Sticker by Number vs Paint by Number: Which Craft Is Right for You?

Somewhere between "I want a relaxing hobby" and "I do not want to ruin my dining table" lies a very real decision a lot of crafters are facing right now. Paint by number has been the default answer for decades. Sticker by number is the newer option quietly taking over Pinterest boards, gift guides, and cozy weekend plans. If you are stuck picking one, we are going to make the case for both, fairly, before telling you which one we think wins for most people.

The Mess Factor

Let's start with the obvious one. Paint by number requires paint, water cups, brushes that need washing, and that one inevitable moment where you knock over the water cup directly onto your "finished" section. Sticker by number requires... stickers. You peel, you place, you are done. No drying time, no smell, no ruined tablecloth.

One of our customers put it better than we ever could:

"This is my new fave craft!! It's addictive, easy, fun, portable (no mess!), and chill. Forget beads, diamonds, jewels, paint, etc that all can cause disastrous messes. Stickers are easy and if it sticks to something else it comes off easy!" (Mel L.)

The Skill Curve

Paint by number sounds easy until you are trying to stay inside a tiny numbered shape with a brush that has a mind of its own. Blending, steady hands, and patience with drying layers are all part of the deal. Sticker by number strips out the technical part entirely. If you can peel a sticker and match a number, you can finish a Pixyls canvas that looks like gallery art. There is genuinely no wrong way to do it.

The Relaxation Factor

Both crafts are marketed as "relaxing," but only one of them lets you do it on your lap on the couch, in bed, or on a plane without worrying about spills. Customers keep telling us the repetitive, no-stakes nature of placing stickers is what gets them into a genuine flow state.

"This is such a stress free activity!! I love that they give you extra stickers and they send you a tips and tricks card with helpful tips to help you with your kit, it even has a handwritten 'thank you' which makes it feel personalised." (Taia S.)

"This was so fun and relaxing to do. I couldn't get enough of it. Just pop on a podcast and stick away! I already ordered more hehe" (Genie Rae F.)

The Finished Product

Paint by number can look a little uneven if your brush control is not perfect. We have all left visible strokes. Sticker by number kits are built from premium glossy vinyl stickers designed by real pixel artists, so every finished piece has crisp, consistent color blocks that look intentional every single time. Our Coffee & Chocolate Sticker Sheet ($12 USD) is a great low-commitment way to see the finish quality for yourself before going bigger.

Portability

Try taking a paint by number set on a road trip. We will wait. Sticker sheets, bookmarks, and smaller canvases travel with zero liquids, zero brushes, and zero risk of an incident in your carry-on. Our Amber Sky Bookmark ($13 USD) fits in a tote bag and gives you a finished, usable object in under an hour.

Price and Time Investment

Paint by number kits can take many sessions to finish and often need extra supplies (better brushes, a palette, varnish) that add to the real cost. Sticker by number kits like our Teddy Desk Friend ($10 USD) come with everything included, no extra trip to the craft store required, and can be finished start to finish in one sitting if you are in the mood.

Which One Should You Actually Pick?

If you already own a full painting setup and genuinely enjoy the brushwork, paint by number is still a satisfying, meditative pastime and we are not here to take that away from anyone. But for most people looking for a low-stress, low-cost, high-satisfaction craft they can pick up and put down without ceremony, sticker by number wins on nearly every practical measure: less mess, shorter learning curve, more portable, and a finished product that looks polished no matter your skill level.

Browse our full collection and see which design calls your name first.

All orders ship from our Raleigh, NC studio. We would love to see what you build. Tag us when you finish your kit!