Preston Cox
Using Canva for Stunning Visuals in Woodworking and Maker Projects
In the world of makers, craftsmanship is key, but presentation of your projects and brand, both online and in person, is equally important. Whether you're showcasing your latest creations on social media, promoting your Etsy store, or gearing up for a vendor event, captivating visuals can make all the difference.
Enter Canva, a versatile graphic design tool that empowers creators of all different levels of digital design experience to craft eye-catching graphics and promotional materials with ease.
Let's dive into how you can leverage Canva to elevate your maker projects across various platforms and mediums.
1. Social Media Posts
Perhaps the most obvious and widely-used type of content created with Canva is social media content. With Canva, you can create visually stunning posts that stop scrollers in their tracks, whether it be product spotlights, reels, or just simply branding your content with your logo. The great part is that Canva offers a plethora of templates and design elements to match your maker style, or use the tips and tricks we learned in my previous live training about marketing design. The two most important things to keep in mind when creating social media content in Canva is making “scroll-stopping” content that captures the attention of our potential customers and also making sure our content is “mobile-ready,” meaning that we need to keep all images and texts readable and succinct in our presentation. One quick way to test the mobile readiness of your content is simply exporting your files from Canva before posting to make sure you can read and see everything clearly on your own mobile device.
2. YouTube Cover Images
For many of us makers and creators, your YouTube channel is a window into your craftsmanship and creative journey. But what makes someone click on your video as opposed to some other maker creating similar content? Use Canva to professionally design cover images that reflect your brand identity and specific topics to get more clicks into your videos. Using your logo, branded text, selfie, brand colors, or project images you can quickly create Youtube covers that get attention and clicks.
This type of YouTube cover is prominent in the Maker Community, but is actually really simple to make utilizing the background remover for the images, outlines and drop shadows, branded text, and a laser graphic.
3. Etsy or Product Listings
In the competitive landscape of online marketplaces like Etsy, compelling product listings are essential for driving sales. With Canva, you can create visually engaging listing images that highlight the unique features of your creations and are the correct size and quality to get your products noticed. From adding text overlays to incorporating lifestyle imagery, Canva provides the tools you need to make your products shine. One of the most effective ways to utilize Canva for these types of images is creating mockups of your listed projects. For instance, if you are selling engraved cutting boards, you simply take a picture of one of your blank boards and then utilize Canva to create a digital mockup with various designs, saving you both time and product waste.
This is a simple example of what a branded Etsy listing might look like. Notice the incorporation of the logo along with the branded font with a simple drop shadow to help the text stand out.
4. Branded Reels
As short-form video content continues to rise in popularity, platforms like Instagram Reels offer a creative outlet for makers to showcase their skills. With Canva's elements and video editing capabilities, you can add transitions, graphics, and text overlays to create captivating Reels that engage your audience and showcase your brand. You can even export specific elements or text with transparent backgrounds to layer into your videos using your platform’s editing tools. Or for more advanced video production, you can utilize layering in your preferred editing software, like Final Cut Pro, to have even more control of your video production. However you go about elevating your short form videos, Canva can help with keeping your branding consistent.
Canva’s video editor, while not the most advanced software, makes adding your brand assets easy. For this example, you can see that the logo with the branded colors and fonts really makes this simple video standout.
5. Vendor Event Materials
From banners and flyers to pricing sheets and business cards, vendor events present a prime opportunity to promote your brand and attract potential customers. With Canva's extensive library of design templates, you can effortlessly create cohesive marketing materials that leave a lasting impression on event attendees. What’s even better is Canva offers you the option to print your materials and have them shipped to you. Oftentimes, you can even pick certain designs up locally. Overall, the quality from Canva’s print option is incredibly affordable making it a perfect option for vendors.
Canva’s “Print with Canva” option is a great choice for vendors. The quality is great and the process is easy to complete within the software itself.
As a maker or craftsperson, your creativity knows no bounds. With Canva as your design companion, you can elevate your craft and amplify your online presence with stunning visuals across social media, online marketplaces, video platforms, and vendor events. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, Canva empowers you to unleash your creativity and showcase your passion for woodworking and making to the world. Start designing today and watch your creations come to life in ways you never imagined possible. Happy making!
If you want to learn more about how to grow your creative abilities, market yourself, or to start making more money, consider joining TMCU today. Check out our enroll page and invest in yourself… besides, it’s a write-off! We’ll be here to help you create, learn, & connect.
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