Make Money Monday- Printables
If you've ever wanted to make extra money from home without the hassle of inventory or shipping, I have some great news. Creating and selling printables is one of the easiest and most effective side hustles. Whether you're a seasoned designer or discovering Canva, this could be your ticket to passive income. Let me walk you through how to start today!
Why Printables Are an AmAZING Income Stream
Picture this: you create something once, and it keeps earning money for years. That's the magic of printables. These are digital products people can download, print, and use immediately. From planners to coloring pages, there’s a massive market for these products on platforms like Etsy.
And don't worry if you're not a pro designer—Canva makes this process pretty simple. Trust me, you’ve got this!
What Types of Printables Can You Sell?
Wondering where to start? The beauty of printables is that you can create a wide variety of products. Here are some hot sellers:
Personal and Productivity Printables
- Planners (daily, weekly, business, social media, meal planners—you name it!)
- Journals (think self-care, gratitude, goal tracking, or even meditation-focused themes)
- Checklists (cleaning schedules, travel packing lists, wedding planning, etc.)
- Habit Trackers or Budget Trackers
Creative and Fun Printables
- Coloring Pages (for kids, adults, or niche themes like unicorns and holidays)
- Wall Art (inspirational quotes or aesthetic designs for home or office decor)
- Stickers or Gift Tags (perfect for planners or parties)
Kids and Educational Printables
- Activity Sheets (crosswords, scavenger hunts, or simple games)
- Chore Charts
- Learning Worksheets (helpful tools for homeschooling families)
Business and Marketing Printables
- Social Media Templates
- Lead Magnets (checklists, guides, workbooks for marketing)
- Business Planners or Invoice Templates
Even better? You can bundle similar items, like a planner with matching bookmarks or holiday-themed coloring pages. Bundles add extra value and make your products stand out!
How to Get Started
Ready to dive in? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you begin:
Step 1: Research What’s Selling
Start by exploring Etsy. Search for printables and see which ones are popular and trending. Don’t copy anyone’s work, but use it as inspiration to find gaps in the market or niches you can target. For example: rather than just creating a generic planner, niche down into something like “meditation journals for women” or “Airbnb host checklists.”
Step 2: Design in Canva
Canva is your best friend here. Always start with a blank design—don’t just use Canva's templates as-is. Customize everything so your work is unique. You can adjust fonts, colors, and layouts to make your product stand out.
Here’s a pro tip: If you have Canva Pro, use the resize tool to quickly create your designs in multiple sizes (think A4, A5, or 6×9 journal formats). This makes it easy to cater to various customer needs without extra work.
Step 3: Package Your Product
Once your printable is ready, save it as a PDF. Depending on where you’re selling (Etsy, Gumroad, your own website), you either send the file directly to customers or provide a download link.
Don’t forget to create an eye-catching mockup image! Use Canva again to showcase your printable in action—whether it’s a lifestyle pic of a journal on a desk or a digital preview of your coloring pages.
Step 4: Pick a Selling Platform
Some popular options include:
- Etsy (huge audience for printables)
- Gumroad
- Your own website (if you want more control, Canva even offers a free website option!)
- Payhip or Sellfy to keep things simple
- I use Subtrio, an all-in-one platform. Use a platform like SubTrio, which combines email marketing, landing pages, and product sales all in one place. It’s a time-saver!
Step 5: Promote Your Printables
No one will buy what they can’t see! Promote your products heavily on social media. Pinterest is a must for visual products like printables, but don’t forget TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. If you have an email list, send out updates about your new designs.
How Printables Create Passive Income
Here’s why this idea is brilliant: it’s scalable and repeatable. You create the product once, and it keeps selling. If you design a holiday planner this year, it’ll still sell next year, too.
Plus, printables don’t require inventory, shipping costs, or hassle. It’s a win-win!
Make It Easy With Templates
If creating everything from scratch feels intimidating, check out resources like The Template Treehouse, where you’ll find done-for-you templates for journals, Etsy product descriptions, and even mockups. It’s like having a shortcut to success!
The Template Treehouse isn't just another resource library—it's your ticket to reclaiming your time while scaling your business. By transforming 38 hours of content creation into just 4, you're free to focus on what truly matters: serving your audience, growing your brand, and finally enjoying the freedom you started your business for.
With fresh templates, done-for-you products, implementation calls, and quarterly business kits all included for just $27 per month, the question isn't whether you can afford to join—it's whether you can afford not to. Stop creating everything from scratch and start building your business with the smart, sustainable approach that The Template Treehouse provides. Your future self (and your calendar) will thank you.
You can also use tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm journal prompts or checklist ideas. Plug them right into your Canva design for a polished, professional product in no time.
So…what Do You think? Something You might want to do?
Here are some resources for you:
Doc: https://pamallenonline.com/mmm-doc-printable
Template: https://pamallenonline.com/mmm-journal
This is a 30-Day Self-Love Journal I made a couple of years ago, so it's very basic. You can add clipart, change the font, and add some other pages, and BAM, you have a product!
It is yours to create a product. 
QUICK Bulk Create (I mention video) video: https://youtu.be/Lx88wFkPdmo
Making and selling printables is a fantastic way to earn passive income, grow your creativity, and share something valuable with others. Whether you’re creating planners that help people stay organized or fun coloring pages that bring joy, there’s so much potential here.
So, what are you waiting for? Open Canva, roll up your sleeves and start designing your next bestseller. Someone out there is ready to click “buy,” it could be your printable they’re downloading today!
If you want to create for Teacher Pay Teacher (no, you don't need to be a teacher), check out my friend Beth Ann, who has an amazing FB group. Get to know her, and you will see she is AMAZING!
If you want to know more about Passive Income, then please follow my coach Sadie Smiley Passive Income Pathways: Blog to Membership Path
