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!!