How to create a sticker cut line in Illustrator

A cut line is a path that gets placed around your design to tell us exactly how it should be cut. Most stickers feature a white border around the design – this is what the cut line creates.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="awbzbJsvHxs?rel=0&showinfo=0" />

Keep in mind that this is __completely optional__ when ordering from Sticker Mule. When ordering [die cut stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/die-cut-stickers) (or any custom shape product) we will automatically create a cut line to match the shape of your artwork.

*Depending on whether your artwork is [vector or raster](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/raster-vs-vector-images), the first 3 steps for creating a cut line are different.*

<h2 id="vector">How to create a cut line for vector artwork (steps 1-3)</h2>

[Skip to raster instructions.](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-create-a-sticker-cut-line#raster)

### Step 1
With your design open in Adobe Illustrator, select any strokes that are present in your design.

You can use Outline view to help you find any strokes in your design.
Mac: ⌘ + Y
PC: CTRL + Y

![cut-line-vector-step-1](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/339e8f3ad27800927295217ede788df91aa742ef)

With your strokes selected, select *Object* > *Path* > *Outline stroke*.

### Step 2
Select all the text within your design.

Then right click and select *Create Outlines*.
Mac: Shift + ⌘ + O
PC: Shift + CTRL + O

![cut-line-vector-step-2](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/8b658ecc0fa84076321edf0758efaa78776d6554)

### Step 3
In the *Layers* window, hold Option (Mac) or Alt (PC), then drag the layer that your artwork is on, on top of itself.

![cut-line-vector-step-3](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/06c4e7eb6cf86a1a6de0759b9c653f02e1ae6fd9)

This will create a new duplicate layer. This is where you will create the cut line so you can lock the layer beneath.

[Skip to step 4.](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-create-a-sticker-cut-line#step4)

<h2 id="raster">How to create a cut line for raster artwork (steps 1-3)</h2>

[Back to vector instructions.](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-create-a-sticker-cut-line#vector)

### Step 1
Open your design in Adobe Illustrator.

In the *Layers* window, hold Option (Mac) or Alt (PC), then drag the layer that your artwork is on, on top of itself.

![cut-line-raster-step-1](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/235769c06d38e410f92845eb3c182cdbd1bf3d24)

This will create a new duplicate layer. This is where you will create the cut line so you can lock the layer beneath.

### Step 2
With your image selected, use the *[Image trace](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-use-image-trace-in-adobe-illustrator)* window to convert your image into a vector.

Ignore colors or fine details while doing this step. All that matters is getting the perimeter of the shape to match your original design.

When it looks good, click *Expand*. This will create a vector shape.

![cut-line-raster-step-2](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/adf9a2b74ae1dd087f3732c10cf9f1a80f5d642b)

### Step 3
Illustrator will often create a white bounding box around your design – this needs to be removed.

To delete it, right click on your design and select *Ungroup*. Select the bounding box, then tap Delete.

![cut-line-raster-step-3](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/7e5518f6669ed2f1c3087e9bc90f444c14c829c7)

<h2 id="step4">How to create a cut line (steps 4-7)</h2>

*Regardless of the image format you began with, the following steps are the same.*

### Step 4
Select everything on your cut line layer.

From the *Pathfinder* window, select the *Unite* icon to transform the entire image into a single shape.

![cut-line-step-4](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3a322f8be0b9a58b8093cf1a19ca6233f937934f)

### Step 5
With the shape still selected, select *Object* > *Path* > *Offset path*.

With the *Offset path* panel open, check the *Preview* box. Adjust the *Offset* amount until you are happy with the width of the border, then press *OK*. (At Sticker Mule, [we required a minimum border](https://www.stickermule.com/support/minimum-border-thickness) of 1/16")

![cut-line-step-5](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/f06450b2bcd8d896c70dc12f9e128d4981c7f00f)

### Step 6
Again, select everything on the cut line layer and from the *Pathfinder* window, select *Unite*.

Using the *Direct selection tool* (A) delete any unwanted holes in your shape. (At Sticker Mule, [we allow 1 internal cut](https://www.stickermule.com/support/do-you-allow-internal-cuts) of at least ¼")

![cut-line-step-6](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/aed17ac1135daaee7bea98f3c2982476c0b378c9)

### Step 7
With the shape selected, remove the fill, and give it a 1pt stroke.

![cut-line-step-7](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/d6d4d549906e0327b75068b408ea1b2e1c164946)

This is the standard format, most print shops, including Sticker Mule, will use for cut lines.

### Step 8 (optional)
If you end up with two or more cut line objects, you’ll need to bridge them together to create a single shape.

Use the *Pen tool* (P) to create a shape that overlaps the existing objects. Then with all the objects selected, from the *Pathfinder* window, select *Unite*.

![cut-line-step-8](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9468f7efc7b72fb1b09cf5f40ec8adf9180a0845)

When you're done adding cut lines, simply save your Illustrator file and you're finished. You can upload your file to Sticker Mule as-is, and within a few hours you'll receive a free proof showing you exactly what your sticker is going to look like.

If you're new to sticker design, get started quickly with $10 off your first order. Just sign up by clicking the button below.

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Designer, Hayden Aube, shows how to create a custom cut line for your stickers or magnets.

All about labeling: start to finish 

![All about labeling | Sticker Mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/41ee310ba37ce7eb90de506ec4a0a058b28a4e34)

The right label can make the difference between the success or failure of a product. Making the perfect product label takes a combination of creativity, inquisitiveness and planning. 

Labels have their place as [personalized gifts](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/face-labels), signage for [bespoke products](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/candle-labels) and – of course – to identify [commercial products](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/product-labels). It’s important, however, to think things through before starting your project so as to avoid mistakes. By understanding the process involved in creating stylish and engaging labels, you too can create designs that attract consumers, communicate with customers and provide them with important information.

## What's it all about?

Labels are part of the packaging used to make goods look presentable and appealing. It’s the written information on a container or package. This might include vital elements such as brand colors, a company logo, distinct materials and a notable shape. 

Labels are about more than marketing. Some label details fulfill legal requirements. Whether a product is a brand-new market entrant or a well-known staple, it must comply with legal regulations regarding labeling. 

For nearly every product imaginable, there are varying degrees of mandates that dictate what information companies must provide for consumers. [Food products](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/food-labels), for example, are governed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as are [cosmetics](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/cosmetic-labels). 

## Plan for success

Whether you’re [creating a custom label](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-labels) for yourself or a client, you must develop a design that’s functional and takes into account all product variables. Therefore, the starting process for creating a label is one of information gathering, rather than creativity. 

If you’re developing a label for someone else, you’ll need information from the client. In some instances, the client will already have a logo that you can use to start the process. In other cases, you have to start from scratch, which should factor into the final price of creating the label. 

You must also consider where the client plans to sell the product. Using this information, you can develop ways to differentiate the offering. 

If the client intends to sell their goods in a supermarket, for example, you must develop a label that will distinguish it from all the other similar products in the same section. If the client, however, will sell their good solely online, you’ll need to come up with a different strategy. 

During this phase, it helps to think about who will use the product. You also need to gather this information from the client because while the product may provide some clue as to who will use it, only the proprietor knows exactly how they plan to promote their goods. 

![All about labeling | Sticker Mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/0caea4fa01d9f3f2d1d610e120c2f2b0cf9c5c8c)

## Assessing the big picture 

Regarding the intended product, you’ll want to know specific details, such as what values the ideal consumer holds as well as their education level. Before starting your label design, it’s essential that you understand the “W’s”: 

- Who 
- What 
- When 
- Where 
- Why 
- How 

Knowing that the product is for male teenagers, for instance, isn’t enough insight for you to create the best design. You must also ask yourself what other kinds of similar goods the ideal consumer purchases. This kind of detailed information is needed to design a label that speaks to the right audience. 

After gathering basic information, you’ll need to conduct research. You must further investigate the intended audience by identifying their age, gender, income and other information that you may have overlooked during the initial round of research to ensure that you haven’t missed any important details. These seemingly innocuous facts will inform you throughout the design process. 

You should also learn as much as you can about competing products. You don’t want to create a label that’s too close in appearance to a competitor’s. Moreover, this research will give you an idea of what kind of label design appeals to the audience for that product. 

## Getting the message across

Label design is about more than creating an attractive project. You must also provide information that’s important to consumers. 

Of course, there are certain elements that will take up the most label real estate. This might include the name of the product and the company slogan as well as the company logo. For the rest of the information, however, you must figure out how to distribute it among the remaining space on the label. 

One piece of supplementary information that’s important to display prominently is the universal selling proposition (USP). In fact, the USP should factor into all stages of the design process. 

The purpose of the label is first to attract consumers and then engage them. The way to accomplish this in its entirety is to include the USP conspicuously on the label face. 

If the client has not developed a universal selling proposition, you can work with them to figure out the benefits of the product and promote these concepts on the label. By knowing the USP or product benefits you can make appropriate design decisions during the planning stage of creating the label. 

![All about labeling | Sticker Mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a3225796d2ba80863bbf7e88ae22cdaf0182138e)

## Now the fun part, choosing a look 

Choosing the right color is one of the most important parts of designing your new label. The color that you choose may be influenced by several variables. This could include the type of product, the target audience and the colors used by competing goods. 

Many times, the packaging will heavily influence label design. If, for example, the label will include a significant number of lively images, you’ll want to use bright colors to complete this theme. More importantly, you want the color of the label to help the product stand out from competing goods. 

Label typography encompasses the physical features of the label as a whole. Most labels, for instance, contain a considerable amount of text. Label typography delineates what items are highlighted to consumers, where items are placed and which ones are more important than others. 

Start this part of the planning process by figuring out the typography for the most important elements of the design, such as the product name and slogan. You may, for example, use hand-lettering, rather than pre-existing fonts. This, by the way, allows you to create a design that’s unique to that particular product. 

Additionally, copywriting design optimization is essential for labels, as space is extremely limited. This makes definitive and succinct label copy critical. 

You must also decide what visual elements you’ll use for your label. This includes pictures and illustrations. They're especially useful for creating a sentiment about a good that words alone cannot produce. 

The visual elements that you select will be greatly influenced by the product. If the label is for a mountain bike, for example, your design might include the image of a bicycle. 

## Know your limitations

Now that you’ve figured out what you can do, it’s time to figure out what you cannot do. While you may know exactly what you want and have grand ideas for the design of the label, your concept may not serve your client’s needs. 

Will the product be used outdoors or in wet environments? A paper label won't be a good choice. Look for [waterproof materials](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/waterproof-labels) instead.

Similarly, if you're working with food products, consider using food-safe materials for your labeling.

## Remember the endgame

When a great design idea pops into your head, it’s tempting to head off to the drawing board and start building your concept after only briefly observing the good on which you’ll later place the label. However, it’s important to know not only if the label fits on the good, but that it complements the shape of the packaging. 

Furthermore, you’ll have to take a moment to think about how much of the product you’ll cover with your label. If, for instance, the product packaging isn’t especially aesthetically appealing, you’ll want to create a label that covers more of the vessel. Conversely, if the packaging has visually attractive attributes, you’ll want to leave the packaging exposed and reduce the size of the label. 

Either way, the label and packaging must attract and engage consumers. These variables are essential in determining the presence of your design from a consumer perspective. 

![All about labeling | Sticker Mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/fbb845de12adb66ed440baef279cb0a699956f8e)

## Get a second opinion 

There is one more important step to complete before uploading your design idea to the printer and waiting with bated breath for your new labels to arrive. After creating your label, you should interview members of the intended audience to determine how they feel about your creation. You can invite them to take a survey and ask them questions about the new label. You should design the questionnaire to help you understand if you have successfully created the right sentiment for consumers with your label project. 

When consumers respond to questions, dig deeper. Ask them why they feel the way that they do about certain aspects of the label. This is important for helping you to discover the emotional reasoning behind their sentiments. 

Finally, when creating your label, you don’t have to go it alone. In fact, you should include the client throughout all stages of the design process. 

While this may vary in degree with the designer, it’s important that the client stays involved. By working closely with the client, you can increase the likelihood that they’ll approve of the final product. 

Some creators develop label designs with little client feedback. Everyone has their own process. Still, it’s important to consult with the client before finalizing any significant design decisions to ensure that you produce a label that pleases all stakeholders and helps the client to create a positive brand image. With planning, you’ll create a design that attracts consumers to you or your client's cause or business and leaves a long-lasting positive impression. 

Effective labeling helps consumers to remember products and causes. Even if it’s only a vague recollection, they’re typically enough for potential patrons to remember how to find a product or more information. 

Defining one’s brand is one of the most important parts of running any organization. In fact, research shows that 64-percent of consumers buy goods solely based on appearance. 

This kind of result highlights the importance of effective labels. Furthermore, it’s essential to redesign brand packaging occasionally so that it always has a fresh, new look. With appropriate branding and rebranding as time goes on, you’ll keep your or your client’s goods at the forefront of consumer’s minds.

There are countless ways to delight _your_ customers and grow your brand using labels and other custom printed products. Check out more ways Sticker Mule can help your business grow.

<ButtonCta text="100+ ways to use Sticker Mule" href="https://www.stickermule.com/uses?ref=blog" />


Making the perfect product label takes a combination of creativity, inquisitiveness and planning.

How stickers spread a simple message around the world

![You are beautiful stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/d82a465dded95af5ebcdbba49df83983a6b79a73)

Many people believe that they don’t know how to make a difference in this world, but in reality, everyone contributes to making the world a better place in their own unique way. 

The thing is, when we think about making a difference, we immediately think about doing something big, but the truth is that even a small contribution to someone's life can change their entire day or even month – even something as simple as paying them a compliment. 

## Making a difference with sticker art

Matthew Hoffman started the [You Are Beautiful](https://you-are-beautiful.com/) sticker project in 2002; he had no idea just how far his message would spread. The project was run out of a two-car garage until 2018.

In the beginning, he created a batch of just 100 stickers with a simple message: you are beautiful. 

This simple statement was intended as a small but positive affirmation for whoever might happen to spot one of Hoffman’s stickers; just a daily reminder that you are beautiful.

![You Are Beautiful stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/68ea0db36ffae4b01fc395d0c817adb857565eca)

Without a doubt, this is a message that struck a lot of people and touched some hearts. Now, fifteen years later, the estimation is that they may have sold close to five million stickers. It goes to show just how much people really care.

Sticker art is an incredible way to say something to the world. They are small, they stick to things, you can hand them out and they never go out of style!

## How the You Are Beautiful sticker art project started

Where did it all start? How was the You Are Beautiful sticker project born? Well, when Matthew Hoffman moved to Chicago, it was his first time in the big city. Surrounded by a lot of visual noise and a lot of audible noise, the city excited him. There were so many different types of people and cultures, all in one place!  
Naturally, anyone new to the busy city life will also feel instantly overwhelmed. You could feel lost in the chaos. Matthew wanted to make something that was quiet and comforting. This project would be something that makes anyone part of the conversation. 

The You Are Beautiful sticker project was one of the very first viral messages, spreading out in the real world rather than online. These stickers instantly spread a simple message around the world. The project brought meaning to a lot of people's lives. 

Sticker art is real, it is a tangible product that won't go anywhere. So, when purchasing these stickers, you know that you are making a real difference; anyone can come across this message in their daily life. Hoffman tried to make stickers that blended with the environment, with bold and colorful letters so that the message could stand out. 

These days, most of us lead a busy lifestyle. We are all part of the rat race, without any of us slowing down. We are so used to chasing things, we forget to see the beauty in life. The purpose of the You Are Beautiful sticker project is to remind us to slow down sometimes and see the beauty in all of us.

![You Are Beautiful stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/7d1e5c97df19c8decc5bb1c17db0f718bdf41faf)

## How the You Are Beautiful sticker art project changed over the years

Remember, this is a project that started before social media even existed. In those days, people were used to getting mail and using their PO Boxes. People would send Matthew photos with their You Are Beautiful stickers, and even letters; they’d use them to map out where each sticker was in the world.

These days, especially with Instagram and sticker hashtags, there are billions of photos. The world essentially got so much smaller when social media became a thing. 

As the project's success grew, they were soon shipping You Are Beautiful stickers around the globe, in one hundred languages. 

![You Are Beautiful stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/7f7ab5096aae3ed6d47b91bd198039dfb2862b5b)

## The peoples' voice

‘The project has actively combatted negativity by distributing millions of You Are Beautiful stickers’ says Hoffman. 

‘Through the years, it has grown into various large-scale, wood installations and murals, as well as collaborations with many designers, students, and artists, worldwide. There have been a lot of people creating their own art from the project and putting their own spin on the movement.

One that stood out in particular: someone drew the words in sand with their footprints. They stayed in the photo for scale, and so you could see it was massive. 

It's just amazing to see what people do with absolutely no materials or budget. All it takes is just a little bit of time, which is great.’

## Get your own You Are Beautiful Stickers

The You Are Beautiful project is still ongoing. You can, as always,
[request free stickers](https://you-are-beautiful.com/pages/faq-free-stickers), or place an order for a larger number if you want to blanket your neighborhood with a simple, sweet and positive message.

This is a message that should be spread to loved ones and strangers alike. With a message like this, there should be no political or religious motive, just a positive affirmation of the fact that all of us are beautiful in our own way.

![You Are Beautiful stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c54bb4aa4d243d839e0449d3ee709b3e1d76a7a7)

## Start your own sticker art project

Interested in starting your own sticker project to make a difference in this world? You can easily create custom stickers online to let your artwork speak for itself. You, too, have the opportunity to spread a message using sticker art, and create something meaningful in this world.

Inspired to create your own sticker art, yet? Get $10 off your first Sticker Mule order when you sign up by clicking the button below.

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When Matthew Hoffman started the You Are Beautiful project in 2002, he had no idea just how far his message would spread.

How to design stickers (video tutorial) 

Designer, Hayden Aube, shows off his favorite techniques for creating a [custom sticker](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers) in Adobe Illustrator.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="0Gh69t8mg8I?rel=0" />

You can also try [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio) – our free online design tool. Choose from over 1000+ templates and quickly create your own design in minutes.

## Transcript:

Hello, my name is Hayden Aube, and I'm a graphic designer and illustrator. And today, I'm going to show you how to create your very own sticker inside of Adobe Illustrator and get it printed with Sticker Mule. In the end, you'll see what it looks like when it's printed and shipped. Let's jump in.

So we're going to be creating a sticker for an imaginary company called Journey Pizza. I'm going to start off by making a series of circles using the Ellipse Tool. So there's the first, and then I'm just going to duplicate a second one and put it behind the first. And then I'm going to make a third one behind that one. Next, I'm going to grab the red and yellow circles and use the Divide Tool in the Pathfinder window. This will split those two shapes into what you see here.

Now I'm going to create another circle a bit smaller than the last, and this is going to be the path that I type my text on. So I'm going to use the
Type on a Path Tool. And as I've mentioned, the company is called Journey Pizza. So I'm going to type that out, and then I'm going to use the Selection Tool to drag it exactly where I want it on the path. Then I'm going to shrink it down a little bit and make it white. And now that I have the text looking how I want it, I'm going to create outlines from it so it's easier for printing.

Next up, I'm going to use the Live Shape options with this Ellipse to drag out these widgets into the exact kind of pie shape that I would like.

Now I want to put a circle on either side of the larger circles. And I'm going to do that just by creating one where I like it right here and then using the Mirror Tool to reflect it to the exact other side.

The plan is to have a flagpole coming out of this inner circle, and so I'm going to start off by using the Pen Tool to create the pole of that flag. Once I've created the path that I like, I'm going to apply a stroke to it and then use the Stroke options to put it to the width that I'd like.

Because I'd like this pole to look like it's coming out of the circle, I'm going to use the Path Width Tool to make the top of the path larger and the bottom of it smaller. This will give it a sense of depth. And I'm just going to quickly change the position of it. And now I'm just going to duplicate one of these circles to create a little ball on top of the pole.

And now that this pole is looking how I'd like, I'm going to go to Object, Path, Outline Stroke. And this is going to turn it into a shape, which is going to make it easier to apply gradients to later on.

So now what I want to do is I want to create a flag shape that looks like a piece of pizza. So I'm going to draw it out with the Pen Tool, and then I'm going to go to Effect, Warp, and then Wave. And from here, I'm just going to play with these options until I get the nice curvy flag shape that I'm looking for.

Now, I'm going to move it behind the pole, and I'm just going to continue to move it around and adjust it until it looks exactly like I'd like. So I'll nudge it over a bit, I'll move the flag itself up, I'm going to change it to white. And now I'm just going to take these individual points and move them around. Because this is still a live shape, I can do this and the effect will adjust accordingly.

Once it's all looking how I like, I can go to Object, Expand Appearance. This will convert that live shape into actual paths, which once again is really helpful when it comes to printing.

Now as I said, I want this flag to look like a piece of pizza, so I'm going to create a bunch of little pepperonis. So I've created this symbol here, and I'm going to use the Symbol Sprayer Tool just to place them in different locations.

Now I'm going to use the Symbol Sizer Tool just to create variation among these pepperoni slices. So I'll make some smaller, some larger, and others I'll just keep the same. Next, just to change some of the position of these pepperonis, I'm going to use the Symbol Shifter just to nudge them in different directions.

And then lastly, I'm going to use the Symbol Spinner tool, and that's just going to let me to rotate these shapes so that they match the wave of the flag.

The last thing I want to do with this flag is just crop a little piece of that pole. And to do it, I'm going to create another circle shape, and then I'm just going to change it with the Direct Selection Tool to create a shape that I can now subtract from that pole. And then I'm going to just put that ball back on top, and there we have it.

Now, with all of the shapes made, now I wanted to apply some gradients to really refine this design.

So what I'm going to do is I'm going to create a gradient for this background red circle that goes from a red to an orange. So I'm going to set up the two different stops on the gradient window, and then I'm going to use a Gradient Tool to put it in the direction that I want-- so red on the bottom, orange on the top. Now for the yellow ring, I want to go from an orange to a yellow. So once again, in the Gradient window, I'm going to set up the gradient just as I'd like so that yellow to that light orange.

And then again, I'm going to use the Gradient Tool just to put it in the direction that I'd like. And then I can just reposition it here so it looks just how I'd like it. Next up, I'm going to do these two little balls, and I'm just going to eyedropper the background color and then apply the gradient in the direction to both of them at the same time. Now for the pole, I'll be using a dark blue and a lighter blue.

So I'm going to be creating it just as I normally have been. Oops, wrong color. There we go. And then again, I'm going to put it in the direction that I want with the Gradient Tool. For the ball on top of the pole, I'm going to eyedropper the pole's gradient, but I'm going to turn it into a radial gradient and then just switch the colors. This way, I can make it really look like it's a sphere. And I'm just going to make a quick adjustment to the pole.

And now I'm going to do this wedge shape here. So I'm going to copy that radial gradient, and now I'm just going to reposition it so it lines up exactly with that wedge. From here, I can continue to adjust the gradient itself to get it to line up just how I'd like it.

To add one final layer of depth, I'm going to create some drop shadows. So to do this, I'm going to create a shape that's a combination of both the flag and the pole-- so it looks just like this. And now I'm going to position it a bit lower than the flag and then put it behind. There we go.

Now from here, I want to crop it so it's only inside of that red circle. And to do that, I'm going to duplicate that circle, put it on top, and then I'm going to use Intersect in the Pathfinder window.

Now this new shape is where we're going to create our gradient for the drop shadow. So I'm going to put it back behind the flag, and now I'm going to create that gradient that is just this dark red on either ends of the gradient. But one of them is going to be a 100% opacity, while the other is zero. And then just as we have done with the other gradients, I'm going to drag it out with the Gradient Tool just to get it to look exactly how I'd like. Now I do think this is a bit strong, so now I'm actually going to go and reduce the opacity to about 25%. That looks good.

I'm just going to go back into it quickly and adjust that gradient to make it come down a bit more. Perfect.

Finally, I want to add a drop shadow inside this red circle so it looks like that yellow rim is coming forward. So I'm going to subtract one of those circles from another, just to get this thin shape here, like you can see. And then I'm just going to eyedropper that drop shadow I created before and drag it out how I'd like. Other way. There we go.

So now that we've designed our sticker, it's time to get it printed. And to do that, we're going to be using Sticker Mule's [custom samples](https://www.stickermule.com/products/sticker-samples) package. And that means we get 10 stickers for $9.00 and free shipping.

Once on the Sticker Mule website, we're going to go to Get Samples. Now on the sample page, you can choose from all sorts of different Sticker Mule products, including just a sample pack of a variety. But we're going to be using the custom sticker samples right here.

So from this page, we're just going to click on Order 10 stickers for $9.00. And then here, we're going to upload our artwork. If you have any specific instructions, you could put those in here. Otherwise, click Continue.

Now we just need to check out. And just as with any check out process, you'll need to enter your name, your email, as well as your credit card, and shipping information. Then press Place Your Order. And now we just need to wait for our proof.

So now that my proof has arrived, all I need to do is click here. And then at this point, you can see that they've added a nice white border to the design, and if there is any changes I want, I can just type those in here. But I think it looks good, so I'm just going to go and cancel, approve, and finally start production. And now my stickers are being made.

So let's see how they turned out. So I'll just open up the package, and let's see what's inside. There's the stickers, there's some Sticker Mule stickers as well. As well as a little card that tells me who printed it, which is kind of neat. But let's dig into this stack of 10 here and see how they look.

And, yeah, I can say that they're looking pretty good, looking like the design, which is really great. I'm particularly happy with how that white border looks too. And there you have it. There's the stickers after they've been printed.

So I hope that through this video, you've learned not just how to make a sticker that looks good on screen but looks just as good when you get it printed. Take care.



<ButtonCta text="Get sticker samples for $9" href="https://www.stickermule.com/samples?ref=blog" />

Designer, Hayden Aube, shows you how to design a custom sticker in Adobe Illustrator. Check out Hayden's favorite techniques in this video tutorial. 

Branded packing tape vs. regular packing tape 

<YouTubeVideo videoId="JGy4jwR-oqo?rel=0&showinfo=0" />

Custom packing tape is the best kept secret of the Internet’s smartest retailers. It gets your brand exposure while your shipments are in transit, improves deliverability by making your packages more noticeable when delivered and reinforces your brand so customers are more likely to reorder. This is why retailers that switch to using custom tape rarely change back.

Yet many businesses are still relying on clear unbranded tape.  Before we convince you to start using them, let’s take a closer look at custom shipping tapes. 

## What is a custom packing tape? 

Packing or mailing tape is an essential part of your [product packaging](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-packaging-design). Custom printed packing tapes are also called logo tapes (because you can print your logo on the tape for branding purposes), personalized mailing tapes, and custom package tapes. 

You may think that customers just rip them out but your printed packing tape serves more than one purpose. Visually, the difference between a box using branded packing tape and and a box using unbranded tape is obvious. And you might expect to pay a hefty premium for switching to custom tape. But the cost difference is less than you’d expect.

## Why you should use custom packaging tape? 

Aside from the reasons mentioned above, we have prepared more reasons to convince you to use custom printed tapes.

### Cost per roll of packing tape is not that expensive

You can get a 300 foot roll of [custom packing tape](https://www.stickermule.com/products/packaging-tape) from Sticker Mule for $29.

While a roll of [standard clear packing tape](https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Shipping-Packaging-Dispenser-142-6/dp/B000J07BRQ/) only costs around $2.25.

That’s a big difference. However, at 300 feet, a roll of Sticker Mule custom packing tape is 4.5 times longer than a standard 800 inch roll of clear packing tape.

That puts the price per foot at:

- Custom packing tape = $0.10
- Standard packing tape = $0.03

### Custom tapes save you from a lot of trouble when packing

When using custom packing tape from Sticker Mule, 1 pass of tape is all you need to securely seal your box. Our tape is water-activated which allows it to quickly create a strong bond to your package once applied.

When using standard clear packing tape, 2 or 3 passes are usually necessary to seal your box. And even with multiple strips of standard packing tape, [boxes are still more susceptible to theft.](https://www.stickermule.com/support/how-is-your-packaging-tape-different-from-other-tape)

For a box that is 12 inches long, you’d want to include an extra 3 inches on each side for both the top and bottom with each strip of tape. That puts the length of tape needed for a 12-inch box at roughly:

- Custom packing tape - 36 inches
- Standard packing tape - 108 inches

If we take our cost per foot numbers from above, we can calculate the cost of tape per package at:

- Custom packing tape = $0.30
- Standard packing tape = $0.27

This means __it only costs $0.03 extra per box__ to create branded packaging.

But there is still one more important factor to consider…

### Branded packing tapes cut down your packing time

Since Sticker Mule’s custom packaging tape is water activated, we include a sponge with every order. If you’re only shipping a few boxes at a time, there won’t be a noticeable difference in the time it takes to seal a box with either type of packaging tape.

But if you’re shipping larger quantities, [a water activated tape dispenser](https://www.stickermule.com/support/what-tape-machine-or-dispenser-do-you-recommend) can cut the time it takes to seal your boxes in half. This does require an upfront investment of around $400 - $1,300, but it quickly pays for itself the more you ship.

And when you are shipping larger quantities, you can order custom packaging tape from Sticker Mule for as little as $19.50 per roll when buying in bulk.

In fact, most companies shipping 100 or more packages per day could actually save money by using Sticker Mule’s custom packaging tape, compared to clear packing tape.

## Where to get branded packing tape?

Are you ready to grow your business with custom printed tapes? If you want to improve your brand exposure and your package deliverability, while saving time and money, try custom packing tape for your packaging.

Upload any image and we'll format it for you, or easily [design your own tape](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-design-packaging-tape).

![Custom packing tape applied to box](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/6a27e0973a183c8a09fcd68a0e314d02a3c5d5cf "Custom branded packing tape being applied to package")

See for yourself the difference custom packing tape can make for your business.

<ButtonCta text="Try custom tape for $4" size="large" variant="secondary"  align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/packaging-tape-sample?ref=blog" />

We compared the difference in cost and quality between custom packaging tape and regular unbranded packing tape. 

Branded packing tape vs. regular packing tape: Which should you choose?

The making of our new homepage video 

Our [home page](https://www.stickermule.com/) is the first interaction most visitors and customers have with our brand. Our previous home page video showed the ordering process, but lacked a story that focused on our customers. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we created our new homepage video.

<WistiaVideo videoId="qwwgsbtbav" />

## Script
Instead of making a basic “how-to” video, we wanted to make something that was more inspirational and persuasive. To do this, we knew we had to tell a story – one that revolved around our customers. One blessing & curse with our business is that we have all sorts of different customers: big businesses, small businesses, non-profits, hobbyists, do-it-yourselfers, developers, designers... the list goes on. There isn’t just one “target customer” we go after, so we decided to focus our story on three: a startup, a do-it-yourselfer, and a designer.

With our personas selected, we focused on a few key features of Sticker Mule that we wanted to highlight in the script:

### Ease of use
- No file restrictions
- Mobile friendly

### Proofing
- Online proofs within 4 hours
- Unlimited revisions

### Speed
- Quick turnaround
- Free shipping

It was important to highlight the minor differences in how each person used Sticker Mule. For example, if we only showed someone uploading a photo from their phone that might turn away the designer who wants a pixel perfect print. But if we only showed the designer uploading a vector image that might turn away someone who doesn’t have graphic design skills.

After showing the entire ordering process, we focused on how each person used their stickers in real life. Easy ordering and fast shipping are great, but how they plan to use the stickers is the main reason people buy in the first place.

## Storyboard

A storyboard is a scene by scene drawing of how the video will look. We created a storyboard to plan the shoot and fix any potential pitfalls before we shot anything. We kept things simple by limiting the video to 4 different locations: Aaron’s office, Jess’ workspace, Brian’s desk, and a location that would tie in all three of them.

![Storyboard vs finished video](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/2f46e23cb97fb91c553a40b3324fcb9f1df24f76)

## Voiceover
We used the same voiceover pro to remain consistent with our other videos. One big advantage of using a voiceover (as opposed to on-camera dialogue), is that we didn’t have to worry about sound once we began filming. This made shooting and editing much easier and faster.

## Shooting
We shot the entire video in one day. This required a tight schedule for each location and set call-times for the actors. Luckily, each location was relatively close together, and everyone showed up on-time.

We kept the storyboard on hand as a reference to make sure each shot fit what we had envisioned.

<WistiaVideo videoId="rpcmc9d01e" />

For the final scene, we knew the timing was key. So we played the voiceover through an iPhone, which kept our camera movement and actors all in sync.

## Editing
We used a combination of Premiere Pro and After Effects for all the post production work on this video.

Since the ordering process is a key part of this video, we knew that whatever took place on the screens in the video had to look really good. But shooting a screen isn’t always easy and doesn’t always look as sharp as you would want it to. For this reason, we decided to overlay screencasts on top of the screens shot in the video. For the MacBook and iMac this was relatively easy, but the iPhone took some motion tracking and masking work to have it look realistic.

![Editing Sticker Mule's home page video](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3e55e77faff205857f231219d199327935598642)

Instead of using straight-up screen capture footage, we recreated each scene and animated it in After Effects. This made all the movement perfectly smooth, and helped us with the next step: translating.

## Translating
Since the whole video was narrated via a voiceover this made translating very straightforward. However the on-screen scenes needed to be updated to have the localized versions of the site in each language. To make this easy, we used the Templater Rig After Effects plugin from Dataclay.

![Homepage video text](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/2f826187fe6b95ad4856ba701df6d7719033742c)

The Templater plugin allowed us to update each layer of text via a Google Sheet. We only had to animate the screencasts once, and we could easily change languages with a click of a button.

If you’re interested in seeing our homepage video in different languages here are the links. Just make sure you switch back to English (bottom right) when you’re done!

[Italian](https://www.stickermule.com/it#video)

[French](https://www.stickermule.com/fr#video)

[Spanish](https://www.stickermule.com/es#video)

[German](https://www.stickermule.com/de#video)

[Dutch](https://www.stickermule.com/nl#video)

[Portuguese](https://www.stickermule.com/br#video)

[Japanese](https://www.stickermule.com/jp#video)

## Conclusion
We’re thankful to have 100,000 customers that trust us to print their custom stickers, magnets, and poly mailers. It’s impossible to capture everyone’s unique story, yet we aimed to capture a representation of many stories in one minute and fifteen seconds.

And if you liked this video, you should [subscribe to our channel on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/stickermule?sub_confirmation=1).

A behind the scenes look at how we made the video on our homepage. From script to post-production. 

Omit needless words 

Every needless word you omit is an investment in the foundation of your organization. Here’s why: 

## People don't read

People [read 20% of the words](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-little-do-users-read/) on a web page. A concise message is more likely to be absorbed. 

## Save time 

Extra words waste time ~~for your customers and coworkers~~. 

## Simplify translations

Be concise in your native language to make translating content easier. 

## Strengthen your brand 

Search engines may like more words but customers appreciate fewer.  

Content grows exponentially which makes it harder to maintain quality. The sooner you start [omitting needless words](http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk5.html#13) from your organization the better. 



Every needless word you omit is an investment in the foundation of your organization.

How to save time and money with creative packaging 

Most online crafters don’t need to be told what branding is. They know it intuitively. They framed their branding as they developed their products. They put it in writing when they got a logo and a business card. 

But what about a product’s shipping box and packaging? If you’re an online crafter, you probably already get that this is another aspect of branding. It’s not just a fulfillment cost. The packaging you use is the first real life experience your customers have with your brand.
 
What is that experience going to be?
 
You want to make an impression, obviously. But you’re also in business. So while it might be fun to make every package into a work of art, that’s not realistic. Your time and money are limited. 

You need to deliver a package that is:

**Durable**

There’s no worse branding experience than receiving a package that’s been pummeled in the mail.
 
**Attractive**

Our expectations frame our experiences. If your packaging is appealing, your customers will have a pre-set expectation that your products will be appealing, too. This can reduce returns, increase loyalty, and even result in better product reviews.
 
**Memorable**

There's no shortage of competition, even for handmade goods. You want first time customers to remember your products and your packaging enough to buy again.
 
**Efficient**

Time is money. You can’t spend hours preparing each package. I’d guesstimate that any more than ten minutes simply isn’t feasible. Five minutes per package is probably the absolute max.
 
**Affordable**

It might be awesome to wrap your work in gold leaf… but you can’t. So how much is reasonable to spend on each package? 3-7% of your product cost is what most companies aim for, but 10% is not uncommon. And 10% is probably the number that most small-scale crafters should aim to beat. Limited budgets and small operations often mean you can’t buy in bulk. Also, because you’re a crafter, there’s an expectation that your shipping should be more distinctive than if you were shipping, say, batteries.
 
Here’s how those different percentages might break out for a $50 order:
 
* 3% of the product cost would give you a $1.50 packaging budget
* 5% would be $2.50
* 7% would be $3.50
* 10% would be $5.00

Let’s say you decide on 7%. That’s $3.50 of budget to package a $50 order. Impossible? Not at all. You can definitely keep the outside box to $1.50 or so. Judicious use of stickers and a custom stamp can turn a “boring” brown box into something reasonable cool and memorable, but also tough enough to survive even an abusive postal worker.
 
That leaves you $2.00 per package.
 
So what can you do with that? Quite a lot, actually. Take a look at what these three small online crafters have done with their packaging.

## 1. Pick a theme
 
Packages literally tie things together. So do themes.
 
Here’s how [Love Bud Photography](http://www.lovebudphotography.com/index2.php?v=v1#!/HOME) announces its work in the mail. 

![LoveBudPhotography Uses a Party Theme for their Online Store](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/545e44e6ced80f0e99580ea30da4c1cf9af9d243)

The party theme used here is an easy way to invoke celebration – and we want our customers to celebrate when they get their packages, right?
 
But the party theme is also a smart business move. You see, party supplies are easy to find. They’re inexpensive. And they come in hundreds of colors and variations. The hardest part about picking what to use will be to winnow down your options.
 
Just a few things to notice in this box:
 
**1. The package filler.**

Want to know the single best way to keep stuff from getting damaged in a shipping box? Make sure it can’t move around during transit.

That’s why so many people use box filler. And this particular box filler – the crinkled strips of paper – definitely has a party feel to it. It’s known as crinkle paper, and you can get a 10 lb box of it at Staples for $18, retail. With a third of a pound of that in each shipping box, you’d pay about 60 cents per box.
 
**2. The printed card.**

This serves a clever dual purpose. It’s an insert card you can use for loyalty or feedback (ask for an honest review) or another message. But it can also be a thank you card. You can get thank you cards printed up for ten cents or less each. Then write a quick thank you note to customize each package. That personalized touch is exactly the sort of thing people remember and share.
 
**3. The confetti.**

Using confetti in shipping packaging is pretty popular right now. But it makes sense. We all have fun associations with confetti, plus it’s colorful and cheap. It’s an easy way to add splash to a box for barely a dime per package.  

Want another spin on the confetti idea? Here’s how [The Bees Knees](http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2011/3/4/this-is-the-bees-knees.html) ships their honey.

![BeesKnees Uses Creative Packaging to Ship their Honey](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a2d667c715a07e80de5869a6ecfe20e428931d7b)

One quick comment on this, though. That glass jar will need protection during shipping. They might want to borrow some of Love Bud’s crinkled paper. Or use honeycomb packaging to expand upon that theme.

**How much for that party in a box?**
 
With those three things plus the shipping box, and we’re at $2.30 per box ($1.50 for the outside shipping box, plus 80 cents for the filler, the card, and the confetti).
 
That still leaves $1.20 of budget per box left. Enough to buy a bit of candy, like Love Bud has done here. Or to include some other small gift like the heart in a tin.
 
Want another twist on the party theme? How about skipping the crinkled paper and using half-filled balloons instead? They’re the party version of air pillows. You can get packs of 100 balloons for less than $6. You can even get them in a particular color, and nail another branding opportunity.
 
## 2. Use common materials in a creative way

This is the best secret for small shop packaging. If you can use common materials in a new way, you’ll:
 
- Save money
- Be memorable
- Skip lots of sourcing headaches (because you can get your packing supplies just about anywhere)
 
My favorite example of this is…
 
The humble paper bag.
 
Here’s how the handmade craft company [Nestled](http://nestledblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/packaging.html) does theirs:

![KraftBag Nestled Packaging for Etsy Store](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/da2728cbbd14994c18b17a9099c0e72884053a66)

It’s simple, affordable, and appealing.
 
Here’s the cost breakout:
 
-   	The bag: 5 cents
-   	The twine: 5 cents
-   	The die-cut printed label: 20 cents (this is my estimate). 

"Die cut" refers to the shape of this tag. Notice how it’s not a square? That’s why it’s so expensive. But Megan (Nestled’s owner) saved so much money with her other packaging materials that she can splurge a little on the label.
 
Total cost for this? 30 cents!

That leaves enough left over to possibly add another layer of protection for the jewelry inside. Add a sticker and a stamp and you’ve got a custom-printed package. Oops… getting ahead of myself.

## 3. Invest strategically in your printing

Yes – custom printing can be expensive. And yes – your budget is small. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do any custom printing. You just have to do it strategically.
 
One example of this? Custom tape.
 
A lot of cool little craft companies are using custom tape. No surprise, really. You have to use tape anyway to seal the box – might as well make it into a branding statement.
 
There’s two types of tape being used these days: Packaging tape (sometimes known as “Carton sealing tape”) for outside the shipping box and “Kraft” tape, which is suitable for lighter uses.

Rolls typically come in 55 or 100 yards. If you buy about 25 or fewer rolls, you’ll pay roughly $10 per roll. Buy more and the cost per roll goes down.
 
If you use one yard of tape per package, that’s about 10 cents of custom tape per package. Not bad, given how much of a statement it could make.
 
But you could go even cheaper. Here’s plain tape made marvelous with a custom stamp. It’s not suitable for packaging tape, but it would keep interior boxes and envelopes closed. And it makes for a very cool return address label.

![Custom Stamped Masking Tape](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/fdea7890831ae500d8618850bd2ee4b39b6d1d6b)

Custom stamps bring up a ton of other possibilities. They basically make you into your own print shop. Here’s how [one coffee roaster](https://shopventory.com/blog/diy-stamp-projects) packs their coffee:

![Custom Stamped Coffee Bag](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/de09998c759db71bf90e4a626def40b45275ca14)

And there’s another paper bag…
 
[Custom stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers), of course, work great too. They’re similar to stamps, but stickers can seal boxes (like custom tape does), which makes them dual use. And stickers can go on the outside of shipping boxes, too.
 
With all those options, you can save enough to be able to splurge on some custom printing. And it doesn’t always have to be a custom box, either. Custom printed poly mailers (aka “poly bags”) work well, too.

## Conclusion
 
There’s absolutely no reason to give up on having cool packaging. Even if you’re on a shoestring budget.  Especially if you're on a shoestring budget, actually.
 
Just be sure that whatever you use will hold up during shipping. And keep your package prep time to a minimum. That’s one area many handmade companies don’t estimate for properly. For instance, if you earn $20 an hour, and you spend 15 minutes prepping each package, you’ve just put $5 of your time into that package. Those hours add up and can throw off your spend per package… which is why a little custom printing can quickly pay for itself.

## Back to you
 
There are countless ways to delight _your_ customers and grow your brand using stickers and other custom printed products. Check out more ways Sticker Mule can help your business grow.

<ButtonCta text="100+ ways to use Sticker Mule" href="https://www.stickermule.com/uses?ref=blog" />

The packaging you use is the first real life experience your customers have with your brand. What is that experience going to be? 

How to build your Etsy shop brand 

Wouldn’t it be great if every one of your Etsy customers sent others to your shop?

As a small business owner, you want people to enjoy your creations and tell others. You don’t just want them to come back and buy again. You also want them to recommend your shop to their friends and help you grow. But if you’re a small Etsy shop owner, you might recognize this conversation:

“I found this super cute Etsy shop the other day.” “What’s it called?” “...I can’t remember.”

Now, that’s tragic. The good news is that a combination of good branding on Etsy along with some simple Etsy SEO will make it easier for your customers to not only find you the first time but remember your name and share it with all their friends.

## How to get noticed on Etsy in 2020

A major issue with selling on Etsy is being found in the first place. There are thousands of sellers who create similar products, so when a potential customer is simply referred to finding you “on Etsy,” it’s almost impossible to relocate an exact item.

It’s not easy for buyers to just “find you on Etsy”.

Here’s a simple search on Etsy for a purse. As you can see, there are thousands of results and it would be hard to get your purse to stand out in search. To bring your shop to the top, you need to start with a little Etsy SEO.

![etsy purse search](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/55ccb07e52ddca834203f5acfbba83229ee86b34)

### What you need to know about SEO for Etsy

Did you know that Etsy runs its own SEO game? And playing by Etsy’s rules is what all those big, successful shops are doing to succeed?

Thankfully, Etsy doesn’t keep its SEO program a secret. The Etsy staff keep an up-to-date guide on the site called “[How Etsy Search Works](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/how-etsy-search-works/375461474487)”.

Shops get found on Etsy in two phases:

- Query matching
- Ranking

Query matching happens when your new customer does a search on Etsy for a product. Then, Etsy looks through all the listings that match the query.

Ranking is similar to Google. The Etsy team wants to provide buyers with the most accurate search results. So, they look through the listings and pull out the ones that best match the search term. Usually, these products then make up the top selling Etsy items thanks to sheer visibility alone.

You want the product Etsy chooses for page one to be yours. So, how do you make it happen? The answer is finding the best keywords for Etsy.

### How to find the best Etsy SEO keywords

To get started with SEO on Etsy, you need to find the right keywords, which is a funny way of saying “a couple of words that accurately describe your product.” 

Keywords are the foundation of setting up an Etsy store: choose the right ones, and getting found is easier. Using keywords that don’t match your product or the buyer’s intent will make it harder for you to use more advanced tools to get ahead.

1. __Start with Etsy’s own search tool.__ You can learn a lot about what people search for on Etsy simply by doing lots of searches yourself. You can see what other keyword suggestions Etsy makes and figure out what kind of products come up when you hit the ‘search’ button. Write your findings down, but don’t rely on this method alone!
2. __Confirm your hunch with an Etsy keyword tool.__ You don’t need to play a guessing game with keywords. You can confirm your suspicion and use data to find the most popular keywords by turning to tools like the Etsy Keyword Tool Dominator. If you’re new to Etsy and don’t have cash to spare for keyword research, you can also use the Google Keyword Planner, which is available at the unbeatable cost of absolutely free.
3. __Optimize your title, tags, attributes, and categories__. With your list of sweet keywords ready to go, it’s time to sprinkle them around your store like magic dust. Add them to every aspect of your listing, including in your content. If you’re brand new to Etsy, you can find a short guide to the different parts of your listing, like titles, tags, and categories, [over on Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/ie/seller-handbook/article/keywords-101-everything-you-need-to-know/382774281517).

By building a foundation of accurate and highly-searchable keywords, you’re preparing yourself to be found by [Etsy’s 41.03 million active buyers](https://www.marketplacepulse.com/stats/etsy/etsy-number-of-active-buyers-3).

## What are examples of successful Etsy brands?

Now that you’re on your way to taking over the top spot in the Etsy rankings, what you need is branding. Branding is more than coming up with names for an Etsy shop: true branding helps people remember your store so they can come back again — and bring their friends.
Branding is a highly individual exercise. Your brand is a reflection of your shop. But if you’re new to buying and selling online, you may find you need some inspiration to kick-start your branding brainstorm. 
To get started, let’s take a look at three Etsy shops who are already successful.

### Lovelane branded by quality & photography

![lovelane etsy page](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/367448538328af4596f0b12734c596d90fdb1427)

[Lovelane](https://www.etsy.com/shop/lovelane) is a custom children’s costume shop with gorgeous photography and glowing reviews. They have a logo, several places for you to follow them on social media, and a website. 

The company is especially active on Instagram where you can see dozens of pictures of their products in use. 

What really stands out for this brand is the unique quality of their children’s costumes and photography that goes beyond the effort of what a normal shop would. 

They have images of children in their costumes playing. There is a nice touch of a child being held in the air in their costume to fly like a superhero. And, you’ll find a few pets and babies in costumes as well.

__Takeaway Tip:__ Be creative with what you offer, and show it being used in your photography. Skip ‘stock’ images, and ask customers to come back and leave a review. Social proof is a great way to show others how great your product is.

### Creepy St. Shop is a fun nightmare

![etsy creepy st ](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/e92b9fd21bb79ab1ee05c2174bd2c9fa3b645622)

When it comes to horror films you either love them or hate them. Lisa from [Creepy St.](https://etsy.com/shop/CreepySt) loves them so much she’s set up her own Etsy shop selling goods celebrating horror film culture. 

Lisa has a fun logo with a skull to indicate the dark nature of her shop. Most items in the shop are related to the horror world, and she stays consistent with her scary brand. 

What’s really fun is how Creepy St. shares horror flicks links, history and facts on social media. She’s active in getting recognition for her brand, while also providing a newsfeed that is interesting to her followers on Twitter.

__Takeaway Tip:__ Entertain your buyers. From the design of her logo to the fun newsfeed, Lisa is able to keep people interested in her shop by staying active with industry news.

### Shine Invitations for beautiful wedding stationery

![shine invitations etsy page](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9dad33d8f5e371fad3a0187c829435dcf7aed7e2)

The wedding category is massive on Etsy. To stand out, a store has to optimize every setting and option. [Shine Wedding](https://etsy.com/shop/ShineInvitations) Invitations does this very well. From their photos, to their titles and descriptions they use every opportunity to show the elegance of their invitations. 

For branding they make sure to use their company name in emails and they refer people to their actual website and social media accounts (where they are highly active). 

__Takeaway Tip:__ Use fonts in your products and photos to stay consistent with your branding. In these pictures they use elegant fonts consistent with wedding invitations.  

## What you can learn from successful Etsy brands

Setting up your shop with a fluid theme is one way to help people remember your brand, but successful shops also do a lot behind the scenes. Here are more ways to work on your branding.

### Use your Etsy shop name in emails

When you send emails about your shop, use your shop name in your signature and at the top of the email. Say “thank you for shopping at My Etsy Shop.”

### Set up social media accounts for your Etsy shop

 If you don’t already have social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram, set them up and start using them. The more active you are, the more likely you are to bring visitors to your shop. You don’t have to be on all social media networks.

### Work with others

[Etsy has communities](http://etsy.com/teams), and there are several other places that Etsy sellers congregate to support each other. You can find these places by searching on Google for the Etsy sellers group.

Surprise and delight customers with little branding touches: Even though you’re an online business, most customers will still experience your product offline. Thoughtful packaging, with branded touches like custom stickers and labels, will help you bring your online brand into the real world from the very first moment your product reaches your customers hands!

Check out our [packaging and branding](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/brand-package-etsy-products) post for more tips on what to include in Etsy packaging.

## Get ready to make money on Etsy

Popular shops on Etsy have a lot to teach those who are willing to pay attention. Be sure to check out other shops to see what they are doing to increase sales, and gain exposure to their products.

As you learn more you can implement similar changes both when you start your Etsy store and as you continue growing your brand on Etsy.

There are countless ways to grow your brand using stickers and other custom printed products. Why not get started with branding and packaging, and watch your business grow from there?

<ButtonCta text="Create custom packaging for $29" size="large" variant="secondary" align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/custom-packaging" />

Want to stand out from the crowd? Branding your Etsy shop is the first step to making more money. Find a step-by-step branding guide with examples here.

15 highly rated free design courses 

Design is a major factor in how people view your company and website. But, what if you don’t know how to design, or can’t afford a full-time designer?

Luckily, there is [Studio](https://www.stickermule.com/studio). A free, easy-to-use online design tool with over 1000+ templates and counting.

But regardless of what tool you use, it's helpful to understand what makes a good design.

We get asked all the time if we know of design courses, especially by people looking to make their own [vinyl decals](https://www.stickermule.com/products/transfer-stickers). 

With that in mind we’ve picked out 15 free design courses that’ll help you build your design skills. Check them out:

## Introductory design courses for newbies
![Introductory design courses for newbies](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/4fc19671966dc043afc2df9cb7f5f96b7951a68a)

### Intro to the design of everyday things (Udacity)

This course on Udacity is created for anyone interested in design, it provides a summary of key concepts from the first two chapters of [The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman](https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded-ebook/dp/B00E257T6C/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1). The course trains you to recognize how design affects everyday life and how to make better design decisions.

Check out [Intro to the design of everyday things](https://www.udacity.com/course/intro-to-the-design-of-everyday-things--design101) on Udacity.

### Introduction to graphic design (Udacity)

Here you’ll learn the basics of design theory to create amazing graphics. Unlike other courses you won’t be learning about Photoshop or Illustrator, you will be learning the 5 basics of design. This lays the foundation for a career of design success.

> Great for very early beginners. If you're thinking about pursuing graphic design, but you're just not sure if it's a good fit for you, this course is helpful in giving clear definitions so you know exactly what graphic design means. -Melanie Baker

Check out [Introduction to graphic design](https://www.udemy.com/introduction-to-graphic-design/) on Udacity.

### Photo editing essentials: growing your brand (Skillshare)

[PicMonkey’s](https://www.picmonkey.com/) Jen Reiner shares how to edit a picture and make it awesome without the need for Photoshop. This class is perfect for beginners in design or those that don't want to buy photoshop. Every lesson includes tips and hacks to make your job easier. 

Check out [Photo editing essentials: growing your brand](https://www.skillshare.com/classes/photography/Photo-Editing-Essentials-Growing-Your-Brand/855732974) on Skillshare.

## Design principles courses
![Design principles](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/cb44ac4f7971ee85df1c495d21ae22122a254e67)

### Creative concepting: getting to better ideas faster (Skillshare)

This course by Jessica Moon, creative director at Digital Telephathy, explains how to execute design correctly. She shares exercises, concepts and tactics throughout this 40 minute course. This course is best for anyone serious about becoming professional designer. 

> I absolutely recommend this class to remind some of the key shortcuts and the best ways to make the design process easier and quicker. Great tips! Thank you, I really enjoyed your class. - Cata Gomez

Check out [Creative concepting: getting to better ideas faster](https://www.skillshare.com/classes/design/Creative-Concepting-Getting-to-Better-Ideas-Faster/1408421897) on Skillshare

### Design pitfalls (David Kadavy)

Design Pitfalls is designed by David Kadavy, the author of the best-selling book [Design for Hackers](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119998956/?tag=lilgreendot-20), and lead design at multiple startups. The 6 lessons are delivered 3 times a week for 2 weeks. Each lesson focuses on a pitfall and how to avoid them.

Check out [Design pitfalls](http://designforhackers.com) on Design for Hackers.

### Don't fear the Internet

Everyone has a website these days but not all are visually appealing. With this course you learn “not to fear the Internet” and create a website that incorporates elements of design to increase your visits and engagement. You’ll also learn to take a basic wordpress blog and manipulate the css, html (and some php!) to match your aesthetic. 

Check out [Don't fear the Internet](http://www.dontfeartheinternet.com/).

## Courses on typography & fonts
![Typography & Fonts](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/58c90e3dc8be3b2eb9f2157ea7ccb265fce7f89b)

### Choosing the right font (Canva)

Choosing the right font means the difference between looking like a professional and an amateur. Consider how many people ‘love’ Comic Sans but the professional community finds it childish. 

[Canva](https://www.canva.com/design/DAAkValF-K4/remix) offers a free course that helps you choose the right font for your message, and overall design project. Using the fonts you learned about in this course would help you make some killer [custom magnets](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-magnets), give it a shot.

Check out [Choosing the right font](https://www.canva.com/design/DAAkValF-K4/remix) on Canva.

### Typography that works: typographic composition and fonts (Skillshare)

Skillshare offers a more in-depth font course that helps you recognize, use and create awesome compositions with typeface. Beyond choosing fonts, you’ll learn the different types of fonts, when they should be used and what works best for your readers. 

> Lovely introduction to typography with great examples and thought provoking content. Really useful, and achievable projects. -Ann O'neill

[Typography that works: typographic composition and fonts](https://www.skillshare.com/classes/design/Typography-That-Works-Typographic-Composition-and-Fonts/1694217981) on Skillshare.

## Sketching & illustration courses
![Sketch & Vector Graphic Design](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/68fdaa955ceece2b50c574d877d025da62e02ffc)

### How to sketch like an industrial designer (Skillshare)

Julia Troy, who is Quirky's Design Director, created this class to teach you how to sketch your product idea into an image that is presentable and accurately illustrates your idea. This course is best for aspiring industrial designers and anyone that is prototyping an idea or invention.

Check out [How to sketch like an industrial designer](https://www.skillshare.com/classes/design/How-to-Sketch-Like-an-Industrial-Designer/625650159) on Skillshare

### Vector illustration: design a playful character using geometric shapes (Skillshare)

Vector illustrations are a huge part of design, with the help of Jonathan Ball’s instructions you will learn to create playful characters in vector form. This course is great for anyone interested in design since vector format is used universally.

Check out [Vector illustration: design a playful character using geometric shapes](https://www.skillshare.com/classes/design/Vector-Illustration-Design-a-Playful-Character-Using-Geometric-Shapes/1832339814) on Skillshare

## Logo design courses
![Logo design courses](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a7b19a52cd02e2c0821b1e5dbc78effb9ec58132)

### Graphic design 101: Why that logo is so compelling (Udemy)

Logos are a huge part of your company, they are usually the first thing a client sees and can be influential in decision making. This course explains what makes a logo attractive and how the design process works, so you can choose the perfect logo for your company.

Check out [Graphic design 101: Why that logo is so compelling](https://www.udemy.com/graphic-design-secrets/) on Udemy.

### Creating brand systems: an overview of combining logos and type (Skillshare)

This short class is made for creatives, illustrators, designers or anyone is interested in learning what goes into creating a dynamic logo. Designers Mike Ski and Jessie Jay created this course and have included simple side projects to help create your own dynamic logo at the end of the class. 

Check out [Creating brand systems: an overview of combining logos and type](https://www.skillshare.com/classes/design/Creating-Brand-Systems-An-Overview-of-Combining-Logos-and-Type/1941759612) on Skillshare.

## Design courses for marketing & startups
![Design for Marketing & Startups](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9adbad75b9ff85d7e90ceb677e767113b4e91537)

### Startups, this is how design works

Startups have to compete with the hundreds of designers at companies like Apple, Google and Facebook. This is perfect for employees in startups or those interested in startup design. The course teaches everything a startup needs to know about design including: logo creation, innovative UI and how to beat your competitors with awesome, kick-ass design. 

Check out [Startups, this is how design works](https://startupsthisishowdesignworks.com/).

### Web design essentials: creating marketing homepages that drive results (Skillshare)

This 60 minute course is for anyone interested in designing websites with high engagement and results. Dennis Field, a product evangelist and designer, teaches narrowing your creative process and capitalizing on feedback. 

Check out [Web design essentials: creating marketing homepages that drive results](https://www.skillshare.com/classes/design/Web-Design-Essentials-Creating-Marketing-Homepages-That-Drive-Results/1513598221) on Skillshare.

### Principles of UX design (Invision)

Timothy Embretson from Best Buy takes you through the importance of user experience in this free design course by [Invision](http://invisionapp.com). This course is great for anyone designing a website, app or web tool.  

Check out [Principles of UX design](https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design/ux-principles-to-guide-your-product-design/) from Invision.

## Over to you
Approaching design on your own is no small feat but there are loads of resources that will help you along the way. The most important thing you can do is practice, innovate, and create on a regular basis. 

Ready to see how that new logo or illustration looks in print? Why not start with some custom stickers or magnets? Get $10 off your first order when you sign up by clicking the button below.

<ButtonCta text="Get $10 credit" href="https://www.stickermule.com/unlock?ref_id=7980330701&ref=blog" />

Improve your design skills with 15 free and highly-rated design courses. 

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