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How to Make $500/Month Selling AI-Generated Greeting Cards
Hey there,
If you're looking for a creative, low-risk side hustle that blends AI with passive income, I’ve got something exciting for you: selling AI-generated greeting cards. Whether you want to offer digital printables or physical cards, this is a system you can start today, even if you're not a writer or designer.
In this post, let me walk you through how I do it using ChatGPT for writing and Printful for designing and selling. No complicated tools. Just simple steps that work.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support my work and allows me to keep sharing free content with you.
🧠 Why Greeting Cards?
Greeting cards might seem basic, but they’re surprisingly profitable, especially when paired with automation.
Low overhead: Digital cards cost nothing after creation. Physical cards? Printful prints and ships on demand. No inventory needed.
High markup: A single card can sell for $5 to $10. Packs go for even more.
Year-round demand: Think birthdays, holidays, weddings, graduations, and “just because” moments.
Set it and forget it: Create once and keep earning as they sell.
This is one of the few creative side hustles that’s both personal and scalable.
✍️ Step 1: Use ChatGPT to Write Card Messages
Not a poet? Me neither. That’s why ChatGPT is the ultimate assisstant here.
Just drop in a few simple prompts like:
“Write a cheerful birthday message for a friend”
“Create a comforting sympathy card message”
“Give me a witty Christmas greeting”
“Write a short self-love affirmation”
It’ll generate great text in seconds.
You can fine-tune the tone to be funny, heartfelt, quirky, or minimalist.
After a quick edit, you’ve got your message ready to drop into a card.
👉 Pro Tip: Create themed batches. For example, 10 funny birthday messages, 10 affirmations, 10 pet-lover messages. This makes it easy to create bundles later.
Quick note: Don’t rely 100% on what ChatGPT gives you. It’s a great starting point and does the heavy lifting, but the real magic happens when you add your personal touch. Read the text and ask yourself, 'Would I want to buy this?' Then tweak the prompts. Think of ChatGPT as your writing assistant.
🎨 Step 2: Design Your Cards with Printful
Here’s where it gets even easier. Printful has its own built-in design tool that lets you create and customize greeting cards directly in the platform.
Here’s how to do it:
Choose the product: In Printful’s catalog, select “Greeting Cards.”
Open the design tool: Add your card front and inside text with simple drag-and-drop tools.
Paste your ChatGPT message: Adjust fonts, sizes, and colors to fit the tone.
Add visual elements: Upload basic graphics or use Printful’s clipart. A balloon, a flower, a heart — simple touches go a long way.
Preview and finish: Choose your paper type and size. The 5x7 inch format is a classic. That’s it.
Even if you’ve never designed anything before, you’ll very convenient because of Printful. And the best part? Your design is now ready to sell without needing extra uploads or tools.
🛒 Step 3: Sell Your Cards with Printful
Now that your cards are ready, it’s time to make money. Printful makes this completely hands-off.
You can connect Printful directly to platforms like:
Etsy
Shopify
WooCommerce
Your own site
Once connected:
Customers order.
Printful prints and ships.
You collect profit.
There’s no inventory to manage, no packaging, and no customer service headaches. Since Printful only charges you after a sale, there’s no upfront risk.
💸 How to Hit $500/Month
You don’t need to go viral. Here’s a basic breakdown:
Sell digital or physical cards at $5 each
Make 100 sales per month to earn $500
Or sell bundles, like a 5-pack for $20, and only need 25 buyers per month
By creating just 20 to 30 strong designs, you can build a small shop that generates consistent income. Add new cards every month to keep it fresh and scalable.
🔥 Bonus Tips for Success
Pick a niche: Cards for teachers, pet lovers, gamers, or bookworms. The more specific, the better. I recommend choosing a niche that you enjoy.
Use bundles: Offer themed packs to boost average order value.
Market smart: Post card previews on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Add a link to your shop.
Run tests: Use ChatGPT to create variations and see what sells best. Let data guide your creativity.
✅ Final Thoughts
This side hustle hits the sweet spot. It’s creative, fun, passive, and beginner-friendly. Whether you’re looking for your first $500 per month stream or building something bigger, AI-generated greeting cards can absolutely get you there.
Ready to try it?
👉 Sign up for Printful, start designing, and let ChatGPT handle the words.