5 Items Every Artist on Etsy Needs

I’ve been selling my art on Etsy for six years, and there are a few items I can’t live without. I use most of these items every day, and I’ve been using them for years. While some are investment items, they have more than paid for themselves in usage.

1. A Commercial Paper Cutter ($205)

Even if you’re using an outside print vendor, this is an essential for all artists. I’m constantly trimming the paper of my original artwork. While it’s a bit pricey, I use this item EVERY SINGLE DAY. There are smaller versions of this available, if you’re looking for a cheaper, more portable option. For me, this size is perfect. I highly recommend the X-acto brand too, as far as quality and durability goes.

I’ve had this exact paper cutter since 2016, and it’s never let me down. I’ve only sharpened the blade once since I bought it.

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I bought this scale on Amazon in 2018, it’s worked great ever since. Plus, it looks cute on my desktop!

2. A Postal Scale ($23)

This a must for running an online shop, especially if you’re shipping your own artwork. All shipping is based on dimensions and weight. I have the weights for all single print sizes written down, so I don’t have to use my scale every time. However, I often get crazy orders with multiple print sizes, and this is where the scale is essential.

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3. A Ruler

As I mentioned earlier, all shipping is calculated by dimensions and weight, so a ruler is an essential item to have on hand. If you want to simplify, you can also measure on your paper cutter. I like having a separate ruler, because it’s easier to use. This also comes in handy when trimming paper corners with your X-acto knife.

This is the exact ruler I have, but any old ruler will do!

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I don’t have this exact knife, but I thought the gold detail was really neat - much cooler than mine! Just make sure to have extra blades on hand.

4. An X-acto Knife ($6)

I’m surprised by how much I use this item. I’ve owned an X-acto knife for years, but only started using it once on Etsy. From time to time, I’ll use it to trim a jagged edge on a print. Luckily, this doesn’t happen too often with my paper cutter. The main way I use it is to lightly scrape off paper imperfections on my prints. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and won’t use a piece of paper if it has the tiniest speck on it. If you lightly scratch at the imperfection with an X-acto knife (in good lighting), you can sometimes save the print.

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I’ve had this exact label printer since 2017, and it still works great. I’ve refilled the sticker rolls countless times. You can buy sticker refills here.

5. A Label Printer ($220)

This was a game changer for me. Every time I order something on Etsy, and it shows up hand addressed, I cry a little on the inside. This makes life SO much easier for all sellers, especially when things get busy around the holidays. I really don’t trust myself to write out addresses either, so this minimizes human error. I print the labels directly from the order, so I feel confident they’ll get to the right address. You can’t the beat time saved and the peace of mind this item brings.

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I know some of these items come with a higher price tag, but they are so worth it. Also, you can business expense them, saving money on taxes at the end of the year. Are there any items you couldn’t run your Etsy shop without? Let me know in the comments below!