Spoonflower is a print on demand retailer, similar to Redbubble or Society6, which specializes in fabric with seamless pattern designs. But I was happy to learn they also sell other products like wallpaper and home décor!
I’ve spent the last few months uploading over 100 of my seamless pattern designs to Spoonflower. Then I had to purchase and wait for samples of them which is required to sell in their marketplace.
I’ve been hesitant about opening a shop on Spoonflower because of this barrier to entry.
However, I do have several pattern designs which sell well on other websites, so I figured it was time to take the plunge. There also may be less competition due to the sample requirement.
The cheapest way I found to get samples is to order a “cheater quilt” which includes up to 42 samples stitched together in a 1 yard sized “quilt”. The cost for one of these quilts is $18.50 USD.
I waited for a Free Shipping promotion so didn’t have to pay for shipping to Canada which can be pricey. The cost came out to about 0.44 cents (USD) per design, which I think is worth it considering the potential earnings.
The print on demand products offered by Spoonflower look really nice. And then there is the endless possibility of things that can be created with fabric.
A nice perk of Spoonflower are their design challenges which are based on current trends in the industry. Entering these challenges can help increase exposure on both on their website and Instagram.
You can enter designs which haven’t been made “for sale” yet and if you make into the top 50 (voted on by the Spoonflower community) it will be listed for sale for free, without having to purchase a sample.
However, there are a lot of talented artists on there so competition is stiff!
Overall I’m excited to start selling my work on Spoonflower and hope it proves fruitful as another income stream for my art.
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing a few of my designs available on Spoonflower. If you have an account on there, let’s follow each other!
If you want to see a list of other websites I sell my art on, along with more resources about selling your art online then check out the Artist Resources section of my website.
Hey guys, today I’m sharing my Redbubble haul and product review in video format!
Have you ever wondered what Redbubble products look like in real life? I do, so over the years I have bought several products from my own Redbubble store. I have so many now that I decided to make a video to share some of them with you!
This video is for people who are either looking to buy products from Redbubble or sell their artwork on there and want to know what the products look like in real life.
The products shown in the video below include stickers, both regular and transparent, the a-line dress, face mask, sleeveless top, chiffon top, coasters, a t-shirt, socks, and scarf.
The products in this Redbubble haul and product review video all feature my own designs which can be purchased from my Redbubble store.
I have also written some more in depth reviews of some of these products as well if you prefer to read or want to see some more photos of them:
Make sure to subscribe to my blog or Youtube channel if you want to see more Redbubble and other Print on Demand products and videos like this!
I also have things I’ve bought from Society6, Zazzle, and Teepublic, and actually even more stuff from Redbubble that I forgot about, which I can show in another video. So stay tuned for that!
Let me know in the comments below, which one was your favourite?
I purchased a scarf from Redbubble a few years ago and realized I should review it! I really love the scarf and wear it often in the fall and winter to add a pop of colour to my outfit. Read on for my full review of Redbubble scarves.
Redbubble Scarf Review
The material is silky and soft to the touch.
The print is beautiful and slightly brighter than the mockup image on Redbubble’s website (see below).
It can be worn so many different ways due to it’s large size (55 x 55 inches).
The perfect accessory for fall or spring. It can also be worn in winter if you live in a milder climate like I do.
Redbubble Scarf Features
From Redbubble’s website they mention:
Full print is visible on the front and reverse
Microfiber polyester with a slightly transparent effect
Hand wash only. Do not dry clean or tumble dry.
I’ve never had to wash the scarf, so don’t let the hand wash only scare you away. Unless you dropped it in the mud it most likely won’t need to be washed very often.
As you can see the scarf is really long! It could be worn as a sarong skirt over a bathing suit if you wanted, and also looks cute as a shoulder wrap. It would be great for traveling to places where you might have to cover your shoulders or head in certain areas. Also packs down really small which is perfect for travel.
When folded over a few times the colour becomes darker. And there’s no white space or areas that the print doesn’t cover, which is just perfect.
Conclusion
Redbubble scarves are good quality and a great addition to your wardrobe. After a few years I have seen no evidence of wear and tear.
And they make excellent gifts since there are so many unique and beautiful designs to choose from, you can find something for anyone!
Let me know what you thought of this post, and if you think of any other products you’d like me to review, simply leave a comment below!
Are you considering getting a travel mug from Redbubble? Read this review of my new Redbubble travel mug first!
Since my work place is transitioning to having people back in the office a few days a week I wanted to get a travel mug that I could fill up at home to help cut down on the use of common areas.
So I thought, why not get one with my own artwork on it from my Redbubble store!
I chose my Pink and Gold Mandala Pattern design because I love pink and wanted to see how the artwork would turn out on a real life product.
I must say I’m impressed and pleased with how the design turned out! And I actually really like the mug itself. I’ve received several compliments on it since I started bringing it to work.
Redbubble Travel Mug Review
Dishwasher safe (top rack), which is great because I hate doing dishes by hand.
No scratching or fading after several washes.
Very light when empty, making it easy to throw into a purse or backpack.
Colour is vibrant and my artwork looks crisp and true to the original.
Nice mouthfeel, the little indent for the bottom lip is nicely engineered for drinking.
Good insulation. Keeps my coffee warm for a long time.
Travel mug features as per Redbubble’s website
Features wraparound prints
Top rack dishwasher safe
Insulated stainless steel with removable lid
Mug holds 15oz (443ml)
Overall, I am very happy with my decision to purchase this travel mug from Redbubble. I recommend to those looking for a nice mug featuring unique designs to stand out from the crowd. These mugs would make a great gift for friends, family, or coworkers who love to drink hot coffee or tea.
Hello! Today I’m sharing a quick tutorial on how to find the right keywords for your Zazzle products and improve SEO within Zazzle’s website.
I recently crossed the mark of becoming a Bronze Pro seller on Zazzle which means I’ve made over $1000 USD! Most of this happened recently as I finally figured out how to use tags and keywords properly.
To increase your sales on Zazzle you really must pay attention to SEO.
When I first started selling my art online over 6 years ago I had no idea what I was doing. After revising some of my old products and implementing this strategy I’ve seen a big increase in sales and traffic to my Zazzle shop.
Watch the video below to see a demonstration of my keywords strategy.
Of course there are other websites and tools for finding keywords and trends like Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends. The strategy I’ve shown you today is specific to the Zazzle website and their internal search engine.
How to find Keywords for your Zazzle products
Come up with 1 to 3 generic keywords to describe your design as a starting point.
Use the search function with the Zazzle website to search for that keyword or phrase. (I used “pink elephant” in my demonstration)
You will see some keywords and phrases come up on the top of the page. Pick a few that work for your design.
Click on a few top selling designs which look similar or have a similar theme to your design.
Scroll down on the page until you see the “Tags” section. Pick a few relevant tags from there as well.
Use only the tags that are highlighted in blue on either line. Black ones are being ignored by Zazzle’s search function (such as product descriptors like “blanket”).
Choose wisely as you only get 10 tags (or phrases) to work with.
Use a couple of the same keywords in your title and description as well.
I hope these tips with help you find better keywords for your Zazzle products and get you more sales!
Let me know what other tips you have for keyword research in the comments below.
Today I’m sharing a comprehensive guide on Redbubble vs Society6 for selling your art online.
These two popular Print on Demand websites are great options if you want to generate an income from your art and designs online without paying for inventory, shipping etc.
You can watch my video below, or read on to learn more about selling your art through Redbubble vs Society6 and determine which one is best for you!
Artist Store Front
Rebubble and Society6’s store fronts are visually quite similar.
The most obvious difference is the custom header on Redbubble is a lot larger. Both store fronts feature custom logo or bio pic, a small bio section, and can be slightly customized to show specific item categories on Society6 or feature a collection on Redbubble.
Your Redbubble storefront shows your products sorted by most relevant by default. On Society6 you can choose whether to showcase your products in order of most popular items, most recent, or random.
There store front layouts have apparently been optimized for shoppers and to increase sales based on marketing research by the respective companies.
Type of Audience
Both Society6and Redbubble cater towards a young, hip, and trendy audience. Think festival gear, college dorm or first apartment decor, stickers, and unique accessories.
Trendy pattern designs and quotes are popular on both websites, but I think Redbubble is more on the trendy side while on Society6 you will find more abstract art and modern art based designs.
The audience on Redbubble is slightly younger though than Society6 as they focus more on stickers which are popular with teenagers and young adults. However, Society6 has stickers too which can be popular with the right design.
Overall I think the target audience for both of these sites are young adults (20s and 30s) and their parents buying gifts for them.
Ease of Uploading Artwork
Redbubble’s uploading tool iseasier and more efficent than Society6, hands down.
Not to say you shouldn’t spend the time uploading your art on Society6, just expect it to take longer. Their current uploading tool is an improvement on what it used to be, and they are planning further changes for the future.
What is better about Redbubble’s uploading process?
You can upload one image for all products, and individual images as needed.
You can set a background colour for all products.
The ability to create square or offset patterns.
The “Copy” tool which allows you to copy all of the settings from an existing artwork, great to quickly upload recolours.
Products from Redbubble featuring my designs
Redbubble vs Society6 Products
Society6 and Redbubble offer a similar range of print on demand products including apparel, tech cases, home decor items, and accessories. But both have some unique products as well.
For example:
Redbubble offers more tops and blouses, mini skirts, dresses and scarves.
Myself, family and friends have purchased items from both sites. The quality has been good overall, and any time there was an issue it was resolved promptly.
Both websites add new types of products from time to time, which is fun.
Reviews of different Redbubble and Society6 products I own:
Redbubble earnings are paid automatically around the 15th of every month (to Paypal, or direct deposit), and there is a $20 minimum threshold. If you don’ t meet the threshold by the end of the year they pay you out in December.
Similarly, Society6 pays automatically to Paypal, with whatever balance you have on usually on the 1st of every month.
Both are reliable and I haven’t had any issues getting paid from either.
Can coolers from Society6
Product Marketing
Redbubble and Society6 have their own marketing departments who are professionals and good at driving traffic to their own websites. However, until your designs get their attention they probably won’t be promoting them. You will have to do some of your own marketing as well.
They do have re-targeting ads which means if someone views your design on their site a “cookie” will make it so they will see ads for your design on Facebook and Google etc.
Most products have nice mockupsthat are easy to share or take a screenshot for social media, blogs and other marketing initiatives.
You can also find some nice Photoshop mockups on the Redbubble blog.
Redbubble throw pillow mockup
Society6 sends out e-mail notices to artists prior to upcoming sales. They will often provide a link to download a .png overlay to use for your ads. Usually it’s just text containing the discount amount and promo code.
Redbubble sends an e-mail to their subscribers when there’s a sale. It’s useful to be signed up for their newsletter to get these notifications so you can promote these.
Shipping and Packaging
Redbubble and Society6 both have pretty reasonable shipping costs which vary depending on your location, the product size and weight.
Redbubble has manufaturers worldwide and products are shipped from the closest one to your location. They usually add in a free sticker with your purchase,and the packaging is cute and fun to open.
Society6 works with manufacturers in the U.S. and they often have free shipping worldwide promotions.
Both companies work with different manufacturers for different products. So, for example if you ordered a t-shirt and coasters, they might come in separate packages and at different times.
Note: Some products take longer to manufacture than others so it could take longer to ship and receive!
Summary
I hope you’ve found this breakdown of Redbubble vs Society6 helpful. Society6 and Redbubble are both great options for selling your artwork online, but overall I prefer Redbubble, mainly because of their streamlined uploading process. I think it’s better for beginners.
However, both have great things to offer including unique products and audiences, so it really depends on what you like and what works for you.
I use both because, as they say, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
Want to learn more about selling your art online? Here are some more great posts to check out!
Hey guys! With Halloween coming up soon I thought I would share another costume idea:
Easy DIY Deer Halloween Costume
This is a fairly simple costume, and the finished result is adorable and totally work appropriate.
Materials used for the deer makeup:
bronzer
black liquid eyeliner
white eyeliner
brown eyeshadow
For the makeup look I searched for deer makeup ideas on Pinterest, and then combined a few different looks, keeping it simple. You’re welcome to copy my makeup.
Recently I’ve seen some pre-made headbands like this at Michaels and other places, so if you can find one of those it might be easier than making it yourself unless you enjoy that sort of thing, like I do!
The floral headband was re-purposed from my Day of the Dead costume. But you could glue the flowers to the antlers once they’re dry, or glue them to a second headband and wear the two together.
headband(s)
fake flowers from the dollar store
glue gun
newspaper strips and paper maché
brown and silver acrylic paint
pipe cleaners
Deer costume outfit
I wore a tan coloured sweater over a white tank top, but you could wear something else you have on hand, or create an outfit to go with it.
tan coloured sweater
white tank top
black leggings
black boots
I hope you like this simple DIY deer Halloween costume! Let me know what you’re dressing up as this year in the comments below.
Are you an artist wanting to sell art online to make some extra income? You’ve come to the right place!
Selling your art online is an easy and low cost way to start your art business today. Below you will find out how to get started broken down into 5 easy steps.
How to Sell Your Art Online in 5 Steps
1. Build your portfolio.
In order to start selling your art online, you should have a decent sized portfolio for potential customers to choose from. Aim for 10-25 artworks.
You can either make a bunch of new artwork, or dig up some old pieces that could work digitally or physically to sell and repurpose them.
2: Decide where to sell your art
Next, you’ll have to decide where to sell your art and that will depend on your medium, style, and goals as an artist.
Identify your audience and how you want to sell your art.
Are you going to sell primarily prints? (many avenues)
Are you going to sell physical work, such as paintings? (Etsy, or Fine Art America)
Do you create sculptures, jewelry or something else tangible? (Etsy)
Are you interested in designing t-shirts and/or home decor products? (Society6, Zazzle or Redbubble)
You’ll have to optimize your art digitally, or take a nice photo of it in order to sell it online.
Scan or photograph your artwork in high resolution.
Try to get sharp lines and true colors by using a tripod and good lighting.
Post process in a program like Photoshop to fix colors, or clean up scans.
4: Upload and enable as many products as possible
Upload your art to your chosen platform.
If you are going the Print On Demand route, only add to products that look good and work with the design. You may need to customize the design for different products, like having a version with a transparent background for stickers and t-shirts.
5: Market your products
This is where a lot of artists struggle because we’re not necessarily business or marketing professionals!
Share your products and artwork on social media. Create an Instagram, Twitter, and/or Facebook page dedicated to your art. Ideally, choose one you use frequently so it’s not a burden to learn or use daily. Check out my post on 25+ Instagram Post Ideas for Artists for some inspiration.
You may also consider building a website, which can be a hub if you sell on multiple platforms. It could be a blog or just a portfolio of your work.
Learn basic marketing skills. To dive deeper into marketing, watch tutorials on YouTube or Skillshare to hone your business skills or even artistic skills as your business grows.
There is a lot to learn on the business side, but don’t neglect your art!
Consistently create new designs so you can figure out what works and what doesn’t, then make more of what resonates with your audience.
Hi guys! Today I am sharing with you 6 different zentangle inspired drawings I have done over the past few years.
Zentangle is basically the practice of creating art from intricate doodle-like patterns. The repetitive motion is said to help with anxiety and focus. The practice of Zentangle is similar to creating mandalas for therapeutic reasons.
Most of these art pieces combine elements of doodle art drawing with collage from women’s magazines. They were all done in my sketchbook using Sharpie markers.
This could be a fun project for adults or kids in art class!
Several of these designs are available as prints and on other products in my Redbubble storeand other shops.
This first one was inspired by Easter and the flowers of Spring.
Very quick and simple uploading process. Few steps.
Intuitive tagging (suggestions come up even before you start typing)!
Must use a .png image for the t-shirts (ie. no background).
You can upload patterns for some products like pillows or totes, but you can only use one version of the image, you can’t upload a different file for the t-shirt (so in that case there would be no t-shirt for that design).
As mentioned above, there is no ability to upload multiple versions of the same design to suit a different product type, so keep this in mind.
You can resize and centre your design easily.
TeePublic Storefront
Pretty basic. Focus is on the design and T-shirts.
No models, just images of the products by themselves.
Here is a screenshot of my (old) store front:
T-shirt product page display:
Products and Pricing
A fairly small range of products but they are quite affordable.
Basic t-shirts are $14 for the first 3 days after upload, then they go up to $20.
T-shirts go on sale for $14 at least 1x per month. (Other products go on sale too)
A wide variety of shirt styles including hoodies and kids’ clothing are available.
They also have stickers, totes, tapestries, phone cases, mugs, pillows, notebooks and prints.
Prices in USD.
Shipping
Starts at $5.99 to the U.S. and Canada.
Payment
Paypal or Payoneer payment options.
Paid monthly on the 15th for previous month’s earnings.
Affiliate program available, but you have to apply.
They also have a “refer an artist” program, where you can potentially get paid if you refer someone to open a store and they make sales.
TeePublic Community
There is a Facebook group but it isn’t very active.
No obvious forum.
Ability to follow other designers but not to like their individual works.
Less sense of community than other platforms such as Zazzle or Redbubble.
Promotional Tools
You will get an e-mail once a month or so letting you know about upcoming sales.
In this email are links to download various advertisement templates catered to different social media platforms, which can be used and edited in Photoshop.
Teepublic advertises their top design picks on the homepage and through e-mail campaigns so if you can get noticed by them, they’ll do the work for you!
Summary
If your work is very graphic, and especially if you do fan art, TeePublic could be a great option for you.
Their website and uploading process is simple and easy to use.
Their affordable prices, especially $14 T-shirts, is an excellent way to entice buyers.
