20+ Types of Products to Create and Sell as a Creative - Product #22: Embellishments\/Ephemera\/Tags

Embellishments, ephemera, and tags are decorative elements often used in paper crafting, scrapbooking, card making, journaling, and other DIY projects. These items are primarily designed to add visual interest, texture, and personalization to creative projects.

• Embellishments refer to any decorative items such as stickers, cutouts, die-cuts, and even small 3D objects that add beauty and uniqueness to a project.
• Ephemera refers to items like vintage papers, old postcards, tickets, advertisements, stamps, or other decorative paper elements that evoke a nostalgic or antique feel. These are commonly used in junk journals or vintage-themed crafts.
• Tags are small pieces of cardstock or paper, often decorated with designs, that can be used for gift-wrapping, labeling, or adding messages to projects. Tags can be personalized and are popular in gifts or scrapbooks.

1. Choose the Type of Product:

• Decide on the style and theme you want to create for your embellishments, ephemera, or tags. These could range from vintage, floral, seasonal, or modern geometric designs.
• If you are designing embellishments, think about creating die-cut shapes, layered paper flowers, or stickers. For ephemera, focus on creating vintage-inspired items like old photos, letters, or tickets. Tags can be created with seasonal or event-specific designs like Christmas gift tags or birthday tags.

2. Design Your Embellishments, Ephemera, or Tags:

• Use design software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Canva to design these items. You can also use photo-editing tools to give ephemera a vintage look by adding texture, fading, or aging effects to make them look old and worn.
• Embellishments and tags often include illustrations, typography, or patterns. Create designs that are easy to cut out, with clear guidelines for shapes.
• When designing tags, consider leaving some blank space for users to write messages or customize them further.

3. Add Textures and Finishes (Optional):

• For physical embellishments, experiment with different types of paper, textures, and finishes such as glossy, matte, or metallic. Adding texture with elements like ribbons, buttons, or fabric is popular for physical projects.
• For digital products, use vintage textures like old paper, crinkling, or distressed effects to create a realistic ephemera style.

4. Prepare Your Files:

• If offering digital downloads, save your designs as JPEG, PNG, or PDF files for easy printing at home. SVG files are also popular for users with cutting machines like Cricut or Silhouette, allowing them to cut out embellishments and tags.
• If creating physical products, either make them yourself or partner with a print-on-demand service for high-quality printing and cutting of your designs. You can also sell printable ephemera kits that users can cut and assemble on their own.

1. Etsy:

• Etsy is a great platform to sell both digital downloads and physical embellishments, ephemera, or tags. It’s a marketplace where crafters and DIY enthusiasts frequently search for creative and unique paper crafting supplies, particularly vintage-inspired ephemera and gift tags.

2. Creative Market and Creative Fabrica:

• If you are creating digital versions of embellishments, ephemera, or tags, you can list them on Creative Market or Creative Fabrica. These platforms attract graphic designers and DIY crafters looking for downloadable creative resources, including decorative elements for various projects.

3. Design Bundles and The Hungry JPEG:

• On Design Bundles and The Hungry JPEG, you can sell digital embellishments, tags, and ephemera packs. These platforms are great for selling themed collections or bundles, like vintage ephemera packs or seasonal embellishment sets.

4. Your Own Website:

• Launch an e-commerce store with Shopify or WooCommerce to sell physical or digital products directly to your customers. This allows you to offer customized kits and create a brand around your stationery or craft supplies.

5. Gumroad and Payhip:

• Use Gumroad or Payhip to sell digital embellishments, ephemera packs, or tag designs as printables. These platforms are easy to set up, and you can sell digital files directly to customers without needing an advanced store setup.

6. Pinterest and Instagram:

• Promote your products by sharing inspirational images of your embellishments, ephemera, and tags being used in craft projects. Pinterest and Instagram are powerful platforms to showcase your work, especially for crafters looking for ideas and DIY projects.

7. Canva:

• Consider applying to sell on Canva, where other creatives can modify and use your embellishments and tags in their projects. This is ideal if you want to offer editable templates for gift tags or digital embellishments.

8. Amazon Handmade:

• If you are selling physical embellishments, ephemera kits, or tags, you can reach a broader audience by selling on Amazon Handmade. Customers who enjoy scrapbooking or card-making often look for unique and ready-made embellishments to add to their projects.

Embellishments, ephemera, and tags are essential tools for crafters, scrapbookers, and DIY enthusiasts, offering endless opportunities for creativity and personalization. Whether you design digital printable packs or sell physical kits, these decorative elements are highly sought after by those looking to add a special touch to their paper crafts. By sharing and selling your designs on platforms like Etsy, Creative Market, and Amazon Handmade, you can tap into a vibrant crafting community and build a successful business around your creations.

Thank you for reading this post. Please share it.