Jim Romer’s blog: character designs, writing picture books, and random thoughts!
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Murf•Bot Enamel Pins LIVE on Backerkit!
I'm Jim Romer, an illustrator, character designer, and product designer. I've spent decades developing characters and products for toys, novelty, pet products, and licensed entertainment. I create most of my professional work for other companies. Murf•Bot is different — he's one of my own characters, and this campaign is my opportunity to turn those drawings into a physical collection.
See the add-ons below for my first children’s book, which was also my first crowdfunding campaign.
Murf•Bot: The 2" Enamel Pin Collection The Murf•Bot collection features six original hard enamel pins, each based on one of Murf•Bot’s science experiments gone wrong. Every design is developed from original linocut artwork and finished with black nickel plating for a bold, polished look.
Each pin is approximately 2", sized to feel consistent across the set despite their different shapes, and includes a double-clasp back for extra security. Campaign backers receive the pins at about 15%-20% below planned retail, (with individual pins expected to sell for $10 each after production.)
Stretch Goals: Unlock Extra Pins
Funding Goal of $2,250 Unlocks the following two pinsAdding two more pins as stretch goals to reach the fund goal of $2,250. #7-Murf•Bot Waves Hello Pin Unlike the core line's disaster-driven humor — Pin #7 is aimed at collectors who prefer cute over dark humor.
#8-Murf•Bot Mystery Pin This will be a backer poll voted decision on what the 8th pin will become, once the fund goal is made.
NOTE: If/when these 2 pins are unlocked (at fund goal $2,250), they will be added for individual purchase as add-ons.
Early Bird - First 48-hours = Free Sticker Back the campaign within the first 48 hours and receive a free 2.5" Murf•Bot sticker as a thank-you. After the two days, the sticker will still be available as an add-on at a discounted price of $2.
Pin Construction
The pins are made of hard enamel and feature black nickel work for structure. Although each pin varies slightly in size due to its shape, they are all designed to appear uniform at approximately 2" across the set.
In this campaign, the pins are offered at a 15% discount. Once funded and produced, they will be sold at retail, with each Murf·Bot pin priced at $10.
Although these pins are not very large, we want them to stay securely in place. Therefore, each pin will include a double-clasp back for added security, as shown below.
For add-ons we'll be offering several stickers. This one Murf•Bot Wave Hello 2.5" Sticker is the smallest at 2.5" ( and maybe the cutest?)
The remaining 3 stickers are all size 3.5" This one's is the Murf•Bot Entangled 3.5" Sticker, (originally designed to be a pin, but too complex.) This one show the bot saluting (with it's good arm) to the "Law" it is obsessed about. Murf•Bot Murphy's Law 3.5" Sticker This sticker is a play on 'wurds' and is named, Murphy's Law Wrong Type 3.5" Sticker
My Children's Book: Bobby's Biggest Bubble
Probably the best thing I ever created . . . and it all happened because of crowdfunding. -Jim Romer
Bobby's Biggest Bubble is the story of a little boy who wins a million gumballs. With the help of his friends, they find creative ways to use the bubble gum. Then Bobby sets off to create the biggest bubblegum bubble in the world and ultimately ends up saving the town. (There's secondary story going on too, if you follow the dogs.)
sample pages from the book
Book Details: 1st edition. 10" by 8" hardcover and dust jacket. 36 pages. Full color printing. Suitable for Ages 3-8. Printed on 105-lb. stock with matte finish. Includes a Bobby bookmarker! Signed by author/illustrator Jim Romer. (The ending to this story . . . is out of this world! . . . Seriously.) [ Link to Publisher Weekly Review ]
I’ve mentioned before that I’m new to BackerKit, so I’ve been spending some time looking around, studying what works and what doesn’t. (I’ve also somehow become a backer on a few projects myself. Couldn’t help it—there are some really good things out there!) Of course, looking around gets my mind wandering. Before long, I’m imagining new ideas, designs, and characters. Two things I’ve noticed here on Backer Kit: there are a LOT of cat lovers out there. And there are a LOT of book lovers, too. (You know who you are.)
Cats + Books. Puss & Books is hopefully my next enamel pin series, set inside a cozy, old-fashioned bookstore “ruled” by two very different cats. • Puss is the silent, sharp-eyed mastermind—sly, calculating, and always three moves ahead. • Books is... well, Books. Wide-eyed, accident-prone, and forever getting himself into exactly the kind of predicament Puss already saw coming.
A old local store of cats, books, and antics among the bookshelves. Follow along as I tell the story of Puss & Books through enamel pins —hopefully launching late October.
Puss & Books Promo - Looking for a late October launch
This project has been set as "Upcoming" on BackerKit — be sure to stop by in the coming weeks for updates, sketches, polls, and other cat/book-related things. Hope to see you there! LINK
This will be collected at survey time and is not included in the reward level. Rates by region — EU and UK rates include VAT:
United States — $5 / $7 for full set Canada — $8 / $10 for full set UK / EU — $12.50 / $21.50 for full set Australia and Asia — $12 / $15 for a full set Everywhere else — $10 / $20 for full set
Our timeline: Campaign launches — Sept 8 Campaign ends — Sept 29 Surveys — sent within a week after the campaign closes (early October) Production order placed — early October, once we can project quantities. Manufacturing takes about 3 weeks. Shipping from the factory — by sea, typically 3–4 weeks door-to-door, including customs Arrival and fulfillment — sets should reach us in early-to-mid November, with backer orders going out as quickly as we can pack them
A note on holiday delivery: December should be no problem. Ocean freight and customs can sometimes throw up obstacles that are hard to predict. If you're buying this as a gift, back the project and, in the worst case, we'll send you a printable gift card with the artwork—just in case this takes weeks longer than we expect (which is unlikely).
🧬 Super League of Science '26
Welcome to the Super League of Science — a collection of independent crowdfunding campaigns united by a love of discovery, running from Sept 7th – 28th.
From dodos to deep space, bugs to birds, each project brings science to life through art, pins, apparel, and whatever else our imaginations conjure. Every creator runs their own campaign, but together we form something greater: a league that cross-promotes, cheers each other on, and invites backers to explore the full spectrum of science-inspired creativity.
Freebie: Back more than one project and you’ll score a free Made Better with Science sticker. ✨
Puss & Books Promo - Looking for a late October launch
