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This Beginner-Friendly Coloring Book Method Made $20K in a Month

If you’ve ever wanted to make a coloring book and sell it on Amazon KDP, but felt overwhelmed by all the tech stuff — don’t worry. This guide breaks it down step by step.

Even if you’re brand new to Canva or self-publishing, you can still launch your own best-selling coloring book with zero experience.

When I first started learning how to design and sell coloring books, I didn’t have fancy tools or a background in illustration. I was a busy mom with a creative itch and a Cricut machine.

Now I create coloring pages in Canva and earn passive income from books I published just once. Let me walk you through how you can do the same!

These animal-themed coloring books are flying off the virtual shelves — here’s why! This pin shares the secrets behind creating best selling coloring books on Amazon KDP. Perfect for creators who want to make passive income with diy coloring books. Whether you're a hobbyist or side hustler, you’ll learn how to build books that readers love and keep coming back for.

I get commissions for purchases made through some of the links in this post. There is no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Supplies You’ll Need

Step 1: Decide Your Book Specs

Before you create any art, you need to know your book’s trim size and page count.

  • Trim Size: 8.5 x 8.5 inches (square)
  • Page Count: 64 pages (30 coloring pages, 30 blank backs, cover, and title/copyright pages)
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Print Type: Black and white, with bleed

Tip: Always leave the back of each coloring page blank to prevent ink bleed-through.

Step 2: Set Up Your Page Layout in Canva

  1. Go to Canva and choose Custom Size.
  2. Enter 8.625 x 8.75 inches (this includes bleed).
  3. Turn on Rulers and Guides.
  4. Add 0.375-inch margins on all sides.
  5. Duplicate your page until you have 64 total (32 sheets front and back).

Step 3: Design Your Interior Pages

You can choose AI or non-AI methods. Here’s what works best:

Option A: Using AI (with Fixes)

  • Use ChatGPT Coloring Book Hero.
  • Upscale low-res images in Canva.
  • Remove grayscale and random lines.
  • Clean up mistakes using Magic tool Eraser.

BUT: AI images often need heavy editing. Hands and extra limbs? Not fun.

Option B: Use Publisher’s Vault (Best Method)

  • Download hand-drawn PNG images (includes characters + backgrounds).
  • Upload to Canva.
  • Mix and match to create unique pages.
  • Add a title page (“This book belongs to”) and copyright page.

Step 4: Create the Cover Template

  1. Use Amazon’s Cover Calculator Tool to generate the correct size template.
  2. Upload the PNG cover template to Canva.
  3. Place it on your canvas as a guide.
  4. Design the front and back cover using colored versions of your graphics.
  5. Add your book title, subtitle, and pen name (e.g. “Ellie Doodlewood”).
  6. Export as PDF Print (CMYK) with Flatten PDF checked.

Step 5: Upload to Amazon KDP

  1. Log into Amazon KDP.
  2. Create a new paperback project.
  3. Upload your interior PDF and book cover.
  4. Set up your book info:
    • Title
    • Subtitle
    • Pen name
    • Description
    • Keywords (e.g. “bold and easy animal coloring book”)
    • Categories: Children’s > Activity Books > Coloring
  5. Set your price. Most sell at $7.99.
  6. Hit Publish. Your book will be live in 72 hours!

Bonus Tip: Keyword Research for Sales

Use Self Publishing Titans or the Amazon search bar to find real search terms. Good keywords include:

  • cute animal coloring book
  • bold and easy coloring book animals
  • animal coloring book for kids 8-12

Avoid stuffing — keep keywords relevant and natural.

Want More Ideas for Selling Crafts Online?

If you love designing printables and want more ways to earn passive income, check out these guides on creating SVG files for Cricut and the most profitable crafts to sell.

You can combine these skills with coloring book creation for even more ways to grow your income.

Learn how to make a coloring book that actually sells — no drawing skills needed! I’m sharing how I used Canva, Publisher’s Vault, and Amazon KDP to design and launch my book. This strategy works even if you’ve never published before. If you've been Googling “how to make coloring pages to sell” or want to try selling on KDP, this pin breaks it down step by step.

Conclusion

Designing and selling coloring books on Amazon KDP doesn’t require fancy software or years of experience. With just Canva, some smart design choices, and the right tools, you can create beautiful books people actually want to buy.

And if you’re looking to level up your skills for digital crafting, take a peek at how I started making my own SVGs for my Cricut — it’s the perfect next step for turning your creativity into cash.

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Curious about what makes the best selling coloring books on Amazon KDP? These cozy, animal-themed coloring pages are trending — and it’s not by accident. Find out how creators are using smart design and low-content publishing to make money online. I cover both AI and non-AI methods, and why Publisher’s Vault is a game-changer if you want to sell journals or diy coloring books.