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!
-
How the First Christmas Card Changed Holiday Traditions
Monday December 9th is Christmas Card Day. It falls annually on the 9th because that gives enough time to get started, so your cards arrive before Christmas. Christmas is then only 16 days away. Before you get started, let me share what I found out. I traveled down the rabbit hole to discover the story…
-
Thanksgiving Meaning: Celebrating Gratitude and Togetherness
I had to chuckle when I spotted this holiday. We’re celebrating Clean Out Your Refrigerator on November 15th. Great idea before Thanksgiving! Can you guess who suggested this one? Whirlpool Home appliances created this National Holiday in 1999. They even had a toll-free number! Then I started to think of refrigerators and owners I have known……
-
Unleash Your Creativity: Join National Coloring Day Celebration
I loved coloring as a kid. I can remember opening a new box of crayons. The excitement they would elicit. All those crayons snug in their slots. Can you picture colorful rows pointy ends, with a hint of the matching wrapper? When I saw September 14th was National Coloring Day I had to know more…
-
Spreading Happiness through Creating Cards and Blogging: A Positive Journey
A search of holidays led me to Happiness Happens month (August) and the Happiness Happens Day Aug 8th. That led me to the story behind the holiday and once again searching the internet… Heard of the expression ‘don’t rain on my parade’? A group of people 25 years ago got together simply to share their…
-
Memories of summer nights and ice cream trucks
-
Two Mother’s Stories
People have amazing stories. A few from a Richardson’s event still stay with me. I’d like to share two. They always start as a person stops to look at my cards, we start chatting. The first lady told me she has a card that she carries wherever she goes. To prove it she promised to…
-
A New Holiday to Participate in
I aways wanted to handmake beautiful things. My Nana was always working with yarn. Crocheting the cutest baby gifts, from booties to blankets. Mom didn’t crochet but she knew how to embroider. She wasn’t doing it when I was small but, on her dresser was a linen cloth she had hand-embroidered years before. I enjoyed…
-
“Getting to know you, getting to know all about you…”
My life was a whirlwind of projects for Paper Crafted Bliss in 2023. I didn’t have time or energy to start blogging too. That’s why the gap of a year between blogs. Late October I was asked some questions by a local paper. I only had days to meet their deadline. So, I made the…
-
Do you know what February 7th is?
Friendships are important but like a garden they need to be nurtured to survive. The busier we get it’s easier to rely on phone calls or texting. Words are important but so are actions. If it’s impossible to get together send a card. The sequence of steps takes time, but you can set the pace.…
-
This holiday should be everyday…
National Hugging Day January Sunday 21st – Why it should be everyday… There are so many national days, some serious, some funny. I hadn’t heard of this one until this year, but it is close to my heart: National Hugging Day. It was the idea of an American in 1986. Rev. Kevin Zaborney saw a…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
Celebrate National Ampersand Day: Fun Facts & History
We are going to explore a new holiday for both of us. First celebrated in 2015. It’s in honor of something we have all seen, understood and used. Happy National Ampersand Day September 8th, 2025! When I created this website, I needed to create an opening page. The sentence I crafted used the ampersand, without…
-
The Importance of Bees: Health, Food, and Ecosystem
WHY I PICKED THIS HOLIDAY I am fascinated with all kinds of bees. I’ve shared a selection of my bee photos and cards in this month’s blog. The purpose of this holiday, created in 2010, is to educate the public. Let’s start by exploring the products honeybees create. In the process it may led to…
-
How Barbershop Singing Connects People
Why this holiday? July 13th was selected in 2001 to be National Barbershop Appreciation Day. Its purpose is to bring awareness of this close-knit 4-part harmony built on ringing chords. It also celebrates its American origins. Did you see the movie The Music Man? That was my first encounter with barbershop. I once was guilty…
-
Celebrating National Best Friends Day: Strengthening Bonds Across Miles
In 1935 June 8th was declared National Best Friends Day by Congress. An article I read suggested summer was picked so people could easily get together to celebrate. One of the activities suggested was getting together for picnics. That sounds lovely but your best friends may not live near you. People don’t necessarily stay in…
-
Celebrate National Eat What You Want Day: Indulge and Enjoy
Yes, you heard right, May 11th is National Eat What You Want Day. Whoa now, before you make it an all-day snack-fest stop and think. Have you experienced this: munching away on a snack in a bag not realizing it’s gone until your hand reaches the crumbs at the bottom? WE NEED A BREAK FROM…
-
Arbor Day: Celebrating Trees and Connection
A national holiday that has often been overlooked is Arbor Day. Before Earth Day, Arbor Day served as a reminder of the importance of environmental care. Both occur in spring, symbolizing renewal. A common Arbor Day practice is to plant a tree to honor or remember someone. THE START The first US Arbor Day was…
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.
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
Celebrate National Ampersand Day: Fun Facts & History
We are going to explore a new holiday for both of us. First celebrated in 2015. It’s in honor of something we have all seen, understood and used. Happy National Ampersand Day September 8th, 2025! When I created this website, I needed to create an opening page. The sentence I crafted used the ampersand, without…
-
The Importance of Bees: Health, Food, and Ecosystem
WHY I PICKED THIS HOLIDAY I am fascinated with all kinds of bees. I’ve shared a selection of my bee photos and cards in this month’s blog. The purpose of this holiday, created in 2010, is to educate the public. Let’s start by exploring the products honeybees create. In the process it may led to…
-
How Barbershop Singing Connects People
Why this holiday? July 13th was selected in 2001 to be National Barbershop Appreciation Day. Its purpose is to bring awareness of this close-knit 4-part harmony built on ringing chords. It also celebrates its American origins. Did you see the movie The Music Man? That was my first encounter with barbershop. I once was guilty…
Subscribe
Enter your email below to receive updates.
Paper Crafted Bliss 