The Badge Archive

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Creating sticker art is a creative and flexible side hustle for teens with drawing, journaling, cartooning, or design skills. Whether you offer downloadable PNGs or upload artwork to platforms that print and ship for you, it’s possible to start earning without packaging anything yourself.

This guide helps beginners explore both digital and print-on-demand selling paths using free tools and realistic setup steps.

1. What Sticker Art Can Include at a Beginner Level
Start with small designs that feel fun to make and easy to organize. Popular sticker themes include:

• Cartoon characters (avoid copyright infringement!) or doodle icons
• Planner and journaling clip art
• Mood badges, seasonal elements, or school tools
• Aesthetic bundles for decorating notes or slides

Begin with a 5–10 item set. It’s manageable and enough to test interest.

2. Free Drawing Tools You Can Use
You don’t need paid software. Teens can sketch, export, and prep files using free tools like:

Tool	Best For
IbisPaint X	Mobile illustration; stylus drawing
Krita	Desktop illustration (Windows/macOS)
Medibang Paint	Lightweight setup; comics, icons, doodles
Canva (Free)	Layout and previews only — not ideal for sketching

Design tips:

• Export your drawings with transparent backgrounds (.PNG)
• Aim for high resolution (1000px or higher per design)
• Organize your layers to make edits and exports smoother

3. How to Package Your Sticker Files
There are two different ways to prepare your art for sale:

For downloadable sticker packs:

• Export each design as a PNG with transparent background
• Bundle files into a zipped folder
• Include a preview image showing the set
• Optionally add a short note (example: “personal use only”)

For print-on-demand platforms:

• Export at high resolution (1500px+ is recommended)
• Follow size and bleed guidelines provided by the platform
• Use transparent backgrounds for die-cut or kiss-cut stickers

4. Where to List and Sell Your Designs
Pick a platform based on how you want your sticker art to be delivered, either Digital Download Platforms or Print-On-Demand Platforms. (See full list below)

Sample listing for digital download:
“This PNG sticker pack includes 10 pastel school icons perfect for planners and study slides. Transparent backgrounds for easy use. Personal use only.”

Sample listing for print-on-demand:
“Add a pop of color to your laptop or water bottle with this cartoon frog sticker. Printed and shipped directly by Redbubble in your choice of sizes.”

5. Suggested Starter Pricing

Product Type	Starter Price Range
5 PNG digital stickers	$2–$4
10–15 PNG bundle or journaling set	$4–$6
Icon set or aesthetic pack	$3–$6
Print-on-demand sticker (royalty)	$2–$4 earned per sale

Teens often begin with lower prices to build reviews, trust, and early feedback.

6. What to Expect and Why This Hustle Matters
It’s normal if your first few designs don’t sell, success builds over time. Your early sticker sets help shape your style, reveal what buyers want, and teach you about pricing, design, and promotion.

As a teen, this is the perfect time to experiment. You don’t need to run a business, just explore and grow creatively while learning real-world skills.

Online Site Suggestions

Here’s a breakdown of platforms that can be beginner-friendly and used by teen creators:

1. Etsy
Teens 13–17 can sell with parental supervision
Allows direct download sales with built-in search traffic
Best for downloadable PNGs and clip art
Marketplace with built-in traffic; listing fees apply
Requires a bank account and tax info (usually handled by a parent)

2. Gumroad
No strict age limit, but payout setup requires Stripe (18+)
Hosts digital files; promotion is up to you
Teens can use with a parent’s Stripe account
Offers instant digital file delivery
Promotion is up to you — it’s not a discovery site

3. Payhip
Easy-to-use storefront for downloadable art packs
Includes storefront setup
Allows coupons, email list building, and bundle sales
Teens should use with adult support

4. Ko-fi
Great for sharing freebies or tip-supported bundles
Not a searchable marketplace — works best if you promote directly
Perfect for testing ideas or sharing with friends

5. Stan Store
Ideal for linking products from social media bios
Helpful for teens with TikTok or Instagram presence
Lets you sell digital sticker packs directly from your profile link
Requires adult guidance to set up payout tools

6. Redbubble (Print-on-demand)
Teens 16+ can upload art and earn royalties
Redbubble prints and ships stickers for you. You just upload your design.
Set your own markup; no customer contact required

7. Zazzle (Print-on-demand)
Teens 13+ can upload art for sticker sheets and other products
Lets customers customize stickers featuring your artwork
Zazzle handles production and delivery
Best for stylized or customizable designs

8. DeviantArt
Teens 13+ can post art and sell digital files or prints
Offers both digital downloads and optional prints
Community-driven platform that helps build visibility
Suited for illustration-focused creators

Important Reminders for Teens:

• Most platforms require adult help to set up payment accounts
• Don’t include personal info like home address or school name in any listing
• Starting with free or low-cost bundles helps you learn what works
• Keep testing designs and improving — every pack you make builds confidence and creative growth

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