This wasn’t just a fun idea or a craft for the sake of it — we needed to figure out labels.
A tale of magic, mayhem, and sticker victory ✨
We had beautiful designs Mae had made, and we needed to turn them into real, usable, honest stickers — ones that included ingredients, allergens, usage instructions, and those little essential warnings like “do not consume” and “for external use only.”
Not the most glamorous reason to start a sticker journey, but a real one. Something that had to be done.
And, well… I had no idea how to do it. 😅
🌀 The Learning Curve
(also known as: how many tabs can I open before I cry)
I didn’t even know where to begin. Mae had created these stunning label designs on Canva, and I was determined to get them from the screen into my hands using the Cricut. I thought it would be easy. It was not. 😵💫
There were file types I didn’t understand, settings that wouldn’t save, outlines that refused to show up. Then there was the battle of figuring out how many labels I could fit on a page, whether they’d print the right size, and whether the Cricut would cut around them or through them or — worst of all — slightly off from them. Every time I thought I’d solved it, something else went wrong.
And yes — I wasted so much sticker paper. Like… heartbreaking amounts. 💔
🖨️ Printer Problems & Ink-based Regrets
Don’t even get me started on our little inkjet printer. It’s a small printer with a big personality. One moment it’s printing just fine — the next it’s refusing to print black or asking for ink I just refilled. It’s got the energy of a tiny chaotic fairy who lives to test my patience. 🧚♀️
And ink?? Don’t even look at the price of ink. It might as well be bottled dragon tears. 💸 (Thank-You to StinkyInk for being my saviour, although still expensive for a little startup like me. #Not-Sponsored-But-Wish-I-Was)
Honestly, I started talking to the printer like it was a stressed-out pet. Using all the gentle parenting skills i have in me, I even thanked it when it printed something properly. I’m not proud of that — but also kind of proud? Because… it worked.
💫 It Worked
I don’t even know what I did differently at the time, but it finally worked. The print lined up. The cut was clean. I peeled off the extra bits and there they were — actual labels. With Mae’s art. With my sizing. With the Cricut behaving for once.
And I just sat there like: oh my goddess… I did it. 😭 It sounds silly, but I was honestly emotional.
Because I tried so many times. I nearly gave up. I kept telling myself “maybe I’m just not cut out for this,” and then suddenly… there it was. A full sheet of real, beautiful, stickers. I know this is allot for some stickers, but this was a test of my emotional regulation skills and stubborn-ness / determination.
🔮 From Now On
@sapphicself From screen to sticker! 💻➡️🏷️ Join Tia for a quick peek at how we bring our Sapphic Self label designs to life, using the computer, printer, and our trusty Cricut. So satisfying to see the finished product! #DIYLabels #SmallBizLife #MakingOf #SapphicSelf #stickerlicious ♬ original sound - Claudia Hernandez
Now that I’ve figured it out — it’s going to be so much easier. All the fiddly parts are behind me. I know how to set it all up now. It’s just print and cut — no drama. (Well… hopefully.)
I feel so proud of myself for getting through it. It might sound small, but for a tiny queer business run by two tired but passionate weirdos? It’s a big deal.
A Little Witchy Love Note 💌
If you’ve ever tried to teach yourself a new skill when your brain is foggy, your hands hurt, or your confidence is low… I see you. If you’ve ever shouted at a printer or cried over sticker paper — you’re not alone. 😅It’s a messy little journey. But we get there. And when we do? It’s magic.
So yes. The labels are finally happening. I can’t wait to show you what comes next. Sapphic Self stickers. Maybe even sticker packs?
We’ll see what I conjure up
With love & leftover sticker paper,
