Labor Day Birthdays

On behalf of LoneStar Badge & Sign.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to Lana, Kasey, and Tasha!

Lana will be celebrating her birthday on Saturday, Kasey's is on Sunday, and Monday is Tasha's big day.
Enjoy your holiday/birthday weekend!

And to all the rest of our readers...Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

The Many Uses for Lanyards

As you can probably tell, lanyards are becoming very popular and are being used by many different people for a variety of different reasons. Although you might think that lanyards are typically only used in the working world, which they definitely still are, they can also serve as some of the most unique and handy things for everyday use. People today are now using lanyards in far more inventive ways than you can ever imagine and the possibilities are endless on what we can continue using them for. Check out some ways that others have found to make good use out of their lanyards:

**Lanyards have definitely always been extremely powerful tools in the work place. While schools, hospitals, and day-cares might choose a lanyard for its identification and security features, lanyards can also be used to hold sets of keys in retail stores or used by the employees on the "sales floor" as an effective marketing tool. Not only that, but they can be used for company branding when worn both in and out of the office and to periodically introduce new products or promotions. Additionally, lanyards can act as a great recognition for employee accomplishments or years-of-service and to help encourage them, along with other employees, to strive for excellence. Rewards always work, and not just for your employees. Handing out lanyards to new arriving guests could be a great way to show them your appreciation, while at the same time getting your company name out there.

**Lanyards prove to be a successful tools at conventions or other large events such as music or sporting festivals. Bold and custom imprinted lanyards are particularly great for these events. After the convention is held, the lanyards can then double as a great and very handy keychain. Check out our metal beaded chains, our L32 in either gold or silver, for a really strong and long-lasting keychain option.

**Some find that lanyards can prove to be helpful to fit against those windy days. They can be attached to your favorite hat to prevent it from being lifted away by a powerful gust. Too bad lanyards can't help fix hat-head. :)
For this application, it's recommended that you try a lanyard with a bulldog clip, like featured here on our dye-sublimated C232.

**Not only can retail employees, lifeguards, teachers and students, hospital staff, and exhibit attendees wear lanyards for all their different applications, but now many animal lovers are also making good use out of lanyards. A lanyard can be easily attached to a pet collar and turned into a handy leash for your best friend. A custom imprinted lanyard that can include the contact information of the animal owner can also be great! If Fido or Fluffy ever decides to wonder too far from home, the contact information is quickly displayed to aide in the pet's safe return to it's family. You might have the best luck using a durable metal snap hook or heavy duty leash hook for this application.

**Many people are also now using lanyards outside for various activities such as camping, fishing, and boating. They can easily be attached to a compass, set of keys, knife, other sacred tool out in the wilderness, so you're never caught unprepared. A lanyard made out of a heavy-duty and durable material, such as our C256 or LSNL, would be the best when used for these outdoor or rigorous applications.

So now that you know how others are using their lanyards, tell us...how do YOU use your lanyards?

Retractable Badge Reels

As you may already know, LoneStar carries a huge variety of customized name badges and lanyards, along with in-stock colored lanyards and durable vinyl badge holders. Are you also aware however, that LoneStar has both in-stock and custom printed Badge Reels available? We offer a huge selection of badge reels in multiple colors, sizes, and shapes.

LoneStar's Badge Reels are retractable and many are available in your choice of colors. Some styles can even be custom imprinted with your company's logo or text to give them a more personalized touch. Keep in mind that badge reels that can be personalized with your artwork can be a very valuable identification or marketing tool in the corporate world.

You can also choose to customize the fastener on the back of some reel styles, as well as the clip that attaches to the end of the reel's retractable cord, to provide your employees with an absolutely comfortable addition to their uniform. You can also try one of our Spinning or Square reels, for an even more personalized and creative look. These little devices can come in handy for a multitude of applications, so check them out online today!

LoneStar's Favorite Labor Day Memories

It's almost Labor Day!! We all know what that means...relaxing with family and friends, and having a great final weekend before school starts (and hopefully some cooler weather!).
Here at LoneStar, we thought it might be fun to take a moment this year to reflect on some of our most unforgettable memories from past Labor Day weekends.....

SHEALEE: My favorite Labor Day memory would be the Labor Day Weekend of '06! It included my closest friends, a body of water, a boat, fishing, frosty beverages, bonfire, SMORES, and KARAOKE!!! What can be better than that?

CHAD: I remember all the family together at Possum Kingdom Lake; hanging out at Hell's Gate!

ROB: I remember one Labor Day weekend, it was 1980. We lived in Houston. My wife (then my girlfriend) and another couple of friends and I were trying to decide what we were going to do for Labor day weekend. I can't really remember whose idea it was, but we all decided to drive to Michigan to see our parents and some friends for the weekend. Man, thats like 1500 miles from here...are you crazy?!?
So, we left Houston at about 10:00pm on Friday night. It took us 24 hours to drive one way. We spent about 12 hours in Lansing and then drove another 24 hours back to Texas and still made it to work on the Tuesday after Labor Day!
When people asked what I did for Labor day weekend I said, "Oh, I went to Michigan."
"So you flew up there?"
"No, we drove!"
It was a crazy adventure that I'll never forget and that I'll never do again!

TASHA: One Labor Day weekend...I went to the Party Cove at Canyon Lake, hopped on a jet ski with a guy who didn't know how to operate it too well. After traveling at high speeds we hit a wave at, flew into the air, and I landed safely somehow. I had to pull the gentelman who was operating the jet ski out of the water as he was a little dazed and a little submerged. Turned out, he needed stiches in his eye and tore a ligament in his knee, which was later operated on.
I overheard random people at the Party Cove telling the story a year later. I was a legend!
This is my favorite Labor Day memory because I came out alive and without a scratch.

MATT: Playing on the slip-n-slide in white underwear

JASON: Well one time... on Labor Day, of course...I got my mom to take me to wal-mart to buy me a Poke-ball because I thought I heard a Bulbasaur in the field behind our house, so I searched and I searched... but, no Bulbasaur! Later that night, I climbed into my tree-house and cried for hours and prayed that God would make Pokemon real.
Now, each year when Labor Day rolls around, I still take a few minutes out of my day to look in the tall grass for my answered prayer

JOE: I USUALLY WORK ON LABOR DAY. THIS LABOR DAY I PLAN ON SPENDING THE DAY WITH MY FAMILY.

LEVI: Ok, so, I can't remember any Labor Day weekend in the past so I'll write about what I'm doing this coming Labor Day weekend... I'm going into the Firestation Studio with a local artist (and friend), Heather Bullin, to record some sweet bluegrass/country tracks on the drums. I'm so excited! It's our best stuff yet.

LANA: If we could have done anything this Labor Day, this is what we would have done...On Friday we would leave early, check into our hotel, then hit the beach for some Fun and Sun! Then, we would go out to eat at a GREAT restaurant (sea food, of course). Next, we would head out for some night life...drinks and dancing. The next morning it would be an early breakfast and back to the beach! Maybe we would try some deep sea fishing and catch something good. I not sure what they catch out there...a shark maybe? I would probably be sea sick by that time and head back in for some REST. I know I will need it! After the nap, it would be back out to eat again (more sea food), and a little dancing...no, maybe a movie! I'm sure I will be ready to sleep after all that. On Sunday, I would wake up late, go out for brunch, then go to the beach one last time before heading home. I think we would hit the road and plan on getting in around 12:00pm, then go straight to bed until Monday morning!! Then on Monday, I would go out for a full day of shopping! Maybe then have a great lunch some where and relax the rest of the day!
That is how I wish my 3-day weekend would have happened! Sounds fun right!?!


What is YOUR favorite Labor Day weekend memory?

Have a Fun & Safe Labor Day Weekend '08...
...from the LoneStar Team

Now Available: Full-Color, Digital Window Badges!

Do you have a large company with many employees or a large number of departments? Is your company traveling to a convention or Tradeshow event? If so, you might be in need of a professional looking, high quality window badge to go along with your attire. Check out the W110 and W210 Window Badges online now at LoneStarBadge.com for a great solution to your identification product needs.

With our W110 and W210 badges, you can now include your custom full-color artwork on an easy-to-order window badge. Your full-color art will be digitally printed on either of these two styles to achieve the finer details that other production processes are just not able to reproduce. Check out these styles if you're looking for a badge to include to your full-color, intricate, and detailed custom artwork with the convenience of a window badge.

The only differences between the W110 and W210 are the window slot sizes. The W110 contains the single-line window while the W210 has the larger double-line window. When you order either the W110 or W210 window badges however, both will already come complete with corresponding perforated inserts and clear plastic overlay shields to protect the insert once it's been printed on. They also will include your choice of attached fastener on the back, along with the sturdy black acrylic backer for added badge strength and durability. You can completely customize these badges to fit your every application, so check them out online today!

LoneStar's Layout Team

Meet LoneStar's

LAYOUT ARTISTS

Jason & Chad

After you place your custom order online or let one of our helpful and friendly Sales Staff assist you, the next step is usually the Layout Department. Jason and Chad are the creative minds that will help you achieve the professional or eye-catching layout you're seeking for your custom lanyards or name badges. They're extremely knowledgeable and very familiar with many professional artwork programs. Either of them will be more than happy to answer any artwork or layout questions you may have about your order. Contact them today at Layout@LoneStarBadge.com.

LoneStar's Staff Remembers...School Days

With the start of school just around the corner, we thought it might be fun to reminisce about some of our fondest school day memories. Check out some of the LoneStar Team's favorite times from our past school days...

Shealee I loved THE ARTS! Whether it was on paper or on stage, it gave me the freedom to express myself! ;)

Chad Art class! Pottery, painting & drawing; everything you need to succeed in life!

Lana Art Class when we were 5 and 6; you know we were paste eaters! NO, not really. I like History! My Teacher was old and she would bring in cool antique things to look at.

Jason Dufinently Grammir, (it maid me.) who, i am tuday!

Levi By far senior year was the best. I had one class and some community college classes. I only had to go in to take tests, so I worked here (at LoneStar) and took trips with my band all over the country! You would think the seniors would have hated it when I came in, but because I was always gone they were always so excited whenever I showed up! Haha.

Mat Logic because it taught me how to argue better

Lindsay My favorite class...definitely RECESS! Kidding! I think I liked my foreign language classes the best. I like learning about other cultures.

Mary Psychology was my favorite class. The study of human behavior is fascinating.

Tasha Theater Arts - It gave me reason to be strange...they thought I was acting. I have no excuse these days.

Badge Holders for Your Back-to-School Needs

With back-to-school time just around the corner, let LoneStar Badge & Sign help take the hassle out of ordering this year's student supplies. We offer a large selection of multi-pocket badge and agenda holders that are perfect for holding class schedules and student security or ID badges. Right now, we wanted to let you know in specific about our featured H743 vinyl badge holders. They're a quick and easy solution to your back-to-school supply needs.

Our H743 Badge holders have dual pockets to hold every student's essentials. The top pocket makes a great fit for any identification badge or standard business card sized insert, while the lower pocket will comfortably seat a larger document and even a pen or pencil. These holders are made from a durable and long lasting vinyl material, meaning they will withstand everyday use throughout the school year.

The best part about these badge holders is...when you order them online right now, they will be shipped to you for FREE! (*includes Ground shipments only -- international or expedited methods are available for additional fees). Check out our H743 Multi-pocket Holders online today while supplies last, and save big on your back-to-school needs with FREE SHIPPING!

Just as a reminder, we also have a huge selection of vinyl and plastic badge holders available in many additional size options. We also carry a large variety of personalized name badges, in-stock and custom printed lanyards, badge reels, and so much more. Don't forget to check out all of our products online today at LoneStarBadge.com!

LoneStar in ONE Word

This week, we gave our crew a little assignment to tell us what they think about LoneStar Badge & Sign. The challenging part...they could only use ONE word to describe LoneStar. Check out their responses:

LANA Relaxed
JOE helpful
SHEALEE Familia!
ROB Superkalafrajalistic!
LEVI "work"
JASON Endless

MAT Loud

TASHA Educating
CHAD Supercalafragalisticickspialadoshous!
LINDSAY Awesome!

How would YOU describe LoneStar?

Designing a Quality Layout

Designing a quality layout for your name badges or lanyards isn't always an easy task. The key to a picture perfect layout is all in the type of artwork you use. Generally speaking, Vector Artwork is going to be your best bet for designing that award-winning, professional badge or lanyard.

There are many differences in the types of artwork files available. The most commonly used art files would be .jpg's, .tiff's, and .gif's (also called Bitmap images). Although some of these do have higher resolutions than other types of files, they still don't compare to the quality and clean appearance that only vectorized images can provide.

To create a vector file or to be able to see the differences between vector and bitmap images, you would need to use a professional art program such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw. However, when using one of these programs, you will then be able to easily tell the differences between a bitmap and a vector file. In a professional program, you will notice that the vector image is crisp and not at all pixilated. You should also be able to see the actual outlines and curves of the vector object and this is why we refer to vector as being "converted to curves or outlines".

Aside from being more precise of an image, a vector image isn't flat like a bitmap. Each individual section of the vectorized artwork is "layered" or "stacked" onto the background. Since bitmaps are not layered and are instead flat, the actual image cannot be removed or lifted away from the background. The bitmap images usually become stuck to their background and the background color isn't able to be separated or taken out when transferred onto your badge or lanyard layout. The background must be a part of the new layout and this is unfortunately the case for almost all bitmap images.

Save yourself some time and confusion when designing your layout and make sure you use the best artwork from the start. Remember that a file in Vector Format will be the most clear, crisp, and sharp choice when designing your quality name badge or lanyard layout.