Are You Making Stickers, or Are You a Sticker Maker?

For years, whenever someone asked me what my hobbies were, I'd go cold.

"Um... reading?" I'd almost ask them. "Shopping? Seeing friends?"

I loved those things, but none of them felt like mine. Then something changed. Now when someone asks, I proudly shout, "STICKERS!"

And here's the funny part. The change didn't happen when I got good at making stickers. It happened when I started calling myself a sticker maker. The skills came after that.

That's what this post is all about. Because there's a big difference between making stickers and being a sticker maker, and it has nothing to do with how expensive your cutting machine is or how perfect your cut lines are.

How I went from making stickers to being a sticker maker

I started making my own stickers in 2016. I'd fallen in love with decorating my planner, and making my own stickers felt like the next step. So I bought a cutting machine and a pack of sticker paper, and watched ALL the tutorials.

In late 2015, I had a shock diagnosis and had to leave my job. Suddenly I was at home a lot more, feeling a bit lost. Sticker making became the thing that gave me calm, creative time when I really needed it.

But I'll be honest. In the beginning, I was just making stickers. I'd dabble, get frustrated, put it away for a few weeks, then come back and have to relearn everything. There were plenty of mistakes, a few tears, and more than one moment where I wanted to throw my cutting machine out of the window!

Things only really changed when I stopped treating it as "something I'm trying" and started treating it as something I do. I made time for it every week. I kept going on the days it didn't work. And slowly, I started to believe I was a sticker maker.

That's when the confidence came. Then the skills. Then everything else.

Making stickers vs being a sticker maker: the 5 differences

1. Identity: from "I'm just playing around" to "I'm a sticker maker"

So many crafters tell me, "Oh, I'm not a real sticker maker, I'm just playing around." Or, "I'm not creative like you."

I understand that feeling completely. But the words we use about ourselves matter. When you say "I'm just playing around," you give yourself permission to stop the moment it gets hard. When you say "I'm a sticker maker," you give yourself permission to keep going.

You don't have to earn the title. You don't need a shop, a following, or a perfect sheet. If you make stickers and you want to keep making them, you're a sticker maker. That's it.

2. Mindset: from "when I'm good enough" to "I learn by making"

Waiting until you're "good enough" is one of the sneakiest ways we stop ourselves. It feels sensible. But nobody gets good at sticker making by watching tutorials. You get good by making stickers, and making lots of not-quite-right ones along the way.

A sticker maker sees every sheet as practice. The first one teaches you about cut settings. The second teaches you about spacing. The tenth? That one you'll be really proud of.

3. Habit: from "when I get time" to "this is my creative time"

This is the big one. When sticker making only happens "when I get time," it rarely happens at all. Life fills every gap. Then, when you finally sit down, you've forgotten where everything is in Design Space or Silhouette Studio, and it feels like starting over.

A sticker maker has regular creative time. It doesn't have to be long. Twenty minutes on a Sunday morning with a cup of tea counts! What matters is that it's regular, because that's how you stop relearning and start progressing.

4. Confidence: from "I'm bad at this" to "now I know what to change"

Every sticker maker has wasted sticker paper. Every single one. I still have wonky cuts sometimes, and I've been doing this for over ten years!

The difference is what happens next. When you're just making stickers, a wonky cut feels like proof you're not cut out for this. When you're a sticker maker, it's just information. Was it the calibration? The paper? The settings? You tweak one thing, try again, and get a little better.

Confidence doesn't come before you try. It comes from trying, getting it a bit wrong, fixing it, and seeing that you can.

5. Purpose: from "I don't know what to make" to "I know who these are for"

"I don't know what to make" is one of the most common things I hear. And it's usually not a lack of ideas. It's a lack of direction.

Sticker makers tend to know who and what their stickers are for. Maybe it's your planner. Maybe it's your grandkids, your classroom, your friends' birthday cards, or one day, a little shop. Once you know the "who" and the "what," the ideas start to flow so much more easily.

And just to be clear: you never have to sell a single sticker to be a sticker maker. Making stickers for yourself and the people you love is more than enough.

7 small ways to start being a sticker maker this week

You don't need a big overhaul. Small, regular steps are what make the shift. Pick one or two to start with.

1. Book 20 minutes of sticker time. Put it in your planner and treat it like any other appointment.
2. Finish one sheet. Not a perfect sheet. A finished one. Done is so much better than perfect.
3. Keep a "first try vs latest try" folder. Save your very first stickers. In a few months, you'll be amazed at how far you've come.
4. Use templates without guilt. Templates aren't cheating. They're a shortcut to momentum and confidence, and every sticker maker uses them.
5. Share one make. Show a friend, post it in a community, or stick it in your planner and admire it. Your stickers deserve to be seen.
6. Say it out loud. Next time someone asks what you've been up to, try "I've been making stickers. I'm a sticker maker." It feels strange the first time. Then it feels wonderful.
7. Find your people. Being around other sticker makers makes it so much easier to keep going, ask questions, and celebrate the small wins.

You're not the only one feeling this way

When crafters join Secret Sticker Society, I ask why they joined and what they're hoping for. So many answers come back to confidence and identity. Maybe you'll see yourself in a few of these:

"I joined Sticker Society to learn from the best. Eventually, I want to open an Etsy shop, but I need more confidence."
Georgiana, Secret Sticker Society member

"I will feel success when the process is more automatic and I have settled into a 'style'. I love to gift stickers, but my eventual goal is to sell them."
Deborah, Secret Sticker Society member

"I would like to make professional stickers just as a hobby. If I ever get good enough I might consider selling them but for right now I just want to enjoy making them."
Tracy, Secret Sticker Society member

"Maybe start a small sticker business but I like to keep that idea on the back burner as to not put too much pressure on myself."
Myca, Secret Sticker Society member

Whether you want to sell one day or simply enjoy it, the shift is the same. It starts with seeing yourself as a sticker maker, and then making time to be one.

Common things that get in the way (and what helps)

"I don't have time."
Start with 20 minutes a week. Small and regular beats long and rare every time.

"Every time I come back, I've forgotten everything."
That's a sign you need more regular time, not more talent. Keep written notes of your settings and steps so you're not starting from scratch.

"My stickers don't look as good as everyone else's."
You're comparing your first try to someone else's hundredth. Compare yourself to your own first try instead.

"I keep wasting sticker paper."
That's usually a print then cut setting, not you. Getting your settings right once makes a huge difference. My free Sticker Making Starter Guide is a great place to start.

"I don't know what to make next."
Choose who your stickers are for first, then pick a theme. A seasonal project or a ready-made template takes the guesswork away.

FAQs

Do I have to sell stickers to be a sticker maker?
Not at all. Making stickers for yourself, your planner, or the people you love absolutely makes you a sticker maker.

How long does it take to feel confident making stickers?
It's different for everyone, but regular practice is what makes the biggest difference. Crafters who make stickers a little each week usually feel confident much faster than those who make a big batch once every few months.

Is using templates "cheating"?
No! Templates help you learn faster, save time, and build confidence. Professional designers use templates all the time.

What if I'm not creative?
Creativity is something you build by doing, not something you're born with or without. Start with templates and simple shapes, and your own ideas will start to appear.

Do I need an expensive machine to be a sticker maker?
No. A Cricut or Silhouette with print then cut, a home printer, and sticker paper is all you need. Some crafters even start with scissors!

Become the sticker maker you want to be, with us

I created Secret Sticker Society for exactly this. It's a place where making stickers becomes part of your life, not something you squeeze in "one day."

When you join, you'll get:

• A brand-new sticker project every month, so you always know what to make next
• 100+ step-by-step tutorials in Cricut, Silhouette, and Canva
• New editable templates every month, so you're never staring at a blank screen
• Printable written instructions to keep by your craft table
• A kind, supportive community of sticker makers who'll celebrate every sheet with you

So, next time someone asks what your hobby is, I hope you'll proudly say it with me: "STICKERS!"

I'd love to know: do you call yourself a sticker maker yet? Tell me in the comments.

Happy sticker making,

Mim x