Out-of-the-Box Ways to Make Money

Okay, so you may not have the chops for the next season of Project Runway, but that doesn't mean your future as a multihyphenate clothing-accessories-home-décor designer is doomed. Zazzle and CafePress allow users to submit graphics and slogans and have them printed on just about anything, from tees and flip-flops to iPhone cases and stationery. You can sell the products directly on the sites, and items are made as they're sold, so you don't have to worry about inventorying or shipping. "The best sellers really pay attention to trends and what's going on in the world around them," says Nizzi Renaud, vice president of marketing and merchandising at Zazzle, who cited the growing popularity of "hipster bunny," a design that capitalizes on two internet favorites: fuzzy animals and, well, hipster culture. "Pay attention to what patterns are trending, like chevron prints; what people are pinning on Pinterest, and what your favorite bloggers are talking about. That could inspire the next big design."