Quick heads up before we start:

If reading feels like effort today, you can listen to this as a podcast instead. Same chat, same honesty, just without the scrolling. ☕🎧

Let’s clear something up straight away.

Canva can make you money.

But it is not a shortcut.

And it is definitely not passive.

If you’re currently knee-deep in 37 drafts, rearranging fonts at 11pm and wondering why none of it’s paid your council tax… yeah. This is for you.

I’m Steph.

I run Handmade Bosses.

I’ve seen thousands of handmade sellers try to make money with Canva.

Some do really well.

Most just make very nice things… for free.

The difference isn’t talent.

It’s how they use Canva.

So let’s talk about five real ways to make money with Canva, what actually sells, and how to stop faffing.

First rule: pick ONE lane (or you’ll do none)

Before we get into the ideas, this matters.

Pick one route for 30 days.

Not printables on Monday, templates on Wednesday, POD on Friday.

That’s not a strategy.

That’s a hobby with admin.

Right. Let’s go.

1️⃣ Sell printables (best for organised, problem-solving brains)

Printables are files people download and print at home or at a print shop.

And no - it’s not about “cute wall art with vague quotes”.

What actually sells are specific, functional things that solve a problem.

Printable ideas that already sell on Etsy

• Wedding signage bundles (welcome sign, seating chart, table numbers)
  
  

• Kids routine charts (morning, bedtime, potty training)
  
  

• Teacher resources (labels, worksheets, flashcards)
  
  

• Party games (baby showers, hen dos)
  
  

• Small business inserts (care cards, thank-you notes, order trackers)
  
  

If it saves time, reduces stress, or makes someone look organised… you’re on the right track.

How to validate an idea in 10 minutes

Search your idea on Etsy.

Look at page one.

Ask:

• Are there lots of reviews? (demand)
  
  

• Are sellers using similar phrases? (buyer language)
  
  

• Are there bundles? (pricing ceiling)
  
  

Then open three top listings and ask:

• What’s missing?
  
  

• What’s confusing?
  
  

• What could be clearer?
  
  

You’re not reinventing.

You’re improving.

Canva settings people mess up

• Use inches for printable designs
  
  

• Export as PDF Print
  
  

• If it’s editable, be clear what the buyer gets
  
  

Pricing (keep it simple)

• Single printable: £2–£6
  
  

• Bundle: £7–£15
  
  

• Mega bundle: £17–£35
  
  

The money is in bundles because buyers want the whole solution, not one lonely page.

2️⃣ Sell Canva templates (best for marketing brains + niche knowledge)

Templates work when the buyer thinks:

“Thank god. I don’t have to start from scratch.”

Generic social media posts?

Overdone. Saturated. Vague.

Templates that actually sell

• Etsy listing image overlays
  
  

• Market stall sign bundles
  
  

• Instagram Story templates for makers
  
  

• Brand kit templates (fonts, colours, logo text options)
  
  

• Thank-you card templates for small businesses
  
  

The money move: template + instructions

People aren’t paying for the Canva file.

They’re paying for:

• What it helps them do
  
  

• How easy you make it
  
  

Add a simple PDF:

• How to access the template
  
  

• How to change colours and fonts
  
  

• How to export or print
  
  

That alone makes it feel premium.

Pricing guide

• Single template: £5–£12
  
  

• Bundle: £15–£49
  
  

• Toolkit (templates + guide): £29–£79
  
  

Steal this positioning line if you want:

“For handmade sellers who want to look like a brand… without spending 3 hours in Canva.”

3️⃣ Offer design services (fastest route to actual cash)

This is the quickest way to get paid because it’s custom.

And yes — people will pay for this.

Services handmade sellers actually buy

• Etsy listing image packs
  
  

• Branding refreshes
  
  

• Market stall signage
  
  

• Social media starter packs
  
  

Pricing (don’t undercharge)

• Listing image pack: £75–£250
  
  

• Brand kit mini: £150–£400
  
  

• Full bundle: £300–£900
  
  

If that feels “too much”, remember:

You’re saving them days of faffing and helping them sell more.

Boundary rule (save your sanity)

Include one revision round.

Anything else is paid.

Otherwise you’ll be tweaking fonts forever.

No thank you.

4️⃣ Print on demand (only if you like marketing)

POD is still a real business.

You’re not skipping the work. You’re swapping it.

Generic slogans are dead unless you’re very good at marketing.

What works better:

• Niche humour
  
  

• Insider phrases
  
  

• Location-based designs
  
  

• Community identity (check trademarks)
  
  

Margins are slim, so you need:

• Higher order values
  
  

• Bundles
  
  

• Strong positioning
  
  

If you hate marketing, POD will feel like shouting into a bin.

5️⃣ Use Canva to sell your actual business (the long game)

This is where YouTube, content, and funnels come in.

You use Canva for:

• Thumbnails
  
  

• Graphics
  
  

• Lead magnets
  
  

• Simple edits
  
  

And the money comes from:

• Your products
  
  

• Your services
  
  

• Your audience
  
  

It’s not “make money from Canva”.

It’s use Canva to make content that sells your stuff.

This is exactly why I’m so big on systems and consistency, not trends.

The mistake that kills sales (Sam vs Lydia)

Sam:

• Makes one printable
  
  

• Lists it with one image
  
  

• Prices it at £1.50
  
  

• Waits four days
  
  

• Rage quits
  
  

Lydia:

• Picks one lane
  
  

• Creates a bundle that solves a full problem
  
  

• Uses buyer language
  
  

• Shows what’s included
  
  

• Improves the listing over time
  
  

Sam wants Canva to be a shortcut.

Lydia treats it like a business.

Be Lydia.

Sorry, Sam.

If your designs are good but sales are… not

Here’s the honest bit.

You can make the best Canva graphics in the world, but if your Etsy listings don’t convert, it won’t matter.

That’s why I point sellers to the Product Listing Makeover Kit.

It shows you what to fix, what to add, and what to stop doing so your shop actually sells.

No fluff.

No guessing.

Your homework (don’t skip this)

Pick one of the five routes.

Then today:

• Write one product idea
  
  

• Write who it’s for
  
  

• Write what problem it solves
  
  

• Create the first version in Canva
  
  

Not perfect.

Just posted.

You can improve it once it exists.

And if marketing still feels like a head-melt, that’s exactly why Social Media Sidekick exists. Calm structure. Clear prompts. No overwhelm. You can find it at handmadebosses.com/sms when you’re ready.

Right. Go make something that earns.

Love Steph and Team HB xox

👋 Welcome everyone! My name is Steph, I've been running my handmade business full time on Etsy since 2016, and I'm here to help you! 

🧡 I'll help you to start an Etsy shop, Etsy ads, show you how to sell more on Etsy, get to grips with Etsy SEO, Etsy branding, Etsy product ideas, finding your target market, identifying your niche and many many more.

🛍️ If you have an Etsy shop or your own website selling handmade products, or want to start one, this is THE channel you need to be subscribed to!

💰 I help makers start, run and scale their handmade businesses. Turning them from an expensive hobby to profitable businesses making 4 and 5 figure months on Etsy and your own website.

✨ Join the HBSA waitlist

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✨I go live most Mondays on YouTube and in my Facebook group for mini workshops to help you make more money from your handmade business! You can see our upcoming events here

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