Currently, I'm in this stasis of adding products to my new website. I currently moved from Squarespace to Shopify, and while I have all of my stickers listed, I still need to list my planner charms as well as finish up some pages on my website.
So of course you might ask, "Why didn't you wait to go live until everything was done?" Part of me was willing to do that, and although I had a three month goal for this new website project starting in January, it took a turn and at the time of writing (end of July 2026), I'm still working on it. Technically it's a work in progress (or a project in progress as it were).
I chose to go ahead because I thought it would be easier to sell stickers currently (as those can sell through letter mail), so I thought it smart to get those up first. I do have the main page up and running, but some background work still needs to be done.
Thinking about working on my website project got me to thinking that I have never really explored my sticker creation process, the history of how I got started and what went into that process with my viewers. To be quite honest with you, I don't remember much about the beginning, but I can explore a little of what I felt and what I did at the time. If you are looking into getting started on your own website or Etsy, or know someone who is, this blog might be for you!
HOW IT STARTED:
I had always wanted to design stickers, and the more I saw things on YouTube and Instagram and Etsy, I wanted to start playing around. I was already creating videos for YouTube and I was really into bullet journaling at the time. I think it was just wanting to create something beautiful. So, I started researching how to do it and what kinds of things I would need.
I started researching prices for things and watching for deals. I knew I needed a cutting machine, and the easiest one to get was a Cricut. It was actually amazing - at that time, Michaels had a deal on their Cricut Airs so I ended up getting the teal one.
The other thing you need is something to draw on. I'm sure you could draw things by hand, upload it to your computer and change the image to a cut file, but drawing on an iPad is a completely different experience.
I've always considered myself an artist - I used to enjoy creating portraits, landscapes and fantasy art. I still would - I simply can't find the time for it right now and it's really something I want to get back into eventually. In the past, my favourite mediums were coloured pencils, graphite, and acrylic. I have played around with water colour and gauche more recently, but I would like to do more with those. I also want to do more with alcohol markers such as Copics (I have a few of those), or the newer Tombow Alcohol Markers.
So, I began to check out deals on iPads. Essentially, you need an iPad Pro (which is of course the most expensive out of the lot). I found one for good value at Costco and I purchased the Apple Pencil separately. Of course, there are other dangers which come along with buying new technology - you want to play. I ended up purchasing and downloading Good Notes 4 (which I didn't need at all for drawing, but it did come in handy for other things). I also purchased Procreate which is the drawing program I use to design my stickers. It was 13.99 CAD at the time I bought it, and it works like a charm.
As with all new tech, there's always a learning curve, but I think that's half the fun of using and exploring it. You can of course watch tons of YouTube videos to figure out how to use it (which I did my share of). I also played around and experimented with a lot of the tools the program had to offer as well.
The best thing I can say here for newbies is you gain more experience and confidence the more you use it and simply, draw. Design, have fun and play! Of course, my first designs were interesting. Some of them I posted; others I scrapped.
Along with learning how to design on my new iPad and design program, Procreate, I also had to learn more about the website I was using. I could say that each website is essentially the same, but the differences are in the details. Each one will have different terms for the same thing and place them in a new area, so treat Google like it's your best friend here.
I basically googled everything I came across that I couldn't figure out on my own. Bit by bit, you build around your inexperience and you learn. That's the beauty of it. Looking back, that's probably what interested me the most.
I had to initially change my website from basic to a commerce site (something I didn't know until I had to do it). Then I had to learn how to upload all of my designs. I needed to learn what size of canvas to draw on and how large it would print. I won't even begin to tell you how much ink and paper I wasted in the beginning - it was all for science!
Then came the Cricut machine itself. There are a few things you need to do to make your stickers print and cut properly. Some of the best videos I watched were created by Amanda RachLee and Jenny Journals, both on YouTube. I think I watched the videos over and over again and sometimes followed the steps literally step-by-step. There are certain cutting settings you can use with different types of sticker paper, and again, the only way to know for certain is to go ahead and experiment. Sure, you might waste a lot of paper and ink, but the only way you know if it's working is to try it.
The other thing to learn is were to source and purchase your supplies. I had trouble with sticker paper at first. I started out with way too many options at first. I did some experimenting with white matte sticker paper from Michaels, but you literally got 10 pages for $15.00 - NOT a good deal. I quickly found Online Labels. Again, my mistake was wanting to create different finishes for stickers. In retrospect, I would have stuck with just the one plain matte white sticker paper option - it's the cheapest (and in my more experienced opinion, the best way to go!)
The biggest problem with sticker making in Canada is if you're sourcing products from the states, you have to watch out for the expensive shipping prices! Online label sticker paper is heavy and quite expensive to ship, no matter what you buy. I get the full paper size sticker label paper (8.5 by 11 inches).
All my other products are sourced from Amazon.ca. These are things like packaging - the cardboard envelope, envelope seals, cellophane plastic bags to keep the stickers safe, charm baggies, etc... The products you require will all depend on what you make in your business.
After all those obstacles, I went on to make stickers. I found inspiration and ideas fairly easy to come by at the beginning. Now I rely on customer and viewer suggestions. Sometimes I'll think of something I want in my own planning or decorating needs and I'll simply make it.
Since this whole change with my website however, I've been out of the sticker and charm making game for quite some time. I found that it makes me even less creative (although I've currently felt myself yearning to try doing some more designs lately) - probably because I haven't designed anything in awhile.
This is the importance of making and sticking with a schedule. When you have your own business and your own timeline, it's really easy to fall off the wagon so to speak. It's always best to create the habit of doing the same thing each day and stick to it - especially at the beginning so you begin to form the habit. Once formed, it's easier to maintain and then you can change things as needed and as your business requires it.
So that's it for my sticker journey and huge learning curve. Trust me, at the beginning, it can really feel overwhelming - especially when you're trying to learn and keep up with a bunch of small moving parts. But once you get the hang of it, you will be unstoppable. I did write a few blogs on what I think is best in terms of whether you use Etsy or a website. You can read those blogs here:
Etsy or Website: My Personal Experience: https://sandradahl.ca/blogs/youtube-and-online-business/etsy-or-website-my-personal-experience
Etsy or Website? Which Should You Choose?: https://sandradahl.ca/blogs/youtube-and-online-business/etsy-or-website-which-should-you-choose
Thanks so much for reading today's blog, and I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours if you're starting out making stickers as well. You might be gunning to start a business and make mad money, but remember to always enjoy what you do and have fun!
Sandra ❤️
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