Canva 101: Everything a Beginner Needs to Know
- Rea Weeks
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
If you’ve ever said, “I’m not a designer,” but still want your projects to look cute, professional, and totally you — I’ve got three words for you: Canva is magic. ✨
Whether you’re a content creator, teacher, journaler, scrapbooker, Etsy seller, or just someone who loves making things pretty, Canva is your new best friend. And don’t worry — you don’t need a design degree or a fancy laptop to get started.
This post is your no-stress, super-fun beginner’s guide to Canva — what it is, how to use it, and how to start creating things you love right now.
Let’s jump in and turn your ideas into something beautiful. 🎨
💻 What Is Canva?
Canva is an online design platform that lets you create anything from Instagram graphics to printable planners, journaling pages, ebooks, scrapbooking layouts, and beyond — all with a simple drag-and-drop editor.
Think of it like Photoshop’s easy-going cousin that’s here for good vibes and done-for-you templates.
With Canva, you can:
Design social media posts
Create flyers, banners, business cards
Make journals, calendars, stickers, and planners
Build ebooks, lead magnets, and course materials
Design digital scrapbooking pages or printable art
And yes — it works on desktop, tablet, or mobile. You can design from your bed. You're welcome. 😌
🛠️ What You’ll Need to Get Started
Just three things:
A free Canva account
A little idea of what you want to create
A sprinkle of creative curiosity (no design skills required!)
You can upgrade to Canva Pro later for access to premium fonts, graphics, and brand tools — but honestly, the free version is plenty to get started.
✨ Key Features You’ll Love as a Beginner
Let’s break down the basics (aka: the good stuff).
📐 Templates
Canva has thousands of done-for-you templates for literally everything. Just pick one and customize!You can search:
“Instagram post”
“Weekly planner”
“Reading log”
“Vision board”
“Newsletter”
Or start with a blank canvas and build your own from scratch!
🎨 Elements + Graphics
Click “Elements” in the sidebar and explore a magical library of:
Shapes, lines, and frames
Cute icons and illustrations
Stickers, textures, and overlays
Charts, grids, and photo effects
Pro tip: Search “washi tape,” “paint stroke,” or “paper tear” to add scrapbook-style flair!
🖋 Fonts + Text Tools
Canva has hundreds of fonts — modern, script, bold, playful — and you can:
Adjust letter spacing
Add shadows, curves, and glow
Use pre-styled text combos (perfect for titles!)
Upload your own brand fonts (Canva Pro only)
💡 Want your text to pop? Use white text on a soft textured background for a dreamy, minimalist look.
📸 Photos + Backgrounds
No photos of your own? Canva’s got you covered:
Free stock photos for nearly every vibe
Background textures like wood, marble, linen, or watercolor
Upload your own photos and drag them right into frames
🎯 Try mixing photos with transparent overlays or color blocks to create depth!
💾 Saving + Downloading
Once you’re done designing:
Click Share → Download
Choose PNG for digital
Choose PDF Print for printables
You can even share designs directly to Instagram or your website
Want to reuse a template? Just duplicate the page or file and tweak it!
💡 5 Easy Project Ideas to Try Today
If you’re wondering what to make first, here are some fun beginner-friendly ideas:
Instagram Quote Graphic – Choose a pretty background, add your favorite quote
Weekly Planner Page – Build your own layout with lines, blocks, and cute fonts
Digital Scrapbook Page – Upload photos and decorate with elements + washi
Book Review Template – Use it to track your recent reads
Printable Bookmark Set – Make 2x6” designs, decorate, and print!
Feeling inspired already? Me too. 😍
💌 Join My Mailing List for Freebies + Creative Prompts
Want a free character profile template to get started?Join my email list and get:
A printable + digital character sheet
Monthly creative freebies and Canva tips
First access to new Etsy launches
Encouraging emails for your writing + storytelling journey
Let’s make writing feel like a cozy adventure again. ✍️✨
🛍 Explore My Canva Templates & Printables
Ready to level up your Canva game?My Etsy shop is packed with:
Journaling kits
Brand kits
Scrapbooking paper
Calendar templates
Stickers, labels, planners, and more
🎨 Browse them all here:
Everything is fully customizable, beautifully designed, and easy to use — whether you’re a total beginner or a creative pro.
✨ Final Thoughts
Canva is one of the best creative tools out there — especially if you’re just getting started.With a little practice (and maybe a few pretty templates), you’ll be designing like a pro in no time.
So go ahead, open Canva, and start making something just for you.It doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be yours.
You’ve got this. 💛
Rea 🌻Creator of A Rea of Treasures
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