I still remember the night I came across a random YouTube video titled “Make money with AI coloring books.”

At first, I laughed. I mean… who’s buying coloring books in 2025?

But I kept watching — and something clicked. The creator explained how people were using AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney to design beautiful, unique coloring books and selling them on Etsy, Gumroad, and Amazon KDP.

That same night, I decided to try it.

Three days later, I’d made $740.

And in this post, I’m going to tell you exactly how.

Step 1: I Picked a Profitable Niche

The biggest mistake beginners make is creating generic coloring books — flowers, butterflies, and random patterns that already exist everywhere.

So I asked ChatGPT:

“Give me 10 coloring book ideas with unique themes that people actually want to buy.”

It gave me ideas like:

• Self-care affirmations coloring book

• Cats in space

• Cozy cottagecore designs

• Mindfulness mandalas

• Fantasy castles for adults

I went with “Self-Love Affirmations for Women” because it felt personal — and let’s be honest, people love motivational + aesthetic designs.

Step 2: I Used AI to Create the Illustrations

Here’s where it gets fun.

I opened Midjourney (you can also use Leonardo AI or Playground AI) and started typing prompts like:

“A minimalist black-and-white line art drawing of a woman meditating surrounded by flowers, coloring book style.”

In less than 5 minutes, I had stunning, printable illustrations.

No art degree. No drawing tablet. Just good prompts.

I used Canva to combine everything — added a title page, page numbers, and some positive affirmations like “I am enough” or “I radiate peace.”

Then I exported it as a PDF. My first coloring book was done in less than 2 hours.

Step 3: I Published It (No Tech Skills Needed)

I uploaded the book to Etsy first, because Etsy buyers love creative and emotional products.

Here’s what I did:

• Title: Self-Love Affirmations Coloring Book for Women – Printable PDF

• Description: ChatGPT helped me write a clean, keyword-rich product description using words like “instant download,” “mindfulness,” and “stress relief.”

• Price: $7.99

I also uploaded it to Gumroad (for people who prefer instant checkout links).

Both platforms are free to start — no website, no ads, nothing fancy.

Step 4: I Promoted It the Smart Way

Instead of spending money on ads, I used Pinterest.

I made 5 pins using Canva — each one showed a coloring page and phrases like:

• “Relax and color your stress away 🌸”

• “Printable self-care coloring book for women”

• “Make time for YOU — one page at a time 💗”

I linked every pin directly to my Etsy page.

Within 24 hours, I started getting favorites. Then the next morning, my first sale came in: $7.99.

By day three, I had sold 92 copies.

That’s $734.08 (after Etsy fees).

No ads. No experience. Just smart SEO and consistency.

Step 5: I Scaled It Up

Once I saw results, I didn’t stop. I created:

• A kids’ version (positive affirmations for children)

• A couples’ edition (cute romantic quotes)

• A “color by number” style book for adults

Each one took me less than a day to make because I already had the workflow.

I started bundling them — offering 3 books for $15. Sales doubled.

Now it’s passive income. Every morning, I wake up to new Etsy notifications — “You’ve made a sale!”

Tools I Used (And You Can Too)

Here’s my exact tech stack for this project:

• ChatGPT: for ideas, descriptions, and affirmations

• Midjourney / Leonardo AI: for illustrations

• Canva: to format and design the pages

• Etsy + Gumroad: to sell

• Pinterest: to drive free traffic

That’s it. No paid ads, no website, no design experience.

The Real Secret: Why It Works

People love coloring books because they’re emotional purchases.

When someone buys one, they’re not just buying paper — they’re buying peace, self-care, nostalgia, or a few minutes of calm.

That’s why AI coloring books sell so well — because you can create unique emotional themes in minutes.

If you can combine creativity, good keywords, and genuine emotion, you’ll make sales. Period.

Tips to Maximize Your AI Coloring Book Income

1. Focus on emotion, not just design.

“Mindfulness,” “anxiety relief,” “affirmations,” and “self-care” are keywords that sell.

2. Use Pinterest SEO.

Add titles like “Printable Affirmations Coloring Book for Women” and pins with text overlays.

3. Create bundles.

Instead of one $8 book, offer 3 for $18 — people love deals.

4. Collect emails.

Offer a free mini-book to grow an audience for your next release.

5. Stay consistent.

One coloring book won’t make you rich — but five can build a steady income stream.

Final Thoughts: From Skeptic to Believer

Three days. $740.

And all I did was combine AI tools with a bit of creativity and empathy.

No one’s saying this is “easy money.” You still have to do the work — but now the work is lighter, smarter, and 100% online.

If you’ve been looking for a side hustle that doesn’t need followers, ads, or a massive budget…

Try this. Seriously.

You might surprise yourself like I did.

Because sometimes, the smallest experiment can change your life — one coloring book at a time