and laminate it, to fit in their wallet. So next time dad reaches into his wallet for his debit card, he will see that token of affection from his little guy/girl!





What dad wouldn't love new tools on Fathers Day? I know my dad has asked me for a new tool kit for years, but let's face it, tools are expensive! Well this handy tool is one that will cost you very little,( you can find most of the items needed around your house!), and will be just what your skilled dad is looking for!
Found on familyfun.go.com/Fathers-Day, this inexpensive how-to is great for older children that are wanting to surprise their dad, and gives them a chance to plug into their creative outlet.  Open up your pantry because all you need for this card is an empty macaroni box, yellow cardstock paper, and aluminum foil. This craft takes less than an hour and a half, and will defiantly be a statement piece on Fathers Day morning!  Not only will your children have fun making this nifty card, they will enjoy showing their dads how they "measure up"! 





My dad has the worlds largest sweet tooth. I am sure I could find him in the Guinness Book of Records! So when I saw this great idea for a giant card, I could not resist posting it! Found on Pinterest, it's a card that is larger and sweeter than life. Needed is one poster board in any color, a sharpie, tape, and a selection of candy bars. Simply write the message displayed and tape the appropriate candy bars in each designated area. I would consider also purchasing a bottle of medicine to help with the upset stomach your dad is sure to have after devouring this card! 




The Cosby Show was my inspiration for this card! I remember an episode when Theo buys Dr Huxstable a very hideous, light -flashing tie for Fathers Day I am sure 90% of us have purchased our dads a tie on Fathers Day, and possibly some of them required batteries! I found this simple and cute tie and shirt card tutorial on familyfun.go.com/fathers-day. All you need is two pieces of scrapbook paper, buttons, and glue. Perfect for any dad that likes a sharp-dressed card!





The last card I found is one that has a special meaning to me. When I was a child, my dad would tuck me into bed and tell me that he loved me. I would then ask him, "how much do you love me". He always replied, with his hands stretched out as far as they could go, "this much"! I cherish those little moments, and when I found this tutorial on tipjunkie.com,  I knew it was one I had to share! Simply trace and cut out your child's handprints. On one handprint write, "I love you". Next cut a strip of paper as long as you would like it and write, "this much". Fold it into an accordion shape and glue one end to one handprint and the other end to the other print. Write another special message on the second print. You could add your favorite picture or decorate it with colorful stickers. Make sure and stretch those hands out far and show dad that your love is never ending!  





Meet Corrine Luftus, one of our newest creative blog team members. She's put together some wonderful budget friendly DIY ideas. We hope you enjoy them just as much as we do!



Father's Day Budget Friendly DIY Ideas

Coming from a single parent home, Father’s Day has always been the giving of just a card and a text from me. I knew this was going to be challenging since I’ve never actually participated in any Father’s Day activities. I kept seeing dad’s best gifts were the time you spend with him everywhere as I searched and knew that was what I was looking for. Many wallets are tight again this year, as they have been in past, so the main goal was to find budget friendly activities that everyone in the family could participate in. I also had to be fair because some states are just too hot to be outdoors already! Here's a few I found and I hope your family takes the time to enjoy one of them! Please use the links included for more detailed instructions!

Serve dad breakfast in bed!





Peanut Butter Stuffed French Toast- I’m sure most dads would love to be woken up in the morning to the wonderful smells of breakfast coming their way! Especially something as yummy sounding as this! If he’s not that type of guy, make it a family effort!

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Cook Time: 20 minutes Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 pound strawberries, hulled and sliced 
5 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
4 large eggs 
1⁄4 cup whole milk
1 1⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  1⁄2 cup natural peanut butter
8 slices white bread 
1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 
Confectioners’ sugar
Directions :
1.Toss strawberries with 3 tablespoons granulated sugar. Whisk together eggs,
remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, milk, and vanilla. Spread peanut butter
on 4 slices bread and top with remaining slices. 
2. In a large skillet, heat 1-tablespoon butter over medium-high. Dip both sides of
sandwiches in egg mixture and add to skillet (if necessary, work in batches, adding more butter and reducing heat to medium after first batch). Cook until undersides are golden, 2 minutes, then flip and cook 2 minutes. To serve, dust sandwiches with confectioners’ sugar and top with strawberries http://www.marthastewart.com/902460/peanut-butter-stuffed-french-toast

Make it a craft night with dad!



Sketch-a- Shirt- This is probably one of the coolest ideas I’ve seen around pinterest and on homemademamas. It uses things hanging around the house or maybe a shirt you have little bleach spots on already into new art! The best part?! You hardly have to spend any money on this project at all! All you need is a cutting board or something hard to put between the layers of the shirt, a piece of chalk, to pre-trace your drawing, a bleach pen, and a paper towel to make sure your pen works before you try it on a shirt. Easy peasy!


Father's Day Surprise!



Envelope Surprises- For this one you can go as fancy or as basic as you want!! Before Father’s Day or on Father’s day! Each member of the family is going to add a poem, thought or even memory along with a personal gift for dad to open that will lead to his BIG gift! There are endless possibilities for this one! Homemade envelopes, you name it, so get those thinking caps on and get crafty!!

Shakespeare Dad



Poetry River- This was one of the neatest projects I came across! Depending on the ages of you children it can totally be adjusted to their level. The author that wrote this actually cut a little blue river and it may be fun to do the same maybe add some drawings, go a fun mini scavenger hunt outside if it’s not too hot to add to the river! Now, you add in some cut up papers with words such as thoughts, memories feelings to make up little poems or stories. How fun and creative can you be?


Give dad a piece of your heart!





Salt Dough Necklace- This last one was written as a Mother’s day or Valentine’s day activity and I liked it too much to not share. Why can’t the shapes be different or why can’t dad’s have it as a key chain? Salt dough necklaces, an easy three-ingredient process, that every one gets to be creative with! All you need is flour, salt and water. Depending on what you want to decorate with you may need some paint and ribbon, or key rings. A fun and family oriented activity!


Thursday, June 7, 2012

Our Top 10 Celebrity Dad's





Ok, it's time for us to get a little shallow. Whether we like to admit it or not, most of us are quite fascinated with the world of Hollywood. I do think there are boundaries to be set because just as we are fascinated with the life of Hollywood, there is another world called "life" and we live in it. This post might not have much depth to it...ok, no depth to it. Ha! But when we were putting together this Father's Day blog feature week, we thought it would be fun to give you our "top 10" celebrity dad's. Felicia Dilday, who is one of our newest creative blog team members has put together a great list of "top 10" celebrity dad's. Felicia is absolutely adorable. You'll be seeing quite a bit of her on our blog giving hair tutorials, DIY's and anything else we may cook up. Feel free to leave a comment or shout out to Felicia or email us at info@daintybutton.com. 

Blog Editor
Charity



Our Top 10 Celebrity Dad's 2012

We’re all thankful for the time we get to spend with our dad’s, right? What about the little one’s who live the “glamorous Hollywood life”? Not often do celebrities have time, or should I say more like “make the time” for their children. Today, we’ve chosen the top ten celebrity fathers. So let’s get started!

Celebrity Dad #10

Jamie Oliver



You often catch Jamie out and about with his family doing fun things and having family time. Not only does Jamie Oliver want the best for his children but he also wants the best for yours. I’m sure you’ve seen “Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution” on ABC. On his show, he promotes healthy eating and combating children obesity across America. 


Celebrity Dad #9

Brad Pitt

Chasing around six kids would be a task in itself, not to mention chaotic! But Brad is up for the challenge. In fact, he has stated several times that he wants more kids... lots more! (Which means even more chaos, of course!)



Celebrity Dad #8

Will Smith

Will Smith is one, if not the biggest supporter of his twelve year old daughter's singing career. He has often got his children to play many roles as his children in the movies he has starred in. Not only does he make choices to benefit his career, but he also thinks about his family too.  


Celebrity Dad #7

Usher

Babies bring out the soft side in everyone, even “cool guys” like Usher. It's nothing new to see Usher at a park swinging with the kids, sliding down the slide right behind them, and climbing the monkey bars. Quality time with his kids is important to him. 


Celebrity Dad #6

Ben Affleck




Ben Affleck might be up for the “Boring Celebrity Dad” award, but in Hollywood, it’s a great thing! You often see him with his wife and kids at a baseball game, park, and cotton candy stands. You know, "normal" family activities.



Celebrity Dad #5

Tim McGraw

As the husband of Faith Hill and father of his three daughters, Gracie, Maggie, and Audrey, Tim McGraw is surrounded by the ladies. He is often out to dinner with his family or taking the family on a road tour with him. He also is man enough to admit, “Yes, living with four girls, I am a boss when it comes to painting toe nails.”


Celebrity Dad #4

Nick Cannon

You’ve got to give these parents props. They kept these kids out of the media for as long as possible, and are still trying to keep them out of it as much as possible because of not wanting them to feel like they have to live that “Hollywood lime light” life when they’re older.
 I’m impressed. 



Celebrity Dad #3

David Beckham


This husband of a famous fashionista has his priorities straight. Sure he travels the globe kicking some serious booty on the soccer field, but his real passion is raising Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz.





Celebrity Dad #2

Matt Damon



Brad Pitt’s buddy Matt, is starting to catch up to him in the baby-making department. Matt and his wife Luciana are expecting their third child together to add to their family. He has often said in the media “Being a father has made me settle down. I wouldn’t change having my angels.”

Celebrity Dad #1

                                                                           Seal

Seal is a popularly known British soul and R&B singer-songwriter who is always taking time out for his kids. If you’re going to catch anyone on vacation with his family in the summer, it’ll be him. 


Did any of your "top 10" make our list? We'd love to know who's on yours!