Hi ya’ll! Today I want to share with you how to make nursery wall art in Canva for FREE! It’s a fun and easy way to add beauty and personality to your little one’s room.
NOTE: You can easily tweak this tutorial to fit your own style and color scheme. This is simply a step-by-step tutorial to show you the creative process.
IMPORTANT: This tutorial is meant for PERSONAL USE ONLY! If you are wanting to create wall art to sell please be sure to read Canva’s Legal Pages!
What Is Canva?
Canva is an amazing online design tool where you can create just about anything you can think of and more. But the best part is, it’s FREE! (You can sign up for a FREE Canva account HERE.)
They do have a Pro version where you pay a monthly or annual fee. (This is what I use for my website and Etsy shop.)
However, for the sake of this tutorial I used all of their FREE tools and images.
What Are The Pros Of Creating Wall Art In Canva?
1. The greatest perk to using Canva is that it is FREE! I am a penny pincher so if I can save money by creating it myself then I’m all in favor of it.
2. Canva is also incredibly easy to use. I am not tech gifted and starting my website was overwhelming. Which meant that I needed a design platform that didn’t require a huge learning curve. So, I started using Canva and have been hooked since!
3. Canva offers a wide variety of free images, elements, fonts, etc. However, you can also upload images and fonts that you have taken yourself or purchased from other websites.
Do you love these prints but don’t have time to make them right now?
Then sign up below to receive an 8″x10″ instant download of all 4 images that you can print right from home!
What You Need To Make Nursery Wall Art In Canva
- Computer or Smart Phone App
- Internet Access
- FREE Canva Account
How To Make Nursery Wall Art In Canva
Step 1: Open A Blank Canvas
Once you have set up a FREE Canva account and log in you will see this screen. Simply click on the “Create A Design” button in the upper right-hand corner. Then click on the “Custom Size” button on the lower left-hand side of the drop-down menu.
Next, change the “px” (pixels) to “in” (inches). Then type in the dimensions of 8 wide by 10 high. This is a very common size for wall art, especially wall art that you can print from home.
Once you have your dimensions set, click on the “Create New Design” button.
Step 2: How To Make Nursery Wall Art In Canva Using Elements
So now comes the fun part! We are going to find beautiful elements (also known as clipart) to add to our blank canvas.
First, you will click on the “Elements” tab in the left side panel. Secondly, in the search bar type in a specific element that you are looking for. Or simply type in a broad category. I personally love using watercolor because it saves on my ink usage. But if that is not a concern of yours, they have lots of vibrant elements available as well.
Thirdly, click on the “Filters” icon and select “FREE” at the bottom of the drop-down. Then click “Apply Filters”.
As I mentioned earlier, Canva also offers a Pro version which is a subscription. You may see elements, images, and fonts with a small crown beside them. Those are only free with the Pro subscription. However, if you choose to use those elements (etc.) you can pay a fee for each Pro element (etc.) that you use.
Fun Tip!
Canva has a very helpful tool called “Magic Recommendations”. It’s a selection of elements that coordinate with the element that you previously clicked on. However, watch for the “crowns” because the “Free Filter” does not apply to Magic Recommendations.
Step 3: Add Text To Your Design
In this step we are going to add some text to our design. Simply click on the “Text” tab in the left side panel. Then click on “Add A Heading”. You can click on any of the “text boxes” to add text to your design. I just prefer to use the heading since it is the largest.
How To Change The Font And Size
This is the step where I usually get stuck for awhile. (hehe) There are so many cute and fun fonts to choose from. So, my advice is to have an idea of what you want the text to look like to help narrow the search.
To get started, type a quote, or cute saying, into the text box. Then click on the font drop-down menu located in the top menu. You can either scroll through the long list of Fonts, or click on the search bar and choose a category.
P.S.- for FREE fonts choose ones that DO NOT have a crown beside it!
Once you decide on a Font you will want to adjust the size. To do so, you can either click on the “Size” box in the top menu. Or you can adjust the size by clicking on and dragging the corner of the text box. You can also adjust the width of the text box by clicking on and dragging the side of it.
How To Change Font Color
Lastly, you can change the color of the font by clicking on the “A” in the top menu. Then you can either choose a color from your Photo Color Pallet, the Default Color Pallet, type in a hex code, or move the color cursor.
Another fun tool is “Transparency”. Simply click on the 3 dots in the top menu, then click on the square with the ombre dots. By moving the slider you can change the intensity of your text color!
Fun Tips For How To Make Nursery Wall Art In Canva That Coordinates
Tip 1: Duplicate A Page Or Start From Scratch
Once you see how easy it is to make wall art you will want to make more! And you can easily add to your collection by clicking the small square with the + sign located right above your canvas. Or you can click the “Add Page” button beneath your canvas.
You can also “Duplicate” the page by clicking on the double squares above your canvas. I like to do this when I want to tweak something without messing up the original design.
P.S.- Be sure to give your designs a “Title” at the top right of the page! This will help you find it later in your Downloads.
Tip 2: How To Edit An Image
In order to edit an image first click on the image to see if “Edit Image” appears in the top menu. In my experience most (if not all) images are editable. However, the edit options may change. One of my favorite editing options is “Photogenic”. It gives the image a different look without distorting it.
To use “Photogenic” click on the “Edit Image” button. Then click on the “Photogenic” tool. It will show you multiple color changes of your image. When you find one that you like simply click on it, then click “Apply”.
Tip 3: How To Change Multiple Colors Of An Element
Some Elements and Images allow you to change multiple, individual colors instead of the image as a whole. If that is an option you will see a row of colored squares appear on the left side of the top menu. To change a color in the element simply click on the matching colored square, then choose a new color.
You can also change the transparency of an element or image, just like you can a text color. Start by clicking on the square with ombre dots on the right side of the top menu. Then adjust the color intensity with the slider.
Tip 4: Turn Text Into Art
One of the easiest ways to create wall art is by filling an entire page with text!
You can do so simply by adding your favorite quote, choosing a fun font, and changing the text color.
Tip 5: How To See All Of Your Designs Side By Side
I like to see my designs side-by-side to be sure they coordinate and if there is anything that I should change. To do so, click on the numbered, stacked squares at the bottom right side of the screen.
You can also rearrange the design pages by clicking on the page and dragging it to the desired spot. A line will appear when you have it in place.
How To Download Your Nursery Wall Art
Downloading your nursery wall art is incredibly easy! Simply click on the “Share” button at the top right-hand side of the screen. Then click on “Download”.
Under the Download menu choose “PDF Print” in the File Type drop-down menu. Then select “Flatten PDF”. This simply keeps all of your images in place while downloading. Next, choose which pages you want to download.
Under “Color Profile” you will see 2 options in the drop-down menu. You will need to choose “RGB” because it is available with the FREE version. The CMYK is only available with the Pro version of Canva.
Lastly, click on the “Download” button! You will then find your nursery wall art file in your computers filing system. (I have a Mac, so mine shows up in Finder/Downloads.)
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