Who was behind this holiday? It wasn’t a dentist. To my delight it was a commercial artist in the USA. As a creator myself this got my attention. Discovered his creation has morphed into the popular smiling emoji and still brings smiles around the world. Want to know more?
The ‘smiley’ was created in 1963 by Harvey Ross Ball. He had his own advertising business and was hired to solve a company’s problem. Two insurance companies had merged, and employee morale was low. He was commissioned to create an image to improve the situation.
The story is he drew a bright yellow circle and then, a line curving upward like a smile but he wasn’t satisfied. Too easy to turn it into a frown. He fixed that by adding two eyes. The original also had little corner dashes. It took only ten minutes and earned him $45.
The insurance company handed out yellow buttons with Mr. Ball’s design. They were a hit with the employees and did improve morale. Mr. Ball knew instinctively when we see a smile we smile back. Since then, researchers have proved that it’s true. Just thinking about it I feel the corners of my mouth creeping upward.
It was the mid 60’s and metal buttons with a pin on the back were the rage. Funny sayings, cartoons, and all kinds of designs and sizes were available. His design was copied. You could purchase huge ones, and often smaller versions were given away in promotions. Everyone who collected buttons had at least one.
He didn’t patent his creation in 1963 and when did approach patent attorneys, he was told it was too late. He wasn’t upset or regretted not registering the copyright.
In 1999 he organized the World Smile Foundation, a non-profit charitable trust that supported children’s causes. They organized the World Smile Day. It’s the first Friday in October each year. It’s a day dedicated to “good cheer and good works.”
Did you ever own a smiley button? No smiley for me. We called ours’s happy buttons. I had a huge yellow and remember a pink face and an orange. Bet you use emojis’. Have a favorite? Have a memory of a favorite card that makes you smile? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Please share in the comments.
This October 4th I’ll be smiling at a local craft fair, sharing my hand-crafted cards designed to generate smiles for both the giver and the receiver. I started this blog to spread happy news and the existence of my cards availability. To visit my Etsy shop PaperCraftedBliss – Etsy If you’re on Facebook look for and follow Paper Crafted Bliss. Keep smiling!
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Blog
Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to make your mark on the canvas of existence. The only limit is the extent of your imagination.
Blog
Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to make your mark on the canvas of existence. The only limit is the extent of your imagination.
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A written thank-you was once a skill encouraged. It was a chance to practice our penmanship, our vocabulary and grammar. It encouraged acknowledging gratitude to the people in our world. I remember as a youngster my Mom had to hound me after receiving a gift to write that note. It was often hard. But the…
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During the late twentieth century, organizations in various countries actively promoted the value of kindness. They united in 1998 to highlight kind acts in communities worldwide and created World Kindness Day. We are reminded every November 13th of this event. After reading this blog, you’ll understand why and how we can be doing kind acts…
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How old do you think card making is? This tradition has been around before paper! Records show in ancient China and Egypt scrolls were used to send greetings. Up until mass manufacturing all cards were handmade. The trend has always been to use the latest technology. While the digital age offers a variety of ways,…
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Using AI to Craft Heartfelt Thank-You Notes
A written thank-you was once a skill encouraged. It was a chance to practice our penmanship, our vocabulary and grammar. It encouraged acknowledging gratitude to the people in our world. I remember as a youngster my Mom had to hound me after receiving a gift to write that note. It was often hard. But the…
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Let The Power of Kindness Transform Your Life
During the late twentieth century, organizations in various countries actively promoted the value of kindness. They united in 1998 to highlight kind acts in communities worldwide and created World Kindness Day. We are reminded every November 13th of this event. After reading this blog, you’ll understand why and how we can be doing kind acts…
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The Timeless Art of Card Making
How old do you think card making is? This tradition has been around before paper! Records show in ancient China and Egypt scrolls were used to send greetings. Up until mass manufacturing all cards were handmade. The trend has always been to use the latest technology. While the digital age offers a variety of ways,…
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