Product Grading & Care Guides

While shopping, you might have come across references to product "grades." This refers to a scale that I use to assess the quality of my products.

Ensuring top-notch quality is a priority in the products I offer. While the majority of my products are handmade, whether by me or a manufacturer, there are some variations and minor imperfections that may arise during production. Below, you can find details about the grading process of my products, as well as care guides for specific items.

Unless otherwise noticed, all of my products offered are considered A-Grade / Standard.

Product Grading

Enamel Pin Grading

  • About Enamel Pins

    While enamel pins are crafted with care by a factory, they are still handmade. Naturally, variations and minor imperfections may arise during production. It's essential to acknowledge that absolute perfection in handmade items is unrealistic. As such, I do not offer Perfect/Collector's Grade.

    Unless otherwise noticed, all of the pins for sale in my shop are A-Grade/Standard.

  • ✦ A-Grade / Standard

    A grades have the best overall appearance in a batch of pins. However, it's essential to understand that even the finest enamel pins may exhibit standard, subtle imperfections.

    • Faint marks, dents, or scratches on the metal or enamel surface
    • Faint specks/dust, dots, or bubbles on the enamel
    • Minor over-filled or under-filled enamel
    • Minor discoloration on the enamel or metal
    • Slightly misaligned screenprinting

  • ✦ B-Grade / Seconds

    B grade pins exhibit noticeable flaws, with variations in severity. While they may not match the quality of Standard grade pins, they still maintain a commendable level of craftsmanship and can be valuable additions to a collection if the following imperfections are not a concern.

    • More noticeable scratches on the metal or enamel surface
    • Large, noticeable areas of under-filled or under-filled enamel
    • Large amounts of misplaced glitter, dust, or debris
    • Chipped, discolored, or tarnished/oxidation of the metal plating
    • Noticeable misaligned screenprinting or wrong enamel colors
    • Wiggly posts

  • ✦ C-Grade / Defects

    C Grades are the most imperfect in a batch, typically displaying multiple noticeable flaws and defects. I rarely receive defective pins, and when I do, I choose not to offer them for sale.

    • Broken or missing back posts
    • Large and highly visible scratches in the metal or enamel
    • Substantial patches of metal discoloration / tarnishing / oxidization
    • Extensive areas of under-filled or over-filled enamel or missing enamel

Sticker Grading

  • About My Stickers

    Even though I outsource the production of my stickers, I maintain a grading system to assess their quality. While slight variations can naturally occur during production, I personally conduct quality control checks on each sticker that arrives, ensuring that I consistently deliver the highest quality products.

  • ✦ A-Grade / Standard

    A-Grade stickers are the crème de la crème within a batch, boasting outstanding overall appearance. However, it's important to note that even the best stickers may display subtle imperfections. These can include very slight color variations or minor indentations that are only discernible upon close inspection. Unless otherwise specified, all stickers for sale in my shop fall under the A-Grade/Standard category.

  • ✦ B-Grade / Seconds

    Oopsie stickers exhibit noticeable flaws, with varying degrees of severity. While they may not meet the same quality standards as Standard grade stickers, they still maintain high-quality production values and remain fully functional stickers. Potential issues encompass noticeable scratches, printing errors, minor tears in the release paper, or imperfections in the cut/color/laminate.

Product Care Guidelines

Acrylic Pins, Keychains, Jewelry

If you receive your item and notice that the colors seem dull or the surface appears scratched, there's a good chance that it still has its protective film on it. This film is designed to safeguard the charm during transit.

When you're ready, simply peel off this protective film carefully. If you find it a bit tricky to remove, you can use a small needle or some strong tape in a corner to help get the peeling process started.

Apparel

I rely on a trusted external partner for the production of my apparel items, and here are the care guides for each product type, as instructed by this partner:

✦ T-Shirts, Hoodies, Sweatshirts:
These items are created using the latest DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing technology, ensuring vibrant and long-lasting prints. To keep them in great condition, machine-wash them in cold water, inside-out, using a gentle cycle and a mild detergent with similar colors. Use non-chlorine bleach only when necessary, and avoid fabric softeners and dry cleaning. While you can tumble-dry these items on a low cycle, it's best to hang-dry them. When it comes to ironing, use a cool iron on the reverse side, and avoid ironing over the printed area.

✦ Full Color Printed Apparel (Sweatshirts, Leggings):
For all-over printed apparel, machine-wash them cold with like colors, avoiding bleach. Please refrain from dry cleaning or tumble-drying these items. You can iron them with a low heat setting if needed.

Blankets

I rely on a trusted external partner for the production of my blankets. This partner suggests the following care instructions to keep your blanket looking its best for longer:

To care for your blankets, machine-wash them in cold water with like colors, maintaining a temperature no higher than 86ºF (30ºC). Avoid using bleach and skip the dry cleaning process. Ideally, hang-dry your blankets, but you can use a low cycle for tumble-drying if necessary.

Mugs

I rely on a trusted external partner for the production of my mugs. This partner suggests the following care instructions to keep your mug looking its best:

Our White Glossy Mugs and White Ceramic Mugs with Color Inside are microwave and dishwasher safe, but their print and coating will have a longer life if you choose to hand-wash them.

Straws

Surprisingly, metal straws can accumulate quite a bit of gunk and bacteria from previous uses. A quick rinse with water doesn't cut it when it comes to keeping them free from mold and food particles. Proper cleaning and sanitization are key to keeping potential harmful germs at bay. Plus, if you're committed to fighting plastic pollution and want your metal straws to last, regular cleaning is a must!

The simplest and most effective way to clean stainless steel straws is to wash them with hot water and soap. You can also use a thin brush or pipe cleaner to thoroughly remove any residue or buildup inside the straw. Finish by rinsing the straw with hot water and allowing it to air dry.