How I Started Selling My Art Online (And What I Wish I Knew)
Selling my art online started with one simple idea: I want to share the weird, spooky stuff I love with other people who get it.
Now, I run my own art shop, I’ve published a coloring book, and I create daily content that reaches fellow creepy-cute lovers all over the world. But it didn’t happen overnight—and there were a lot of things I had to learn the hard way.
If you’re just starting out (or thinking about it), here’s the real story of how I got started selling my art online—and the biggest things I wish I’d known when I was just getting started.
🕸 Step 1: I Just Started Posting
At first, I didn’t have a website or Etsy shop—I just started posting my artwork on Instagram. It wasn’t curated, it wasn’t branded… it was just me, sharing things I was proud of.
Over time, people started asking:
“Is this for sale?”
“Can I get this as a sticker?”
That’s when I realized there might actually be a market for the creepy-cute, drippy skull vibe I love creating.
👉 Pro tip: You don’t need to be perfect. Just start sharing. The right people will find you.
💀 Step 2: I Opened My Etsy Shop
I chose Etsy because it was beginner-friendly, already had a built-in audience, and let me test ideas without needing a whole website upfront. I listed my first few sticker designs and some prints… and slowly but surely, orders started coming in.
👉 What I wish I knew: Take time to write clear product descriptions, use relevant keywords, and photograph your work well. Good photos and SEO matter more than you think.
📦 Step 3: I Got the Right Tools
Once orders picked up, I realized I needed a better setup. I invested in a few key tools to make things smoother:
Thermal label printer – no ink, super fast
Digital shipping scale – avoids overpaying for postage
Sticker paper + laminate sheets – for making my own stickers
Cricut + cutting mat – for clean sticker cuts
👉 Amazon picks:
✨ Step 4: I Created a Brand Around My Aesthetic
That’s when illymakes really came to life. I leaned fully into what made my work unique:
Drippy skulls
Creepy-cute twists on nostalgic characters
Bright color palettes with a goth undertone
A mix of spooky, fun, and a little weird
I created matching product packaging, and made sure my Instagram, Etsy, and blog all had the same feel.
👉 What I wish I knew: Branding doesn’t have to be complicated—just be consistent with your vibe and visuals, and the rest will come together.
🖤 Step 5: I Expanded to New Products + Platforms
After stickers and prints, I added:
I also started using Amazon affiliate links for tools I genuinely use. This helps support my work while giving followers easy access to products I trust.
👉 Check out my coloring book here
👉 Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more behind-the-scenes
💡 What I Wish I Knew Sooner
Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:
✔ You don’t need to wait until you’re “ready.”
✔ Done is better than perfect.
✔ Every post doesn’t have to go viral—just be you.
✔ Your audience will grow if you keep showing up and connecting.
✔ There is a market for your weird, wonderful art.
🛍 Want to Start Your Own Shop?
Check out my favorite art products here:
✅ My stickers, prints, shirts, magnets, and trading cards on Etsy
And don’t forget to follow me on socials for more spooky cute art biz tips:
🎨 Instagram
🎃 TikTok
🕷 YouTube Shorts
🌙 LinkTree
