If you haven’t heard of an NFT, I may assume you live under a rock. Non-fungible tokens, aka NFTs, are the latest trend in cryptocurrency. NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital works of collectible and irreplaceable art, hence the “non-fungible part.” Think of them kind of like pokemon or baseball cards. Although they aren’t exactly “new,” the market is showing a boom in NFT creation and purchasing. The payoff has been HUGE for many token creators, which have really captured the public’s attention.
To learn more about NFTs, you can read my beginner’s guide HERE
With NFTs trending on all social media platforms, I decided to see what the hype was about. So, in Mid-January, I hopped on board the NFT creation train. After doing my research, I assumed that NFT creation/minting/selling was an easy process. Unfortunately, my experience was different. Here’s what happened…
My Initial Thoughts
NFTs’ appeal comes from rarity and authenticity. These are two qualities I admire in anything– people, places, things… whatever! So, I was excited to get started on this project. And, I FINALLY had a reason to use my Kamvas Pro (a graphic design tablet). Of course, my mindset was to keep the creation cost low and my earnings high. So, I used free Design Software called “Tayasui Sketches” and began the creative process.
The Process
First, I got started on my design.
I used my drawing pad to create an image I enjoy drawing – the human body.
I finished up my design.
After hyper-fixating on all of the details (being a perfectionist can be a pain), I thought it could use a little something extra’ I saved my image as a .png and uploaded it to Canva (another graphic design software). Finally, I added the finishing touch and saved the final version.
I created a Coinbase Wallet account.
I already had the Coinbase exchange application which I use to transfer crypto into Coinbase from my Exodus wallet and convert it into USD when I need cash. However, I still needed to create a wallet account. (A cryptocurrency wallet refers to a program that allows investors to store all their cryptocurrency. On the other hand, a cryptocurrency exchange refers to a website or service where one can sell or buy digital currency or convert fiat currency into digital currency.)
I (attempted) to connect my Coinbase wallet to OpenSea (The largest NFT Marketplace).
This part was a bit tricky. The OpenSea desktop browser allowed me to scan the Wallet QR code but rejected the sign-up. I was stuck on the page for about 20 minutes, waiting for it to load. I decided to try it on the mobile app. This didn’t work either. I kept receiving an error message after trying to connect. I’ll give OpenSea/Coinbase the benefit of the doubt and blame this on Mercury in Retrograde. So I decided to try a different NFT marketplace.
I created a Crypto.com account.
After creating an account on the mobile app, I provided my Government ID and facial image to verify my identity. Afterwords, I received a message that verification may take up to 24 hours—this bummed me out. But surprisingly, I was verified within minutes.
I (attempted) to mint and list my NFT.
To mint an NFT on the Crypto.com web browser, you first verify your account and connect to the app. After confirming, I clicked “Create.” Then, there was another bump in the road. The site requested that I apply to become a creator. So I filled out the application with my name, a short bio, social media sites, and more. Now, I wait to see if I’m approved. (1/15)
Update: A week later, I’m still waiting.
When I first began this process, it was mid-January. Now, it’s nearing the end of the month, and I’m still waiting for my creator application to be processed on Crypto.com.
My Final Thoughts
As a novice NFT creator, there was definitely a learning curve. I enjoyed creating digital artwork and challenging myself to learn something new. I’m not entirely sure if my difficult experience is unique or Mercury in Retrograde is sabotaging me. Either way, I still suggest creating an NFT if it interests you. It’s a great way to learn and advance in the metaverse and creative world in general. I plan to continue exploring other options and even producing a collection called “Not That Kind of Girl” based on the NFT above.
