Whispers of Creativity: An Interview with the Minds Behind Cute As A Button Girl

In the world of pins, creativity flows,
A tale of buttons, where inspiration grows.
A family united by a charming plan,
This interview unveils how it all began.
~ Momma Braga

For several years, I, Momma Braga, have been an avid follower of the delightful journey of Cute As A Button Girl. Their story has inspired me with its charm, creativity, and the strong family bonds that fuel their passion.

I’m thrilled to share that I even ordered my very own Momma Braga branded pins from them, and I absolutely love them! It is with great pleasure that I present this heartfelt interview with the talented minds behind Cute As A Button Girl, who have not only become inspirations on Instagram but have also made a significant impact through their kind and positive presence.

Interview with Monica, Amazing Mom of Cristiana

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

We are a tight little family of 3 living under the reign of our 2 cats, Ophelia and Cocopuff.

When was Cute As A Button Girl launched and how was it launched?

Cute as a Button Girl was Cristiana’s idea in 2019. Being a huge fan of pin-back buttons since I was an avid collector as a kid, I was really excited to see she was into them just as much. She came to us asking if we could purchase a button-making machine as she was interested in making them and wanting to hand them out to family and friends for free—she hadn’t thought about making money at this point and still isn’t in it for the money! At first, we were skeptical as we tried it out, getting our feet wet… And then 2020 came, the Covid meteor hit—things got boring, and we got more serious about our adventure. We officially posted our first photos on social media in February of 2020, and the rest is history… we gained followers from then on, and some are even considered to us as friends for life. We started selling our products right away, at a store called The Maker’s Mark in Newmarket. Later, we also opened up our Etsy store.

How did the business name come to be?

Everyone knows the saying “you’re as cute as a button,” but I always said it to Cristiana since she was born. The way we linked that to our business name was pure fluke, and we rolled with it! The logo came naturally to me as I wanted to incorporate Cristiana’s favorite color, pink, and her silhouette. She loved wearing bows in her hair at the time, and so that, with her big glasses, needed to be added as well. I had a few drafts made up, and she made the final choice of fonts used and elements. As a graphic designer with 20+ years of experience and working with top brands—this was my hardest job. Having a 6-year-old be the judge in design choices is a rollercoaster of emotion, skills, and patience. Our slogan came from the time when Cristiana always pushed our buttons with everything.

“When I’m not pushing my parents’ buttons; I make them” — Cristiana.

You and your daughter have become influencers on Instagram. How did you start, and how do you feel about it?

Honestly, we didn’t think we’d be where we are now in terms of “influencing”. I don’t easily get influenced myself, and I hate that term actually. We aren’t trying to become the next best person to follow, but we love throwing in our experience and reviews alongside our regular posts. It’s the fun in the mix that keeps us going. We don’t ask to collab with others either, but if it comes our way and it aligns with what we do and how we think—then we do it with an open mind.

Now, I have been a huge fan for a couple of years at least and admire the positive inspiration you promote. But what inspires you?

That’s very sweet how people see us in a positive way, and that’s just what we want—we want to spread positive vibes in this ever-changing world filled with lots of negativity. We’re inspired by those who give back to their community! It’s always been community over competition for us. People who give back are the true celebrities. We were and never will be in this for fame. We use our following to promote good, to share an important post, and help spread the word. We’re inspired by everyday people doing everyday things, but in the most caring way possible.

 

What do you hope people get out of your social media following and through the products with Cute As A Button Girl?

Our products won’t change people, but through our kindness that we wish to spread… and sprinkle some cuteness in there too; we hope that it will create a ripple effect and positive vibes will spread some more.

What is the process of making your buttons? How much time does it take Cristiana to make?

Cristiana is actually lightning fast when it comes to making buttons. The smaller ones are faster, and whoever has seen her in action at a market—is just mesmerized. Together, once we did 100 buttons in an hour and a half, fully packaged with our branding. It’s hard to believe, but we really pushed ourselves (and each other’s buttons) to get them ready for an insane last-minute order. The stress was unreal, and we’ll never forget it, nor do we want to go through that again! Working together, being on the same page, and having a good outlook helped so much.

Your daughter Cristiana is the maker behind the brand. How does she balance it all?

School work always comes first. Social life comes second. The business started as a hobby, and we still treat it that way for her. For me, because I’m the graphic designer, there’s a bit more involved, and I have to be committed—I treat it a bit more professionally, but it runs well, and the two of us balance each other. My husband is involved as well, behind the scenes! We try not to be too involved with markets because, for one—they take up a lot of time and money. We can’t afford to take time away from our family just like we can’t afford to spend the money just to have a table somewhere and hope we break even!

What sort of recognition has Cute As A Button Girl received?

It was an absolute pinch-worthy moment that Cristiana was honoured with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pin in 2022 at the town of Newmarket. In 2023, she received a big cheque from Mazda Canada during their “Rising Legends” campaign. Other recognitions include: In 2022 — Hire and Fire Your Kids did a write-up on her. In 2021 — Open for Business Hub in Brampton awarded her with a “Next Gen” plaque. She’s also met many important figures like celebrities and community leaders. We’ve been in the paper a few times and invited to some special events!

I am sure you are one proud Momma! What has been the best part of the business for you?

I am beyond proud of Cristiana alone and how much she’s grown—but also the work we’ve done together. The best part for me is working with her and watching her grow into a thoughtful, caring, and beautiful inside and out—human being. She’s more than I ever imagined; she’s a better version of myself. It’s never been about the money with us. After all, still to this day, we consider this a hobby business. This type of business doesn’t bring in that kind of money anyway. What we receive is saved for the future of our girl. The point is to get away from screens, work together, and hopefully have a positive impact on people. We are extremely lucky to have raised $1513 since 2020 and have donated it to various charities through our special button program.

What would you say has been the most memorable moment for you and Cristiana since the launch of Cute As A Button Girl?

We each have our own special moments, but one that sticks out, more recently, is when we met one of the CBC dragons, Chef Vikram. He gave us some great advice that we are super thankful for.

Anything else you would like to add or promote? Anything new and exciting we can announce as an exclusive 😉

Blog readers of this post can receive 25% off a $20 Etsy order by typing the code MOMMABRAGA at checkout!

Buttoning Up The Story: A Pin-tastic Interview

Through their journey with Cute As A Button Girl, Cristiana and her family have shown that passion, creativity, and kindness can lead to wonderful things. Their story is a testament to the power of community, family bonds, and the joy of pursuing what you love. Keep spreading those positive vibes and cute buttons, Cristiana!

A special thank you to mom, Monica for sharing their family’s inspirational story!

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

~ Momma Braga