How a Teen Turned Doodles Into $10K on Shopify — A True Obsession Story

Obsession Category: Psychological
Obsession: Drawing Obsession
Transformation: Turning Doodle Obsession into Income

From Sketchbook to Shopify: How One Teen Made $10K Selling Doodles

I never thought the pages of my math notebook would be worth anything. While teachers lectured, I filled margins with doodles—silly creatures, patterns, little dream worlds. I was just obsessed with drawing. Not the polished kind. Just messy, impulsive sketches.

At 15, I didn’t have a portfolio, training, or plan. I just knew one thing: drawing made me feel alive.

What I didn’t know is that one summer, a single sketch I posted online would change everything—and lead me to earn over $10,000 from my obsession with doodling.

2. The Turning Point:

One boring July afternoon, I scanned a doodle of a sleepy dragon I’d drawn during biology class. I uploaded it to Instagram just for fun.

A few people liked it.

Then someone messaged:
“Do you sell stickers of this? I'd totally buy it.”

That simple message hit me like lightning.
Wait… people would pay for my doodles?

3. Steps I Took (Actionable):

✅ Step 1: I Embraced the Obsession

I stopped hiding my sketchbook. I shared my art online regularly—even if it wasn’t “perfect.” People responded to the rawness of it.

✅ Step 2: I Learned About Print-on-Demand

I didn’t have money to print stickers or shirts. But I found print-on-demand platforms like Printful and connected it with Shopify (they had a free trial!). That meant I could sell stuff without upfront costs.

✅ Step 3: I Opened My Shop

I picked 5 of my doodles, made mockups using Canva, and listed them as t-shirts, mugs, and stickers on Shopify. I named my store “DoodleNest.”

✅ Step 4: I Promoted with Personality

I didn’t run ads. I just posted stories on Instagram and TikTok showing my process:
“Here’s today’s random brain doodle!”
People liked seeing how weird, real, and unfiltered it was.

✅ Step 5: I Took It Seriously

Orders trickled in. Then I made $400 in one weekend from a silly "Caffeine Goblin" sticker pack.
I re-invested every dollar. Created bundles. Asked my friends to share. After 6 months, I crossed $10,000 in sales.

4. What Changed for Me (The Outcome):

For the first time in my life, I felt seen. My weird obsession—something teachers used to scold me for—had value. I bought my first laptop with the earnings. I helped my mom with bills. I even did a live art workshop for local kids.

It wasn’t just about money.

It was proof that obsession isn’t a flaw—it’s fuel.

5. Advice for Others with This Obsession:

If you’re obsessed with drawing—even if it’s messy, random, or strange—don’t hide it.

Start by sharing it.

Then look into free or low-cost ways to turn it into a product:

• Stickers

• Digital downloads

• T-shirts

• Coloring pages

• Phone wallpapers

You don’t need perfection. You need consistency. People connect with you—your voice, your story, your weird little obsessions.

6. Final Thought:

“The sketchbook that got me in trouble is now my source of income.”

If you’re passionate about something, no matter how silly it seems… don’t ignore it.
Obsession isn’t a distraction. It’s your direction.

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