The art of stickers

Last week, I wrote to you that I was finishing my “dailies” sketchbook from the past two years. This week, I started a new one and I am really excited that the Leuchtturm1917 square sketchbooks now come in lavender. 

What’s so exciting about that?

I do a small daily sketch and it takes over two years to fill these sketchbooks. Being able to carry around a lavender one just made my day. Lavender is such a perky color and is so inviting that I can’t wait to draw in it every day.

Decorating a fresh new sketchbook

When I start a new sketchbook, I like to adorn it with something so it isn’t just a blank cover. With all of the black sketchbooks I have, decorating them also made it easier to identify them so I could quickly grab any specific sketchbook I was looking for. Sometimes I decorate them by decoupaging copies of my own art to the cover. I also like to use stickers that people or businesses give out, or even the ones they give you when you vote.

For instance, the bottom right sticker on my new daily sketchbook is a perfect example of a travel sticker that I purchased while visiting Cedar Key, FL.

I also love product stickers like the Sweetwater coffee stickers, on the lower left of my sketchbook, that were shipped with the coffee I purchased for my husband for Father’s Day. I was delighted to receive the Sweetwater stickers because we were introduced to their coffee when we spent those few days in Cedar Key, FL. It seemed perfect to put those stickers on my new daily sketchbook. 

Making my own stickers

I have been wanting to make stickers for many years as a fun way to share my art. Over the past year, I made 5. While I was selecting stickers for this sketchbook, it only made sense that I would advertise my own art on the sketchbook, too. 

I designed 4 stickers in past several months and I ordered them from Sticker App. I started with a circle shape but I have a few ideas for shape outlined stickers. 

The first batch, I ordered them at 2 inch but when I received them, I realized I should have gone larger. The next two I designed and ordered them at the 3 inch size. I already have designs started for two more stickers. I am really excited how they came out.

Selling the stickers?

I haven’t made up my mind about how I want to sell the stickers. I might offer them for sale for a small fee to just my Substack subscribers since I don’t charge a fee for membership. Or on an on line shop. I have to figure that all out, yet. 

About these stickers

The upper left hand one is Dickens and the quote is something my husband says all the time. It seemed applicable to use it for the cat.

The Surfer Teddy sticker was inspired by Mike Lowery’s sticker workshop (which is how I learned how to make stickers) where Mike drew a surf board and a guy on a board, I think. I went with Teddy on the beach in his surfer duds and gear.

The middle sticker is Lucy, who is indeed, the Back Seat Badass. Lucy is a total coward until you put her in her car seat. Then, she morphs into the Back Seat Badass. She’ll tell everyone off from that back seat, human or animal. Lucy LOVES riding in the truck. She’ll stay in there all day if you let her so she can tell everyone off. LOL

Take her out? Nervous Nellie.

Enjoy!