How To Make Etsy Printables With Canva in 2024

Last updated: 08/02/2024 Written by: Ruby Layram

Selling printables on Etsy is a great way to make passive income in 2024. In fact, some Etsy printables sellers have been able to replace their fulltime job with their Etsy business. In this article, we take a look at how to make Etsy printables with Canva that you can sell on your Etsy shop and make extra income.

With the right process, making Etsy printables is fairly easy and doesn’t require any special design skills. Read more to learn how to use Canva to make Etsy printables today.

What are Etsy printables?

Etsy printables are digital products that customers can purchase and download for personal use. These products include a wide range of printable designs such as wall art, party decorations, invitations, worksheets, and more. Buyers can print these designs at home or at a local print shop, allowing them to customize their creations according to their preferences.

Etsy printables are a very popular passive side hustle idea. After making the initial printables, sellers can make money in the background of their daily lives and even in their sleep. Printables require very little effort to maintain and can sell for years after initially creating them.

How to make Etsy printables on Canva - Guide

Now that you understand a bit more about what Etsy printables are, let’s take a look at how to make them.

The best way to make your own printables to sell on Etsy is to use Canva. Canva is a FREE design tool that makes it easy for anyone to create professional-looking digital products and printables. In fact, Canva provides a variety of ready-made templates that can be used as inspiration for your printables. Here’s how to make Etsy printables with Canva in 2024.

Step 1: Step 1: Choose an Etsy printables niche

Before diving into the world of Etsy printables, it's crucial to select a specific niche to target. Focus on an area where you can showcase your expertise and create unique designs. Research popular Etsy categories and identify gaps or opportunities for your printables. By specializing in a niche, you can establish yourself as an expert and attract a dedicated customer base.

A good way to research niches is to look at what Etsy sellers are already selling. This will give you a good idea about what actually sells and how much competition there is. It is also a good idea to find emerging niches and products through social media. For example, if a big celebrity or influencer reveals that they use printable affirmation cards as part of their morning routine, searches for printable affirmation cards on Etsy are likely to rise. As an Etsy seller, staying on top of social media trends is key.

Step 2: Download Canva

Once you’ve found a niche, you can start the process of making Etsy pirntables on Canva. The first step is to download Canva from the app store.

Canva is a user-friendly graphic design tool that offers a range of templates and design elements. Canva provides both web-based and mobile versions, which means that you can create your printables from your laptop or phone.

Canva is free to download and use. However, the app does offer a premium subscription for members who want to unlock advanced design features.

Step 3: Create a Canva account

After downloading Canva onto your phone or laptop, you will need to create your own account.

If you’re new to selling printables of Etsy, it is a good idea to start with a free Canva account. The free version of Canva provides everything that you need to create basic printables that sell online. However, as your business grows you may want to switch to the pro account so that you can take advantage of more advanced design features.

To create a Canva account, you will need to fill in your email address and create a password. You will also be asked to provide your name and address.

After filling in your personal details, you will need to confirm your email address by clicking through a verification link that should be sent to your inbox. You will not be able to use Canva until you have verified your email address.

Step 4: Browse through free templates

Canva offers an extensive library of free templates for various printable designs. Explore the template categories related to your chosen niche. Look for designs that align with your vision and brand aesthetics. Canva's templates are customizable, so choose ones that provide a solid foundation for your unique creations.

To find templates, simply click ‘templates’ on the left side of the screen and browse through available options. You can also search for specific templates with the search bar at the top of the screen.

Step 5: Edit Canva templates to make them unique

After selecting a template, it's time to customize it and make it your own. Canva provides a drag-and-drop interface that makes editing a breeze. Change colors, fonts, and graphics to match your branding. Personalize the text, images, and layout to create a distinctive printable design that stands out from the crowd. Don't be afraid to experiment and let your creativity shine.

A good idea is to open up two windows on your laptop side by side. On one window, open an image of the type of printable that you would like to create. On the second window, open the Canva editor. You can use the image as inspiration while you edit the template and make your Etsy printables.

Also read: 12 digital products you can create with Canva

Step 6: Upload your printables to your Etsy store

Once you're satisfied with your printable design, save it and export it as a high-resolution file. Head over to your Etsy store and navigate to the "Digital products" section. Upload your printables and provide compelling titles, descriptions, and tags. Optimize your product descriptions by including relevant keywords to improve your visibility in Etsy's search results.

If you don’t already have an Etsy shop, check out our helpful guide on how to set up an Etsy shop in the UK.

Step 7: Market your Etsy printables business

Effective marketing is the difference between a six-figure Etsy business and an Etsy business that doesn’t make any sales. Many people underestimate the importance of knowing how to promote your side hustle so that it reaches the correct audience.

To drive traffic and sales to your Etsy store, it's crucial to market your printables effectively. Leverage social media platforms, such as Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, to showcase your designs and engage with your target audience.

Create visually appealing images and share them with relevant hashtags and descriptions. Collaborate with influencers or bloggers in your niche to expand your reach and gain exposure.

Step 8: Upgrade to Canva Pro

It is possible to make a variety of Etsy printables with the free version of Canva. However, as your business grows you may want to upgrade to the pro version of the app.

While Canva offers a wealth of features in its free version, upgrading to Canva Pro unlocks even more possibilities for your Etsy printables business. With Canva Pro, you gain access to a wider range of templates, premium stock photos, and advanced editing tools.

Additionally, you can resize your designs effortlessly for different platforms and collaborate with team members or designers seamlessly. Investing in Canva Pro can enhance your productivity and help you create professional-grade printables that attract more customers.

How Much Money Can You Make Selling Printables on Etsy?

It is possible to make over £1000 per month by selling printables on Etsy. However, these kinds of profits come from hard work and a lot of time. As a new business, you can expect to se earnings of around £150 per month at first. This will increase as your business grows and your store attracts more customers. Running a successful Etsy shop is a profitable side hustle that takes time to generate returns but can eventually become passive.

The earning potential in the Etsy printables business can vary widely depending on factors such as the quality of your designs, niche market demand, pricing strategy, and marketing efforts. Stores that target luxury products, such as wedding invitations, can earn more per item sold. However, the customer base for this niche is likely to be limited, which means that you may sell less printables overall.

To maximize the amount of money that you can make selling Etsy printables, choose a niche that has a large customer base and high demand. You could also price your printables competitively and put a lot of effort into marketing.

What Printables Sell Best on Etsy?

While the Etsy marketplace is diverse and ever-evolving, certain types of printables tend to perform well. Here are some Etsy printables that sell best:

  • Printable wall art: Artistic prints, inspirational quotes, and personalized designs for home decor.

  • Printable party decorations: Banners, signs, cupcake toppers, and other decorations for special occasions.

  • Printable invitations: Customizable invitation templates for birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and more.

  • Printable party games: Fun and interactive games to entertain guests at parties and events.

  • Printable children's activities: Educational worksheets, coloring pages, and activity packs for kids.

  • Printable vision boards: Tools for visualizing goals, aspirations, and motivation.

  • Printable worksheets: Educational resources for various subjects, including language learning, math, and productivity.

Of course, there are hundreds of different printable Etsy products that you could sell. The key to selling well is to create high-quality and unique designs that appeal to consumers.

Conclusion

Creating and selling printables on Etsy is an exciting venture that allows you to leverage your creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can harness the power of Canva to design unique printables, establish a profitable Etsy printables business, and connect with a wide audience of buyers. Remember to continually refine your designs, stay up to date with market trends, and promote your products effectively. With dedication and strategic effort, you can turn your passion for design into a thriving Etsy business.

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FAQs

  • Yes, it is legal to sell designs that you create with Canva on Etsy. However, it is important that you don’t use any logos or images that belong to other businesses or creators. All of the graphics offered by Canva are legal to use in your printables but you should double check the legality of any external materials that you use for your designs.

  • All free graphics provided by Canva are copyright free and available to use for commercial and non-commercial products. This includes all images, videos, audio and text.

  • There are several ways that you can save your Canva designs to sell on Etsy. The best ways include saving your design as a PDF, as a PNG image, or as a text file. Another popular way to sell printables on Etsy is to share the link to your Canva product when a customer makes a purchase.

All of our articles are written to help our readers to learn about different side hustles, how they work and how to start earning money from them. Although we mention potential earnings, it is important to understand that there is no guarantee that you will make money from any of the side hustles that are mentioned on our site. Making money from a side hustle requires consistency and significant effort. While we aim to provide useful insight into each side hustle opportunity, it is down to you to follow the right steps towards making any profits.

About The Author

Ruby is the founder of The Rich Girl Guide and has been writing content around personal finance, side hustles and wellbeing for over 3 years. You can find some of Ruby’s published articles on The Motley Fool UK, Tradingplatforms.com and Buyshares.co.uk.