In my last post, I mentioned I’d been quietly working on something new (well, not entirely new) – an Etsy shop.
This isn’t my first rodeo with Etsy. About three years ago I dabbled in it and managed to make a few sales, including one lovely 5-star review. But it never really took off. Fast-forward to now, and I have to say: this has been hands-down the most enjoyable side hustle I’ve tried so far.
My day job is in architecture, so I’m naturally drawn to anything creative. I’ve always loved graphic design, and back in 2021 I started combining the two by drawing friends’ and family’s houses with their pets added in. It was pure fun. People loved them and suggested I sell the designs on Etsy. I never fully pursued it though — those drawings take a long time, and once I had kids, free time became a distant memory. Who knows, maybe I’ll revisit that idea one day.
Those early drawings did lead me somewhere useful, though: the world of printables.
Discovering Printables with Canva
After maternity leave started, expensive software like Illustrator was no longer in the budget. So I started playing around with Canva instead. I had a blast creating custom designs for friends’ hen parties, weddings, and baby showers. The feedback was so positive that I thought, “Why not sell these?”
In 2023 I set up my Etsy shop: Amber & Gigi.
How to Set Up an Etsy Shop (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Setting up a shop on Etsy is genuinely straightforward. Here’s a quick overview:
1. Go to Etsy.com and sign in (or create an account).
2. Head to the “Sell on Etsy” section and click Get Started.
3. Answer a few questions about your business and choose your shop name (make it memorable and reflective of your style).
4. Set your shop language, country, and currency.
5. Add your profile picture, bio, logo, banner, and policies.
There’s usually a small one-time shop setup fee (around $15–$29 USD depending on when you open it — check the current amount during signup). After that, the main ongoing costs are:
• Listing fee: $0.20 USD (roughly £0.15–£0.16) per item. Listings last 4 months and auto-renew if you want.
• Transaction fee: 6.5% of the total order (item price + shipping + gift wrap).
• Payment processing fee: For UK sellers, this is typically around 4% + £0.20 per transaction.
Etsy handles a lot of the admin, which is great for busy parents like me.
I spent ages perfecting my logo and then obsessing over my product listings. In hindsight, the logo work was probably overkill, but I’m really glad I included helpful videos showing buyers exactly how to download and edit the printables. Those little extras still feel valuable to me.
The Reality Check: Why Sales Were Slow
Despite the effort, sales didn’t flood in. Overall revenue was just £9 before fees — not exactly life-changing.
I think there were a few clear reasons:
• The printable market (especially hen party and wedding games) is heavily saturated.
• Competitors often offered bigger bundles for similar prices, giving more perceived value.
• As a brand-new shop, I had zero social proof or ranking.
• My SEO (search engine optimisation) and listing images needed serious improvement.
I tried researching trending printables, but in such a crowded space it’s tough for a small shop to get noticed.
In 2024 I created a baby memory book — not primarily for profit, but because I wanted something special for my own daughter that matched the style my mum made for me. I couldn’t find anything similar, so I made my own. I was proud of it, but it got zero views on Etsy (though I’ve made a few physical versions for friends with different backgrounds — maybe I’ll relist those soon).
Taking a Pause in 2025
In 2025 I temporarily closed the shop while on maternity leave. I didn’t want to risk anyone buying something and then waiting days for a response while I was sleep-deprived with a newborn. Better safe than sorry when it comes to reviews.
Giving It Another Go in 2026 — Nursery Wall Art & Print-on-Demand
Since restarting this blog, I’ve realised I genuinely enjoy the creative process, so why not give it another shot?
This time I’ve shifted focus to nursery wall art. I’m probably breaking every “niche down hard” rule because I just designed what I wanted for my son’s room — nursery rhymes like Wheels on the Bus, Mr Golden Sun, and Old McDonald Had a Farm.
Most wall art on Etsy is either a printable (you print at home) or an unframed print (you source your own frame). I wanted to do something a bit different: offer ready-framed prints so customers get a finished piece straight out of the box.
I researched print-on-demand (POD) services because I definitely didn’t want to handle printing, framing, and shipping myself every time an order came in.
Printify and Printful are popular, but I struggled with proportions and size clarity for A4 and A3 frames. Then I discovered Inkthreadable — it was much more user-friendly with clear sizing options. I ordered samples of each design and was genuinely impressed with the quality: museum-grade paper, vibrant colours, and solid framing.
(When I get my first framed print sale, I’ll do a fully dedicated review of Inkthreadable to see how the fulfilment experience actually goes.)
Improving My Listings: Mockups & Consistency
My old product photos weren’t great (see my house picture above!) — I’ve read every iPhone product photography guide out there and still couldn’t nail it. Looking at successful competitors, many use AI-generated or professional mockups to show artwork in real nursery settings.
I bought a few mockup bundles on Etsy (total investment around £20.78 — money I think was well spent). The difference is night and day. My listings now look professional and on-brand with the high-performing shops.
I relisted all my previous products and added the new nursery rhyme framed prints at the start of April 2026. To help the Etsy algorithm notice me, I’ve been uploading new listings every few days:
Wheels on the Bus – 14th April
Mr Golden Sun – 14th April
Old McDonald Had a Farm – 18th April
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – 30th April
Early Signs of Hope
No sales yet… but the momentum feels different this time.
I’m seeing views and shop visits, and most excitingly — three of my products have been favourited! That means people are finding them and saving them. For the first time, this side hustle feels promising rather than frustrating.
I know I need to stick with the process: consistent uploading, better SEO, and patience while the algorithm learns my shop.
What’s Next?
I’m enjoying the creative side again — designing, testing mockups, tweaking listings. If this framed nursery art takes off, I’ll expand the range and maybe even revisit those house + pet portraits.
I feel it’s too early in the day to give this side hustle a rating, I’ll give it a few months and report back.
