Club badges

[Christi Mooney]

I'm looking for alternatives to the sewn on badges for our club.  We are growing quite a bit and it isn't financially in our budget to purchase badges.  We're working on fundraisers but that money is allotted towards our adventure to LEGO KidsFest in June.  So has anyone come up with a creative alternative?  One of our parents asked if we could purchase them or print them in sticker form, but I don't know how well they would hold up.  Thoughts?

[Michele W.]

The route we are taking due to finances is purchasing one skill patch to display at the club. From there it's up to the families if they want to their child to have a diy.org account and purchase the patches on their own. 

[Zach Klein]

We don't have them in sticker form, but you're welcome to make them. Let us know the ideas you come up with, we're happy to provide hi-resolution artwork.

Aside, we're always striving to make them more affordable. Just recently, we reduced the price 20% from $5 to $4.

- Zach

[Christi Mooney]

Zach, I would love the hi res files!  Thank you!

[Michele W.]

Aren't they already linked here https://diy.org/guides/clubs under diy artwork, then in the skill patches folder or do you have a higher resolution file?

[Brian C. Smith]

Stickers would be great! I imagine a lot our students would use them to decorate their laptops here. I'd love to have those for next year. Are the logos/badges on the DIY.org/guides/clubs page hi-res?

[Ben Jones]

I have ordered my own in the past and it has worked out great. Since the patches are creative commons, you can use the images for things like stickers for students! \Here is the site I ordered them through - http://www.stickermule.com/products/die-cut-stickers.

Here is a link to the skill patch images - https://github.com/diy/classroom/tree/master/Skill%20Patches

I would prefer to give the awesome peeps at DIY my monies, but will have to use Sticker Mule until then. 

Thank you so much DIY for making these creative commons.

[Christi Mooney]

I'm creating files that can be easily printed at home.  Each sheet will give you 12 badges that measure approx 2"x2" in size.  There are currently two libraries.  One for printing the badges normally and one with the badges inverted so that they can be printed on iron on transfer paper.  I've got two badges up but I'll be adding more today.  If anyone wants to use them, feel free.  If you need a particular badge right away, let me know and I can get it up.  Thanks!

http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/southgeorgiadiyclub/library/

[Michele W.]

Christi, Thank you for sharing the files with other clubs. We can definitely use them at our library based maker club. We just printed one and tried them in a Patch Display. They fit perfectly. - Michele

[Zach Klein]

I'm curious, do you all think we should be producing stickers? Would DIY members prefer them over patches, you think?

[Christi Mooney]

Zach, I'd actually prefer the badges, but it is a matter of budget.  I'll probably buy the badges for my kids, but not all of our club members can afford it, especially the larger families.  Stickers make a good alternative to the badges that are budget friendly.  Could you offer both?  

[Zach Klein]

It's impossible for us to produce and sell stickers for a reasonable price unless they were purchased in bulk, which defeats their purpose.

In the meantime, keep in mind that there is a club discount for patches. Use the discount code "clubpatches" to get 20% off (note, you must order 20+ patches).

– Zach

[Michele W.]

Prefer them over patches? - no way! The patches are the real deal and showcase the artwork much better. The patches really hold a lot of meaning for my kids. You could ask them about a physical patch they have earned and watch as their demeanor changes and they talk about the projects they did to completed challenges for that patch. 

A sticker does not have the same reaction and is not an heirloom ... but it's something. The events at our library based maker club are free - library policy. We have limited funds to work with, thus for us it comes down to having to choose between purchasing supplies, even as simple as duct tape, or patches. The supplies are a need to have, where the patches are a would love to have. 

It's not a knock on diy at all. I think the patches are priced right. It's more of an issue of funding and helping others see the value in making, so future support is increased. 

[Michele W.]

Ogel is here reading over my shoulder. He says he agrees, stickers cheapen the experience.

[Ben Jones]

I think our club feels a bit different about stickers. Stickers are great for displaying skills in spot where you can't put a patch, like an ipad, binder, or computer.

Don't get this wrong, we really enjoy the patches and prefer them to stickers and feel they are priced right also. But, a good high quality sticker is a great alternative for displaying skills.

[Michele W.]

Here's what we've decided to give a try at the library based maker club.