Step by step: Stickers for Etsy shop with Cricut Machine

Took me a while but I just opened an Etsy shop to sell my prints! There's a lot to prepare and of course I also want to keep the costs low.  That means there'a whole bunch of stuff need to be designed and made by myself.  One of such things is stickers with the shop logo.  

I got a Cricut Machine and can't wait to try it out.  This tutorial is going to walk you though my process but don't worry I'll also give you some tips on making them without a Cricut Machine!

Materials required:

• A4 self adhesive glossy white paper labels (from Evergreen Goods)
• A Cricut Machine or a ruler and a knife
• An inkjet printer (mine is Epson SF2750)
• Not essential but nice to have: Adobe Creative Suite

*Get 10% off if you use the code SHUNTAO10 on Evergreen Goods, you are welcome*

Step 1 Design a logo

Start with a list of words or a mind map that describes your brand. Do a few sketches based on the words/mind map before moving onto a software.  I used Adobe Illustrator but if you don't have access to the Adobe Suite you can also use Canva.

I want a round sticker so I put the logo into a circle shape with solid background (I used white in this case).  This is important if you are using a Cricut Machine, because the machine cuts the shape of the sticker background. 

If you don't have Cricut, I'd suggest put the logo into a shape you'd like to cut yourself, only fill the outline and leave the solid fill to no colour or a solid colour of your choice.  You can use the outline as a guide when cutting.

Step 2 Making stickers in Cricut Design Space

Cricut Design Space is a software that comes with the machine. You must set out the design in this software so that it can tell the machine how to cut stuff.  

Upload the sticker logo into the Cricut Design Space as a "print and cut".  This means the Cricut instruction will leave time for you to print out the stickers on the sticker paper first, then allow you to put the sticker paper on the cutting board then feed it into the machine. Follow the instructions and remove any background leaving only the circle shape.  

Measure out how big you'd like the sticker to be, and set the size in the Cricut Design Space.  Copy and paste to fill the page with as many stickers as you could.  The size of the page area for sticker paper is 6.75x9.25inch, so make sure all your stickers fit into this space. Finally hit the "make" button to print and cut.

Step 3 Peel and stick

If you are using Cricut, the cutting board is quite sticky so that it can hold the paper properly in place. When removing the stickers face the stickers down on the table and carefully peel away the cutting board.  

If you don't have Cricut, just cut the stickers to the size and shape you like.  If it's square shape I'd suggest you refer to my previous "step by step" guides on how to cut it with a paper trimmer or a ruler.

Hope you find this blog useful and have fund making stickers!!

转行日记 | 还是关于时间管理

快离职的时候我有一个超级长的to do list, 脑袋里清奇的好玩的主意太多了我什么都想干，比如做毛毯，做zine，办一场云蹦迪还捡起了ukulele。试问全世界谁兴趣爱好敢比我多？

之前提过，现实是一离开公司监狱就坠入了自由职业的海洋，一股股的浪潮袭来，漂浮在失去掌控的忙碌中，根本顾不上之前想干的美事儿。后来稍微反省了一下整了整瑜伽的上课时间。但是还是没有开始设计和插画的计划。人往往容易在有人亲手交任务给你并且或者有死线的时候才会认真对待一个工作。比如在我身上就应证为，朋友托我做的贴纸研发我就比较上心（详情请见最近发的贴纸教程1&教程2），但是却把自己的私人项目搁在一边。

这两周索性去旅游了。旅游可以创造让你把现实生活放在一边，专注当下的情景。感谢脱欧，英国手机号去欧洲用流量得交钱了。我这个省钱专业户乖乖回到比较原始的旅游方式。这下真的清净了好多。感谢一个清静的旅行，我得到了一个感悟：创作是需要一整块，并且足够长的时间，在一个主题上做各种实验。我就是想做的东西太多，时间太碎片化，所以很难做出什么。今天跟一个巴黎的艺术家朋友吃午饭，他就说一个艺术家搞创作起步起码得要三，五年。想也是，我的瑜伽生意走上平稳也要了快三年呢。总之不能心急，得脚踏实地找一个自己可以持久的节奏来慢慢的做。接下来这个月打算专心做我的地图项目，别的好玩儿的可以等等

。

和所有自由职业一样，在经历了很忙的一段时间，因为可能是淡季和出了新的课，我的瑜伽工作表好像没以前忙了，我担心着急吗？不。正所谓塞翁失马，我可知道空闲的好处。如果真的闲下来不就刚好在家搞搞个人项目呗，看看书呗。

说到看书，两周旅游时间一下看了几本书，可太爽了，顺便分享两本好看的

本来想读忧郁的企鹅结果发现买错了🙈 竟然是故事的第二部。刚开始读的时候慢哟哟的没啥特别，一到车臣简就迎来了跌宕起伏，又惊险又好笑，结尾非常温馨。主人公的历险记像是西游记一般精彩，但是主题则是爱与自由。讲述了很多斯拉夫国家的人文，很有意思。最喜欢的人物是车臣大佬Khachayev，真是金句连连。很喜欢作者的幽默感，让我在荷兰几个小时的火车上笑了个不停。

零零总总了解过一些关于二战犹太人被迫害的故事，但是从来没有读过集中营里发生过的事。有些细节还蛮意外的，比如德国纳粹是多么系统性的组织管理集中营的人员，以前听说过德国公司非常hierarchical-原来这个传统二战时候就有了，在集中营里显现的淋漓尽致；比如德国人的一丝不苟体现在致力于让囚徒像奴隶，甚至工具一般工作去保持高度的干净整洁；对于纯粹和卫生的执着体现在定期消毒囚徒却不在乎囚衣上的斑斑血迹。还有纳粹骨子里对种族的歧视，那种毒性男子气盖，实在令人发指。虽然不愿相信，但是因为人性可以这么丑陋，无论种族国籍，这些历史仍然可能会重复。这本书的启发也来自于故事里的幸存者，他/她们如何在绝境里仍然保持希望，生存下来。最后一章对人类面对死亡的心里分析太精彩，不容错过。

Step by step: Stickers for yoga timetable flyers - without a Cricut Machine

I need a few flyers to advertise my new yoga timetable locally, but printing flyers professionally is incredibly expensive for small batches.  What's more - my timetable tends to change every few months so there'd be additional cost for re-print and re-design.  

What would it be to have a flexible timetable flyer template and a method to print it at low cost? I set out to solve the problem myself 😎

*Solution*: Create a timetable template and a stickers template, so I only need to update the stickers when things change.  This method won't need a Cricut machine and I can also get to do some stickers craft, fun!

Materials required:

• A4 self adhesive matte white paper labels (from Evergreen Goods)
• A ruler and a knife
• An inkjet printer (mine is Epson SF2750)
• Not essential but nice to have: Adobe Creative Suite

*Get 10% off if you use the code SHUNTAO10 on Evergreen Goods, you are welcome*

Step 1: Design a timetable template

Create a timetable template.  I designed one with my branding style and photo in Adobe Indesign. You can make one on Canva (a free web-based design tool) where lots of designs are available. This is in A4 as I'd like the information easily readable from a distance.  

Step 2: Design a stickers template

Before starting designing on computer, you'll need to find out the actual size of the stickers so they can fit in the timetable.  Print out the design from Step 1 in plain paper, and measure out the size. Create an A4 size file and keep all the sticker designs on the same page - align all the stickers so it's easier to cut later. Be sure to set the stickers to the actual size you need. Keep the design simple and have consistent sections so that you only need to copy and paste it when creating a new one and change the contents in different sections. 

Step 3: Print and cut the stickers

I used Matte White self-adhesive paper for this project. Make sure the top side of the paper is facing down when placing it in the printer paper tray.  Once it's printed, line the side of the knife with the side of the sticker, use a firm but not stiff hold to slice and cut. If you are not very confident at cutting paper with a ruler and knife, practice a few times until you are comfortable with it.  Top tip, breathe out when cutting because the body is more relaxed and you are more likely to have a steady hand.

Tah-dah!

Step 4: Stick and photocopy

The final step is the most fun part, and I'm quite pleased with the hand-made feel of the final poster😊.  I only need 4 other copies so the final step is to photocopy it in colour to the number of copies you need.  You can of course use better quality paper, for a more professional look. 

If you are a small business owner who is trying to promote locally, try and make a flyer with stickers following the steps above. Hope they give you some inspiration and you find it useful.  Do share your flyers with me and have fun!