How to Make Affirmations Cards to Sell and Make $5,000 a Month

Believe it or not, making $5,000+ a month selling simple affirmation makes is absolutely doable!

In fact, 32% of affirmation card sellers on Etsy are making exactly that from a handful of sets alone!

If you’ve ever thought about turning your creative flair into a lucrative side hustle (or even full-time income), creating cards could be your golden ticket!

As someone who has previously done this in one of my Etsy shops, let me walk you through everything you need to know, from design and production to marketing and sales.

I’ll even throw in some insider tips that helped me grow my business to a full-time income source!

What Are Affirmation Cards?

First, let’s quickly break down what affirmation cards are.

Affirmation cards are small, portable cards with positive messages or motivational quotes designed to uplift, inspire, and reinforce positive thinking.

Think of them as mini mood-boosters people can use daily to support their mental and emotional well-being.

Now, let’s dive into how to make them and make money doing it!

How to Make Affirmation Cards to Sell

Step 1: Choose a Niche (Your Audience Matters)

The first step to creating successful affirmation cards is choosing a niche.

You might be tempted to appeal to everyone, but narrowing your focus will help your cards resonate more deeply with a specific audience.

For example:

• Mindfulness: Cards focused on promoting meditation, gratitude, and present-moment awareness.
• Spiritual Growth: Affirmations designed to support spiritual growth and wellbeing.
• Fitness and Health: Cards that encourage positive self-talk around body image, physical health, or working out.
• Women Empowerment: Affirmations specifically designed to uplift and support women.
• Mental Health: Cards tailored to help people cope with anxiety, depression, and self-doubt.

The best ways to choose a niche?

1) Research Market Trends

Look at what’s already selling well in the affirmation space.

Use platforms like Etsy, Pinterest, and Google Trends to identify popular categories.

For example, “self-love” or “manifestation” might be trending, which could give you a direction to explore.

2) Look for Gaps in the Market

While researching, look for underserved niches.

If there are hundreds of affirmation cards for general self-care, but very few for athletes or creatives, that could be your sweet spot.

Filling a gap in the market gives you a much bigger competitive advantage.

3) Identify Your Passion

Pick a niche you’re passionate about.

If you’re deeply connected to wellness, empowerment, or self-care, your enthusiasm will shine through in your designs and affirmations.

Passion is also important for sustaining long-term motivation, especially when creating new products.

Related: Top 10 Free Courses to Help You Make More Money Online & in Your Career

Step 2: Design Your Affirmation Cards (The Fun Part!)

This is where the magic happens!

Designing your affirmation cards is not only fun but also essential to creating something that sells.

Here’s how to approach the design process:

1) Card Size

Most affirmation cards are around 3×5 inches or 2.5×3.5 inches (you can set this size in Canva, an online app, to make designing super easy).

They should be compact enough to carry in a purse or place on a desk, but big enough to showcase your design and message clearly.

Resolution: Make sure your designs are high-resolution (at least 300 DPI) for clear, professional-quality prints.

File Format: Create your cards in PDF format, as it’s the most printer-friendly and ensures your designs retain quality.

2) Aesthetic Matters

Visual appeal is everything when it comes to affirmation cards.

Choose a color palette that fits your niche and appeals to your audience. 

The most in demand color palettes right now are:

• Soft pastels for mindfulness & calm
• Bold colors
• Floral designs

Use simple, clean designs so the focus stays on the message.

You don’t need to be a graphic designer to pull this off—Canva is your best friend here!

Canva has tons of pre-made templates that you can customize to fit your brand’s aesthetic.

Related: Canva Templates that are Easy to Make and Sell

3) Crafting the Messages

Your affirmations need to be short, sweet, and impactful.

They should be easy to read at a glance and deeply resonate with the user.

A good rule of thumb is to focus on messages that empower and uplift, like:

• “I am capable of achieving greatness.”
• “I release all fear and embrace confidence.”
• “I trust the timing of my life.”

Don’t hesitate to brainstorm or look for inspiration online.

Pinterest is full of ideas, and even your own experiences can help shape your affirmations.

Step 3: Digital or Printed Affirmation Cards

Once your designs are ready, it’s time to decide whether you want to make them digital (aka you have no inventory to physically send to a customer) or you want to print & ship a physical product. 

The main thing here to consider is time and finances.

If you want something more passive and don’t want to spend time packing etc, digital packs are the way to go, but do know that they don’t sell for a super high price.

This is because the customer knows they have to print them out themselves (which can be a hassle to some people!).

If you want to create more of a premium brand & sell for higher prices, physical products are better.

Benefits of Selling Digital Affirmation Cards

• Low Overhead: No printing or shipping costs.
• Scalability: You can sell the same product over and over with no additional work.
• Global Reach: Since it’s a digital product, your customers can be from anywhere in the world.
• Instant Gratification: Customers love being able to download their purchases immediately.

Benefits of Selling Physical Affirmation Cards

• Tangible Experience: Customers enjoy the tactile feel of holding and using physical cards, which can enhance their emotional connection to the product.
• Gift-Ready Product: Physical affirmation cards are perfect for gifting, and you can offer attractive packaging to make them more appealing for special occasions.
• Higher Perceived Value: Physical products are often valued more than digital ones, allowing you to charge higher prices for better profit margins.
• Customization Opportunities: You can offer personalized designs, premium materials, unique packaging, and extras like a display stand, increasing customer satisfaction and willingness to pay more.
• Repeat Customers: Physical cards create a more memorable experience, encouraging customers to return for additional sets or gifts.

Saving Digital Cards

Once your cards are designed, save them in multiple formats for customer convenience.

Ensure you have a high-resolution PDF for printing, and you can also include JPEG or PNG versions for those who want more flexibility in how they use the cards (like creating digital vision boards).

These files can then be listed on places like Etsy, Shopify, Gumroad etc (see below).

Printing Physical Cards

1) Print at Home (For Beginners)

If you’re just starting and don’t want to commit to large print runs, you can print the cards yourself.

Invest in high-quality cardstock and a reliable printer.

If you go this route, remember that you’ll also need to invest in a paper cutter to trim the cards neatly.

2) Outsource to a Professional Printer (For Scaling)

Once you’ve validated your product and want to ramp up production, outsourcing to a professional printing service is the way to go.

Websites like Vistaprint, Moo, or Printify allow you to print in bulk, giving you a professional finish while keeping your costs down.

If you plan to use platforms like Etsy, Shopify, or even Amazon Handmade, consider dropshipping as well.

Companies like Printful handle everything—from printing to shipping—so you can focus on creating more designs and growing your business.

Step 4: Pricing Your Affirmation Cards for Profit

When it comes to pricing your affirmation cards, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you’re making a profit:

• Cost of Production: Factor in how much it costs to produce each deck of cards, whether you’re printing at home or outsourcing. Include materials, labor, and any packaging.
• Competitor Pricing: Research what other creators are charging for similar products. Prices for digital affirmation cards typically range from $3 to $15. On Etsy, for example, physical affirmation card decks range from $15 to $40 depending on the size and quality.
• Your Desired Profit Margin: Ideally, you want a profit margin of 40% or higher. If a deck costs you $10 to produce, you should be selling it for at least $20-$30.

Step 5: Selling Your Affirmation Cards

Now for the exciting part: selling your cards and making money!

Here are some platforms and strategies to help you sell like crazy.

1) Etsy (Super Beginner Friendly!)

I know Etsy has fees but it also does give you access to 300+ million active buyers who are seeking unique products – you don’t have to go looking for shoppers this way!

So whilst you will make less profit, you can test & validate your ideas first before investing more money into your business idea.

Be sure to optimize your Etsy listing with SEO-friendly keywords like “mindfulness cards,” “positive affirmation cards,” and “self-care gifts.”

Related: Best Things to Sell on Etsy

2) Shopify

If you want more control over your branding and sales, starting your own website using Shopify is a great option.

You can create a full-blown e-commerce store and scale as your brand grows.

Shopify integrates with Printful, so you can handle printing and shipping without lifting a finger.

3) Social Media

Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok are goldmines for promoting your cards.

Use these platforms to showcase your designs, share behind-the-scenes looks at the creative process, and highlight customer testimonials.

For Instagram, try using Reels and Stories to engage your audience.

4) Facebook Ads

Once you have some momentum, consider running Facebook or Instagram ads.

With a well-targeted ad campaign, you can put your cards in front of your ideal customers and drive tons of traffic to your shop.

Related: Digital Products that Sell Like Crazy on Social Media

Step 6: Scaling to $5,000+ a Month

To hit that $5,000/month mark, you’ll need a simple plan for scaling your business:

1) Increase Your Product Offerings

Once your affirmation cards are selling well, consider expanding your product line.

You can create themed decks (e.g., “Self-Love Affirmations,” “Gratitude Cards”), and/or offer digital downloads of your cards for people to print at home.

2) Upsell and Bundle Products

Maximize your revenue by offering bundles or upselling other products.

For example, create a self-care bundle that includes a deck of affirmation cards, a journal, and a set of stickers.

This increases your average order value and helps boost your income.

3) Engage with Your Community

Building a loyal community is key to growing your business.

Create a Facebook group or Instagram page where your customers can share how they use their cards.

You can even encourage them to post photos and tag your shop in exchange for a discount on their next order.

Related: 30+ Small Business Ideas to Become Your Own Boss (& Take Back Your Time)

Insider Tips for Success

• Consistency is Key: Post regularly on your social media channels and keep updating your shop with new designs.
• Use Email Marketing: Build an email list of your customers and followers so you can promote sales, new product launches, and exclusive offers.
• Invest in High-Quality Photography: Great product photos can make all the difference when it comes to online sales. Invest in a good camera or hire a photographer to showcase your cards in the best light.