5 DIY gift ideas that require no skill

Run out of gift ideas? Don’t know what to get your family or loved ones for Christmas or a birthday? We’ve all been there. Here are 5 super easy gifts that you can make right now — even if you have no crafting skills whatsoever! They are unique, very cheap, and can be given to friends or family, regardless of the season or occasion.

These are the 5 best ideas for gifts that you can make right now, regardless of the occasion, your skill level or how creative you are. They are all super easy and are guaranteed to show your loved ones how much you care.

If you’re as excited as I am to get started, read on to find out more!

### 1. Pet stickers

This first one is really cool and super easy to make! It’s an [image background removal tool](https://www.stickermule.com/trace) called Trace. It lets you upload images of your pets (or anything else) and then automatically erases the background in the image. You can then use the file that it creates to make [die-cut stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/die-cut-stickers)!

![Die cut dog stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/5167193ce13d8441b23dcf2427c8d085216709d7)

Trace lets you choose different sizes and quantities and you can even get discounts depending on the size of your orders! Here are their size options, prices and discounts available:

Pet sticker sizes:

-  2” x 2”
-  3” x 3”
-  4” x 4”
-  5” x 5”
-  Custom size

The interface is super simple to use and your design can be done in just a few minutes!

Once you have specified the size and quantity of your stickers, they will be delivered to the address you specified within a few days. Die-cut stickers are ideal as gifts that can be stuck on to laptops, tablet cases or any smooth surfaces.

Have fun designing your personalized pet stickers!

### 2. Personalized coasters

Water rings can leave awful — often permanent — marks on furniture. [Coasters](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-coasters) are the perfect (and stylish) solution to making water rings a thing of the past.

Thanks to [Sticker Mule’s free coaster templates](https://www.stickermule.com/template/custom-coasters), you can now custom-design your own coasters to match your personal style!

<YouTubeVideo videoId="ZgaM2DdGIW4?rel=0" />

You can also choose any one of the designs from this video right now if you are out of design ideas!

Your coasters will look great under any cup, mug or glass and are cut precisely into a thick, premium 3.7” circle. 

So what do these awesome custom coasters cost? The good news is that they are super cheap and you get automatic discounts depending on the quantity you order.

### 3. Family photo magnet

This one is really cool if you are a magnet fan and have a metal refrigerator or any metal surface that could use some decoration. 

The nice thing about magnets is that you can reuse them over and over again, and what better way to remind yourself, or others, of the importance of family than to make a [custom magnet](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-magnets) for everyone?

![Custom family magnets](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/d087dabea1769dd411ac654310c3c62f9a0ec17e)

Again, here you can use [Trace](https://www.stickermule.com/trace) to cut out shapes in images and then order your photo magnets directly on the page in just a few minutes. Finally something you can do with all those great family photos on your phone!

The magnets are also really affordable and you can get up to 85% discounts depending on how many you order. As with the [stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers), you can specify the size you would like your photo magnets to be. Here are the size options and prices for custom photo magnets:

Custom magnet sizes:

- 2” x 2”
- 3” x 3”
- 4” x 4”
- 5” x 5”
- Custom size

You can order custom quantities by simply selecting the “Custom quantity” option when designing your custom magnet.

### 4. Bumper stickers

Bumper stickers are a great way to show support for your loved ones’ causes. Why not help them make a difference with some [bumper sticker advertising](https://www.stickermule.com/products/bumper-stickers)?

Yep, you guessed it. With Trace you can custom-design your bumper stickers with different shapes and sizes and they are ideal for cars, trucks or any other vehicles with smooth surfaces. They have a removable adhesive and their thick, durable vinyl will protect the stickers from scratches as well as water and sunlight.

![Bumper stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/59f7c888780846396052919cf001cf728668c5fe)

You can even use any of [Sticker Mule’s free bumper sticker templates](https://www.stickermule.com/template/bumper-stickers) here or just send us a logo or image and we’ll automatically create a digital proof for you.

Here are the sizes and quantities you can order. As with the other items, the more you buy, the bigger the discount you get!

Bumper sticker sizes

- 7.5” x 3.75”
- 11.5” x 3”
- 15” x 3.75”
- Custom size

You can also order custom sizes and quantities by simply specifying this during the order process.

### 5. Face wall decals

Getting ready for a party? Celebrate the guest of honor with a huge (sticky but removable) decal of their face. Just [send us a selfie](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/face-wall-decals) and we’ll do the rest.

![Face wall decals](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c7ffb0e9f1c45e448075853d34ef1e79520758fe)

At just $57 for a default-sized 24” x 24” face wall decal, you can rest assured that you will not have to break the bank to get one of these. If you want your wall decal to be even bigger than that (or want a smaller one), you can also customize the size during your design process. The price will adjust automatically depending on the size you choose.

### Bonus idea 

If you know someone who is itching to get creative and wants to make something beautiful on their own, you can alternatively just [give them a gift card](https://www.stickermule.com/products/gift-cards) and then share this post with them. They will then be able to use their gift card to buy any of the items mentioned in this article and [much more](https://www.stickermule.com/more).

Well, I don’t know about you guys but now I’m really inspired by all the possibilities that Trace offers. If you’re like me and want to get started designing your own awesome original custom gifts right away, Sticker Mule provides free 2-day shipping and 4-day turnaround on most orders.

<ButtonCta text="Get your customized stickers" size="large" variant="secondary" align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers" />

Five gifts (plus one bonus) you can make right now. No expertise required.

Sticker back printing vs. kiss cut stickers

We heard you wanted more space on your stickers – somewhere to put social tags, coupons, website, and contact details. Traditionally, this would require back printing.

But did you know you can achieve the same goal with [kiss cut stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/kiss-cut-stickers)? Kiss cut stickers typically have a rectangular backing around the design that's bigger than the sticker, which can be printed on.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="qRmXMJdZZGw?rel=0" />

Hey, we don’t want to be accused of being biased so in the interest of fairness, we’ll discuss both options. 

## What is a back print on a sticker?

A back print is when the other side of a sticker sheet is maximized to include details such as company information or instructions on how to use the sticker. 

However, since these pieces of information are printed on the back of stickers, not many people pay attention to it. Worse, they are simply thrown away once the sticker has been used. 

### How do you print on the back of a sticker paper?

Though this is technically possible, printing on the back of sticker papers can be a bit messy. For example, when you get your sticker sheets and you try to manually print on the back of it using an ordinary printer, there is a possibility that your printer can jam or that the ink can also smudge on the sticker side, ruining your design. 

## How do you use a kiss cut sticker? 

Though some people may argue that less is more, with stickers, you are wasting space that has so much potential! Use a kiss cut sticker to promote your brand or cause! The extra space in your kiss cut sticker can be used for informational purposes too. 

Since it’s also part of the sticker, the information printed on these can be used and stuck on surfaces too, unlike back prints!

### What can you print on a kiss cut sticker?

Use the remaining space on your sticker to print your company information or other promotional details. 

- Coupons or discount codes 
- Product specifications or additional information 
- QR code that will lead your customers to your website or a specific landing page
- Company contact details such as phone number, address, etc. 
- Your company’s social media accounts 
- Reminder about an upcoming event or sale 
- Instructions to subscribe or be part of your community 

## Why kiss cut sticker is better than back print stickers 

Kiss cut stickers are a superior alternative to back printing for a few reasons:

### Better visibility

It is counterintuitive to put vital information where people are least likely to see it. Kiss cut stickers display your extra information right next to the sticker itself.

### More printing options

Back printing is typically limited to black and white, and confined to the shape of the sticker. The backing on kiss cut stickers can be printed in full color and full bleed and isn’t dependant on the shape of the sticker.

### Lower cost

Since back printing adds an extra step to the manufacturing process, there is typically a ~20% surcharge. The manufacturing process for kiss cut stickers is [similar to standard die cut stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/die-cut-stickers-vs-kiss-cut-stickers) and so the price is nearly identical.

Overall, the kiss cut design is a better choice for creative professionals.

## How to make kiss cut stickers at home and without a machine?

The good news is you can make kiss cut stickers without the aid of a machine! And you can do it here on the Sticker Mule website!

### Step 1: Create your design

Here’s your chance to let your brand shine by maximizing the space around your kiss cut sticker! Make sure not to overdo it and allow some “breathing space” in your design. Don’t put items too close to the edges too!

### Step 2: Upload your kiss cut sticker design 

Go to Sticker Mule’s kiss cut product page and [upload your design](https://www.stickermule.com/products/kiss-cut-stickers). 

### Step 3: Order your kiss cut sticker 

Choose the size, quantity, and order a proof of your design. You can do some modifications if you’re not completely satisfied with it but once you are, your order will be shipped to you!

<ButtonCta text="Order kiss cut stickers now" size="large" variant="secondary"  align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/kiss-cut-stickers" /> 

We get a lot of requests for sticker back printing. But did you know kiss cut stickers can serve the same purpose?

Remove the background from any image with Trace

Using Trace - our [photo background remover](https://www.stickermule.com/trace) - requires absolutely no design experience. Upload your image and count to 5 while the technology automatically removes the background.

<Video videoKey="trace" />

## How to remove background without Photoshop

Trace was inspired by hundreds of creators who wanted to do more with their favorite photos. 

The tool cuts out the subject (pet, car, beloved relative) and puts it on a transparent background. Download the image for free or use it for custom stickers, magnets, coasters and more.

Even for an experienced designer, it can take 10 minutes to [erase a background in Photoshop](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-remove-backgrounds-in-photoshop) — now anyone can do it in less than 10 seconds.

## What are the new features of Trace? 

Trace 2.0 has officially been released and like the OG Trace you know and love, it’s decked with features that will continue to make your work easier!

### Trace multiple images on one canvas 

Now, you can remove the backgrounds of up to five images on just one canvas! This means you can include multiple photos in one cool collage! 

### Upload a custom background image, or search images from Unsplash

Before, you could just remove the backgrounds using Trace. Now, after removing the background, you can replace it with a solid color or another background! 

There are lots of background options to choose from. Upload your own custom image, or search the built-in Unsplash library, featuring over 2 million inspiring images that are free to use for your new backdrop. 

### Select traced images to move, scale, and rotate

With the new and improved Trace, you can also move your images. After the background has been removed, you can resize the object or reposition it. You can even rotate it as you like to fit in your new background! 

### Crop your traced images 

Say you have an image that you want the background removed but you also want to remove a part of the main subject. (Maybe it’s a group photo and you only want to retain yourself on the edited image!) With Trace 2.0, you can also crop out other elements in your photo! 

## How to use Trace: A guide 

Want to know how to remove background without the use of Photoshop and other editing software? Just follow these steps:

### Step 1: Create and log into your account 

Use your email to create an account or if you’re already logged into your Gmail account, just connect it to this page. 

### Step 2: Click the “Upload a photo ” button 

Once you click the photo, Trace automatically removes your background! The next thing you’ll see is your photo with the background removed! 

### Step 3: Customize your background or just download it 

If you just want to remove the background, go ahead and click that download button! And yes, you get the image for free! 

However, if you want to customize the background with a plain color or other patterns, feel free to choose from the templates. You may also upload your own background. 

## What else can you do with Trace 2.0?

If those new functionalities aren’t cool enough, you can also convert your new image into a keepsake! After downloading your new photo (for free!), you can also turn this piece of artwork into a sticker, a coaster, a magnet, a poly mailer packaging, or even as buttons! 

This is a perfect gift or giveaway for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions! 

Sounds simple, right? Are you ready to get started?

<ButtonCta text="Remove background from your image" size="large" variant="secondary"  align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/trace" />
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 0.9rem; line-height: 2.2rem;">Did we mention it's free?</p>

Upload your image and count to 5 while the technology automatically removes the background.

Hot sauce that kicks ass

It’s real. It tastes amazing. It’s Mule Sauce.

<WistiaVideo videoKey="mule_sauce" />

You may be asking yourself why your favorite printing company just launched your new favorite condiment. Two reasons.

First, we love hot sauce but always struggled to find that perfect, use-on-anything brand. Something with a perfect balance of heat, flavor and consistency. So we made it.

![Mule Sauce hot sauce](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/73bb442a40211daa09cc172a0730419ec72a3e89)

Reason two comes with a story. Last summer, we hosted a local “Free Burger Day” and planned to cook 10,000 free burgers for our hometown of Amsterdam, NY. We knew free burgers would attract a crowd, but we wanted to impress people with an amazing, memorable sauce. We obsessed over the recipe, until eventually, we came up with something that was worthy to be called Mule Sauce.

We never imagined releasing it to the public. But, since then, it's been in high demand, so we pushed forward and made Mule Sauce available for everyone.

![Mule Sauce being added to food](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/650c3a64f5fac6eecde07c26129f60ff903a051f)

Mule Sauce uses high grade chilis, packs a good amount of heat and tastes so good, it goes on everything. Even our most demanding taste testers, the team at Sticker Mule Italy, found themselves addicted.

<ButtonCta text="Get your bottle of Mule Sauce for $8 + free shipping!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/mule-sauce" />

It’s real. It tastes amazing. It’s Mule Sauce.

Spicy spinach frittata recipe

A spicy combo of eggs and spinach, for a quick meal anytime of the day.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="cy3WSR7ClsA?rel=0" />

## Ingredients
- 5 eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups spinach
- ¼ cup parmigiano reggiano
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- [Mule Sauce](https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce)

## Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl, whip 5 eggs until loose.
2. Season with salt, garlic powder, black pepper.
3. Add cooked spinach and stir until spinach is fully coated.
4. Stir in parmigiano reggiano.
5. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil in a large fry pan. Heat pan on medium-high heat.
6. Once the pan is hot, add the egg mix to the pan. Stir mix until it forms a nice ring around the pan. Cover the pan and let it cook for 5 minutes.
7. Using a spatula, transfer the frittata to a plate.
8. Add Mule Sauce until you reach your desired level of spiciness and enjoy!

<ButtonCta text="Order Mule Sauce" href="https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce" />



A spicy combo of eggs and spinach, for a quick meal anytime of the day.

Spicy broccoli pizza recipe

A classic Italian broccoli pizza recipe, but with an extra tasty kick.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="CkX21fwUfL0?rel=0" />

## Ingredients
- Flour, for mixing dough
- 16 oz pizza dough
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups cooked broccoli
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp parmigiano reggiano
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- [Mule Sauce](https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce)

## Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Spread a handful of flour on cutting board. Using your hand, form the pizza dough into a flat, circular shape. Spread dough onto a pizza pan.
3. Add half of the mozzarella cheese then all of the cooked broccoli, covering the entire crust.
4. Season with pepper, salt, and garlic powder.
5. Add parmigiano reggiano and the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
6. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil of the top.
7. Drizzle Mule Sauce on top depending on desired level of spiciness.
8. Place pizza pan in the oven for 15 minutes.
9. Remove pizza from the oven. Drizzle additional Mule Sauce for added kick and enjoy!

<ButtonCta text="Order Mule Sauce" href="https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce" />


Grandma's handmade broccoli pizza recipe, but with an extra tasty kick.

Spicy frog legs recipe

Lightly breaded frog legs, with a kick that will make them jump out of the pan!

<YouTubeVideo videoId="P4ExiApsqpU?rel=0" />

## Ingredients
- 1 stick of butter
- ¼ cup honey
- [Mule Sauce](https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce)
- 8 frog legs
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- ¼ cup parmigiano reggiano
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ cup bread crumbs

## Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Using a frying pan, melt butter until liquidy.
3. Remove pan from heat and add honey. Stir until it is blended in.
4. Add Mule Sauce for desired level of spiciness. Stil until mixture has a red tint throughout.
5. Place frog legs into a large mixing bowl. Pour sauce directly over the frog legs into the bowl.
6. Season with garlic powder, parmigiano reggiano, black pepper, salt. Stir until frog legs are fully coated.
7. Empty everything into a baking dish, spreading the frog legs out evenly.
8. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top of the frog legs.
9. Place in oven for 25 minutes.
10. Remove from oven and allow frog legs to cool for 3-5 minutes before eating. Enjoy!

<ButtonCta text="Order Mule Sauce" href="https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce" />



Lightly breaded frog legs, with a kick that will make them jump out of the pan!

Introducing 100 days of giveaways

We’ve secretly been plotting the biggest event in Sticker Mule history…

<YouTubeVideo videoId="SRDfm3IhecU?modestbranding=1&rel=0" />

Introducing [100 days of giveaways](https://www.stickermule.com/100days) on Instagram!

Starting today, we are running the biggest giveaway Instagram (and possibly the Internet) has ever seen! For the next 100 days, we’ll be running a different giveaway everyday through our Instagram account ([@stickermule](https://www.instagram.com/stickermule)).

Here’s how it works:

1. We’ll make a post, announcing the prize of the day on Instagram.
2. The post will include instructions on how to enter the giveaway. Each day will be different, so read carefully!
3. We’ll randomly select the winner(s) and DM them the next day on Instagram.

We’re keeping the full prize list a secret for now, but some prizes will include vacation packages, Apple and Google products, gift cards, gaming consoles, and, of course, free [stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers).

The fun begins today, May 1, and runs through August 8.

Sign up for notifications and learn more at [stickermule.com/100days](https://www.stickermule.com/100days)

<ButtonCta text="Follow us on Instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/stickermule" />


We've secretly been plotting the biggest event in Sticker Mule history. Beginning on May 1, we're running a different giveaway for 100 days straight.

Introducing custom coasters 

<YouTubeVideo videoId="ZgaM2DdGIW4?rel=0" />

Not long ago, we decided to add “thank you” coasters to every order. They were an immediate hit! All over the internet, people posted their love for them and many took to collecting them. 

There was, however, one big problem. Custom coasters were incredibly difficult, even for us to buy. We knew this was something we had to fix and, today, we’re happy to announce our newest product: [custom coasters](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-coasters). 

We invented a brand new method for making coasters that allows us to provide custom coasters in full color and fast. Try them out by ordering 10 [coaster samples](https://www.stickermule.com/products/coaster-samples) for $9 or bulk order larger quantities of coasters. There’s nothing else like them on the Internet!

<ButtonCta text="Get custom coasters from $9" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/coaster-samples?ref=blog" />

Create custom coasters to surprise and delight customers and friends. Printed in full color with UV ink and made with a premium coaster board.

How we prioritize at Sticker Mule 

![How we prioritize at Sticker Mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/ba5c4d01ca146f185c128428987c56840bda9d81)

Organizations are the sum of their decisions. Those that prioritize well prosper and those that don’t falter. At Sticker Mule, prioritization is the most important thing we do. Our growth accelerates as we prioritized better, but there's always room to improve. 


## What prioritization is *not*

Most literature on prioritization is terrible. It leads you to believe prioritization is about [time management](https://hbr.org/2015/04/time-management-training-doesnt-work) or how to use to-do lists. This way of thinking neglects that priorities are what make or break businesses.

Consider that Amazon started as a bookstore in 1994 and grew to $147 million within 3 years. Today they employ 500,000 people who handle $200 billion in revenue. They picked the right projects and grew at an extraordinary pace.

Other retailers had different priorities and either failed or are much smaller. Walmart could be Amazon, but they did not prioritize the Internet and now they are worth half as much. 

## What prioritization is

Prioritization is picking the right tasks to maximize impact. That means finding high impact tasks and avoiding low impact ones. Usually the highest impact tasks are elusive. We don’t know the highest impact projects we could pursue right now.

Prioritization might sound stressful, but it’s not. Most tasks won’t affect us. Consequently, we shouldn't stress about the backlog of tasks we “need” to do. We need to keep our minds free to pursue high impact ideas, when they present themselves, by neglecting low impact ones.

## Prioritization categories

It’s unproductive to precisely categorize every task, but it’s useful to roughly classify them in your mind. Prioritization improves with practice and thinking about these categories helps us improve.

### Growth vs. costs
It’s generally better to use our time to grow revenue than reduce costs. Time is finite. Cash isn’t. 

### High vs. low impact

High impact is better, but completing lots of low impact tasks can be worthwhile if we complete them quickly.

### Enduring vs. temporary

Tasks that provide enduring value are preferable to those that deliver value temporarily.

### Definite vs. potential

It’s better to pursue improvements with definite benefits than those with potential.

### Short vs. long term results

Quick wins are preferable, but you can build competitive advantage pursuing ideas that yield results in the long term since others tend to neglect them.

### Related vs. unrelated tasks 
Sometimes related tasks are completed more efficiently when grouped together. For this reason, we often do low impact tasks that pair well with high impact ones.

### Estimated time to complete

All else equal, tasks that can be completed faster are preferable.


## Questions

Ask yourself these questions periodically to improve your ability to prioritize:

1. What’s the most impactful thing you can work on?
2. Did you correctly identify the problems you are facing?
3. Do you know the most important problem to solve next?
4. Can you replace any planned tasks with better ones?
5. Can you delete any especially low impact tasks entirely?

## Conclusion

We aim to embed a passion for prioritization into our culture. If you think similarly and want to join our global team, [we are hiring](https://www.stickermule.com/careers?ref=blog). 

At Sticker Mule, there's always room to improve. Consequently, prioritization is the most important thing we do. 

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