How To Use Canva For Beginners

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY COLORFUL CIRCLE DESIGNS

First, download my Colorful Circle designs from my free library – look for Design #716. Alternatively, you can use the Save This Project form near the top of this post and the design link will be emailed to you.

In the PNG folder, there are six designs you can use in Canva to create sublimation or printable projects. I made these using an AI art generator and image editing tools.

TIP: If you’re not sure how to download zip files, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs because the steps are similar for PNGs and Canva.

STEP 2: SIGN IN TO CANVA

1. On your desktop or laptop in Google Chrome, go to jennifermaker.com/canva.
   NOTE: The screen might look a little different depending on your device and when you are watching.
   TIP: I recommend starting on a computer instead of using the phone or tablet apps until you’re more comfortable.
2. Log in to your account or follow the prompts on the screen to sign up for a free account.
   NOTE: Canva does offer paid subscriptions, but I’ll show you how to do everything with the free account, so you can skip upgrading for now.
3. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see the Canva Home screen.
   TIP: If you ever get lost, click the house icon to come back.
   
   
4. On the left-hand side, you’ll see the main navigation menu including icons for:
   Home, or your starting point.
   Projects: Where to find all your saved designs.
   Templates: Options if you don’t want to start from scratch.
   Brand: Where you can set standards to create cohesive designs with consistent colors and fonts.
   Apps: Canva’s integrations with other companies and tools by other creators.
   And Dream Lab: These are Canva’s AI tools.
   

STEP 3: SET UP YOUR CANVAS

1. On the Home screen, click “Create a Design” and then “Custom size” from the options.
   TIP: For crafting projects like stickers or sublimation designs, I recommend starting with a custom-sized canvas.
2. Change the Units from “px” for pixels to “in” for inches.
3. Set your Canvas’s width and height using the largest dimensions you might need for your project. Note that Canva’s free options won’t let you resize your design area after you’ve created it.
   NOTE: I don’t want to go larger than my printer paper, so I’ll make it 8.5” wide and 11” tall to match letter size paper.
   
   
4. Click “Create new design.”
   

STEP 4: EXPLORE CANVA’S TOOLS AND ELEMENT LIBRARY

1. The new screen is your designing Canvas.
   
   
2. The left column has everything you need to get started, but we’ll look at the important tools.
   Elements: This is where you’ll find shapes, graphics, photos, and more from Canva’s impressive library. You can search for a subject to see what they have in the different categories.
   TIP: Small crown icons mean those elements require a paid account, but we’ll stick to the free options today.
   
   
3. Select a category like “Shapes,” click “See all,” and then you can search for and click on a shape to add it to the Canvas.
   
   
4. You can resize the Shape by clicking and dragging from a corner or side of its bounding box.
5. You can adjust the color by clicking the color swatch in the “Edit” bar that appears when the shape is selected. New color options will appear in the left column.
6. You can easily Delete anything with the Trash Can icon above the shape.
7. Clear the search term and then you can go back to Elements.
8. Back in the Elements view, you can also see Graphics, which are more like digital illustrations.
9. Click “See all” to show all the options.
   NOTE: You can use the search bar to find what you want, like a butterfly, and add one to the canvas.
   
   
10. Simple graphics with color swatches in the Edit bar can be customized like Shapes with different colors.
    NOTE: Some Graphics are more complex and you might not have as much control, so they won’t show color swatches in the Edit bar.
11. You can also click “Edit” to adjust a Graphic with Filters and Effects.
12. Photos are images of real items, like a butterfly, or maybe a photograph of a painted one. You can adjust them similarly to complex Graphics using Effects and Filters.
13. If you only want part of a Photo to show, you can use the “Crop” icon in the Edit bar to adjust what’s visible.
14. Click “Done” to apply the changes.
    
    
15. The “Text” menu in the left column lets you add names and words to your Canvas. You can use their preset styles or create your own from hundreds of options.
    
    
16. If you want to use your own images, like my Colorful Circle PNGs, you’ll use the “Uploads” menu.
    TIP: You can upload JPEGs, PNGS, and other common image types and they’ll stay in your Uploads section.
    
    
17. Once you have an Element on the Canvas, you can use different tools to adjust it to your design. You can Duplicate with the “+” icon above the element, rotate with the curved arrows under the element, resize using the bounding box handles, or use the Color Swatch (if available in the Edit bar) to change the color.
    
    TIP: The Edit bar adapts to the Element you have selected.
18. We can change the color of the Heart Shape by clicking the color swatch and selecting a new option.
    
    
19. For help laying out your elements on the Canvas, go to “File,” “Settings,” and “Show Rulers and Guides.”
20. Then, you can drag a Guide out from one of the rulers to make a line to position your elements along.
    
    
21. As you move Elements around, you’ll see pink lines appear and disappear on the Canvas. Those are showing where the Element is on the overall Canvas. Dashed lines show the relationship between the Elements.
    
    
22. If you don’t want the Guide, you can just click and drag it off of the Canvas.
    TIP: Canva deletes anything you move to the gray area.
23. You can also adjust your Layout by selecting all the elements, then clicking “Position.” The “Arrange” section lets you space out the Elements evenly or Align them for different compositions.
    
    

STEP 5: MAKE A SUBLIMATION OR PRINT THEN CUT DESIGN IN CANVA

1. To make a round design with solid edges suitable for a Print Then Cut Cricut sticker or sublimation project, click “Elements” in the left column, then scroll down to the “Frames” category and click “See all.”
   TIP: Frame elements show the same illustration in different shapes.
2. Click the Frame you want to add to the Canvas. You can Resize and Rotate Frames like other Elements.
   
   
3. To fill a Frame, find the Element or uploaded Image you want, like one of my colorful circle designs.
   
   
4. Drag the Element or Image into the Frame to fill the space.
   TIP: If the Frame doesn’t fill automatically, move your cursor closer to the top left corner to trigger the action.
   
   
5. You can adjust the result by double-clicking on the Frame.
6. To show less of the design in the Frame, make it bigger and any design outside the Frame won’t be included.
   TIP: The slider below the Canvas helps you zoom in to see better.
   
   
7. Click “Done” to see the result.
8. You can also adjust how the framed Element looks by clicking “Edit” to find editing tools under “Adjust,” Filters, and Effects. For example, “Adjust” lets you change the image itself, like if you want to increase the contrast or other settings.
9. To add a message to the sticker, you might need to use an Element to make a plain spot so the words will stand out from the background design. Canva has many “banner” Graphics, which are helpful for text-based designs, so search for and click one you like to add it to the Canvas.
   
   
10. To curve the banner the other way, Click “Flip” in the “Edit” bar and select “Flip Vertical.” Then resize it to fit in the circle.
    
    
11. Click the “Text” icon in the left column.
12. Canva shows lots of options, but start simple by clicking “Add a text box” to put one on your Canvas. Then double-click the text box and type what you want.
    NOTE: I’ll add “You Did It!”
13. Use the crossed arrows icon below the text box to drag the text over the banner, then drag a corner of its bounding box until the words are a little smaller than the main section.
    
    
14. To make the text match the banner’s arc, click “Effects” at the top to pull the Effects menu up in the left-hand menu.
15. Find “Shape” and select “Curve.”
16. Drag the slider until the words match the banner’s shape.
    
    
17. If you want to change the color of your text, make sure your text box is selected and Click the “A” with a color bar. Canva pulls some color ideas right from the elements you’re using!
18. Look under “Photo colors” to see your background image, and you can click one of its most prominent colors to recolor the text to match.
    
    
19. To use a different typeface, select the text box and click the toolbar box that says “Canva Sans,” which is the default font option. Search by name, style, or scroll until you find a good one!
    TIP: After changing the typeface, you might have to adjust the text’s size or shape to fit the banner.
20. To center everything, select the entire design, then click “Position” in the Edit bar.
21. Select “Arrange” and then click “Center.”
    
    
22. You might have to adjust the elements a little by hand to fit your vision. Just click them one at a time and move them as needed.
    

STEP 6: DOWNLOAD YOUR CANVA DESIGN

1. Once you have the design you want, you’ll need to download the work to print it through another program.
2. If you haven’t already, rename the project in the top bar.
3. Click the “Share” button in the top right, then select “Download” and choose your file type.
   TIP: I recommend the “PNG” option with the default settings for both Cricut Print Then Cut stickers and sublimation transfer designs.
4. Click “Download.”
   
   
5. Then, use the PNG file in your crafting projects with my matching tutorials! I followed the steps from my Cricut stickers tutorial to make stickers, and my sublimation mug tutorial to make a cup!
   

STEP 7: SHOW IT OFF

Here are my finished projects!